9/11 rescuers ‘made decisions based on incomplete data’

RESCUERS on September 11 were forced to make rapid-fire, life-and-death decisions based on incomplete communications, according to a new report by the federal commission investigating the attacks.

Within 20 minutes of the start, family members of the World Trade Center victims were dabbing their eyes and offering each other support. More than 2,700 people were killed.

There were scores of family members in the audience as the commission showed footage of the first hijacked plane slamming into the tower, and played survivors' videotaped testimony.

One critical issue early public address announcements in Tower 2 telling workers to remain at their offices was recounted verbatim by a survivor.

The panel's findings set the stage for two days of dramatic testimony at the New School University, not far from Ground Zero.

Several current and former New York officials were to testify, including former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

A 26-page staff report reconstructing events through first-person survivor accounts found: A fire chief failed to notice a critical second button on a device that carried radio signals , leaving the chief to wrongly believe the equipment wasn't working. It was, and was later used by fire personnel in Tower 2.

Other communications gaps included a lack of co-ordination between the police and fire departments, a crush of radio traffic and an inability to share information effectively.

A helicopter rescue of trapped workers on the upper floors was not practical due to equipment the roof, and the heat and smoke of the fire below.

One survivor, Brian Clark said the PA system advised: "Ladies and gentlemen, Building 2 is secure. There is no need to evacuate.

If you are in the midst of evacuation, you may use the re-entry doors and the elevators to return to your office. Repeat, Building 2 is secure."

While the report does find fault in a few cases it largely sympathises with officials and rescue personnel.