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Waubonsee Community College invites students, employees, alumni, and community members to an in-person and virtual presentation, 100 Days at Ground Zero, led by hosted by Dr. Mike Fagel, emergency responder, public safety expert, and 9/11 survivor. The event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 11 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the college’s Sugar Grove Campus in the Academic and Professional Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Deployed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Dr. Fagel served over 100 days at Ground Zero in New York City as part of the Fire Department of New York’s (FDNY) safety and logistics teams. His presentation combines vivid personal testimony with rare artifacts, health insights, and operational detail to reflect on one of the most pivotal and devastating moments in American history.
Attendees will view authentic items used, including respirators, hard hats, ID tags, maps, and field notebooks used on-site. Dr. Fagel will share firsthand accounts of the physical, emotional, and psychological toll of 9/11 response work. His talk highlights:
- The long-term health impacts of dust exposure, including cancer and respiratory illness.
- The immense coordination among OSHA, FDNY, FEMA, and other agencies during an unprecedented disaster zone.
- The trauma and resilience of responders, and the lessons in preparedness that remain relevant today.
Dr. Fagel began his teaching career at Waubonsee in the 1970s, has taught at IIT, Northwestern, and the University of Chicago, and has worked extensively with FEMA and DOJ across the U.S. and abroad. His decades of service span emergency management, public safety, and education.
To learn more about this event, visit calendar.waubonsee.edu.
