. >> my name is kayla bergeron. i worked in the north tower for four years.ne on our floor, people who knew each other and who didn't, started walking down 68 flights of stairs together. it was orderly and calm. and for every step we took down, the firefighters and police were climbing up. when we got to the sixth floor, it felt as if the whole world started to shake. it turned out that the south tower had collapsed. suddenly, there was confusion, and we were climbing over wires and desks. port authority policeman helped us find our way through. my friend patty and i got separated from everyone, and we were long thinking there is no way out. then we heard a bullhorn that said if we could hear the sound follow the light. we went this way and that way. and after what seemed like forever, we got to the outdoor staircase. i have walked those stairs a hundred times, to the street, to stop at the post office, never to give it a second thought. but now they were all that separated us from the devastation behind us and life n front of us. today, when i think about th

. >> my name is kayla bergeron. i worked in the north tower for four years.each other, and who didn't, started walking down 68 flights of stairs together. it was orderly and calm. for every step we took down, the firefighters and police were climbing up. when we got to the sixth floor, it felt the whole world -- it felt as if the whole world started to shake. it turned out that the south tower had collapsed. suddenly, there was confusion and we were climbing over wires and port authority policemen helped us find our way through. my friend patty and i got separated from everyone and we were alone thinking there's no way out. then we heard a bullhorn that said that if we could hear the sound, follow the light. we went this way and that way and after what seemed like forever, we got to the outdoor staircase. i had walked those stairs 100 times to go to the train, stop at the post office, never giving them a second thought, but now, they were all that separated us from the devastation behind us and life in front of us. today, when i think about those stairs, what

north tower office worker kayla bergeron: >> i'd walked those stairs a hundred times, now they were allt separated us from the devastation behind us and life in front of us. ♪ >> woodruff: the museum will remain open to survivors, families, and first responders 24 hours a day through tuesday. it opens to the general public on may 21st. we are joined now by the man tasked with protecting the country from future terrorist attacks. among other things. as secretary of homeland security, jeh johnson oversees some 240,000 workers, spread across 22 government agencies. in addition to counter terrorism, he's responsible for everything from border security, to immigration and customs enforcement, to natural disasters. secretary johnson, we welcome you back to the newshour. >> thank you, judy, good to be here. >> woodruff: so we're now 12 and a half years passedded 9/11, how much safer is the united states today then it was then. >> well, i think we have come a long way since 9/11 which happens to be my birthday. i remember the day well. i am a new yorker. i was in manhattan on september 11th, 20

. >> my name is kayla bergeron. i worked in the north tower for four years.. it was orderly and called. for every step we took down the firefighters and police were climbing up. when we got to the sixth floor it felt as if the zero world started to shake. turned out that the south tower had collapsed. suddenly there was confusion. we were climbing over wires and desks. port authority policeman helped us find a way through. but my friend patti and i guess separate from everyone. we were thinking, there is no way out. when we heard a bull horn is said that if we could hear the sound follow the light. we went this way and that way. after what seemed like forever we got to the outdoor staircase. i had walked those stairs 100 times toward the train, stopped at the post office, never giving them a second thought. but now they were all that separated us from the devastation behind us and life in front of us. today when i think about those stairs, what they represent to me is resiliency of the people there that day trying to help these other and later the resiliency

that these hard concrete stairs were once for people the last and survival.t path to my name is kayla bergerontower forn the north four years. that day, everyone on our floor, people who knew each other, and who didn't, started walking down stairs together. and forrderly and calm every step we took down, the wereighters and police climbing up. the sixth floor, it felt as if the whole world shake. to it turned out that the south tower had collapsed. was confusion. we were climbing over wires and desks. port authority policemen helped us find our way through. friend, patty and i got wearated from everyone, and were long thinking, there's no out. then we heard a bullhorn, said if we could hear the sound, follow the light. this way, and that way, likefter what seemed forever, we got to the outdoor veesy staircase. had walked those stairs 100 stop to go to the train, at the post office, never given a second thought. but now, they were all that separated us from the devastation behind us and life us.ront of today, when i think about those represent tothey me is resiliency of the people that day tryi

. >> my name is kayla bergeron. i worked in the north tower for four years. down 68 flights of stairs together. it was orderly and calm. and for every step we took down, the firefighters and police were climbing up. when we got to the sixth floor, it felt the whole world -- it felt as if the whole world started to shake. it turned out that the south tower had hcollapsed. suddenly there was confusion. we were climbing over wires and desks. port authority policemen helped us find our way through. but my friend patty and i got separated from everyone. and we were long thinking, there's no way out. then we heard a bullhorn said that if we could hear the sound, follow the light. we went this way and that way. and after what seemed like forever, we got to the outdoor veazey staircase. now, i had walked those stairs 100 times to go to the train, stop at the post office, never giving them a second thought. but now they were all that separated us from the devastation behind us and life in front of us. today when i think about those stairs, what they represent to me is