Following several failed attempts to contact employees in the Customhouse, Jaynes contacted the General Services Administration (GSA) field office and then the Manhattan Property Management Division. She was informed that the Customhouse had been safely evacuated.

Photo Credit: James R. Tourtellotte

Old Glory flies precariously from an office window at New York Customhouse. Customs agents worked diligently to recover the American and Customs flags from within the building.

Although the real property staff was unaware of the extent of the damage, they did know that the proximity of the building made it impossible to work from that location. Logistics asked the commercial broker Grubb & Ellis to find space in the Manhattan area for the 800 employees that occupied 350,000 square feet of space in 6WTC. A day after the attack, the broker had identified more than 20 buildings meeting the space requirements.

Because decisions on office space needed to be made right away, the National Logistics Center arranged with the broker to take three Customs managers from the SAIC/NY, Associate Chief Counsel, and JFK Area Director offices to view the proposed space. Although none of the six buildings viewed could satisfy the facility requirements of all displaced offices, space was found in two separate Manhattan buildings.

On September 14 and 15, Jaynes, and Carol Faddis from Field Procurement Service, made arrangements for new workspace, telephone and computer lines, furniture, painting, electrical work, locks, and many other items.

GSA had agreements in place by September 18, permitting Customs to occupy the two facilities. A dedicated group of vendors and contractors, "New York angels" as termed by Jaynes and Faddis, helped support recovery efforts. Rented furniture was ordered and the Office of Information and Technology began installing the telecommunications cable. By October 15, the last of the displaced employees had furniture, computers, telephones, and basic office supplies.

On October 24, GSA executed a lease for 160,000 square feet in the Newark Center Building located at 1100 Raymond Boulevard in Newark, N.J. Pending renovations to meet Customs standards, the Lab and Area Director employees will be housed in temporary space (see sidebar). The Raymond Boulevard site will become the permanent home to the New York Laboratory and the New York/Newark Area Director Trade Operations and Entry branches.

Relocation information The employees that worked at 6 World Trade Center were recently relocated to various locations and existing facilities at JFK Airport and Port Elizabeth, New Jersey. Address and contact numbers: JFK Airport Building 77, JFK Airport Jamaica, New York 11430 Additional information may be obtained at 718-553-1750 NY/Newark Area 1210 Corbin Street Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201 Additional information may be obtained at 201-443-0200 The following offices are being relocated in 1 Penn Plaza: NY Customs Management Center; Associate Chief Counsel; NY Strategic Trade Center; Regulatory Audit; Field Intelligence Unit/Northeast; National Analysis Specialist Division; National Commodity Specialist Division; Customs Information Exchange; Ferdinand Gallozzi Library; Public Affairs Office; EEO Office; Labor and Employee Relations; National Safety & Occupational Specialist and the Office of Field Operations National Account Manager. 1 Penn Plaza, 10th & 11th Floors New York, New York 10119 Additional information may be obtained at 201-443-0110 The New York Special Agent-in-Charge office is now located at: 601 West 26th Street, 8th floor New York, New York 10001 Additional information may be obtained at 646-230-3200 Temporary home and address of the New York Laboratory is: U.S. Customs Service C/O FDA 158-15 Liberty Avenue Jamaica, New York 11433 Additional information may be obtained at 718-662-5800