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green cross project: A model for providing emergency mental-health aid after September 11, The
Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Spring 2002 by Figley, Charles R, Figley, Kathleen Regan
At 8:46 A.M. on September 11 in the first year of the millennium, America's sense of security was changed forever. American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 carrying ninety-two people, crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower. Eighteen minutes later United Airlines Flight 175, also a Boeing 767, with sixty-five people aboard crashed into the World Trade Center at the South Tower. Two other tragedies were about to happen involving two other locations and two other planes. Everyone in lower Manhattan was focused on the horror of the Trade Center towers.
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Fifteen blocks away more than 800 people watched in horror from the Service Employee International Union Local 32B-J building on Avenue of the Americas at Grand Street. Most witnessed people Jumping from the Towers to their death, the stream of rescue workers responding to the disaster, the stream of New Yorkers fleeing from the explosions, and then the Towers collapsing. More than 1500 members of 32B-J worked in the World Trade Towers. Another 7500 members were working in Manhattan below 14th Street, blocks from Ground Zero. Not only was 32B-J suffering its worst single day of loss of life, but also its professional staff, managers, and general staff were in emotional shock. They required massive assistance.
As the networks broadcast the news of the attack, Kathleen Figley placed the GCP on standby and identified two teams of six members who were prepared to go immediately to New York. It was just a matter of time until a request for services would be made. Through professional colleagues the management of Local 32BJ learned of the GCP and requested immediate assistance. In the September 14 invitation letter to the Founder (Charles Figley) and current President (Kathleen Figley), Mary Ellen Boyd, the Chief Executive Officer of the Union's Health Fund, explained, "We have a small Employee Assistance staff and a group of volunteer therapists to help us deal with the situation but we are totally without expertise."
Her letter went on to say, "Your assistance would be invaluable. Our employees and members are suffering with many different symptoms and their families are reporting difficulties as well. To add to our complications, will be the economic realities our members will be facing." Ms. Boyd herself would be forced out of her residence because she lived in the blast area near the World Trade Center.
Mobilization is declared by the president of the GCP based on (a) a specific invitation from a post organization, (b) a specific and attainable mission as identified through interaction with the host, (c) availability of sufficient resources and members, and (d) identification of key individuals to serve in the key disaster-service roles. The president of the GCP is responsible for recognizing that a disaster of sufficient magnitude may require the services of the GCP and for placing the organization on standby status. GCP operates under the Incident Command System to ensure role clarity, avoid duplication of effort, and integrate into any disaster operation structure.
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