first responders

Unforeseen health consequences from toxic 9/11 dust have been on the rise for 16 years since September 11th, 2001. Even more shocking; most of the impacted individuals were only caught in the dust cloud or exposed for less than 60 minutes. As a result, many have come down with a host of devastating health conditions ranging from the rarest of cancers to a variety of respiratory diseases—sometimes occurring simultaneously.

Mike Barasch was invited to address the delegates at the UFOA Education Seminar. Mike spoke about the legal rights and compensation available to all first responders who have been diagnosed with any of the 68 cancers linked to the WTC toxic dust. He reviewed the cancer findings reported by Dr. Kerry Kelly of the Bureau […]

The death on September 10 of a Yonkers policeman from 9/11-related cancer did not arouse sufficient support for Congress to renew the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, before it expired on September 30. But Lt. Roy McLaughlin’s life and untimely death should stand as a reminder of the urgent need to extend […]

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many firefighters, police offers, public workers and everyday citizens rushed to Ground Zero to help search for and rescue survivors. As time has passed, many first responders have developed severe illnesses from 9/11-related work. The following are several types of illness first responders are at a significant […]

On July 8, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bipartisan bill extending the work of a task force designed to provide assistance to 9/11 first responders. The bill was sponsored by two Brooklyn lawmakers and extends the efforts of the Worker Protection Task Force Act for five more years. Through the extension, the task […]

*** UPDATE: Since the date of this blog post, the deadline for filing a claim with the Victim Compensation Fund has been extended until December 18, 2020. *** Advocates from the World Trade Center Health Program are urging lawmakers in Congress to pass an extension of a law that provides medical benefits for 9/11 first […]