From the June 2006 Idaho Observer:

Ground Zero survivor coming to Coeur d’Alene

9/11 Visibility Project—Idaho

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, artist Janette McKinlay was in her 4th- floor apartment directly across the street from the Twin Towers when she heard an awful noise and looked out her window to see the North Tower on fire. Justifiably upset over the scene that was taking place outside her picture window and knowing that it was going to be a long day, McKinlay tried to stay calm by making flower arrangements. And then her entire universe changed suddenly, permanently, when the Towers came down, the dust and debris crashing through her windows and into her apartment.

The story McKinlay has to tell gets us as close to Ground Zero as those of us who were not there will ever come. With the aid of photos she took herself and artistic creations that came to life as her sensitive spirit wrestled with and came to grips with what happened to her heart, her city, her country and her world that day, McKinlay gives a complete picture of her impressions of that day and the days that followed.

Since power did not return to her building until June 22, 2002, she stayed in Oakland, California, for many months until her building had been repaired. Today she is witnessing daily the goings on at Ground Zero, which she describes as a military occupation.

In her presentation she notes that aid stations had already been set up before the crash and were awaiting "customers." Almost immediately, the some 4,000 people in the blast zone were offered free, 24/7 counseling and access to prescription psychological drugs—and still have free access to this day.

McKinlay will be in Coeur d’Alene Monday, August 7. Time and place to be announced.