Remembering September 11, 2001
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, bridges and tunnels were closed, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded at the southern tip of Manhattan with few ways to escape.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a call over the radio for all available boats to help. Tugboats, ferries, fishing boats, and privately owned vessels answered that call. Captains, crews, and volunteers rushed toward Manhattan, carrying people to safety across the waterways.
In less than nine hours, approximately 500,000 people were evacuated by boat—the largest water evacuation in history.
On this September 11, we remember those who were lost, honor the heroes who responded, and recognize the ordinary boaters who stepped forward when their city needed them most.
Watch the BOATLIFT, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience. A 2011 short documentary narrated by Tom Hanks that tells the story of the massive maritime evacuation of Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001
We Remember. We Honor. We Will Never Forget.
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