Boatlift 9/11: how ordinary New Yorkers evacuated half a million people
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On September 11, 2001, boat owners in New York City carried out the largest maritime evacuation in history after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Following the collapse of the Twin Towers, hundreds of thousands of people found themselves trapped in Lower Manhattan with limited options for escape. Bridges, tunnels, and the subway system all shut down, leaving many stranded at the water’s edge.
The United States Coast Guard and the New York Fire Department began rescue efforts with their available boats, but quickly realized they needed more help. They issued an emergency call for any available vessels, and within minutes, approximately 150 boats, including ferries, fishing boats, and private sailboats, responded. Many boaters saw the events unfolding on television and immediately headed toward Manhattan to assist.
Vincent Ardolino, a New York boat captain, explained his motivation by saying he “couldn’t stand by and watch other people suffer.” Working together, these civilian boaters and emergency services evacuated roughly 500,000 people from Lower Manhattan in just nine hours. This rescue surpassed the size of the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation, which saved over 300,000 Allied soldiers during World War II, and was notable for being carried out by everyday citizens responding to a crisis.
