Sept. 13, 2001 – Here is an updated listing of telephone numbers and web sites for providing and obtaining information about individuals who may have been victims of the terrorist attacks on the mainland, as well as numbers and sites for offering assistance.
Justice Department Office of Victims and Crime clearinghouse number, to leave contact information for call-back about missing individuals: 1-800-331-0075. The web site for the same office is www.responsecare.com.
World Trade Center Survivors Check-in webside, to collect names and where a current list is posted and continually updated: www.ny.com/wtcform.html.
New York City number announced by Mayor Rudolph Giulani to call for information about victims there: 1-212-560-2730.
New York City Family and Friends contact numbers: 1-866-856-4167, 1-212-741-4626, 1-212-560-2730.
New York City survivors taken by ferry to New Jersey shelters web site: www.ahnj.com.
FBI/Internet Fraud Complaint Center electronic form to Report Terrorist Activity: the web site www.ifccfbi.gov.
World Trade Center concerns: Morgan Stanley emergency number
1-888-883-4391.
American Red Cross Donor Assistance Line, for information on donating funds, donating blood and volunteering: 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669). American Red Cross survivor search and donation information web site: www.redcross.org.
Another way to donate money, from $1 to $100, to the American Red Cross, is via a special page on the Amazon.com web site.
To make United Way September 11 Fund donations, call
1-212-251-4035.
For Salvation Army donations, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY
(1-800-725-2769).
To get information on how to assist victims, visit the web site for Helping.org.
For physicians to volunteer their services: 1-518-431-7600. For nurses to do so: 1-800-628-0193.
For Pentagon employees to check in and announce their well-being:
Army- 1-800-984-8523, 1-703-428-0002
Navy and Marine Corps – 1-877-663-6772
Air Force – 1-800-253-9276
For New York firefighters and other emergency workers information: 1-718-999-2541.
For New York police officers information: 1-718-677-8283.
Airlines:
American Airlines (Flight No. 11, Boston to Los Angeles, which crashed into the first World Trade Center Tower; Flight No. 77, Washington/Dulles to LosAngeles, which crashed into the Pentagon) — 1-800-245-0999.
United Airlines (Flight No. 93, Newark to San Francisco, which crashed in western Pennsylvania; Flight No. 175, Boston to Los Angeles, which crashed into the second World Trade Center tower) — 1-800-932-8555.

Sept. 12, 2001 – As Wednesday's work day on St. Thomas came to an end, about 150 residents made their way into the St. Thomas Reformed Church on Nye Gade — 1,500 miles from the scenes of devastation in New York City and Washington, D.C. — seeking solace in shared mourning.
Rabbi Jay Heyman and Rev. Jeffrey Gargano led members of their congregations along with a smattering of Catholics, Baha'is and others in an ecumenical "service of sorrow and solidarity."
Many in attendance said their loved ones in New York and Washington were accounted for and safe.
Gargano, pastor of the Reformed church, started the service with "a simple phrase" spoken by a friend earlier in the day — that the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington were "too big to be real … too baffling to speak of."
Heyman read from an e-mail received from his journalist brother-in-law, who wrote, "I hope that we can treat this event not as a crime for which the best we can do is bring the perpetrators to justice, but as an act of war for which we must respond by changing the course of world affairs. That will require much more … than simply bombing innocent people in some far-off dictatorship."
Gargano said one of the jolting things about the terrorist attacks was, "We saw it in our living rooms, in the place we share love with our families."
A little later Wednesday evening, at Nisky Moravian Church, acolyte Ida Dawson led several dozen attendees at a prayer vigil in simple hymns and prayers. Church sexton Albert Lewis said the congregation has been without a pastor since early August, when the Rev. Walton Frederick left the island for further study.
But lack of a pastor didn't seem to faze Dawson, who stood at the front of the church sanctuary at a lectern and told those gathered, "Somebody knows somebody or knows somebody that knows somebody that worked in one of those buildings, somebody who is in the hospital, somebody in the rubble."
Lewis said all of the many family members he had in the New York area were safe. "There is no reason for any of them to be in that area," he said. "They all live uptown."
Lewis once lived in New York but came back to St. Thomas in the early '70s, "around the time the twin towers were finished." He said he lived in New York during the late '60s when they were being built. "I was in one of those buildings once," he recalled.
Words of comfort were offered at both services.
"Whenever we hear hate, it is up to us to cling to the eternal foundations of faith, " Gargano said. He was echoed later by Lewis, who said, "God is good and He is going to see us through."

Sept. 12, 2001 – Members of the Arab community on St. Thomas said Wednesday that they stand with other Americans in revulsion and disbelief at the terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people Tuesday in New York and Washington, D.C.
Several people of Palestinian descent, noting that it is not clear who carried out the attacks, said it is wrong to jump to the conclusion that Arab extremists were behind them. But even if Arab groups are shown to have carried out the attacks, that does not mean the people from Palestine and Jordan who have chosen to live on St. Thomas have anything to do with it, they said.
"This is dirty stuff, dirty things, this killing civilians. No one likes that to happen to anyone," said Zeyad Abuzead, a Palestinian who moved to St. Thomas several years ago and who now owns the Zima II Grocery on Kronprindsens Gade. "I don't know what is the brain, how you can think, to do something like that. We are all human beings, man, all human beings."
In the hours after the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, U.S. officials said they believed Saudi Arabian exile Osama Bin Laden may have been the mastermind behind the highly coordinated terrorism. Other groups cited as possible culprits include extremist Palestinian organizations, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and Iranian-backed groups that have been linked to previous terrorist attacks, according to news wire accounts.
But several people on St. Thomas noted Wednesday that after the Oklahoma City federal building bombing in 1995, officials also initially pointed their fingers at Palestinian and other Arab groups. Those accusations were shown to have been unfounded when Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols and others associated with American paramilitary movements were arrested in connection with attack.
"I'm hoping that the Palestinian community, the Arab community, has nothing to do with this. We're not proud of this at all," said Andy Garcia, the grandson of Palestinians who immigrated to Puerto Rico decades ago. "It wouldn't be fair to judge the whole Palestinian community as criminals. That wouldn't be fair."
Garcia, like many other people of Arab descent living on St. Thomas, said he is an American first and foremost, and that the attack Tuesday was an attack against his own country. "Whoever did this, they should be punished. Even if it's Palestinians, they should be punished," he said.
Others living on St. Thomas also said Wednesday that it would be wrong to single out the whole Arab community for blame. "This is a racism problem," Pepsi Lettsome, a West Indian, said. "You know, the Palestinians, the Iranians, they always get blamed. They're not responsible for everything. The problem is when we don't respect one another."
Sen. Lorraine Berry issued a release Wednesday saying the territory should not question the concerns expressed by members of the Arab community about the loss of American lives in Tuesday's attacks.
She said all public officials should speak out against "retaliatory measures against locally owned Arab businesses by boycotting," as some callers to radio talk shows have urged. She expressed trust "that sound reason and good judgment will prevail among all Virgin Islanders, whatever their ethnic background and culture."
Zaid Rasheed, the son of Palestinian parents who immigrated to Puerto Rico about 35 years ago, noted that Arabs have been living in the United States for more than a century. He said they have not been any more responsible for violent acts than members of other ethnic groups.
"In my heart, I feel I'm an American," Rasheed said Wednesday. "This hurts. When I see what happened yesterday, it hurt."
He said he does not believe the act was carried out by Palestinian groups but knows some people are going to blame the Arab community anyhow. "Everything that happens in the U.S., they say it's the Arabs," he said.

Sept. 12, 2001 – Members of the Arab community on St. Thomas said Wednesday that they stand with other Americans in revulsion and disbelief at the terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people Tuesday in New York and Washington, D.C.
Several people of Palestinian descent, noting that it is not clear who carried out the attacks, said it is wrong to jump to the conclusion that Arab extremists were behind them. But even if Arab groups are shown to have been behind the attacks, that does not mean the people from Palestine and Jordan who have chosen to live on St. Thomas have anything to do with it, they said.
"This is dirty stuff, dirty things, this killing civilians. No one likes that to happen to anyone," said Zeyad Abuzead, a Palestinian who moved to St. Thomas several years ago and who now owns the Zima II Grocery on Kronprindsens Gade. "I don't know what is the brain, how you can think, to do something like that. We are all human beings, man, all human beings."
In the hours after the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, U.S. officials said they believed Saudi Arabian exile Osama Bin Laden may have been the mastermind behind the highly coordinated terrorism. Other groups cited as possible culprits include extremist Palestinian organizations, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and Iranian-backed groups that have been linked to previous terrorist attacks, according to news wire accounts.
But several people on St. Thomas noted Wednesday that after the Oklahoma City federal building bombing in 1995, officials also initially pointed their fingers at Palestinian and other Arab groups. Those accusations were shown to be unfounded when Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols and others associated with American paramilitary movements were arrested in connection with attack.
"I'm hoping that the Palestinian community, the Arab community, has nothing to do with this. We're not proud of this at all," said Andy Garcia, the grandson of Palestinians who immigrated to Puerto Rico decades ago. "It wouldn't be fair to judge the whole Palestinian community as criminals. That wouldn't be fair."
Garcia, like many other people of Arab descent living on St. Thomas, said he is an American first and foremost, and that the attack Tuesday was an attack against his own country. "Whoever did this, they should be punished. Even if it's Palestinians, they should be punished," he said.
Others living on St. Thomas also said Wednesday that it would be wrong to single out the whole Arab community for blame. "This is a racism problem," Pepsi Lettsome, a West Indian, said. "You know, the Palestinians, the Iranians, they always get blamed. They're not responsible for everything. The problem is when we don't respect one another."
Sen. Lorraine Berry issued a release Wednesday saying the territory should not question the concerns expressed by members of the Arab community about the loss of American lives in Tuesday's attacks.
She said all public officials should speak out against "retaliatory measures against locally owned Arab businesses by boycotting," as some callers to radio talk shows have urged. She expressed trust "that sound reason and good judgment will prevail among all Virgin Islanders, whatever their ethnic background and culture."
Zaid Rasheed, the son of Palestinian parents who immigrated to Puerto Rico about 35 years ago, noted that Arabs have been living in the United States for more than a century. He said they have not been any more responsible for violent acts than members of other ethnic groups.
"In my heart, I feel I'm an American," Rasheed said Wednesday. "This hurts. When I see what happened yesterday, it hurt."
He said he does not believe the act was carried out by Palestinian groups but knows some people are going to blame the Arab community anyhow. "Everything that happens in the U.S., they say it's the Arabs," he said.

Sept. 12, 2001 — How can I help? I can’t contact my daughter in New York City. Where can I donate blood? The local chapters of the American Red Cross have been fielding queries such as these — and more — in the wake of the terrorist attack on the mainland.
Virgin Islands residents can help in the aid effort, but because neither the St. Croix Red Cross chapter nor the St. Thomas-St. John one have the capability to collect blood, the most direct way for residents to provide assistance is through monetary donations, according to the St. Croix Red Cross interim manager, Wendy Horton.
Blood donations are being handled by Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas and Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.
While the Red Cross can try to help local residents contact immediate family members, people should attempt to make contact for themselves first, Pat Odoms, public affairs officer for the St. Thomas-St. John chapter, said.
"Please understand that, due to chaotic circumstances and communications issues, this process may take some time," Odoms said, "but we will make every effort to locate your family."
Because of isolation from the mainland with the current ban on airline flights, island residents are limited in how they can help. For information on donating blood, people can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or log on to the www.redcross.org.
Horton said that information about assisting can be obtained by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW. For information in Spanish, call 1-800-257-7575.
"If folks want to assist financially to help the victims, they can," she said.
Donations also can be made by mailing a check to the St. Croix American Red Cross at P.O. Box 6617, Sunny Isle 00823. "Designate that it is for the terrorist attack," Horton said. "We want to send it where people intend for it to go."
Horton said two people from the St. Croix chapter who have been trained in disaster relief will fly to White Plains, N.Y., as soon as civilian flights resume.
For more information, contact the St. Croix chapter at 778-5104 or the St. Thomas-St. John chapter at 774-0375.
For additional phone numbers and web sites, see "Resources to get information, offer help".

Sept. 12, 2001 — How can I help? I can’t contact my daughter in New York City. Where can I donate blood? The local chapters of the American Red Cross have been fielding queries such as these — and more — in the wake of the terrorist attack on the mainland.
Virgin Islands residents can help in the aid effort, but because neither the St. Croix Red Cross chapter nor the St. Thomas-St. John one have the capability to collect blood, the most direct way for residents to provide assistance is through monetary donations, according to the St. Croix Red Cross interim manager, Wendy Horton.
Blood donations are being handled by Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas and Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.
While the Red Cross can try to help local residents contact immediate family members, people should attempt to make contact for themselves first, Pat Odoms, public affairs officer for the St. Thomas-St. John chapter, said.
"Please understand that, due to chaotic circumstances and communications issues, this process may take some time," Odoms said, "but we will make every effort to locate your family."
Because of isolation from the mainland with the current ban on airline flights, island residents are limited in how they can help. For information on donating blood, people can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or log on to the www.redcross.org.
Horton said that information about assisting can be obtained by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW. For information in Spanish, call 1-800-257-7575.
"If folks want to assist financially to help the victims, they can," she said.
Donations also can be made by mailing a check to the St. Croix American Red Cross at P.O. Box 6617, Sunny Isle 00823. "Designate that it is for the terrorist attack," Horton said. "We want to send it where people intend for it to go."
Horton said two people from the St. Croix chapter who have been trained in disaster relief will fly to White Plains, N.Y., as soon as civilian flights resume.
For more information, contact the St. Croix chapter at 778-5104 or the St. Thomas-St. John chapter at 774-0375.
For additional phone numbers and web sites, see "Resources to get information, offer help".

Sept. 12, 2001 — How can I help? I can’t contact my daughter in New York City. Where can I donate blood? The local chapters of the American Red Cross have been fielding queries such as these — and more — in the wake of the terrorist attack on the mainland.
Virgin Islands residents can help in the aid effort, but because neither the St. Croix Red Cross chapter nor the St. Thomas-St. John one have the capability to collect blood, the most direct way for residents to provide assistance is through monetary donations, according to the St. Croix Red Cross interim manager, Wendy Horton.
Blood donations are being handled by Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas and Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.
While the Red Cross can try to help local residents contact immediate family members, people should attempt to make contact for themselves first, Pat Odoms, public affairs officer for the St. Thomas-St. John chapter, said.
"Please understand that, due to chaotic circumstances and communications issues, this process may take some time," Odoms said, "but we will make every effort to locate your family."
Because of isolation from the mainland with the current ban on airline flights, island residents are limited in how they can help. For information on donating blood, people can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or log on to the www.redcross.org.
Horton said that information about assisting can be obtained by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW. For information in Spanish, call 1-800-257-7575.
"If folks want to assist financially to help the victims, they can," she said.
Donations also can be made by mailing a check to the St. Croix American Red Cross at P.O. Box 6617, Sunny Isle 00823. "Designate that it is for the terrorist attack," Horton said. "We want to send it where people intend for it to go."
Horton said two people from the St. Croix chapter who have been trained in disaster relief will fly to White Plains, N.Y., as soon as civilian flights resume.
For more information, contact the St. Croix chapter at 778-5104 or the St. Thomas-St. John chapter at 774-0375.
For additional phone numbers and web sites, see "Resources to get information, offer help".

Sept. 12, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull proclaimed a period of mourning through Sunday in the Virgin Islands to show respect for those who lost their lives in the mainland terrorist attacks Tuesday.
"It is the sense of the people of the United States Virgin Islands that the organizations responsible for these senseless acts will be captured and brought to justice," he said in his proclamation, issued Wednesday afternoon.
The governor ordered the flags of the United States and the territory to continue to be flown at half-staff until sunset Sunday, consistent with an earlier proclamation issued by President George W. Bush.
Government House also announced Wednesday that Turnbull had sent letters extending the condolences of the people of the Virgin Islands to President Bush, New York Gov. George Pataki, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams. His references were to the attacks carried out by hijacked commercial airliners that crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, and to the hijacking of a fourth plane that crashed in rural western Pennsylvania.
In all five letters, the governor referred to Tuesday's events as a "national catastrophe of unparalleled dimension since the bombing of Pearl Harbor 60 years ago" and conveyed the territory's "outrage and absolute repugnance" at the terrorist attacks against innocent people.

Sept. 12, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull proclaimed a period of mourning through Sunday in the Virgin Islands to show respect for those who lost their lives in the mainland terrorist attacks Tuesday.
"It is the sense of the people of the United States Virgin Islands that the organizations responsible for these senseless acts will be captured and brought to justice," he said in his proclamation, issued Wednesday afternoon.
The governor ordered the flags of the United States and the territory to continue to be flown at half-staff until sunset Sunday, consistent with an earlier proclamation issued by President George W. Bush.
Government House also announced Wednesday that Turnbull had sent letters extending the condolences of the people of the Virgin Islands to President Bush, New York Gov. George Pataki, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams. His references were to the attacks carried out by hijacked commercial airliners that crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, and to the hijacking of a fourth plane that crashed in rural western Pennsylvania.
In all five letters, the governor referred to Tuesday's events as a "national catastrophe of unparalleled dimension since the bombing of Pearl Harbor 60 years ago" and conveyed the territory's "outrage and absolute repugnance" at the terrorist attacks against innocent people.

Sept. 12, 2001 – On Day 2, here are reports concerning local activities and operations relating to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. mainland Tuesday. This posting is being updated throughout the day as additional information is received.
Notices may be e-mailed to source@viaccess.net. They may be faxed to 777-8136 or to (509) 267-3448.
Still no word on resumption of flights
As of Wednesday evening, no date had been announced for the nation's airports to resume operations.
Shortly before 5 p.m., Norman Mineta, U.S. Transportation secretary, said at a nationally broadcast press conference that he had authorized all airplanes that had been diverted to non-intended airports for emergency landings Tuesday to reboard their passengers from those flights and transport them to their intended destinations.
There had been speculation that the national ban on civilian flights would be lifted at noon Wednesday, or by the end of the day. However, Mineta said no decision had been reached on when regular flights would resume. He noted that when the ban is lifted, it will be with new, tougher security procedures in place.
In the Virgin Islands, the ban imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration applies to inter-island flights, including those by seaplane, as well as flights from outside the territory.
Banks to maintain emergency 3-day clearing
The executive committee of the Virgin Islands Bankers Association decided Wednesday afternoon to continue a minimum three-day emergency clearing period for checks. The association decided Tuesday afternoon to institute the waiting period in response to the terrorist attacks on the United States.
"This emergency clearing procedure, which is authorized by the Federal Reserve System, has been necessitated by the continued closure of our local airports by the Federal Aviation Administration," Cassam Pancham, president of the association, said.
Pancham, Chase Bank general manager for Eastern Caribbean operations, added, "The Virgin Islands clearinghouse is on St. Thomas, and many of our local banks must send their checks from St. Croix or through Puerto Rico. These banks will not be able to present payments as usual at the Virgin Islands clearinghouse"
Pancham notified Lt. Gov. Luz A. James, II, who chairs the Virgin Islands Banking Board, Tuesday afternoon of the association's decision to invoke the emergency procedure. "We regret any inconvenience that this emergency procedure may cause our customers and ask for their understanding," Pancham said.
A release issued by the association Wednesday evening stated that the executive committee will meet again Friday morning "to reassess the state of readiness with regard to the Virgin Islands clearinghouse." Pancham said he hoped "it will be business as usual for all our customers by the first of next week."
The association member banks are Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of St. Croix, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, First Bank Virgin Islands, and Virgin Islands Community Bank.
Ground breaking for fishermen's facility postponed
The ground-breaking ceremony that had been scheduled for Friday for the Mid-Island fishermen's facility on St. Croix has been postponed. A new date will be announced later.
The decision was made in compliance with the governor's announcement Tuesday evening that all public receptions at either Government House have been put on hold, Agriculture Commissioner Henry Schuster said in a release Wednesday.
He said the planned facility will provide a preferable alternative for fishermen to selling their catches on the roadsides of St. Croix. It will provide refrigeration and storage and "will coincide with the Farmers Market at Estate La Reine and provide an enhanced shopping experience" for consumers, he said.
Hearing on V.I. Hotel conversion rescheduled
The previousy postponed Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee hearing originally scheduled for Wednesday at the Legislature Building on St. Thomas has been rescheduled for Sept. 19. The hearing, set for 6 p.m., is to share information on plans to turn the former Virgin Isles Hotel into a veterans' multipurpose center.
The hearing was postponed because off-island developers and investment bankers scheduled to testify were unable to travel to the territory due to the shut-down of commercial flights nationwide Tuesday. The committee chair, Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel, encouraged "veterans, their spouses and all other interested persons" to attend the session.
Economic Development Authority forums rescheduled
Forums scheduled by the Economic Development Authority for Wednesday at the Palms Court Harborview Hotel on St. Thomas and for Thursday at Gertrude's Restaurant on St. Croix have been rescheduled.
The new dates are Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Palms Court Harborview and Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Gertrude's. Both events are to begin at 5:30 p.m.
The forums are intended "to increase public awareness of the benefit of this program to the territory and to receive input on how to improve" it, a release stated. Topics to be addressed include the authority's policies and initiatives, programs in place to assist small businesses in the territory, and what the EDA has been doing since it succeeded the old Industrial Development Commission in March.
The authority "is the catalyst for economic development in the territory," Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett, who chairs the EDA board of directors, said. "It is essential that we meet the needs of our people."
Further information may be obtained by calling Mary Ottley at 714-1700.
Nisky Moravian to hold prayer vigil
Nisky Moravian Church on St. Thomas invites the public to a prayer vigil that will be begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the church on Julian Jackson Boulevard west of the Crown Mountain Road intersection. The gathering "is to pray for our nation and the families and friends who have lost loved ones," a release stated.
It was announced on Tuesday that an ecumenical service of mourning would be held Wednesday at 5:15 p.m at the St. Thomas Reformed Church in downtown Charlotte Amalie.