Key facts
- Rudy Giuliani's decision to locate the NYC Office of Emergency Management headquarters in 7 World Trade Center has drawn criticism.
- A memo from former Director of Emergency Management Jerome M. Hauer recommended a Brooklyn location for the command center, citing visibility concerns.
- Giuliani claimed Hauer recommended the World Trade Center site, a statement contested by Hauer.
- The 9/11 Commission noted that faulty radio equipment hindered the response of first responders.
- A 1994 study and a March 2001 assessment found the fire department's radios to be ineffective.
Rudy Giuliani's role in the response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has been subject to scrutiny, particularly regarding preparedness and decision-making. Critics, including journalist Wayne Barrett and producer Dan Collins in their 2006 book "The Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11," have questioned Giuliani's choices.
One key point of contention is the decision to locate the New York City Office of Emergency Management headquarters on the 23rd floor of the 7 World Trade Center building. This decision was criticized given the previous terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. In 2007, Giuliani stated that Jerome M. Hauer, the city's first Director of Emergency Management, was responsible for selecting the WTC site. However, Hauer has disputed this, providing a memo suggesting he recommended a location in Brooklyn and was overruled by Giuliani. During a May 13, 2007, interview with Chris Wallace, Giuliani claimed Hauer recommended the WTC site, but Wallace presented a February 1996 memo from Hauer urging a Brooklyn location due to it being "not as visible a target as buildings in Lower Manhattan."
Further concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of radio communications for first responders. The 9/11 Commission noted that inadequate preparedness, including faulty radio equipment, may have contributed to the deaths of responders. A 1994 study by the mayoral office had already indicated issues with the radios, and replacement radios purchased in early 2001 were also found to be faulty in March 2001. Evacuation orders were reportedly issued over these non-working radios, hindering communication with firefighters inside the Twin Towers.