What is the 9/11 NYC Exposure Zone?

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) defines the 9/11 NYC “Exposure Zone” as all of Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street/Clinton Street. For responders, the NYC Exposure Zone also includes additional locations where 9/11-related debris was handled, such as debris removal routes from Manhattan to the Fresh Kills landfill, as well as sites where contaminated vehicles or equipment were used or cleaned.

The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) calls this area the Disaster Area, a larger area that includes all of Lower Manhattan south of Houston Street and several blocks of Brooklyn Heights. 

Both the VCF and WTCHP also recognize the Pentagon and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site as part of the overall 9/11 Exposure Zone.

The Exposure Zone is so large that it is estimated that up to 500,000 people were exposed to the 9/11 toxins. Making matters worse, the toxins contaminated the Exposure Zone for many months, though the end of July 2002, exposing hundreds of thousands of people– residents, workers, students, and visitors– to serious cancers and other health risks. 

Understanding the 9/11 Exposure Zone

The 9/11 Exposure Zone was created to establish eligibility for financial compensation through the VCF. Residents, workers, students, volunteers, commuters, and visitors who were present in the area in the days, weeks, and months following the attacks may have been exposed to the 9/11 dust cloud, even if they weren’t at Ground Zero at the time of the attacks. 

The NYC Exposure Zone Map

The official NYC Exposure Zone map shows the boundaries for eligibility for the 9/11 VCF. This zone was directly affected by the collapse, fires, and airborne dust from Ground Zero. 

9/11 Exposure Zone and Compensation Eligibility

Eligibility requirements and exposure zones differ for each of the two 9/11 programs, as follows:

World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP)

The WTCHP’s exposure zone is known as the NYC Disaster Area. Eligibility for the WTCHP is based on time and duration of presence in the exposure zone, type of activity (e.g., lived, worked, attended school, or cleanup work), and the date range of exposure. The NYC Disaster Area includes the area of Manhattan that is south of Houston Street and any block in Brooklyn that is wholly or partially contained within a 1.5-mile radius of the former World Trade Center (WTC) site. Those present in the NYC Disaster Area any time between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002 may be eligible for benefits through the WTCHP.

9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)

For purposes of filing a claim with the VCF, the 9/11 Exposure Zone includes the area in Manhattan south of the line that runs along Canal Street. For individuals who loaded, unloaded, or drove the trucks containing WTC debris, worked on the barges transporting the debris, and/or worked at the Fresh Kills landfill, the zone also includes any area related to or along the routes of debris removal, such as barges and the Fresh Kills landfill. Those present in the 9/11 Exposure Zone any time between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002 may be eligible for compensation through the VCF.

To be eligible to file a claim with the VCF your illness must be certified by the WTCHP and you must register with the VCF within the required deadline (generally within two years of diagnosis or certification, or when you reasonably knew you were eligible to file a claim).

Proving Presence in the 9/11 Exposure Zone

Many people think that if they didn’t live or work within the official boundaries of the zone, or they were only in the area for a short amount of time, they aren’t eligible for 9/11 benefits. However, if you volunteered in the cleanup, worked nearby (even if only part-time), or went to school or daycare in the area, you may still qualify for benefits if you can prove your presence in the 9/11 Exposure Zone. Documentation must show one of the following: 

• Address of your home, workplace, school, daycare center, or adult daycare center;
• Proof of presence in the dust or dust cloud on 9/11; or
• Proof of eligibility to receive a grant from Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Residential Grant Program.
  
  

Examples of acceptable documentation for proof of presence include:

• Rent or mortgage receipts
• Utility bills from that time period
• Pay stubs, employment records or union logs
• Student identification cards or school records showing enrollment or attendance
• Photos, emails, or pay stubs
• Witness affidavits from your resident manager, neighbor, employer, day care center, school, or volunteer organization
• Medical records indicating treatment in or near the exposure zone
• Grant award letter or documentation from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation or the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation WTC Small Firms Attraction and Retention Act program
  
  

Proving your presence in the Exposure Zone is often difficult, especially with the passage of so many years. If documents are not available from 2021, there are other ways to establish proof of presence to qualify for health and compensation. This includes carefully drafted and comprehensive witness presence statements or witness affidavits.

Consult an Experienced 9/11 VCF Lawyer at Hansen & Rosasco

Understanding the 9/11 Exposure Zone and determining whether you qualify for benefits can be confusing, especially if you only visited the area. A qualified 9/11 VCF attorney can help you:

• Review your history and determine eligibility
• Collect documents to prove your presence
• Navigate the registration and certification process with the WTCHP 
• Register and file a claim with the VCF 
• File an amendment to your claim
• Appeal your claim if it is denied or undercompensated
  
  

Don't assume you're not eligible just because you didn’t live or work at Ground Zero. If you were in or around Lower Manhattan during the months after 9/11, or along debris removal routes, it’s worth having your situation evaluated by an attorney familiar with the details of the eligibility requirements. Contact an experienced 9/11 VCF attorney at Hansen & Rosasco, LLP today for a free consultation to determine your eligibility.