Scott Forbes, Senior Database Administrator for Fiduciary Trust, which had leased space in WTC 2 since its erection:

"... myself and a lot of my colleagues were also working the weekend of 9/8 and 9/9 ... Because of a "power down" notified by the Port Authority. Power was being switched off for a 36 hr period in the top half of tower ... You have to understand how unprecedented the power down was. To shutdown all of our financial systems, all inter-related and with connections and feeds to many outside vendors and suppliers was a major piece of work. Additionally, the power outage meant that many of the 'ordinary' building features were not operating, such as security locks on doors, cameras, lighting, etc. ... we were notified some 3 or 4 weeks in advance by the Port Authority-NY/NJ that there would be a power outage ... it was for re-cabling. ... I understood it was something to do with the power supplies. ... there were several guys in overalls, carrying building gear, toolboxes, etc. inside the building. Remember there were no security locks on doors or security cameras, so access was free unless a door was locked by a manual key. Seeing so many 'strangers' who didn't work at the WTC was unusual. ... No ethnic consistency at all and I don't remember any badges or labels of any sort. .. I've sent emails and letters to the 9/11 commission and the Port Authority of NY/NJ, without response ..."

Complete interview. Local backup.

Ben Fountain, 42, a financial analyst with Fireman's Fund, was coming out of the Chambers Street Station, headed for his office on the 47^th floor of the south tower:

"How could they let this happen? They knew this building was a target. Over the past few weeks, we'd been evacuated a number of times, which is unusual. I think they had an inkling something was going on."

Steve Forbes did not think the evacuations were unusual.

Newsday excerpt:

Heightened Security Alert Had Just Been Lifted

By Curtis L. Taylor and Sean Gardiner

STAFF WRITERS

September 12, 2001

The World Trade Center was destroyed just days after a heightened security alert was lifted at the landmark 110-story towers, security personnel said yesterday.

Daria Coard, 37, a guard at Tower One, said the security detail had been working 12-hour shifts for the past two weeks because of numerous phone threats. But on Thursday, bomb-sniffing dogs were abruptly removed.

"Today was the first day there was not the extra security," Coard said. "We were protecting below. We had the ground covered. We didn't figure they would do it with planes. There is no way anyone could have stopped that."

Security guard Hermina Jones said officials had recently taken steps to secure the towers against aerial attacks by installing bulletproof windows and fireproof doors in the 22nd-floor computer command center...

End of Newsday excerpt.