Austin, TX. Was working in the office when someone mentioned that a plane hit the WTC. I didn’t move because I figured some nut had plowed his little private plane into the side which would have bounced off and fallen to the ground. When somebody mentioned the fire I finally went to our office lobby to watch the TV. Horror set in and a few minutes later we watched as the second plane hit. I called home and woke the family to tune in.
After about 15 minutes of watching someone asked, “What is the fire rating on the structure in those buildings?” Answer: 90 minutes to 120 minutes at about 1,100 degrees (Design-Build Cosntruction Firm). There was a pause as everyone started thinking the same thing. I finall said it out loud, “Those buildings are going to collapse.”
A lot of tears that day and not much work got done. Most left for the day.
I do recall thinking and it might have even been mentioned in our office as we watched. “We are at war.”