How did New York and the United States first respond to the attacks?
The impact of the planes on the WTC towers killed all on board the aircrafts, hundreds of people in the towers, and left hundreds trapped or in imminent danger. The crash of the first plane alone triggered the largest response operation in New York City history, mobilizing the New York City fire department, the Port Authority police department, and the New York City police department at their highest levels, all on-duty World Trade Center fire safety and security personnel, New York City’s Office of Emergency Management, and numerous other local, state and federal agencies. Many civilians also voluntarily came to the aid of others and in many cases lost their lives in the process. Within approximately half an hour of the first attack, all local bridges, tunnels, highways and airports were closed; nearby subway and PATH terminals were shut down and evacuated; sensitive locations around the city were secured and government buildings were evacuated; bus service was suspended in the northe
