August 29th - September 2nd, 2011

Hurricane Irene Spares New York

August 29 – Hours after Hurricane Irene had passed, it was still windy, but Lower Manhattan had emerged unscathed, reported NY1. There were a few limbs and other debris from the storm but fears of flooding and worse relieved. The Port Authority resumed construction on Monday following crane and site inspection.

9/11 Health Fund Expanded

August 29 – After reexamining photos and hearing from many residents north of Reade Street, the federal government has expanded the zone in which residents may qualify for assistance from the Victim Compensation Fund. DNAinfo reported Sheilia Birnbaum, the special master overseeing the $2.8 billion fund extended the coverage area by approximately 10 blocks from the initially approved zone. However the zone was not expanded into Brooklyn. A couple other changes to the rules included clarifying lawyers’ fees and broadening the type of proof people can use. Birnhaum did not overrule the WTC Health Program’s medical team that denies the coverage of cancer by the fund.

Downtown Alliance Release iPhone App

August 29 – The Alliance for Downtown New York has released an events-based iPhone app. Created by the Philadelphia-based firm I-Site, the site gives you “everything happening in Lower Manhattan in the palm of your hand.” Besides restaurants, shops, parks and cultural happenings, the app provides real-time information and alerts. The app can be found in Apple’s App Store under DowntownNY.

Chelsea Lot to Screen Trucks

August 31 – DNAinfo is reporting a site in West Chelsea will be utilized to screen trucks head to the World Trade Center construction site. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will use the block between 29^th Street and 30^th Streets, from 11^th to 12^th avenues to screen trucks for bombs. The inspection site is scheduled to operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and expects to screen up to 50 trucks per day.

Remaining Piece of WTC Ship Discovered

August 31 – Following last summers discovery of an 18^th century ship in the southwestern corner of the World Trade Center, archaeologists excavated the last piece of that ship earlier this summer. Discussing details of the excavation, Robert Siegel of NPR spoke with Michael Pappalardo an archeologist on the project. Details of the ship were revealed such as; it was likely a river vessel, had been to the Caribbean area and appears to have been made of wood harvested from the Philadelphia region.

Building Safety and Security Evolve Through Years

August 31 -- While the terrorist attacks of September 11 did have an impact on building design, the actual spark to change architectural design with safety and security in mind was initiated years before, reported The Kansas City Star. Architect Barbara Nadel says, “each benchmark event gives change. Catastrophes do trigger changes… the way we think, the way we act and how we respond as a society.” Security at public buildings has been influenced by earlier events; 1983 Marine barracks bombings in Lebanon to the 1995 attack in Oklahoma City. Building codes have always changed after a tragedy. Whether you are looking at the improved emergency stairways now in 7 World Trade Center or the safety codes implemented following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire from 1911.

WTC Fallout Impacts Many

September 1 – The US government’s World Trade Center Health Program sites more than 18,000 people are suffering from illnesses linked to the dust from the September 11, 2001 attacks, reported BBC News. The figure comes from monitoring 9/11 emergency workers, volunteers and local residents. It is estimated up to 80,000 people were present in the aftermath of the attack, including; fireman, police officers, emergency workers, contractors and cleaning staff. While the exposure to fallout of the attacks has impacted people differently through a variety of conditions, it is expected that even more people will be impacted with health problems in the coming years.