By Linda Taaffe

Los Altos was not immune from the shock and disbelief that spread across the nation Sept. 11 after terrorists obliterated the World Trade Center towers from New York’s skyline and destroyed a portion of the Pentagon.

The recurrent stories of families and friends waiting to hear from loved ones in the disaster, the church vigils and long lines of blood bank donors echoed nationwide were the same in Los Altos just hours after the attack. Many residents knew someone in the attack or of someone who knew someone involved.

Barbara Olson, wife of former Los Altos resident and U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson, was aboard the jetliner that crashed into the Pentagon. She helped disclose key information about the hijackers from her cell phone just seconds before the plane collided with the building.

Cynthia Rapp was glued to the television at downtown’s Aye Aye Aye during her lunch hour. After several failed attempts to reach her family in Washington, D.C., by phone and ham radio, the Los Altos mother hoped television would broadcast the names of survivors. Rapp said her nerves were frayed. Going to work and keeping a regular routine seemed better than sitting at home alone, Rapp said.

Rapp said her sister-in-law and brother were working in the capitol building near to the Pentagon when the plane crashed. Her 3-year-old nephew was in a day-care center at the Capitol.

“My friend called and told me to turn on the TV,” Rapp said. “My brother was close to the Pentagon in a meeting. He said it was like a quake hit. I didn’t know until 11 a.m. if he was OK. I kept hitting redial. It was sheer luck that I got through to my sister-in-law. I still don’t know about the rest of my family there,” Rapp said.

At Los Altos High School, students and staff also waited to hear about family members.

One student said his sister was working at the World Trade Center.

“I got to talk to her. Thank God she’s OK … You just don’t know how lucky you can be,” he said.

Besides a few canceled school activities and three additional counselors on campus, there were few changes to the school’s daily routine. School officials said attendance was normal. About five students remained home waiting to hear from family members in New York and Washington, D.C.

Principal George Perez said he hoped to keep the day “business as usual.”

Los Altos City Hall also tried to maintain business as usual, refusing to cancel that evening’s council meeting.

“I think it is more reassuring to the public for government to go on,” said Mayor King Lear. “Government will continue.”

While some residents tried to go about their regular routines, others prepared themselves for more possible attacks.

At the Preparedness Center in Mountain View, customers lined up with survival gear in hand. One Sunnyvale man purchased nine gas masks, a case of butane, numerous guides on germ warfare as well as other survival items, which totaled $2,039.25.

“I don’t think people understand how serious this is. They’re still in shock. I’m going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” he said.