9/11 Stories: Former NYPD Steve Wallace

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Steve Wallace is the Law Enforcement Outreach Coordinator for the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. On 9/11, he was on the NYPD, serving as an instructor at the NYPD Police Academy. Off-duty that morning, Steve was giving breakfast to his 1 year old daughter and 3 year old son at his home in Rockland County when his sister called with news of a plane hitting The World Trade Center. Wallace knew he had to get there to help. Rushing to drop off his children at his mother-in-law’s home, the call came on his radio for all off-duty NYC cops and firefighters to report to work.
Bridges ,tunnels and highways to the city were closed as a precaution. The whole city was on lockdown. Wallace joined a long line of vehicles on the shoulder of The Major Deegan, noticing each driver holding up their official ID’s to get through. Making his way to the FDR Drive, Wallace was shocked by the sight near 34th Street. Stunned people were walking on the normally packed highway, looking like zombies, covered in dust.
That pulverized dust from the collapse of the twin towers is directly linked to causing at least 68 cancers and severe respiratory issues. More people have died of 9/11 illnesses than were killed on the day of the terror attacks. Steve Wallace has dedicated his life to find the 500,000 impacted, most unaware their health issues stem from 9/11, or that they are entitled to free health care for life in The World Trade Center Health Program, available in all 50 states. If certified with a 9/11 illness, they are likely entitled to an award from The Victim Compensation Fund.

[@jonawesolowski-thecommunit9968]

Steve, every thing i watch about 9/11, brings me back to the cohesion our country had then. Before social media, before fake news crap, before political bs. I miss that country so much. Thank you for share

[@leesher1845]

This gentleman tried so hard to maintain his bravado, but it was obvious how much emotional pain he was in over this. What a kind, good man.

[@willow7233]

Hearing and watching this unfold over the tv was heart wrenching...I can't imagine going through that first hand.....when the towers fell, all I kept saying was, "Oh my god...all those people!"

[@GenXgirl969]

The magnitude of that tragic day, can not be understood unless you were there. Thank you for volunteering in the recovery efforts, which was a dangerous job and emotionally difficult task. America appreciates your tremendous efforts Steve. 🇺🇲America Will🇺🇲 ~Never🌹9/11/01🌹Forget~

[@Decgyrrl]

Thank u for sharing ur story. I was working on 22nd & park ave. at the time. Lots of ppl in the street as u know. Most were dust ladened, and this was b4 the towers collapsed. Dust & debris was as far as 59th street. Papers, thick dust. It was as far as Washington Hghts. Not the papers, but the dust. We smelled it burning. I live in E. Harlem, and I came home from work, I got nervous bc I thought that I didn't turn the pilot light out all the way. Then the phone rang, it never occurred to me that it was the towers. Never. Not as far up as I lived. I went to work the nxt day, and ppl as far up in Yonkers, White Plains, etc. smelled it. I'm glad u are still around to tell ur story. It's so sad. Just like yday. I can't imagine 20 yrs have passed.

[@mariefc8504]

I am utterly gobsmacked by the selfless generosity and humility you emulate, Steve. Thank you for sharing your experience and for everything you've done and continue to do. You and the other police officers, firefighters, EMS, first responders, construction crews, volunteers, and others are a clear demonstration of the best of humanity. You've all set a very high bar. These awe-inspiring interviews on this podcast have made a huge impact. Thank you. ❤

[@lisaviglio4984]

I am a nurse who went on NYPD Boat down to WTC & stayed all day from 9am to 9pm at Stuyvesant HS at the triage center. I have been told to sign up and I have not and I have autoimmune disease now. I was also pregnant on 9/11 and did not know- had a horrific pregnancy. I have my Red Cross ID they gave me that day. Who should I call as now I’m scared? How do I sign up? The WTC memorial center also has my name as a volunteer. I also had my dads Blimpie on Canal and West Broadway only 10 blocks from WTC. We stayed open to give first responders free subs for weeks. Thanks

[@mrlaw711]

I'd start high if there isn't website for this. I'd contact the governor of NY state, and the mayor's office of NYC. Keep records of your calla with summaries of what was said. It's a shame they haven't made public announcements for treatment in regard to permanent symptoms. I'd also contact an attorney who will take your case based on recovery.

[@californiahiker9616]

See that little watermark in the lower right of the video? I saw a video with that attorney, he represented the 9/11 community. Google that and maybe call that office. Good luck from a fellow nurse.

[@sarab6415]

Thank you for sharing your story❤️

[@BarBaraWhorleyCrawfordESS]

Thank you for your heart

[@juliamarin4896]

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm sorry for your losses, and the idea about the ptsd and 911 connection is excellent. I hope more people Get Help.

[@tommysimmons5266]

The Boat people trapped for 9 hours along the waterway in the debris field. People trapped in the American Express building and the one next to it. They were left in the building until 3pm that day covered in the Dust of Death.

[@bethpottschmidt1967]

Thank you for this wonderful interview. He is so informative and deeply appreciated for all he has done and continues to do.

[@robertscutt2904]

Walk With God🙏 In The Sun 👮🏼‍♂️ Steve Wallace. God Help Our Long Blue Line Of Defense, 👮🏼‍♂️👮🏽🚔 👮🏼‍♀️👮🏿👍🇺🇲

[@lorettajones5076]

Thank you Steve God bless you and America. from south Texas

[@alejandrogarciaskeeplollke3269]

God bless you brother thank you for sharing your experience I know it's very hard to understand what really happened that day

[@aimee1860]

Thank you!

[@lorenat05]

❤️🇺🇸💙

[@Tom68446]

I too wish that our country could get through this GLOBAL PANDEMIC CRISES like we did 9/11! We need to form a plan to do everything we can to help each other through this horrific natural disaster! People are dying now too! God Bless you for your services that day and every day after! ✌🙏💖

[@KasumovMedia]

What is wrong with y'all.

[@GlobeWarmer]

Nothing natural about it. It was man-made, specifically by the Chinese, and with Fauci having full knowledge of the whole thing despite the lies he continues to tell to this day.

[@GenXgirl969]

Today in 2023 we now know it was unfortunately a "plandemic." Evil is everywhere, all around and it comes in many forms. Only God Can Save Us. 🇺🇲God Bless America 🗽

[@MissBe737]

Why didn't the national guard help at the pile?

[@koogle5410]

because it was toxic… condoleeza rice treated the NYFD as collateral damage… lambs to the slaughter, cannon fodder… they knew it was toxic and hid it.. absolutely despicable

[@quietreader4190]

The firefighters and cops were at the pile I believe, I think the National Guard was more focused on keeping unauthorized people out of the locked down area as well as helping the city keep the peace just in case people got any bright ideas and attempted to take advantage of the city while it was in a severely weakened and chaotic state. I listened to a lot of 9/11 stories, and quite a few videos talked about how over 1,000 of the FDNY are still battling 9/11 related illnesses.

[@bluecamus5162]

At the 21:15 mark, you will hear him clearly say that there were "about 2500" National Guardsmen there.

[@GenXgirl969]

They did!

[@xino_z]

Do people know there are two pilots on every flight? And back then that's when they were phasing out the flight engineers? A cardiac event might kill one pilot, but there's still a first officer or a captain back up! Hell, a layman in a cessna landed it after the sole pilot had a coronary. It was a very bad landing but he survived! I don't think single pilot flights are very common on large aircraft

[@martak991]

Not sure what your point is? Rarely are there two pilots on a single engine cessna for example. Let alone a passenger who could take over with ATC’s help to land a plane.

[@xino_z]

@@martak991 my point is that if a pilot had a coronary mid flight, or an aneurysm... a fatal event, the likelihood of a plane flying into a building like the WTC is still extremely unlikely because the first officer would take control of the aircraft. There's an episode of Mayday where someone on the maintenance team installed the wrong size rivets on the windshield, the plane suffered an explosive decompression, and the captain flew out of the plane! Someone grabbed his ankles but the first officer still landed the plane at the nearest airfield and the Captain somehow survived. One pilot dying is not enough to fly a large aircraft straight into a building by accident. Cessna, I think that's happened at the Empire State building but there is nowhere near the impact or destruction of a 737 or similar aircraft. Which is why we've never really heard of those cases.

[@lorettajones5076]

Are you a troll or dumb...your comments makes NO sense in this forum. Johnna ..be respectful or do not speak. This was a horrible time for our country. God Bless all who are watching.

[@xino_z]

@@lorettajones5076 don't put words in my mouth. I have nothing but respect for everyone that suffered and/or died from the events of 9/11. Especially the NYPD & FDNY. I lost my brother in the Navy because of this, he joined bc of 9/11. I know many others who lost family members because of this. If you can't read that is not my problem. I am saying a commercial plane doesn't fly into a building by accident. Watch any coverage that day. Every aviator said there's no way that is an accident, and they were right.

[@vmm5163]

@@martak991 What do you mean by "let alone a passenger who could take over with ATC's help" ?

[@tommas2674]

Dear 9.11 Families > My heart as others breaks for You , for America, too. I do not think biden or any of the dems Who have said jan 6 2021 was worse than 9/11/2001 . They can never make up for saying that. And those documents were sealed back then . Odd .

[@GenXgirl969]

NO American tragedy (maybe globally) compares to the WTC 9/11/01 terrorist attack in NYC, the DC Pentagon and Shanksville, PA. Comparing an unarmed riot on J6 to 9/11/01 is shameful. The democrats should be ashamed of themselves, for minimizing the most devastating tragedy on American soil. Unfortunately, they're not.

[@rachmunshine9474]

I didn’t hear them say that, but if they did, maybe they meant because it was Americans against Americans as opposed to helping each other?