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CORNING, N.Y. -- A local American Red Cross member is reflecting on the eleven year anniversary of 9/11.

In 2001, Brian McConnell, the executive director of the Steuben Chapter of Emergency Services, was attending a work meeting in Albany when the attack happened.

When the first plane hit, he said they treated it as an aviation response and began to mobilize staff. When the second plane hit, it was obvious something bigger was going on, so they deployed everyone in Albany to New York City.

McConnell was in charge of the call center, accepting donations and volunteers. After responding to such an attack, McConnell says in a time of devastation, everyone supports each other.

"My take away is still that people come together during disasters. And individuals can prepare for that right now by getting involved and getting trained," McConnell said.

McConnell spent three weeks at Ground Zero.