Surviving the 81st floor of WTC 2

SURVIVING THE 81ST FLOOR OF WORLD TRADE TOWER TWO

Delise and Stanley got on the elevator and went down to the 78th floor. Some other people were there. The company's president, the CEO, the human resources director and two other gentlemen joined the group and headed down to the concourse level of Two World Trade Center.

If they had continued on and exited the building, all of their lives would have been spared. As it was, that's not the way it happened.

"As soon as we reached the concourse level, the security guard stopped us and said, 'Where are you going?' Stanley explained about seeing the fire in Tower One. According to Stanley, the guard said, "Oh, that was just an accident. Two World Trade is secured. Go back to your office."

That turned out to be fatal advice--aside from Stanley, Delise was the only one of that group to survive.

"We were joking, and I told Brian Thompson, 'This is a good time to think of relocating this building--it's not safe anymore.' " Stanley headed back to his office, but before he got there, he told Delise, that with the events of the day, she should go home and relax.

Thompson went to the 82nd floor, the president and CEO went to the 79th floor and Stanley got out on the 81st floor. When Stanley got to his office, his phone was ringing. "It was someone from Chicago calling to find out if I'm watching the news," he said. He told the caller everything "was fine."

But everything wasn't fine--far from it. As Stanley was talking, he looked up and saw American Airlines Flight 11 heading straight
for him.

"All I can see is this big gray plane, with red letters on the wing and on the tail, bearing down on me," said Stanley. "But this thing is happening in slow motion. The plane appeared to be like 100 yards away, I said 'Lord, you take control, I can't help myself here.' "

Stanley then dove under his desk. "My Testament was on top of my desk," explained Stanley. "I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord was going to take care of me once I got there." As he curled into a fetal position under his desk, the plane tore into the side of the building and exploded.

http://across.co.nz/Surviving81floorWTC.htm

"Now, something was wrong with this picture," says Praimnath. " So, I turned to the young lady with me and I (said), 'Phyllis, why don't you take the rest of the day off.' So she's happy, she's gone out the door, but all of my co-workers are looking at me like, 'Stan, what are you doing? We still have a job to do.' They're holding the elevator door for me -- the president, the CEO, the head of Human Resources -- all these good folks were there. So I walk back in."

http://www.ctv.ca/special/sept11/hubs/canadian/ctv_lopes_survivors.html

World Trade Center survivors Stanley Praimnath and Brian Clark recount their experiences of September 11, 2001, and tell how the tragedy of that day and its aftermath affected their faith in God. Part 1 of 2.

http://www.rbc.org/radio_and_tv/words_to_live_by/32057.aspx