How Has New York City Changed After 9/11?

We will never forget that terrible day in September of 2001. Our 9/11 event rocked the whole world. Some of us had friends, loved one, neighbors and acquaintances that were directly involved. Most of us just watched as New York City crumbled into ruin. Most of us heard on the television about the two planes hitting the World Trade Centers, and were in total disbelief. Followed by the one crashing into the Pentagon and Flight 93, where the passengers took control and crashed the plane into a field, there was believed to be a flight heading to the White House.

New York City and its people were forced to face the reality that the security features and building codes in the city were not as up to date as everyone thought. The city and its universities began an immediate re-look at fire evacuation routes, building codes, disaster recovery means and emergency response. The failure of the World Trade Centers was deemed not to be a failure of the codes in place. Unfortunately, the needed changes were long in the coming and slow in being put into effect. Existing buildings met most of the old codes, and new ones have stairwells reinforced with concrete, better lighting and are more clearly marked with exit signs, which will not be completely mandatory until 2015.

We will never forget what New York City or the rest of the United States lived through on 9/11, and they will continue to feel it in their everyday lives. As a nation, we are strong and we will find a way to overcome and push forward. The future may be uncertain, but these are uncertain times, and we will meet all challenges head on.