The original World Trade Center (WTC) was a complex of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The Twin Towers were the centerpieces, standing 110 stories tall and providing nearly 10 million square feet of office space for more than 35,000 people and 430 companies. They were the tallest buildings in New York City, and for a brief period upon their completion in 1973, they were the tallest buildings in the world.
On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers were destroyed in a coordinated attack by hijackers who intentionally crashed two planes into the buildings. 2,759 people were killed and more than 8,500 were injured when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed into the north and south towers. At the Pentagon in Washington, 184 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 40 passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93 died when the plane crashed into a field. It is believed that the plane crashed in that location, rather than their unknown target, after passengers and crew launched a counterattack on the hijackers.
The September 11 attacks resulted in extensive death and destruction, triggering major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism. The events that transpired on 9/11, as the event has come to be known, were the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history – and will never be forgotten.
Health Care Implications
The World Trade Center Health Registry was created by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the New York City Health Department in 2002. It is the largest post-disaster public health registry in United States history, tracking and monitoring the health of more than 71,000 people directly exposed to the WTC disaster.
The WTC Health Registry periodically follows up with enrollees to track changes in physical and mental health. The most recent annual report has linked enrollees’ respiratory issues, chronic diseases, diabetes, binge drinking, PTSD, and other mental health issues to 9/11. At least 10,000 firefighters, police officers, and civilians exposed to the WTC terrorist attack have been found to have PTSD.
Millions of dollars have been spent in treatment through the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, enacted in 2011, which provides funds to compensate and treat people with 9/11-related illnesses, including PTSD. The act was reauthorized in 2015 to provide medical benefits to affected individuals until 2090.