Most of us recall the place we have been and the way life modified that day. For Katrina Keefer, residing simply blocks from the World Commerce Middle, the occasions felt strikingly fast and private.

Shock, unhappiness, worry, anger: the 9/11 assaults inflicted a devastating emotional toll on People. Many people watched in horror because the terrorist assaults of September 11, 2001, left practically 3,000 folks useless in New York Metropolis, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. For many who’re sufficiently old to recollect, it’s a day that’s unattainable to neglect. For many people, the reminiscences of 9/11 are firmly embedded in our minds.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Katrina Keefer, now CEO of DCH Well being System, heard a loud growth echo by way of her Manhattan condominium. It was a sound that will eternally change her life and the course of American historical past. That morning, from the roof of her condominium constructing, she watched in horror as America was below assault.

“I used to be in New York Metropolis throughout the most effective of instances and the worst of instances,” mentioned DCH Well being Techniques CEO Katrina Keefer. From the roof of her condominium constructing, Katrina watched because the second aircraft struck the World Commerce Middle. Katrina mentioned she is going to always remember the tragedies of that morning.

Katrina lived simply three blocks from the World Commerce Middle. She remembers listening to the primary aircraft hit Tower 1. The affect was so highly effective, Katrina thought one thing had hit the close by Brooklyn Bridge.

“I regarded out my window and I noticed that visitors was nonetheless transferring,” Katrina mentioned. “That’s when my roommate, who had the tv on, mentioned, “one thing simply hit the World Commerce Middle!” Katrina headed to the roof to see what was occurring.

“I believe the life-changing second for me was, you’ll see these sparkles coming off the primary constructing, and then you definately’d see these objects falling sooner,” mentioned Katrina.

That’s when Katrina realized these have been folks leaping from the home windows of the constructing. “To know this was their alternative was very onerous,” she mentioned. “After which I noticed the second aircraft because it went by way of the second tower. At that time, it nonetheless had not hit me that this was a terrorist assault.”

The state of affairs rapidly worsened because the tenants in her constructing have been advised to evacuate. She rapidly threw some gadgets in a backpack. “I’m a woman from Alabama, so I had my Bible, clear underwear and I ended at each ATM to get as a lot money as it could give me. I knew if I had money, clear underwear and my Bible, I used to be set.”

Katrina mentioned her missions expertise helped put together her for that day. “I knew what I wanted,” she mentioned. “For instance, I didn’t know the place I used to be going to sleep, however I knew my ft could be chilly, so I had socks.”

The streets have been quickly full of smoke and particles as the primary tower crumbled. “I couldn’t see what was imploding,” Katrina recalled. “I may solely see the smoke billowing on the street.” 

For Katrina, navigating the aftermath of 9/11 grew to become a profound studying expertise, one which deeply formed her management fashion. She mentioned, “In my life, I’ve had lots of alternatives to be in so many distinctive conditions, and I’ve discovered from all of them.”

*Components of this text have been excerpted from tales within the Jagwire and Augusta Well being publication.