From the Rubble: A 9/11 Survivor's Story with Retired NYPD Chief Terri Tobin
In this incredibly moving and powerful episode, we sit down with retired NYPD Chief and Medal of Valor recipient Terri Tobin, a true hero of 9/11. From the heart of Liberty Park, with the One World Trade Center standing tall behind us, Chief Tobin shares her personal story of survival, dedication, and service. She takes us back to the morning of September 11, 2001, when she was a lieutenant in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information (DCPI), and recounts the chaotic moments after the second plane struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
Chief Tobin details the moments leading up to the collapse of the South Tower, recalling how she was blown across West Street by the vacuum created by the building's pancaking descent. She describes landing on the grass in front of the World Financial Center and the complete darkness that followed. Buried under the rubble, she was hit by a piece of cement with rebar attached, which went through her ballistic helmet, embedding itself in her skull. The terrifying experience left her pinned from the waist down, struggling to breathe.
Despite her severe injuries, Chief Tobin's instinct was to help others. She recounts receiving advice from a firefighter to breathe through her shirt to filter the air. With limited movement, she found and held the hand of another person, repeating the same advice she was given. It was only after she was able to get up that she discovered the person's hand and arm were detached from their body. As the second tower began to collapse, she sought shelter in a nearby apartment building and helped lead a group of civilians to safety. A paramedic later removed a six-inch piece of glass wedged between her shoulder blades.
Chief Tobin's story is a testament to the unyielding spirit of our first responders. She shares the full extent of her injuries, including a fractured ankle, significant damage to both knees, and a fractured skull. The blunt force trauma even knocked a wisdom tooth into her sinus cavity and cracked her other teeth, many of which had to be replaced. Yet, she felt that 9/11 only confirmed her calling to public service and returned to work after just a few months. This is a powerful, must-watch episode that ensures we never forget the sacrifices made by so many heroes like Chief Terri Tobin.
