Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center will honor the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 with a poignant speaker event featuring one of the nation’s most renowned disaster experts.

“American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan” featuring Dr. James Kendra will be held today, Sept. 7, at 6:30 PM.  

Dr. Kendra is the co-author of American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11, as well as a professor in the Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and the director of the Disaster Research Center.

During the Uptown! event, which will be partially sponsored by the West Chester Library, he will discuss the waterfront efforts that were implemented on 9/11. These included boat operators and maritime workers quickly realizing that they had the skills, equipment, and the opportunity to take definite, immediate action in responding to the tragic terrorist attack. He will also explore, in detail, the larger question in his book: What does the science of disasters tell us about not surviving but thriving in the face of calamity?

“We are honored to have Dr. Kendra join us as part of Uptown!’s speaker series to help commemorate the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 and to learn from his valuable insights,” said April Evans, executive director for Uptown! “We are continually striving to engage our community with interesting and relevant speaker events as part of our commitment to educate and entertain our audiences.”

Uptown! will also be honoring all first responders and their daily efforts to keep our communities safe by offering two free tickets to this event. To request tickets, please e-mail christina@uptownwestchester.org. Proof of serving as a first responder will be needed.

Tickets to the event are $20, and Uptown! is also offering a special VIP package that includes a ticket and a signed copy of Dr. Kendra’s book.