IP: more from the Bechtel crew at the WTC

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 10:47:11 -0400
> To: farber () cis upenn edu (David Farber)
> From: Richard Jay Solomon <rsolomon () dsl cis upenn edu>
>
> > >  WTC Chronicles
> > >  2001-09-26
> > >  Our Bechtel team is now pretty well assembled. Our first people on the
> > >  scene, on that very fateful first day, were working here in NY, on the
> > >  East Access project. Chris Dixon, Dan Louis and Alan Paskoff have been
> > >  here from the beginning. They were quickly joined by others that were
> > >  immediately available from assignments within driving distance from NY.
> > >  Don Carpenter and Alan Todd came from NJ. Terry Copeland came from
> > >  Frederick joined by David Whyte. Then there are the three Johnny come
> > >  latelies, Terry Crabtree and Jack Riggen from Seattle and me - the lone
> >  > Texan - once New Yorker. We split into three teams, covering three 
> > shifts.
> >  > I worked last night, all night. The immense devastation, smoking and
> >  > steaming in the cool air, illuminated by artificial light against the
> > >  black sky appeared more eerie than it had been the in the light of day.
> > >  From most vantage points, beams of light shining up into the sky, from
> > >  huge self contained light plants, illuminated the rubble piles from behind
> > >  making the already surreal mountains of destruction appear more imposing
> > >  while at the same time strangely beautiful. The beauty that quickly
> > >  vanishes as you get closer and watch the awesome and dangerous work going
> > >  on.
> > >  During they day, S&R had continued in front of the plaza between WTC 4 &
> > >  5. Similarly, the search continued through the rubble of WTC 1. A somewhat
> > >  unsuccessful attempt to topple the façade of WTC 2 had been made, with
> > >  only the tallest portion falling leaving the remaining massive section in
> > >  an even more precarious position made more hazardous by falling glass that
> > >  would sporadically pop out of the twisted structure and either fall, or
> > >  worse, float to the ground causing the closure of that quarter of the
> > >  site. New plans to complete demolition of the wall are being developed,
> > >  and what is left will hopefully be removed tomorrow. The city is
> > >  persistent in its desire to keep the façade as intact as possible, in
> > >  order to use it in a monument. While this adds complexity to the already
> > >  difficult scenario, the desire is understood and respected by those
> > >  chartered with its removal. Fire fighters remain very anxious to search
> > >  this area and everyone is working hard to get them in.
> > >  South of the WTC 2 is an expansive pit. At its southern most and deepest
> > >  point (easily 60 feet deep), it exposes the critical slurry wall. This
> > >  wall was built to allow the original construction of the tower foundations
> > >  and basements. It holds back not just soil, but also water - the Hudson
> > >  River - and its structural integrity is of the very highest concern. While
> > >  it was once tied back with rock anchors, those anchors are gone now. The
> > >  construction of the tower foundations have shored that wall all the years
> > >  since their construction. Well now the foundations are gone, or
> > >  irreparably damaged, and the wall needs support, lest a disastrous
> > >  structural failure flood the area. Currently rock and soil fill is being
> > >  placed inside the wall. However, because we are using such delicate
> > >  placing procedures to prevent damage to the wall, the work is
> > >  excruciatingly slow. Fill is placed with a crane, one small clam bucket
> > >  full at a time, and from a long distance, this to make sure that no
> > >  unacceptable pressures are placed on this fragile structure. Everyone
> > >  brainstorms constantly, trying to come up with a quicker and safer way to
> > >  approach this critical work. Nevertheless, until then, the work plods
> > >  along.
> > >  That "plodding" that plagues much of the work on the site has an insidious
> > >  effect on everyone. Everyone believes he or she can do more, yet the
> > >  necessary and understandable restraints to a full-fledged attack of the
> > >  work frustrate everyone. It frustrates the recovery teams that have such
> > >  an important, emotional, and spiritual mission to complete. It frustrates
> >  > the construction workers, who want help rescue while accomplishing their
> > >  own mission. That is the job of clearing the site, making it safe, and
> > >  eventually letting new construction begin. And it frustrates our team,
> > >  because our job is to provide the management that removes all the
> > >  obstacles to the work. Everyone understands what is going on though, and
> > >  everyone constantly talks, schemes, and dreams of new ways to make things
> > >  go better.
> > >  Work in two areas is flying along though. The area south of the partially
> > >  collapsed WTC 4 and the completely collapsed WTC 7 goes on 24 hours a day.
> > >  Grappling trackhoes pull and sort the steel continuously. At WTC 4, 9 huge
> > >  machine are making quick work of the awesome piles, pulling out the
> > >  debris, and sorting the big steel from the rubble. The big steel is loaded
> > >  on flatbed trucks, one or two pieces per truck, for inspection by the FBI
> > >  and eventual sale to a recycling concern contracting with the federal
> > >  government. The small material goes in 30-yard dump trucks that go to the
> > >  Fishkill landfill, where it is also inspected by the FBI before being
> > >  buried. A rumor started yesterday that one of the hauling contractors has
> > >  tried to sell the steel for themselves. The sense of outrage by everyone
> > >  onsite was almost amusing, so strong is the patriotism. What might
> > >  normally be acceptable and almost expected skimming, is now just plain
> > >  un-American. I can only hope it is a false rumor. Either way, I am
> > >  reasonably sure it will not happen again.
> > >  New hazards continue to make themselves known. An electric cable arced
> > >  through the bottom of Liberty Street sending electricity and flames
> > >  through the roadbed several feet into the air. We called Con Ed and
> > >  together we discovered a destroyed light pole foundation that mysteriously
> > >  has power going to it. No one could understand how or why it is energized.
> > >  But the work most go on. So we followed the conduit to a deep point where
> > >  it entered a concrete foundation and reburied it. Still live, it is
> > >  something that would never be done in normal circumstances, but a
> > >  calculated risk to keep things moving. A tough decision to make, but the
> > >  right one...I think. I expect this type of surprise will continue to be a
> > >  daily occurrence. We all remain vigilant trying to anticipate and prepare
> > >  for the unexpected hazards.
> > >  It is surprising how quickly everyone becomes friends. Tully's night shift
> > >  superintendent is Bobby Smith. I met him for the first time last night. By
> > >  the middle of the shift we working as if we had known each other for
> > >  years. Neither questioning each other's instructions, just working
> > >  together. In the middle of the night, I lost my security ID. A huge deal.
> > >  Bobby told everyone working for him, easily a hundred people, to keep
> > >  their eyes open because he didn't want me to get in trouble with the
> > >  police, FBI, etc.. And they found it for me. In all that junk, they found
> > >  it. They looked out for me, for such a small insignificant thing, in the
> > >  middle of this monumental ordeal. For me a total stranger just four hours
> > >  before.
> > >  I spoke with firefighters last night. The guys that had responded to the
> > >  attack. The guys that lost comrades in arms, guys that have pulled them
> > >  out the rubble. We have all heard and read the stories. I can tell you it
> > >  is very different when you are told in person. You can feel the pain of
> > >  their loss. The damp look in their eye. The trembling lip, the change of
> > >  pitch in their tone. In all of the talk, one thing is entirely missing.
> > >  That is talk of revenge. I expected it. It is not there. I do not know
> > >  why, but it is not discussed. But everything else is. Obviously, these
> > >  guys need to talk. It is wonderful that they can. I hope it is healing. I
> >  > worry for those that don't. For those that can't. I see it all around me.
> >  > Guys trying to keep up a solid front, but I know they are feeling
> > >  everything I am. Many of them are feeling much more, having been through
> > >  much more, because in reality I have been through nothing. A Johnny come
> > >  lately, but one very glad to be here.
> >  > Charlie
> > >



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