Yours

Interview202041 min640×360

Michael O'Toole oral history interview conducted by Laurel Gumpert, April 20, 2020

O'toole, Michael

History

At the Library of Congress

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About

On the morning of 9/11, Michael, a marine engineer for the Staten Island Ferry, made his way through police barricades and the chaos to get to the ferry to assist in any way he could. He helped hang up a tarp around the boat slip to prevent reporters from seeing the bodies being transported off of the boat. They anticipated hundreds of bodies coming over on the boat, only to find that the damage was so severe that there was often nothing to bring back. Michael went to Manhattan on the next ferry and stayed at Ground Zero for thirty-six hours digging, listening, and looking for signs of life. He remembers the smell, the dust and debris that was constantly being inhaled into his lungs and he knew that he would face health issues in the future. In the following weeks, Michael kept going back to the site for as long as he was allowed to, even if they would only let him hand out water bottles. He worked with one of his friends while cutting steel and met several inspiring women who provided help during that time, standing up for themselves when certain men doubted their abilities. He also worked with the sanitation department for a little while and he wishes they would have received more appreciation for what they did during the aftermath of 9/11. About thirteen months later, Michael was diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome, even though he had never been a smoker. He wants to remind people that first responders will always be here to help, no matter what the job…

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Archive
Library of Congress, in Library of Congress
Licence or status
Rights statement at the Library of Congress, as the Library of Congress states it.
Credit
Library of Congress
Language
English
Country
United States
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