9/11 Effects on Tampa Community!
Tampa By mourns the tragedy of one of the most tragic events in the history of the country. The 20th Anniversary of 911 where four hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and a small field in Shanksville PA. The United States was attacked by Al Queda Taliban members to weaken the country’s economic power, cause mass casualties, and wreak mass destruction. The North Tower was hit by the American Airline Flight 11 at 8:46 A.M. as an A South tower was hit by the plane at 9:03 A.M by United Airlines at flight 175. The Pentagon was hit by the plane at 9:37 A.M. The last United Airline flight 93 was headed to the white house when the passengers stormed into pilot Pitt and crashed into Shanksville Pennsylvania. The United States Formal President George w. Bush was at the Florida Presidential reading for elementary school kids. The towers collapsed in one hour and forty-five minutes after the first plane hit the North Tower. Many of the structures and other World Trade Centers collapsed as well and the entire day caused the deaths of 2.996 people making it the deadliest and the worst attacks in U.S History.
Tampa Bay was no exception to the shock and agony that plagued the country that day. Government offices shut down, news outlets were forced to make decisions on filming the attacks or the major floods in Bradenton and Sarasota area. Many entrepreneurs did close their businesses as people at the time were wary of traveling or trusting people to enter their businesses and houses. St Pete Trolley driver Tim ran his company Bolts and Tools at the time, and he remembers being at a client’s house when the towers hit, and the television was on. He remembers people falling out of the towers and the shocking realization of the horrors going on in New York. Tim explained “People were scared, our way of life changed forever, nobody anticipated anything like this ever happening. Many people grew up wanting to fly and become pilots. Many of us went to pilot school and joined different airlines. People stopped doing that after that day and the industry changed considerably as well.” The lack of bookings closed his business and he worked a variety of different jobs after that. Tampa Bay businesses changed their security and people questioned the future of America not knowing what else could occur. Many businesses closed or lost their clientele because people were afraid of traveling. Many cultural groups were also afraid to enter certain businesses because of the racial attacks that occurred following the aftermath. Life changed in the aftermath of 911 and security was put in place with stricter protocols and new regulations like bags and full-body security crackdowns followed.
Tampa Bay resident Rashad Hicks who owns Rashad photography has lived in Tampa his whole life and avenue gave a detailed description of life before and after the September 11th Terrorist attacks. ‘Life in Tampa before 911 was thriving normally. Everyone was going on about their day, looking forward to going home. Society in Tampa was normal. Nothing was happening at that time, just a mid-size, quiet city. When 9/11 hit, I was 17 years old in high school. I remember walking to my homeroom at Brandon high school, and I saw the homeroom teacher in complete shock. I remember him having this pale look on his face, barely moving looking at the screen. I remember asking him “Is everything okay?” He replied, “No, Rashad. A plane just crashed into the world trade center”. I turned around and looked at the TV, and remember being in a state of shock, watching one of the towers up in smoke. Moments later, seeing the second plane hit the other tower, had me completely horrified. I remember asking “What was going on?” All the students and I were in disbelief that this was happening. Then, I watched as both towers collapse right in front of my eyes. I just could not believe that this was happening. Watching all those people run frantically away from the collapsing towers. The class was canceled for the rest of the day as we all watched CNN NBC, ABC, Fox News seeing all the reporters talk in fear about the terrorist attacks, seeing the angry look of then-President George W. Bush, sent chills to me. I remember a bomb threat being called and all of us students being escorted out of school. We’re standing in the fields, I looked around seeing other students in tears, I remember students debating about Tampa being another target, due to MacDill AFB. Then, we all stopped in shock, as a plane flew right over the school. The events of 9/11 put everyone in fear. Airports, including Tampa international, were on high alert. Our school security was beefed up. MacDill AFB became even more secure. It changes the way I view everything around me. It made me be on edge, But more alert. I will never forget that day life changed for us all.” Rashad’s photography is used as marketing all over Tampa Bay and he travels around the bay area advertising our community and brings tourism to the city.
Tampa Bay has opened museums and opened new jobs to honor the people lost to the tragedy. Monuments and memorials with some of the most notable ones are Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa with the twin towers metal structures and there is one piece of WTC rumble inside one of them. Tampa Premium outlets in Wesley Chapel ran a mile marathon for the victims of the terrorist attack, and Winter Haven has hosted an event to honor all military and first responders from the September 11 attacks and invited Tampa Bay companies for sponsorships. Many communities throughout the Tampa Bay area came together and honored the affected families in several ways. 911 changed us all but for support, Businesses started supporting each other and local businesses in the area.
