Barry Jennings

Barry Jennings (1955 - August 19, 2008) was a New York City Housing Authority official who claims to have experienced an explosion inside of World Trade Center 7 building before the collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Michael Hess, Corporation Counsel for New York City, was with Jennings at the time of the event which Jennings described as an explosion.
Career history
Barry Jennings began his career at the New York City Housing Authority in 1975. He rose through the ranks at the NYCHA over a period of 37 years, ultimately becoming Deputy Director of the Emergency Services Department. In his position as Emergency Coordinator, Mr. Jennings provided NYCHA’s supporting work for the City’s Coastal Storm Plan for hurricane preparedness.
Previous employment positions at the NYCHA included Caretaker and Heating Plant Technician, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, and finally Administrative Superintendent.
Involvement in the events of September 11, 2001
After the first World Trade Center tower was hit, Barry Jennings went together with Michael Hess, New York’s corporation counsel, up to the emergency command center on the 23rd floor of World Trade Center 7. The Emergency Operations Center opened in 1999 to provide a coordinated response to acts of terrorism and other emergencies, such as hurricanes, floods, heat waves and blackouts. Upon arrival at the EOC, Jennings and Hess found no one there. They attempted to exit the building, but became trapped and were unable to go below the sixth floor.
Jennings and Hess went back up to the eighth floor, broke out a window, and called for help. Firefighters came and rescued the men, and escorted them out of the building.<ref name=NCSTAR1-8/>

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