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By Kent Larsen
Church Reports NYC Members Safe
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
reported today that all of the 50 to 70 church members who worked in
the twin towers are safe, leading Elder Craig Zwick, President of the
North America Northeast Area to say the Church has been "incredibly
blessed." "At this point it appears there were no fatalities among
church members in and around New York City. We were concerned last
night that possibly we had three civilians who weren't accounted for
near the World Trade Center and three involved in firefighting and
police efforts. All six have been identified and are well," he said.
Elder Zwick indicated that as many as 1,000 church members work in
Manhattan's financial district from all the 10 stakes and three
districts in the region. He said that at least 20 of the members who
worked in the area didn't even come to work Tuesday. Approximately
3,500 Church members live on Manhattan, members of the New York, New
York Stake, which basically consists of Manhattan. However, the
majority of those members live in the more residential area above
midtown Manhattan, miles away from the trade center.
However, a few stake members live in Battery Park City, a relatively
new area of the city built across the street from the World Trade
Center. While those members are apparently safe, they are having
trouble coming and going because of the devastation at the trade
center. The major highway leading into the area, Manhattan's West
Side Highway, has been closed at 14th Street, more than two miles
north of the trade center.
The New York NY Stake reacted to the tragedy by opening its stake
center, located on 66th street, to all comers, but few took up that
invitation. Reportedly just 10 stayed at the stake center, including
four missionaries who have an apartment south of 14th street that
they couldn't reach after the attacks. The stake says that the stake
center will be available again tonight, and in the future on an
as-needed basis.
On Manhattan attempts by local church leaders to provide volunteers
haven't resulted in opportunities because of the large turnouts by
volunteers over the region. News reports indicates that local
emergency officials have turned away many volunteers because they are
overstaffed.
Sources:
LDS Church members safe
Deseret News 12Sep01 D1
By Carrie A. Moore: Deseret News religion editor
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