My Name is Mildred Ramos
I am a September 11, 2001, Survivor
I was in the building on the morning of September 11
I worked for Fiduciary Trust Company
Located at 2 World Trade Center, 97th Floor NY, NY 10048 
The South Tower, WTC 2 the first Tower to collapse at the World Trade Center

Personal Statement

I was working in the World Trade Center, on the morning of September 11, 2001. My office was in the South Tower; The Company I was working for was Fiduciary Trust Company. They were on the 97th Floor. I was one of the Administrative Assistants on the floor, my cubicle was located directly facing the North Tower, so I was able to see the North Tower clearly.  I did see the first plane hit the North Tower; a scene I will never forget the explosion caused the South Tower windows to become dark, so the office was darkened from the smoke. Looked light a black out. The screams were so intense, I couldn’t hear anyone talking.  I saw a co-worker and we both ran to the exit stairwell by the elevator. We were both going through intense anxiety not knowing what to do and where to go. All we heard were people yelling and screaming.

I was able to escape, and this is my story. 

On Tuesday September 11, 2001, I was on my way to work at the World Trade Center.  I live in Staten Island. I took the Staten Island Ferry as usual the 8:00am boat and then walked to the World Trade Center, it was a nice sunny day. I proceeded to the South Tower where my office was located. I was working for Fiduciary Trust Company, on the 97th Floor. I was an Administrative Assistant for the department. My boss was John Ott. I had a direct view of the North Tower from my cubicle. I was at my cubicle preparing to get ready for the day and about to get a cup of coffee when I saw a plane flying pretty close although planes have flown by the World Trade Buildings this one was flying very low and close and in a blink of an eye I saw a plane hit the North Tower. I will never forget the sound and explosion that occurred. The intense explosion caused the windows on the South Tower building by my floor to become dark, and it looked like a blackout was happening. I couldn’t believe what had just happened, all I heard was yelling and screaming, it was awful. I was crying so much my anxiety was making me feel sick. I didn’t know what to do, everyone was running to the windows and on the phone, calling loved ones to let them know what was going on. I just wanted to get out as soon as possible. I kept seeing my son’s face and I just wanted to get to him and hug him and never let go. I was going crazy. I saw a co-worker and we both ran to the exit stairwell by the elevator screaming and yelling from fear of what could happen next. We waited for the elevator at first pushing the button like crazy, but it was taking a long time to come up, so we took the stairwell halfway down, it was packed with lots of people doing the same thing. At one point we heard an announcement from the intercom inside the stairwells by the Fire Department saying to please stay calm and that this building is safe and that we don’t have to leave. There was so much happening outside that they were trying not to let the people from this building leave so that they could handle what was going on in the other building. We got out of the stairwells and took the express elevator between 50th and 48th floor, the rest of the way down to the lobby hearing the same announcement. The chaos was uncontrollable. We ran from one side of the building to the other side.  I thought for sure I was going to die. It was terrifying, we heard loud noises didn’t know what that was until we heard people saying OMG, people were jumping out of the North Tower from the broken windows, people were screaming and crying. I just wanted to get out of the South Tower anyway possible. We went to the lower section of the lobby where the department stores and food stores used to be and kept running back and forth, felt like forever before we got the ok to run out of the building, I was relieved, but so confused. Wasn’t sure where to go of what to do next, kept looking up at the Noth Tower, and seeing people’s heads looking out from the broken windows. Ran across the street to another company where I asked the front desk there if I could call my family and let them know I’m ok, because the cell phones weren’t working, I couldn’t get through. I called, got through on their phones and then continued to run I passed Century 21 another explosion the South Tower was hit by another plane we were definitely being attacked at first I went in to Century 21 but then ran back out of fear I would be stuck in there, so I ran up to the corner of where Century 21 was on Cortlandt Street there were people running like crazy different directions. I lost my sense of memory after that felt like I was in a bad dream. Building pieces were falling and I even saw people jumping off the North Tower, the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. I was crying hysterically. My co-worker and I parted ways she was running a different direction, so I preceded to run towards the Staten Island Ferry, going through Battery Park I wanted to get as near the water as possible in case I had to jump to the water for safety. I didn’t want to burn in a fire. I lost my purse in the shuffle of all the people just running, screaming and yelling. I got to Battery Park at the corner of the park where there were people holding on to the park fences, I wanted to hold on too because I just didn’t know what to do. There was a group of people there and we just cried and prayed together. It was so emotional. I also connected with one of my best friends, at Battery Park and we were both in shock and held on to each other and didn’t let go. We were so much in shock and disbelief about what was going on. We cried all the way home.

I was exposed to the dust clouds at Battery Park when the Towers collapsed.

As I proceeded to take the route by the water towards the ferry thinking if anything happened, I could jump into the water. As I got to the corner of Battery Park, I was so emotional, I saw some people there just holding on to a fence and they saw me crying and they said to me, hold on with us, we have room, so I did and we cried and prayed. It was very emotional. I also saw one of my best friends and Battery Park, we embraced so tightly and didn’t let go until we both got home. At this time both towers had collapsed one at a time and it felt like everything around us was moving. We held on so tightly, it was so strong the pressure from the Towers Collapsing shook everything around us I thought all the buildings around us were going to collapse one by one it was the most intense sound and all a sudden you see this large dust cloud running after you it was insane. It looked like we were going in and never coming out. I was having severe panic attacks. It was getting dangerous. I had to calm down but it was difficult with all that was happening.

How I made it home

Once the dust cloud cleared at bit, we were all covered in this dust cloud I was able to walk to the ferry, from Battery Park with the group of people I had met going the same way, also with my friend we were holding on. I don’t remember what time it was I just remember hearing this will be the last ferry going back to Staten Island. There were a lot of people trying to get on the Staten Island Ferry. It was a bit hectic, every time we were about to get on, we had to turn around because of an announcement not letting us get on at this time. This kept happening for some time. We finally got the ok to get on and finally made it back to Staten Island. I was so relieved, we all embraced each other than parted ways so we could each get home to our loved ones. I ran to my son’s school and picked him up he was in after school and no one was able to get him so when he saw me, he screamed my name and hugged me so tightly and cried. Oh, my lord what I was going through and the relief of seeing my son as most didn’t get to see their own kids and never will. My heart was relieved and broken at the same time for the kids who will never have a chance to see or hug their parents again and for the parents who lost their kids.

Lost Items from the Explosion

I had lost my pocketbook in the shuffle of all the people running yelling and screaming. The Post Office was heading a unit to find and return items to people who had lost personal belongings. My pocketbook was returned, along with a heartfelt letter from the Postal Office who was so happy that I made it out alive. This was dated September 25, 2001.

About a couple of weeks after the Towers collapsed.

Although I knew I wasn’t returning to work I was struggling to deal with what had happened. So, I would walk the same path I would normally walk to work at the World Trade Center at least a couple of times a week to grasp what had happened. I would see all the rumble as there was a point where you couldn’t go further and I would just stare and recount the moments as it had occurred in my mind. I didn’t know at the time that I was suffering from PTSD and soon developed lung issues due to air exposure. People from other companies were returning to work and I was in this denial phase.  I couldn’t believe I made it out and was dealing with Survivors Guilt. The stories from the families that lost loved ones were so emotionally impacting but I wanted to hear the stories as they were told. I was also attending the memorials at ground zero. That too was emotional. I didn’t know where I fit as a Survivor. I felt so left out of everything. I didn’t know where to go. I finally got the help I needed, so that I was able to try and rebuild my life again. I lost a lot of my co-workers; I attended many memorials. In my heart I wanted to give back do anything I could to help and when I was asked to read names a few years back it was the most rewarding feeling I’ve ever felt. Every time I get the opportunity to read the names of loved ones who didn’t make it out or who died after because of cancer causing illnesses it felt good. I’m helping the families and they are helping me. The families who can’t and won’t read the names of their loved ones, because it’s just too hard are hearing their loved ones’ names through others, I hold that as an honor and a privilege. As of today, I’m still dealing with anxiety and panic issues, using a CPAP machine depressed at times especially when the Anniversary comes because it feels like I’m reliving the attacks all over again.