Maritime response following the September 11 attacks facts for kids
United States Coast Guard patrolling the New York Harbor with the impact area of World Trade Center in sight, September 11, 2001.
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| Date | September 11, 2001 |
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| Location | New York Harbor |
| Also known as | 9/11 Boatlift |
| Type | Emergency evacuation Search and rescue Firefighting |
| Cause | September 11 attacks |
| Organized by | United States Coast Guard |
| Participants | U.S. Coast Guard, FDNY, Sandy Hook pilots, NY Waterway, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Staten Island Ferry, SeaStreak, and other public and private vessels |
| Outcome | More than 500,000 people rescued and evacuated from Lower Manhattan |
Following the September 11 attacks in New York City, many people were unable to leave Lower Manhattan due to the closure of bridges and tunnels and mass transportation. Within minutes of the first plane hitting the first tower, multiple fireboats from the New York City Fire Department rushed to the scene. The United States Coast Guard coordinated a large convoy of merchant ships, tugboats, and ferries to evacuate the stranded and injured victims.
More than 150 different vessels and 600 sailors helped evacuate victims and delivered supplies in the days following the attacks. According to the Commandant of the Coast Guard James Loy, the mass evacuation of more than 500,000 civilians following the attacks "moved more people from the island than the 1940 evacuation of Allied troops from France."
Background
Following the second plane crash into South Tower, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey closed all of the bridges and tunnels under their jurisdiction. The MTA Bridges and Tunnels also closed their crossings into Manhattan for at least a day after the attacks. As a result, many people were either stranded in Lower Manhattan or tried to evacuate via East Rivers crossings, like the Brooklyn Bridge.
The United States Coast Guard New York Sector closed the New York Harbor to all ship movements. After the collapse of the South Tower, many evacuees began to arrive at the Lower Hudson River piers to try and evacuate.
