Emergency Management

Item Description

This is a fitting item to auction during the 20th anniversary of the event that changed the United States and the emergency management profession. This 9-11 wooden commemorative plaque displays pictures taken by Steven Kanarian on that day on a backdrop of the U.S. flag. The brass plate in the middle reads:

"On 09-11-01 Lt. Steven Kanarian, MPH of the FDNY, EMS Command, took these photos that depict the scene of terror that happened that fateful day and the respect made sacred through tragic loss. These scenes remind us of the thousands of men, women, and children who lost their lives that day, the sacrifice of the 343 firefighters and paramedics who gave their lives to save others, and to recognize the endurance of those who survived. We memorialize all who have given their lives then and since, and also to those who will continue to fight to uphold the freedoms we hold so dear because we are the United States of America."

Included with the plaque is the book, The Downwind Walk: A Usar Paramedic’S Experiences After the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, by Steven Kanarian.

The Downwind Walk lets you experience the tragic events following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, through the eyes of an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) paramedic who went into harm's way to rescue the victims, which rapidly included many of his brothers and sisters of the New York Fire Department (NYFD) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

The author was a member of the EMS FDNY in the Bronx who was deployed with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) USAR team at Ground Zero. He went downwind with the USAR team after they set up operations and donned the proper protective clothing and breathing protection. Their mission was to take a first-hand look at that mass casualty incident (MCI), assess the damage and losses, and make an estimation of resources needed to mitigate the incident. The reader is invited to take the downwind walk with Steve as he recounts the events, sights, smells, and vivid memories of that unforgettable September .. from eye-level at Ground Zero, in his dusty boots.

Item Special Note

This item will be auctioned during the live auction to support the IAEM Scholarship Program. The live auction will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 6:00-7:30 p.m. on the stage in the back of the EMEX exhibit in the Devos Place Convention Center. Winning bidders will receive the item at the auction. Payment will be accepted through the BiddingForGood portal.

To participate in the auction, you will need to register to bid. Stop by the IAEM Silent Auction Booth beginning Monday morning to register for your auction paddle. You may also register in the auction area immediately before the auction.