Photo credit: 9/11 Memorial staff
Accession Number: C.2010.9.1441
Dimensions: 8.5 in X 11 in
Dimensions (Metric): 21.59 cm X 27.94 cm
Credit Line: The Michael Ragsdale 9/11 Aftermath Paper Ephemera Collection
Description
Printed sign with text: "CRIME SCENE | SEARCH AREA | STOP | NO ADMITTANCE BEYOND THIS POINT | UNTIL SEARCH IS COMPLETED | By order of Police Comissioner | POLICE DEPARTMENT."
Historical Notes
Immediately following the attacks, emergency personnel and barricades lined 14th Street, turning lower Manhattan into a “frozen zone.” Mail delivery was suspended. Schools, courthouses, and most businesses were closed. Subway service was disrupted and public bus service stopped. Bridges, tunnels, and roadways were barred to all vehicles except those needed in rescue and recovery efforts. Proof of residence was required to enter the restricted area, effectively isolating those who still lived there. Chinatown was particularly hard-hit, as businesses dependent on tourism lost revenue.
Within a week, the frozen zone contracted significantly, but access to the area remained limited.