Scott Strauss

  • First Responder
  • Captioned

Retired New York City Police Department officer who helped rescue a Port Authority Police Department officer trapped under debris after the collapse of the Twin Towers.

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Education_Clips-Scott Strauss

This story was filmed as part of our Anniversary in the Schools program, which introduces students to first-person accounts of the 9/11 attacks. Participate in this year’s free program by completing this registration form. 

Teaching Guides

Find tailored questions below for teaching this story.

This story may not be appropriate for elementary learners. Please pre-screen and use at your discretion.

As you listen to Scott’s story, think about the following questions:

  • What was Scott’s main responsibility when he came to the World Trade Center on 9/11?
  • How does Scott describe the conditions of the World Trade Center in the hours after the towers collapsed?
  • What obstacles did Scott face while rescuing Will Jimeno, and how did he overcome them? Can you think of a time in your own life where you were faced with an obstacle and had to overcome it?

As you listen to Scott’s story, consider the following questions:

  • Describe the process Scott had to go through to rescue Will Jimeno. What are some of the unique challenges first responders like Scott faced even after the towers collapsed?
  • How does Scott’s story help you better understand the scale of the disaster on 9/11 and its impact on first responders?
  • Can you think of a time in your own life where you were faced with an obstacle and had to overcome it?

Additional Resources

Scott was a member of the New York Police Department’s Emergency Service Unit (ESU) on 9/11. To learn more about the ESU, including their response on and after 9/11, visit Inside the Collection. To learn more about the nine-month rescue, recovery, and clean-up period, visit our Ground Zero Recovery Timeline. If you’re interested in more first responder stories, visit our Webinar Stories archive.