Louis “Lou” Giaccardo, an Audubon native who survived the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, spoke with students at Camden County College on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. The program, held at Civic Hall on the Blackwood campus, was organized by the college’s Center for Cultural Engagement as “Lou Giaccardo: A 9/11 Story of Courage, Preparedness, Resilience and Service,” according to the college.
What the published accounts say
A contemporaneous 2001 account in the Tampa Bay Times reported that Giaccardo was working on the 87th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower when the first plane struck the North Tower. The account said he saw the impact from his office, directed colleagues to leave and continued down a stairwell after an announcement on the 40th floor told occupants to remain in the building. It identified his employer as Corporation Service Co. and said about 20 employees were in his office that morning.
The published accounts differ on where Giaccardo was in the stairwell when the second plane struck: The Tampa Bay Times placed him near the 38th floor, while 6abc Philadelphia’s report from the college event placed him on the 55th floor. The college’s event listing says Giaccardo helped nearly 40 people leave the floor and escaped about 25 minutes before the South Tower collapsed.
A continuing public account
What research and memorial records add
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, interviews with occupants found that full-building evacuation in both World Trade Center towers presented physical challenges, including stairwell descents in which evacuees were often unprepared to encounter transfer hallways. NIST says its investigation contributed to more than 40 International Code Council building-code changes, including improvements to exit stairwells and emergency elevators, according to the agency’s World Trade Center investigation.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum says its oral-history collection preserves recorded interviews with responders, survivors, family members and others affected by the attacks. In New Jersey, NJ.com reported that the 25th anniversary in 2026 was being marked with ceremonies, vigils, prayer services and memorials across all 21 counties.
Giaccardo attended Audubon High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey, according to the college’s event information. He has spoken publicly about his experience for 25 years, including at a 2011 Collingswood memorial ceremony and a 2017 appearance at the Deptford Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, according to Centers Health Care.
6abc reported that Giaccardo told the Camden County College audience he wants younger people to understand what happened on Sept. 11 and the courage and unity that followed. The station reported that he plans to continue sharing his experience so the attacks will not be forgotten.
