We Were There - Transportation Incidents in Greater NY

By Robert Bernstein

Over the past 25 years the Red Cross of Greater New York has responded to many transportation accidents in the New York City area, but three stand out: the American Airlines Flight 587 crash landing in Belle Harbor, Queens, on Nov. 12, 2001; the US Airways Flight 1549 landing in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009 (known as “The Miracle on the Hudson”); and the Spuyten Duyvil Metro North train derailment in the Bronx on Dec. 1, 2013.

In celebration of Red Cross Month in March, the Greater New York chapter presented a powerful panel discussion featuring local volunteers who had participated in those responses.

The responders —Alex Cecil, Disaster Mental Health Manager, Dario Diaz, Regional Chief Disaster Officer, Michael Emmerman, Government Operations Supervisor, and Sally Phipps, Disaster Action Team member, continue to serve and have become leaders due, in part, to their vast experience. Listening to them recount their roles in the accidents demonstrates that the responses were the defining moments of their careers.

Emmerman spoke of his participation in the Flight 587 crash response. At the time, he was in the NYC Office of Emergency Management center with others who had responded to the 9-11 attack just two months earlier. He remembers the dead silence in the normally busy room when news of the crash arrived. Then one of the staff members said: “Here we go again.”

All 260 people on the plane were killed in the crash, which was eventually attributed to pilot error. Emmerman will never forget the scene of the disaster.

“There is a cost to doing the things that we do,” he said, “We see things that most humans are not expected to see in their lifetime.” Phipps, who was also at the crash site that day, said that working together at that type of tragedy creates a strong bond among responders. She also spoke of becoming focused on the immediate area of the crash and not concentrating on the citywide situation, calling it an “intense, frozen moment” that she won’t forget.

“One of the things when you have responded, you have a snapshot of what’s going on,” she said.

Diaz, who took part in the response to the train derailment, spoke of access for Red Cross responders during intense disasters. At the derailment response, Red Cross vehicles were parked next to medical examiner’s ambulances where remains were being taken. He noted that in those situations, our volunteers are often right there with the fire/rescue teams.

Cecil, who was at the scene of the Valhalla train crash, spoke about the way that an individual’s actions can strengthen the entire team during a response and the importance of the work of the Red Cross.

“Being part of this organization really matters,” he said.

Each of these incidents presented unique challenges for first responders. One of the clear messages of the panel is that the work of the Red Cross was integral in mitigating the physical and emotional stress of those affected by these disasters.