EPISODE · Sep 9, 2026 · 41 MIN
S6 E36 600+ FDNY Illness Deaths From 9/11 with Guest Ret. Deputy Chief Richard Alles
from Responder Resilience
Twenty-five years after 9/11, more than 600 FDNY members have died from Ground Zero-related illness, nearly double the number lost in the collapse itself. Retired FDNY Deputy Chief Richard Alles arrived 20 minutes after the second tower fell and spent nine months on-site. Today, as Director of 9/11 Community Affairs for Barasch & McGarry, he works full-time helping first responders and survivors access the WTC Health Program and Victim Compensation Fund.In this conversation, Chief Alles covers:What leadership looked like in the chaos of Ground Zero's first hoursHow detective James Zadroga's autopsy became the forensic evidence that passed the Zadroga ActThe current FDNY and nationwide illness death toll, now surpassing 9,000 across all WTC-related illnessWho qualifies for WTC Health Program and VCF benefits, and the exposure-hour requirements by dateWhy skin cancer, not respiratory illness, is the most common Ground Zero-linked conditionHis own two cancer diagnoses, and why he tells everyone with 9/11 exposure "it's not if you'll get sick, it's when"Subscribe for more conversations on first responder mental health, leadership, and culture. YouTube: Responder ResilienceFacebook: ResponderTVLinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify: Responder ResilienceFull archive: ResponderTV.comContact Richard Alles:Website: https://www.post911attorneys.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaraschMcGarry/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baraschmcgarry/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barasch-mcgarry/Contact Responder Resilience:Phone: +1 844-344-6655Email: [email protected] website with past episodes and more: https://www.respondertv.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ResponderResilienceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/responder-resilience-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/responder.tv/This show is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical, psychological, or professional treatment. Views expressed are those of the individuals, not any affiliated agency or organization.In an emergency, call 911. For mental health support, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
Embed this episode
What this episode covers
Twenty-five years after 9/11, more than 600 FDNY members have died from Ground Zero-related illness, nearly double the number lost in the collapse itself. Retired FDNY Deputy Chief Richard Alles arrived 20 minutes after the second tower fell and spent nine months on-site. Today, as Director of 9/11 Community Affairs for Barasch & McGarry, he works full-time helping first responders and survivors access the WTC Health Program and Victim Compensation Fund. In this conversation, Chief Alles ...
Ready to play
S6 E36 600+ FDNY Illness Deaths From 9/11 with Guest Ret. Deputy Chief Richard Alles
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.