9/11: As We Saw It Thoughts and reflections on the events of September 11 th from the staff members of the Washington State Emergency Management Division (EMD). All of the photos were taken in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during the events first hours. Ken Parrishs comments come from a 2001 interview after the 9/11 activation. Scroll down to view slides

EOC Briefing: September 11, 2001 at 9:44 a.m. The State Emergency Operations Center was activated 77 consecutive days as a result of the 9/11 attacks.

Alert and Warning Center Ken Parrish, who now works for Pierce County, served as EOC supervisor during the 9/11 activation. He said duty officers and operations staff were extremely busy – more so than with any other hazard we have had to deal with. It was learn as you go for most of us. The terror attacks led to multiple daily reports from citizens as well as from local, state and federal agencies of suspicious powders or liquids. Local agencies were overwhelmed with people afraid to open mail or packages, he said.

Duty Officer Activity 9/11 Parrish said local and federal agencies were asking EMD about the protocols and procedures to handle the suspicious powder and liquids. Many agencies lacked information about recommended actions so area responders and emergency managers set up their own information networks, he said.

EOC Operations on 9/11 By mid-October, state, local and federal agencies had developed protocols for local agencies to handle suspicious packages and letters, Parrish said.

EOC Briefing: September 11, 2001 at 9:45 a.m. Ken Parrish, who is briefing EOC staff in the photo, said the 9/11 attacks made everyone develop a much keener awareness of what is happening around us. He said there was more attention after 9/11 to preparedness and to reporting unusual or suspicious activities.

Operations Staff September 11, 2001

EOC Briefing The 9/11 pictures coupled with our awareness of the size and scope of the impacts made the EOC a very somber place, recalled Rob Harper, EMD Public Information Officer. I remember that Don Miller (at left in the photo) remarked grimly that the New York City Emergency Operations Center was on the third floor of the first World Trade Center Tower. The comment brought home to me how many responders could be lost in these attacks.

IT, Command, and Public Information Staff September 11, 2001

Television News Coverage News coverage of the 9/11 attacks played for days on the EOCs 10-foot by 12- foot screens as well as on the 16 other television monitors around the Center. Harper said EOC supervisors and staff then agreed to turn off the big screen coverage because the horrific images had begun to overload our thoughts, senses and emotions. Parrish said he stopped watching news programs when he was at home after work, I watched the science fiction channel to escape.

Remembering those who lost their lives. Honoring those who live to keep us safe.