It’s been more than 11 months since Alan Warren directed the NY Waterway’s ferry rescue of US Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15, 2008.

NY Waterway ferries surround US Airways Flight 1549 after it ditched in the Hudson River Jan. 15. PHOTO BY RON JEFFERS Warren, then the director of ferry operations with the privately owned ferry service, organized the ferries in the Hudson River over the radio as they plucked 143 people off the ditched airliner’s wing and floatation devices. Later that night, he appeared on televisions around the globe when he stood next to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a press conference on the accident.

Since then, Warren has been promoted, appeared on “Oprah,” accepted a citizens award from Monmouth County and made a few presentations on his role in the Miracle on the Hudson.

In the end, though, Warren said he’s simply a lifelong Bayshore resident who never plans on leaving.

Alan Warren, a vice president of NY Waterway, walks along the Keyport waterfront where he docks his boat. CHRIS KELLY staff “We were normal, everyday people who took a lot of pride in what we did. I’m just a guy from Union Beach who went to Keyport High School,” Warren said. “There I am on national TV getting messages from people. ‘You look nervous. You look this, you look that.’ ”

Along the way, though, it’s been a wild ride for the Hazlet resident.

Warren was working at his Weehawken office when Flight 1549 out of LaGuardia Airport hit a flock of geese during takeoff. Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, realizing the plane would not reach LaGuardia or Teterboro Airport in time for an emergency landing, decided to ditch the Airbus A320 in the Hudson River between Midtown Manhattan and Weehawken.

Within moments, ferry captains began piloting their ships toward the partially submerged airliner.

The plane’s crew soon evacuated all 155 people onto the wings and a flotation device, where the icy water bit at their feet and legs.

“It was cold,” Warren remembered. “It was very cold. It was very quiet. It feels like nothing happens quick enough.”

NY Waterway ferries were the first responders on the scene. Crew members used ladders and netting to get people aboard. Another captain on his own brought a company of firefighters aboard, untied his vessel from the dock and took the ship to the drifting plane. NY Waterway ended up bringing 143 of the victims to shore, with emergency personnel rescuing the remainder.

The Port Imperial ferry terminal in Weehawken was turned into a triage center, where office employees gave up coats and extra clothing to help the survivors stay warm in the subfreezing temperatures, Warren said.

NY Waterway trains employees for emergency situations like this, Warren said, but nothing to the level of a ditched aircraft. Operations were further complicated because the emergency landing occurred on a state border, Warren said.

Some of the rescued wound up on different sides of the river, which meant dealing with different agencies in different states when trying to account for everyone involved with the flight, Warren said. Once they were on shore, a few of the rescued were taken to different area hospitals as well.

What they weren’t prepared for was the crush of responders.

“We had every local police department, every local fire department, all the local emergency responders show up, and they were all trying to take control of the situation,” he said. He estimated about 500 rescue workers came to the scene.

On top of that, news groups descended on the scene trying to get the latest updates on the crash landing. Some reporters, he said, dressed as doctors and nurses to get access to the triage center.

“We don’t know how to deal with the media stuff and lawyers. We’re just normal, everyday people,” he said.

While Warren has been a part of past emergency efforts with the ferry service, such as evacuating people from Manhattan during the September 11 attacks and the 2003 blackout, the Miracle on the Hudson is something unique.

“People meet you and they hug you and cry. I don’t know how to explain the feeling,” he said.

Looking back at the accident, Warren said someone had to be watching over them.

“It was almost like the Lord above made it happen. It just happened that we were there and had our boats out there. The next day was even colder and windier. I don’t know if they could have even stayed on the wing,” he said.

Since the accident, Warren has been promoted to vice president of operations at NY Waterway, where he’s involved in hiring, maintenance and inspections. He doesn’t plan on cashing in on his higher position or role in one of the major events of 2009 to leave his Hazlet home.

“I love the small town. I’m not much for change. I don’t like going over the Driscoll Bridge,” he said. “I’ll never leave, to be honest with you. I’ve been here my whole life.”