Part 2: Lessons Learned From 9/11

by KYW's John Ostapkovich

September 11th, 2001 has been called a day that changed the world. And in the emergency preparedness business, the changes have been sweeping and concrete.

(Live radio reports from 9/11/01:)
"Flames shooting out of the north side."
"Oh my God, another plane has just hit."

The images remain unforgettable.  And the response, although heroic and heartfelt, sometimes sputtered tragically.

Patricia Griffin (right) directs the St. Joseph's University master's degree program in homeland security:

"The federal government responded by establishing a Department of Homeland Security. In the post-Katrina time we saw more money and more attention being directed into the Federal Emergency Managment Agency."

Keeping track of the money trail -- from federal to state and local governments -- is a critical responsibility, even as first responders are rolling.

Another key lesson from 9/11 is summarized by MaryAnn Tierney, director of the City of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management:

"The interoperable communications challenge."

Emergency responders found they couldn't talk to one another, due first to separate radio frequencies, and then the loss of facilities.

New Jersey state police major Dennis McNulty (right) is section supervisor for New Jersey Emergency Management:

"We learned from 9/11 that certain systems could be put out of service and you'd need different means to communicate."

Communications, he says, now extends within and across agencies and boundaries.

Ed Atkins (right), director of Chester County Emergency Services in Pennsylvania, also heads a multi-county response group:

"We recognize that this is something we have to be prepared for -- a large, catastrophic event."

 (Photos #2 and #3 by KYW's John Ostapkovich)