South Florida Remembers 9/11 and Prepares for the Future
Thursday, Sep 9, 2010 | Updated 7:28 PM EDT
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People gather at Ground Zero during a 9/11 memorial ceremony September 11, 2008 in New York City.
Photos of the terror are still implanted in Lt. Charlie McDermott's mind.
The City of Miami's Urban Search and Rescue Team was in Manhattan 27 hours after the Twin Towers fell and took photos along the way to document what they had observed.
McDermott said always carries 9/11 with him.
"Every year about this time, when it comes to the anniversary and we remember," he recalled. "It was hard. It was really hard on us,"
The warehouse where McDermott works, known as Florida Task Force Two, houses a big part of what the 210 members of this disaster response team would need to handle anything from a hurricane to a terrorist attack.
"Prior to 9/11, in our old system, we used to hand load boxes," said Capt. Joseph Zahralban.
Now, Miami Fire Capt. Joseph Zahralban, who oversees the operation, the warehouse is loaded with gear and communications that were not available before.
Zahralban is confidant that his team is ready for whatever may transpire.
"We are always in a state of preparing. Whatever the new threat might be, we will anticipate that threat and start training for it," he said.
Palates have already been set up to be dropped into any area of South Florida. The crates are color coded: They turn red when there is hazardous material, yellow for more basic supplies, such as a toilet.
Not far away at the Port of Miami, NBCMiami was given exclusive access to the task force's area of port security.
"We have to leverage technology, and we are using the best available technology right now," said Hector Pesquera, a Port Security Director.
Today, the port spends four times the money it did 9 years ago on preventing trouble, and is being honored for its high tech camera, radiation and security programs.
"As the world leader in cruise, we recognize that the Port of Miami could potentially be a target," said Bill Johnson, a Port of Miami Director.
Although there are great advancements in security technology, citizens must still play a vital role in stopping trouble.
"I think citizens underestimate their value in the community and in this process just being aware of your surroundings
can make all the difference in the world," says Zahralban.
For more on preparing your family, visit fema.gov or miami.gov.
