DH's family hails from NYC and almost all his siblings were directly affected by the events of 9/11:
Eldest bro worked in the hotel in security and we thought for-sure he had perished. Turns out, they were in Puerto Rico for a long weekend, but he couldn't get thru to anyone on the phone to let them know for three days!
Next sibling: lived in Queens, worked in Manhattan as photographer. Her home was devastated by the horrible debris and dust. They moved to Westchester, breaking their lease. She was in the last train to let out before the first tower was hit.
Another sibling: lived in Liberty Towers (next door) and was allowed back into her home only one time to retrieve whatever she could take out by hand (about ten days later). She moved to New Jersey in a rural area.
Another sibling: his business folded because the tower it was in came down. He never reopened. He lost his secretary of ten years and two clients (one of whom was pregnant).
My good friend from the Steeler Nation was there at a conference on the 55th floor and was helped out of the building by a kindly stranger, who then invited Judy and another lady to his home in Brooklyn (they walked). He kept them both till Friday when her company got a limo to them (maybe to STaten Island, can't remember), and drove them the 400 miles to PA. The company also sent this nice stranger $10,000 as a thank you.
What a day. One of two etched in my memory - the other one having a big anniversary this year too, November, 1963.