It was a thrilling - yet sad - story worth sharing... Sometimes the flair for the dramatic took the author in the wrong direction (FDNY hasn't used a "shortwave radio" in about 70 years) and some parts became a little too repetitive. But those are just nits to pick - it was hard to put down and I'm glad I read it!

The Untold Story of Medics, Mariners, and the Incredible Boat Lift that Evacuated Nearly 300,000 People from New York City on 9/11. L. Douglas Keeney. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Co., 2021. 256. Hardback $26.95.

David A. Mattingly

One only need mention 9/11 and most people recall the confusion that spilled from their televisions and radios throughout the country. September 11, 2001 was a beautiful day with clear skies in New York when the world turned upside down as two planes careened into the World Trade Center towers. New York City streets were soon a melee of victims, survivors, and first responders who quickly clogged the streets around and the approaches to the World Trade Center. Authorities soon saw New York Harbor as the porthole in which to evacuate the injured and survivors from Lower Manhattan.

Bestselling author and documentary producer L. Douglas Keeney has compiled the story of the evacuation of Lower Manhattan using New York Fire Department oral histories, digital archives from the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, and the George Mason University American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning in addition to news reports written about the waterfront. He has diligently compared stories to ascertain facts and deconflict reported locations and times. For example, in early reports it was estimated that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people were evacuated, however, after closer examination the number was more realistically set at 270,000.

To sum it up, September 1, 2001, represents the largest single day boat lift in history and one of the greatest rescues in modern history.

New York Harbor is one the world’s largest ports with over 4,000 ship arrivals each year in addition to local dinner cruise boats, ferries, tugs, personal craft, and government vessels. Keeney noted that, on average, 91,000 people use the ferries to commute into Manhattan. The World Trade Center is located at the southern tip of Manhattan. After the planes crashed, major roads rapidly clogged with emergency vehicles and normal New York traffic. It was immediately apparent that to get away from the danger, a person needed to head towards the waterfront on the Hudson River. Without knowing what was happening, captains onboard the various boats transiting the Hudson or tied up nearby reacted to the smoke spewing from the World Trade Center by heading to the Manhattan Waterfront.

The ferries did not return empty to Manhattan after the wounded and survivors disembarked in New Jersey or other triage locations. Keeney writes in great detail how the ferries carried fresh firefighters, medical personnel, food and supplies back to ground zero. Fire boats that were ineffective to pump water on to the fires became pumping stations sending water to ground zero through a hose system to replace the destroyed hydrants and water pipe system. Coast Guard boats provided security and monitored the harbor for debris and obstacles that would interfere with navigation.

It would be the large ferries that would rescue most of the people that day, while small craft contributed by picking up smaller groups that were in several small coves and marinas in the area. In addition to assisting in the boatlift, law enforcement vessels took up security positions around the bridges and other sensitive sites including the Statue of Liberty

To coordinate the effort, the U.S. Coast Guard enlisted the help of a New York harbor pilot with in-depth knowledge of the harbor to create a “traffic control” ship. The Coast Guard turned to the Sandy Hook Pilot Ship New York which could provide a 360-degree view of the harbor from the height of 60 feet with a full bank of radios to communicate with official and civilian domestic and international ships. Having been pressed into Coast Guard service, the Coast Guard flag was raised on the New York and Coast Guard caps were distributed to reenforce the Coast Guard’s authority.

We got on the radio and said, “United States Coast Guard aboard the pilot boat New York all mariners we appreciate your assistance…Anyone wanting to help with the evacuation of Lower Manhattan report to Governors Island.

Keeney goes into detail explaining the special security situation which law enforcement authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard faced after the realization that the nation was under attack. More than 100 “vital assets” that were critical infrastructure or particularly sensitive had to be protected in addition to approximately 100 freighters, tankers, and lighters carrying dangerous cargo in the harbor. Within 25 minutes, the Coast Guard ordered the “ultimate protection” by closing the harbor. Coast Guard Stations in the area positioned a picket barricade of patrol boats to block the harbor entrance, not allowing any ships to enter. Coast Guard units along the east coast quickly got underway or, in the case of smaller craft, were loaded onto trailers to be transported to New York. Coast Guard Port Security Units traveled from Virginia and began patrolling in their camouflage boats as a show of force. Coast Guard cutters were positioned to protect oil refineries. For the Coast Guard, it was an all-hands effort!
However, Keeney does not write about the U. S. Navy’s contribution to securing the port or recovery. According to a Naval Historical Foundation article published on the 10th anniversary of the attack, The New York Mayors Office requested the Navy’s east coast hospital ship USNS Comfort ordered to New York. It was noted in the article that it was the first time the Comfort was used in the Federal Emergency Response Plan. Keeney may have chosen not to include this information in that the Comfort did not arrive on scene until two days after the attack.

Keeney has created an interesting narrative of what happened on 9/11. It is a compelling story of what happened both at what came to be known as “ground zero” and in New York harbor. He writes of how mariners and rescue workers combined forces to evacuate, as quickly as possible, the injured and survivors to safety. The book provides unique insight into what was happening in New York and is highly recommended to both those with an interest in maritime security operations as well as readers interested in the history of 9/11.

The Lives They Saved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A powerful book that tells they story from the First Responders, boat captains and crews that responded to the tragic events of 9/11.
It was a hard read, with graphic descriptions of what was happening both on the ground and waterways surrounding Manhattan during the attack on America and the effort it took by so many people from all walks of life to evacuate survivors. A feat never before done and with grace will never need to be repeated.
At times I had to just put the book down, only to return days later. A day I will never forget, sitting glued to the television, not realizing the heroic acts being performed on the waterways. Even now, weeks after finishing the book, I still find it difficult to put into words that will do this story justice.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley,
L. Douglas Keeney and Lyons Press.

This is a story of heroes, An unseen look in word and photo of the day that shook this country and the world to its very core.
Amidst the horrific events of the day and the gridlock in NYC, a magnificent effort was underway by the individuals that worked the waterways; the Staten Island Ferry, the Seastreak (as an example) to bring hundreds of thousands to safety. I was unaware of the enormity of this evacuation. I as you, have seen hundreds of photos and read many accounts of 9/11. In some photographs, the boats on waterway are the foreground to the backdrop of the burning towers. I haven’t thought of the work and unending diligence of those that were accountable for ferrying people out of the city. This is an emotional and heart wrenching account that needed to be told. As a portion of the book subtitle reads “The Untold Story of Medics, Mariners and the Incredible Boatlift” it is all that and so much more.
This is a day that I will never forget and L. Douglas Keeney has given us an oral history that will add to the unconditional efforts of the human spirit.

There are some books you finish and right away you write the review, with a book like this I think it takes serious processing time.
What can I say? How do I feel or what do I even write?
This story is absolutely gut wrenching and truthfully or shamefully one I wasn’t aware of.
I always like to read about September 11 around this time of year and this book hit the mark for me.
I knew about the boats the led massive people to safety but I really didn’t know about them and how many times have I ridden the Staten Island Ferry or the Seastreak?
I think it’s so important to know as much as possible about September as to truly never forget!
Again, I’d highly recommend this! I loved how it was written because it was easy to put down and then come back to it because with books like this sometimes you need that.

So many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my gifted ebook copy.