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RESOURCES
Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce offers links and info.
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Terror Strikes U.S. - September 11, 2001 The unimaginable has happened today. Just as the workday began, this morning, two U.S. commercial airliners struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Later a third jetliner crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth crashed (reasons still undisclosed) in Pennsylvania. Speculation and rumors are still flying and the full scope of the tragedy is unknown. What is known is that both of the internationally renowned World Trade towers no longer exist. News agencies and governments are struggling to separate fact from speculation, truth from rumor with regard to the perpetrators of this horrifying tragedy . As the news of the events traveled around the world and sunk in across Long Island, meetings and events were cancelled. Attending the Smithtown Town Board work session this morning was surrealistic. The meeting, scheduled for 9:30 was not cancelled. In fact, as the few reporters and town officials gathered they found the board room transformed into a photo studio. The news had already spread about the first two plane crashes, but it was business, almost, as usual. While it is one thing to try to keep government functioning in a crisis, this was not urgent government business. A professional photographer was taking portrait shots of Tax Receiver Lynn Nowick as everyone else waited. People discussed various topics -- the bizarre happenings unfolding in New York in particular. When Nowick had finished her left side poses, she turned right and more pictures. Then remaining council members were photographed. The meeting, which was held despite a terrorist attack on the country, was delayed twenty minutes for photos of elected officials. The pics were for the future town web site. The subjects of the work session were few, including disputes over "No Parking" near residential areas. Somehow the issues don't seem important now. Ultimately, one by one, meetings were cancelled in towns, as well as the County legislature across Suffolk during the rest of the day as the impact of what happened settled in. Some argued that we should attend to business as usual. But others concerned about children being let out of schools or concerned about loved ones at work in New York City, it seemed sensible to close down. The board of elections closed the polling places for the primary elections and has advised us that the primary will be rescheduled. The parkways and LIE westbound are closed to all but emergency traffic. EMT's nurses, police, firemen, are being sent to assist in rescue and management in the city. Suffolk Police are stationed at all public buildings. Suffolk hospitals have been alerted to prepare for the injured, especially burn victims. Airports across the country were closed, including those on LI. Brookhaven officials announced the closure of Callabro Airport before noon and dispatched additional public safety officers to Port Jefferson to assist with crowd control and traffic for anyone trying to use the Cross Sound Ferry. (For additional information on Brookhaven's response click here.) Blood is already in short supply. (Click here for link to blood services for latest on where to donate blood.) Anyone in New York City is city-bound, unless they walk over the bridge. It is impossible to even drive in and pick someone up at this point as westbound traffic is being blocked, except for emergency vehicles and personnel. And even with that exclusion, the HOV lane of the LIE is at a standstill. Every station is broadcasting coverage (if that's what it can be called) of the tragedies. For now it is as much rumor and speculation as fact. It will be days, weeks or more before the story is known. Web news sites are flooded and hard to access. While they have up to the minute information, the same is available on your local TV and radio stations. Unless you are from outside the U.S. you are probably able to get as good information on your TV as from the internet. Phone lines are overburdened and many cell systems are overloaded as well. Be patient.
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The Ultimate
9-11 Call