September 11, 2001

Barbara Hoffman showed up for work at Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield at 8:15 a.m. expecting a routine day. Her boss, COO David Snow, was out of town on business, but otherwise things were normal in the 29th floor office at 1 World Trade Center.

But not for long. A half hour later, the building shook violently, and file cabinet drawers flew open. The firm’s chief medical officer ran into her office and said,