Bluesman, can you give those of us in the DC/MD/VA area some phone number or website to contact so we can help out? I have mounds of time this week to do whatever; after Thursday around 1:15 I’m free until 3 pm Monday.
Oh, and just FYI. phantomdiver is home safe. ::collapses:: That was not fun.
We’re fine here, but very shaken up.
Anyone who can’t get TV or a news site, I’ve got CNN on my cam right now (streaming) http://www.opalcat.com/cam
I was driving up 395N as this went down.
Everyone was listening to the radio about the WTC hits. Traffic was thick as usual and I was going about 10mph. I had just reached the Washington Blvd exit (South Pentegon parking) I saw this plane real low in the sky and I thought he’s not going to make it to the airport flying that low. I realized he was flying in low and fast. Next thing I know it hits the Pentagon and a funnel of smoke rises. We all stop where we are. (At least I did, the guy behind me hit my car. No damage to the cars as I said we were already going slow) Every one was in the middle of the hwy watching, waiting. We work with the government and some people walk to our office from the Pentegon. I pulled out my cell and called the office to tell them I was really going to be late now. The receptionist told me they felt the whole building shake and I told her what I just saw then my service cut out. I couldn’t call out. Crystal City was then evacuated and we were told to turn around and go back down 395 driving in the wrong direction. Just then we heard what sounded like a bomb (turns out part of the building was collapsing) This has been one scary day. I am ok, a little freaked out at being so close. I am sad for all the innocent people on those planes. My thoughts and prayers to the families. I was just watching CNN and they were showing a feed from Palistine, they were cheering in the streets!!! How could they cheer this? What a sad sad day.
Another DC guy checking in.
Lady Chance, Baby Kate and I are fine.
Eileen works in Crystal City about a mile or so from the Pentagon. She got her windows rattled a few times but that’s it.
I got one of my staff to drive me home (45 miles! Good review for him coming up) and now, armed with the 2nd car, I’m going out to pick up Kate.
Back down to the maelstrom. Wish me luck.
I’m not a DC doper, but I’m close. And I’m fine. Goin to see about donateing blood now.
Big hugs to all the NY and DC Dopers. God bless and be with you all.
Any NY or DC Dopers who need to get a message out can contact me at ExTank@aol.com with a message for friends and loved ones elsewhere, and I’ll do my damndest to get the word out for you.
Bluesman: give 'em hell, everyday and in every way.
My brother works and studies around Foggy Bottom, he checked in via e-mail from the office, where they are OK. Whew.
Hugs, prayers and heartfelt solidarity to all in the NYC and DC areas.
I used to live and work in DC, and we still have family and friends in the area. My sister-in-law is a nurse at a hospital in Fairfax, and from another family member we hear that is swamped with injuries from the Pentagon (or perhaps from other emergencies being diverted to her hospital.) My Father-in-law worked many years at the Pentagon, and still has many friends/co-workers there.
What have you heard locally about the number of injuries/deaths at the Pentagon? Anything to the rumors of fires at the capitol/White House/State dept/Old Exec offices Bldg.?
Thanks for any specific news, my wife is very distraught about such a thing happening so close to her family, and facts, however grim, are still better than wild imagination.
I’m doing okay ehre
and so is Montfort.
I’m glad eh could leave work earlier,
he got home at 1 o’clock.
The subway whent fine for him.
I’m still shaky here though,
but who isn’t.
I’m here in Dupont Circle and I’m fine. No going home early here… I’m a CQ and we’re trying to figure out where the political types are and when the gov’t. is going to get going again.
Physically, I’m okay. Emotionally, not so much.
Glad to hear everybody is okay.
Same here. Didn’t get home until 1:30 with nearly all public transportation being shut down.
Home and safe. I was in my office watching NBC when the second jet crashed into the WTC and moved over onto Fox 5, saying the Pentagon had been hit. Got my wife and friend who lives with us, and got the hell of DC. Go onto a Blue line Metro train that changed to Orange, and wound up at Ballston. Walked three miles home. We live a block from the Pentagon.
The West elevation has two-thirds blown off. It’s still on fire as of 17.00 today. Cops all over the place, some saying we couldn’t walk on Columbia Pike to our apartment. Wandered in Arlington for a while, then went back and walked home.
Utterly surreal, to walk down the hill past the Navy Annex to see the Pentagon on fire and collapsed. Back home. Air conditioning and TV on, and we’re going to go be blood donors now.
Okay – just 5 hours since leaving the office and we’re finally home safe and sound. A neat trick given the number of places shutdown and number of people on the road. (Oh to be a cat, they’re happy and obliviously eating their canned food now!) PLD’s having Scotch, and I’m sipping a bit of brandy and watching the news in horror.
Bluesman, you can’t see it, but I’m saluting you now. We expect you’ll rejoin us safe and sound for your 100-post party…and wear the dress blues (they’re sharp).
Checking in, all three of us safe and sound, after what’s been basically a day of sitting and waiting. Got into work about 9:15 and almost immediately heard about the two WTC crashes. Pretty much glued to the TV from then on until we heard about the Pentagon hit; we went up to the roof of our building and saw tons of smoke.
After that my buddy and I said we were taking off, and headed up to a mutual friend’s house since the Metro was shut down and I couldn’t get home. Called Valkyrie from there, she called back later and said the Metro was open. So here I am, back at home and letting the Tzeroling watch PBS. I’ve had enough for today.
I’m in Baltimore, but checking in anyway. I was on 95S heading to school when I heard; I thought it was a joke at first.
All my classes at UMBC have been canceled…I tried to donate blood but they were swamped and told me to come back tomorrow.
Thank God all of you are okay.
I’m in complete shock. At about 8:50 I was on the road when a service message (“You are listening to Infinity Broadcasting”) interrupted a song, and then bam, they cut to a newscast. It was a horrible, horrible moment, made worse when they announced the second hit later on.
I keep watching video footage of the WTCs being hit and collapsing; I’m so grateful that so far, everyone is okay.
My Physical Geography professor dismissed class early and told us that this was our JFK assassination, our Pearl Harbor, and that we were watching history being made. I just can’t believe it.
At least 10,000 people dead. I’m so glad the Dopers are all okay.
Checking in safe and sound from Arlington. I was afraid about coming home North on 95 but there wasn’t much traffic. Hope everybody and their loved ones are safe.
I’m home, and safe. Thank goodness I no longer work at the Pentagon.
I’m a surveyor, and I was working a job in Largo today. My crew got into our van and turned on the radio at about 8:50, just minutes after the first plane hit. We spent the rest of the day with the radio cranked up, so we could hear it while we worked. We were sent home at 1pm, and I’ve spent the rest of the day staring at the tv, listening to the radio, in a state of abject shock. I’ll cut this post off here, because I don’t even know what else to say, other than I’m totally distraught. But OK, thank God.
I’m home and ok. I didn’t hear about any of this until I got into my office. Interestingly enough, I take the metro in, and it stopped at the Pentagon station at about 9:15…My train must have been one of the last to get through before the crash.