Rising from Ground Zero

About this book

Rising from Ground Zero presents the story of the FDNY, a proud, long standing, and widely respected organization that suffered intense systemic shock on September 11, 2001. Using over 90 hours of never-before-published author-conducted responder interviews, mainly FDNY firefighters, this book relates the story of battling through the crisis, managing the aftermath, and constructing the future. The interviews provide a vital oral history of the experience of handling the path of the FDNY through the crisis and decades long organizational transformation, one that continues today. They also provide the basis for lessons (often starkly concrete) offered by the authors to all those, especially leaders, facing crisis or seeking fundamental organizational change. Much remains to be told about and, consequently, learned from 9/11. In the case of the FDNY, the day and its long shadow contain foundational stories of who we are as well as who we aspire to be. This book will help readers to see, learn, and apply lessons in crisis management, leading in prolonged hard times, and succeeding in organizational change.