American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11

Abstract

Following the attacks on September 11, hundreds of thousands of people evacuated Manhattan on boats. Eclipsed by tragedy, this successful mass evacuation is often overlooked. American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11 examines the success of this maritime evacuation, drawing from interviews with boat operators and other waterfront workers. Authors Kendra and Wachtendorf were involved in many studies on 9/11 through their positions at the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware. The present study began in 2005, as a follow-up to other research they conducted on 9/11. By directly interviewing these maritime workers, the authors were able to collect rich and evocative stories about the largest maritime evacuation in American history. What makes this case even more remarkable is that these efforts were carried out by civilians with no formal training or instruction. This process challenges the widespread notion that disasters give way to social disorder. The case of these maritime workers shows that altruism and efficiency can and do exist after disasters, but more importantly, American Dunkirk provides an illuminating look into how people collectively define and respond to a traumatic event. Through an analysis of these participants’ actions, the authors present an understanding of how people use their own skills and knowledge to respond to disasters.