Pat Harvey of CBS LA News shared her emotional memories of September 11, 2001, revealing that recalling the day makes her shake. “I’m actually shaking a little bit right now,” she confessed, describing the horror as beyond words. Harvey, a late evening anchor, had learned of the attack through a call from her husband, awakening her to the reality of two planes being hijacked and crashing into the World Trade Center.
She wasn’t alone in her feelings. Colleen Williams from NBC4 and former Fox 11 anchor Steve Edwards also faced the emotional toll while rushing to their newsrooms to report on the event. At UCLA’s Ackerman Student Union, students watched the burning New York skyline live, as the news unfolded.
“Everyone at the station had the same face — a shocked face, almost hollow,” said Williams, who now anchors KNBC’s evening newscasts. “We just couldn’t comprehend the enormity of it. There was some comfort in watching it as a group. But not much.”
Edwards remarked with somber reflection, “There’s really no comparison to whatever events I had covered before.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining humility while reporting, given the magnitude of the tragedy.
Harvey vividly remembered the moment her phone rang at dawn. Her husband advised, “Oh, my God, you should turn on the television.” The shock was immediate. Harvey, a journalist since 1979, recalled her initial disbelief at seeing the flames and people jumping from the buildings.
She relied on her husband’s reassurance that the situation was out of their control and that the closed U.S. airspace meant safety for the West Coast. Despite the turmoil, Harvey focused on her family, including her special needs sister and her daughter, preparing for school in Santa Monica. “I called the school…they were having classes, another good sign,” she noted.
As Harvey navigated to Santa Monica, her daughter asked about potential danger to the Federal Building. Harvey reassured her about their safety, though internally questioned their security. Walking into the newsroom brought some comfort, despite the chaos. “We were busy, but there was also camaraderie,” Harvey recalled, emphasizing the mutual support among colleagues during coverage.
The first newscast was somber, reflecting the mood of the occasion. Harvey noted the emotional impact on her colleagues, “A lot of people were visibly upset.” She acknowledged that even with temporary relief after planes resumed flying, “It was still very raw, very emotional.” The day took an emotional toll, forcing her to separate work from home life.
Williams, like Harvey, woke from a call regarding the unfolding events. Her husband, both commercial and military pilot, informed her of the situation. Initial reports of a small plane changed to a larger one, revealing an act of terrorism. Williams experienced confusion and deep concern for family, especially her brother, a commercial pilot on the East Coast.
“I’m very much the person off screen that you see on-screen,” Williams claimed. “But I remember thinking that day, ‘I don’t know how to do this.’ The need to disseminate information was vital without being hysterical.”
Williams navigated through the day by monitoring news, staying prepared for airtime. Personal concerns intermingled with professional responsibilities, creating a blur of emotions and actions.
Edwards recalled the controlled chaos he encountered upon reaching Fox 11. Moments before, he received a call from colleague Jillian Barberie, alerting him of her lateness due to the events. Edwards assured her of the situation’s gravity, as anchors like Tony McEwing concluded early coverage. Ready to go on air, Edwards emphasized teamwork and careful resource monitoring. “The newsroom was absolutely in go mode,” he stated.
Reflecting on significant moments, Edwards acknowledged his awareness of the tragedy unfolding, without succumbing to speculation. A live broadcast mistake, hinting at the severity with the second tower’s fall, underscored the day’s intense unpredictability.
“I thought of all the hundreds, thousands of people in that building,” Edwards reflected, recognizing the depths of the day’s unknowns.
With 9/11’s anniversary, Edwards remarked on the event’s temporary unity, noting the swift return to past divisions.