On 911 all roads, bridges and the subways out of lower Manhatten immediately shut down as no one knew what would be attacked next. The only way to escape was to walk, until the greatest maritime evacuation in history kicked into gear - 500,000 people rescued in 9 hours by a flotilla of public, commercial and private craft. Here's a short video narrated by Tom Hanks of a story you've never heard:
For all the videos seen since the attack few catch the immediacy, and poignancy of the immediate aftermath of a city cloaked in silence and dust, as the shock slowly sank in amongst its residents:
, Thereafter the attacks fostered an incredible spirit of togetherness with strangers helping strangers, opening their arms and homes, best exemplified by New York cabbies who ran their meters dark, refusing to charge passengers. Here's a tune by Jersey boy, Richard Shindell, one of the best American singer-songwriters you've never heard, about that time:
