Ground Zero Lessons... Last week's Dispatch, Are You a Prepared First Responder? (Sep 16), triggered an interesting e-mail from Alan Reiss, former Director of the World Trade Center. (You'll find Reiss' prepared testimony posted as part of the Eleventh Public Hearing of the 9/11 Commission, May 18-19, 2004.)

"I read tonight's column with extra interest since I was the Director of the WTC until it was net leased [six months before September 11]. It was my Port Authority civilian staff that responded to their old posts even if they were not on the transition team, just as I did. Sixteen of them were killed along with contract electricians, guards, mechanics, etc.

"I was very lucky that day. I was trapped in the police desk in 5 WTC when 2 WTC collapsed and had to chop our way out after 15 minutes. Then I was on West Street with Port Authority PD when 1 WTC collapsed, and I was caught in the debris cloud.

"I am now Deputy Director of Aviation over EWR, JFK, LGA & TEB. But I have made sure many of the lessons learned have been applied. We now lease space in ten different properties in NY and NJ. All stairwells are painted with glow-in-the-dark paint, and we have battery backup lighting like I installed at WTC after '93 event. We have done full scale evacuation drills, have assembly areas and reporting procedures. Every employee has a PA provided 'go bag.'

" I pray that some good comes out of this tragedy and that people heed the lessons."

Spread the Word... Many thanks to Mark McLaughlin at McLaughlin Ventures for sponsoring this week's Dispatch. McLaughlin Ventures will help you fine tune your business strategy. If you would like to tell Dispatch readers about your services, call me at 415-461-4703 or send e-mail.

--Peter Pike