Debbie Hoskins, a 1991 EKU public relations graduate, is the Director of Programs and Public Relations for the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College in Danville, KY.

Hey, Folks!

I have just returned from NYC - my mama didn't want me to go of course but you know me! I went for a couple of reasons - one was to review a show and meet some folks from agencies we book from and the other was to work in some capacity for the WTC disaster. I did both.

After many many many calls trying to volunteer, I finally landed a group that needed me and 2 ladies that went with me. It was with the salvation army . They offered 2 choices for our work schedule one was working directly with the people that were displaced from their homes - lost jobs and no income etc. and the other was working right outside the disaster site doing several jobs - serving food - handing out supplies to the firemen etc. I wanted to do that mostly, but wanted to be much closer. I wanted to be in the actual "red zone" where the work is being done. I had a strong will for that one! And where there is a will, there is a way...or in my case, a lot of talking...

We worked a long long day interviewing people who were directly affected by the disaster - either lost job - children lost job- etc. Their stories were heartbreaking. Hearing a mother tell me that her son was a broker and was burned so badly that 80 percent of his body would have to have skin grafts and that his lungs were severely damaged and that now they think he has permanent brain damage - or the fellow that was on the 87th floor of tower 2 and he and his other male co-workers ran to their kitchen on their floor, ripped off their shirts and soaked them in water, torn them into strips and gave to each colleague to use as they went through the smoke down the stairs. The man told me that that wasn't the bad part - the psychological damage was done when they left the building. After they reached the street they had to step over bodies, and body parts. It's almost too unbelievable. Women were fainting and people were jumping from windows by the dozens. I don't think we've have been told, or maybe they don't know, actually how many people jumped, but it was more they we can imagine. This fellow said it was so dangerous outside because women were having to be cared for and the building was crashing down. And you know the rest.

I could tell lots of personal stories, but you get the idea. So so so sad. My job was to help them pay their bills for October. The Red Cross - FEMA - HRA - Safe Horizon and the Salvation Army were working so so hard to help them. All the money coming in to these agencies is really being used. Oh, I know that there's always someone out there trying to make a buck, but for the most part - it is really needed and used. I did see one fellow sitting alone in an area with tears in his eyes. I went to a chaplain and requested that he speak to him. When he saw who it was he said it was to late to talk to him. He had been charged with fraud and was headed to jail. Too bad. It was really hard for some of the men I interviewed - they had been making over 100,000 or their spouse, and the money wasn't there anymore, so I went through their monthly bills and paid their min. balance along with mortgage payments.

I worked there until 7 - reviewed a play - ate dinner at 12:30 a.m. And went to my next job at 2 a.m. My shift was 2 - 10 a.m. We were headed to the disaster zone to serve meals. However, I really wanted an opportunity to go into the ground zero site.

We had credentials (as you can see below) to all areas. I believe things happen for a reason. As we walked into the area, a gentleman was walking beside us. I struck up a conversation - he was a crane operator going on break where I was headed. I asked him if he could take us into the restricted site. After talking a bit, he said he would. I told him we would do any job they needed. He said that the most important thing we could do would be to just talk with the firemen. They have been living there 24/7 and aren't seeing any outsiders much. They just need to have conversation and see a "pretty face". Hey, that's what the fellow said, not me!! Maybe they meant a face with lipstick on it! :) So, with a hard hat, a caution vest, and a respirator, we entered the"red zone" site. Let me tell you folks, nothing you have seen on T.V. prepares you for what you see up close and more, what you smell up close. It was UNBELIEVABLE. They had found body parts that morning. All machines are turned off and everyone gets out and all fireman and workers have a moment of silence. Whether it's a leg, arm, hand, or a complete body,they show their respects. It is so touching. I worked with a great group of firemen. They were really tired and appreciated what we were doing. A couple of fire chiefs (which are like presidents of the USA in NYC), took me to different areas and showed me in the pit how they were searching. Words just cant describe what I saw. At first it looks like piles of twisted metal stacked up and everywhere - then you look around and you see items that people had in their offices - computer discs - papers - file cabinets - stuff that reminds you that lives are lost there. The firemen are angry that they cant find more people - one fellow that was over the union workers took me to another area and showed me where he found 52 bodies of firemen in one morning. One firefighter said he is with a small unit and they have 29 children with no fathers. Story after story it just never ends. One firefighter said that he couldn't understand something. And it was really bothering him. He said for all the workers that the trade center held, they had only found one chair. He said, "where are they? Where are the people and their chairs?" Tears were flowing freely during that conversation. Trust me, these guys are strong - but human. I told him it reminded me of the holocaust museum exhibit in Washington. There's a sign next to thousands of pairs of shoes. The inscription said "where are the people that wore these shoes? We were the only women on the site and couldn't have been treated any kinder. I had my camera but didn't want to show any disrespect. The guys asked me if I had one and said they'd enjoy taking some with us. The media isn't even allowed in there anymore. There is a camera posted in a high rise window which shows what we see on the news. They took cameras from news people trying to sneak shots. I felt grateful that they said to take pics. I'll get them back today and will forward some to you.

I am back safe and sound (no anthrax to my knowledge) thankfully. I am grateful that I was able to contribute to this effort. i wish you could have been there too!

I'll close with this story because it relates to a woman. The firefighters got really excited 2 days ago. They could see a purse with a woman's arm clutching it and went about moving debris. Then a sadness again. When they moved the debris, it was just that. A woman's arm with a purse clothed in her hand.

Think about these people working there, as well as the volunteers. It is a very difficult time for all of America.