Everything we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse

WJZ
26 Mar 202430:56

Summary

TLDRA major bridge collapse in Baltimore, caused by a cargo ship collision, has resulted in the tragic loss of six construction workers. The incident led to a swift and coordinated rescue effort, which has now transitioned to a recovery operation due to the challenging conditions. The bridge, a critical part of the city's infrastructure, has been a symbol of connection and economic vitality. The ongoing investigation, led by the National Transportation Safety Board, will examine the ship's operations and safety protocols, while the community comes together to support the victims' families and begin the process of rebuilding.

Takeaways

  • 🌉 The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship, leading to a major transportation disruption and a significant impact on the local community.
  • 🚨 Emergency services rescued two individuals from the incident, one with minor injuries and the other seriously injured but later discharged from the hospital.
  • 🚢 The cargo ship involved in the collision lost propulsion and control, issuing a Mayday call which allowed authorities to close the bridge to traffic and potentially save lives.
  • 🔍 An investigation is underway by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other agencies to determine the cause of the accident and assess safety protocols.
  • 🌟 The community and officials have come together in a show of support, with a vigil held for the six missing construction workers presumed dead.
  • 🛠️ The Port of Baltimore, a major economic hub, has been closed indefinitely, affecting supply chains and causing rerouting of traffic and cargo.
  • 🌐 The incident has garnered national attention, with federal officials pledging support and resources to assist in recovery and rebuilding efforts.
  • 🔗 The bridge, a symbol of the community, connected key areas and its collapse has deeply affected residents, many of whom have personal ties to the structure.
  • 🚨 The search and rescue operation has transitioned to a recovery mission, with the six construction workers now presumed dead.
  • 🌧️ Weather and water conditions have complicated the rescue and recovery efforts, with challenges such as low visibility and cold temperatures.
  • 🔄 The recovery process is expected to be lengthy and complex, involving coordination between multiple agencies and careful navigation of the bridge debris.

Q & A

  • What was the cause of the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse?

    -The Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed after one of its columns was hit by a cargo ship.

  • How many people were initially reported as rescued from the bridge collapse?

    -Two people were initially reported as rescued from the bridge collapse.

  • What was the condition of the person who was seriously injured and taken to Shock Trauma?

    -The person who was seriously injured and taken to Shock Trauma was discharged after receiving treatment.

  • What was the reaction of the local community to the bridge collapse?

    -The local community was in shock and many reported feeling the ground shake due to the impact. Some residents expressed disbelief and shared memories of the bridge.

  • What was the role of the off-duty Shock Trauma staff in the aftermath of the bridge collapse?

    -The off-duty Shock Trauma staff contacted the hospital and offered their assistance in the mass casualty incident.

  • What was the Maryland governor's statement regarding the bridge collapse?

    -Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated that the preliminary investigation points to an accident and that there was no credible evidence of a terrorist attack. He assured that the administration is working closely with leaders from all levels of government and society to respond to the crisis.

  • What was the impact of the bridge collapse on the Port of Baltimore?

    -The Port of Baltimore was forced to close indefinitely, which is expected to cause significant supply chain disruptions. The port is one of the nation's largest shipping hubs, handling a record amount of cargo and being the top port in America for both imports and exports of automobiles and light trucks.

  • What was the timeline between the pilot's notification of a problem and the collision?

    -Approximately 2 minutes elapsed between when the pilot and crew first notified Maryland authorities of an issue with the cargo ship and when the collision with the bridge occurred.

  • What was the significance of the Mayday call from the cargo ship?

    -The Mayday call from the cargo ship was critical as it allowed officials to limit some traffic on the bridge before the crash, potentially saving lives.

  • What was the status of the search and rescue operation for the missing workers?

    -The active search and rescue efforts were suspended as officials did not believe they would find the missing individuals alive. The operation transitioned to a recovery phase.

  • What challenges were faced during the recovery efforts?

    -The recovery efforts faced challenges such as difficult water temperatures, structures from the bridge in the water that could move with tides and currents, and the presence of a large amount of debris.

Outlines

00:00

🌉 Bridge Collapse in Baltimore

The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore has tragically collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m., with the bridge falling into the water and a tractor trailer on it at the time. The Baltimore City Fire Department is unsure of the number of vehicles involved, but two people have been rescued, one with serious injuries and the other refusing medical treatment. The hospital is preparing for a potential mass casualty incident, and off-duty staff have offered their assistance. The rescue effort is challenging due to low water visibility and temperature.

05:02

🚢 Cargo Ship's Mayday Call

The cargo ship involved in the collision had lost propulsion and notified the Maryland Department of Transportation of the potential for a collision with the bridge. The ship sent a Mayday call after losing power, allowing officials to limit traffic on the bridge, potentially saving lives. The NTSB has launched an investigation, but they were unable to access the ship's recorders on the day of the incident. Maryland Governor Wes Moore reassured the public that the preliminary investigation points to an accident, with no evidence of a terrorist attack. The governor emphasized the state's resilience and commitment to rebuilding the bridge and port.

10:03

🛠️ Impact on the Port and Economy

The collapse of the bridge has led to the closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the nation's largest shipping hubs. The port handles a significant amount of cargo and supports over 15,000 jobs, making it a critical component of the regional and national economy. The halt in operations will have a substantial impact on supply chains, and efforts will be made to divert traffic to other ports and manage the disruption. The bridge itself was a vital part of the infrastructure, with over 30,000 vehicles crossing daily, and its reconstruction will be a significant undertaking.

15:04

🚨 Search and Rescue Transitions to Recovery

After extensive search and rescue efforts, officials have made the difficult decision to transition from active search and rescue to recovery operations for the six missing individuals. The water temperature and dangerous conditions for divers have made it unlikely that any survivors will be found. The Coast Guard and other agencies will continue to work on recovering the victims and clearing the channel, with the support of the community and First Responders.

20:05

🕵️ Investigation and Supply Chain Disruptions

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other agencies are investigating the incident, focusing on the operations and safety protocols of the cargo vessel. The closure of the Port of Baltimore will cause significant supply chain disruptions, and efforts will be made to mitigate these effects. Federal funds may be used to lessen the impact on workers and commerce, and the investigation will continue to explore the causes of the accident and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.

25:06

💔 Community Support and Vigil

The Baltimore community has come together in the wake of the tragedy, showing support for the missing workers and First Responders. A vigil was held at Mount Olive Baptist Church, with community leaders, including the mayor and county executive, in attendance. The community is grappling with the loss of the iconic Key Bridge and the presumed deaths of the construction workers. The outpouring of support and unity during this difficult time reflects the strength of the Baltimore and Maryland communities.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Francis Scott Key Bridge

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a major bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, which has tragically collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. This bridge, named after the writer of the Star-Spangled Banner, was an essential part of the local infrastructure, connecting communities and playing a vital role in the regional economy.

💡Cargo Ship

The cargo ship involved in the incident is a large motor vessel responsible for transporting goods. In this case, it collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, leading to the bridge's collapse. The ship's loss of propulsion and control is a central focus of the investigation.

💡Collapse

The term 'collapse' refers to the sudden falling down or caving in of a structure. In the context of the video, it describes the catastrophic event where the Francis Scott Key Bridge fell into the water after being hit by a cargo ship, leading to significant damage and loss of life.

💡Rescue Efforts

Rescuers' efforts refer to the coordinated actions taken by emergency personnel to save lives and provide assistance in the aftermath of disasters or accidents. In this video, rescue efforts are the attempts to save people from the collapsed bridge and the water below.

💡Trauma Facility

A trauma facility is a medical center specifically equipped and staffed to provide care for patients with serious, life-threatening injuries. In this context, it refers to the hospital where the injured person from the bridge collapse was treated.

💡Investigation

An investigation in this context refers to the systematic examination and inquiry conducted to determine the cause and responsibility for the bridge collapse. It involves a thorough analysis of the events leading up to the accident, the actions taken during and after the incident, and any potential safety violations.

💡Supply Chain Disruptions

Supply chain disruptions occur when there are unexpected events or changes in the supply chain that prevent the smooth flow of goods and services from the manufacturer to the end consumer. In this case, the closure of the Port of Baltimore due to the bridge collapse presents a significant disruption to the supply chain.

💡Community Support

Community support refers to the assistance, encouragement, and solidarity provided by members of a community during challenging times. In the video, this is exemplified by the outpouring of support for the victims of the bridge collapse and the first responders.

💡First Responders

First responders are professionals who are trained to be among the first people to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide immediate assistance, such as medical aid, rescue, or evacuation. In this video, first responders include the Coast Guard, local emergency personnel, and others involved in the search and rescue operations after the bridge collapse.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures, facilities, and systems needed for the operation of a society or organization. In this context, the Francis Scott Key Bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure that has been destroyed, impacting transportation and the economy.

Highlights

The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore has collapsed after a cargo ship hit one of its columns.

The Baltimore City Fire Department is unsure of how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse.

A tractor-trailer was on the bridge when it collapsed, and video footage captures the dramatic moment of the ship's impact.

Two people have been rescued so far, with one being discharged from Shock Trauma after serious injuries.

The visibility in the water and the temperature, which was below 50°, made the rescue efforts extremely challenging.

One of the rescued individuals refused medical treatment, indicating they were not seriously injured.

People miles away reported feeling the ground shake due to the impact of the collapse.

Crews worked for hours in the dark and cold Patapsco River to rescue those who fell into the water.

The NTSB has launched an independent investigation into the incident.

The tugs on the cargo ship Dolly were loose prior to the collision, but it is not required for an escort to be present when passing under the bridge.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated that the preliminary investigation points to an accident and there is no credible evidence of a terrorist attack.

A Mayday call was sent by the ship after losing power, allowing officials to limit traffic on the bridge before the crash.

The Port of Baltimore remains closed and traffic is rerouted, with many expressing disbelief at the loss of the Key Bridge.

The bridge collapse has had a significant impact on the community and the economy, as it was a key part of the infrastructure and daily life in Baltimore.

The search and rescue operation has been suspended, as it is believed that the six missing individuals are likely deceased.

The recovery operation will continue in hopes of finding and recovering the six missing construction workers.

The Port of Baltimore is one of the nation's largest shipping hubs, and its closure will have a significant effect on supply chains and local jobs.

Community members and leaders came together for a vigil to support the families of the missing workers and to pray for the First Responders.

Transcripts

00:10

we're coming on the air this hour with

00:12

some breaking news out of Baltimore this

00:14

is where the Francis Scott Key bridge

00:16

has collapsed after one of its columns

00:18

was hit by a cargo ship the Baltimore

00:21

City Fire Department says it is unsure

00:24

how many vehicles were on the bridge

00:25

when this happened but there was a

00:28

tractor trailer on it take a look at

00:30

this

00:31

video cbs's Jared Hill is here with more

00:34

on this story Jared this video just so

00:36

dramatic I mean this is unbelievable

00:38

Chanel looking at this video where you

00:40

see the ship hit one of the columns and

00:42

then the bridge just collapsed into the

00:44

water a major bridge in Baltimore

00:46

Maryland has collapsed this happened

00:48

just before 1:30 a.m. a cargo ship was

00:52

seen crashing into the Francis Scott Key

00:54

bridge sing a huge section barreling

00:56

into the water the bridge is more than a

00:58

mile and a half long and officials

01:01

earlier this hour gave us an update we

01:03

learned there that two people have so

01:05

far been rescued we heard just uh within

01:08

the hour that the person who was

01:10

transported here and treated here

01:11

following that bridge collapse has been

01:14

discharged from Shock Trauma we've heard

01:17

from Shock Trauma officials that there

01:19

will be a press conference from

01:20

Physicians within the next 20 minutes or

01:23

so now because of HIPPA they're not

01:25

going to be able to provide much

01:26

information on the patient who the

01:28

patient is and the types of injuries

01:31

that they had and that they were dealing

01:33

with but they are going to discuss how

01:35

the hospital was prepared for this mass

01:37

casualty incident and how off-duty Shock

01:40

Trauma staff contacted the hospital and

01:42

offered their assistance as well as them

01:44

being a worldclass leading integrated

01:46

trauma facility I know we talked about a

01:48

lot of things that made this rescue

01:51

effort very Grim such as the visibility

01:54

in the water the temperature of the

01:56

water like we've said below 50° makes it

01:59

very difficult to survive and that's

02:00

assuming that your head is above the

02:02

water and that you can breathe during

02:04

this time we know these two individuals

02:06

were rescued pretty shortly after the

02:08

initial collapse one of them actually

02:11

refused medical treatment I guess they

02:13

walked away they weren't seriously

02:14

injured the other one was seriously

02:16

injured and arrived here at Shock Trauma

02:18

in serious condition but it is hopeful

02:21

that they have been discharged people

02:23

miles away reported feeling the ground

02:26

shake the explosive impact jolting them

02:29

from their beds well I was sleeping

02:31

about 1:30 I felt the vibration of the

02:34

house vibrating and heard the Big Bang

02:36

come down looked out on the water as you

02:38

can see you see the ship out there

02:40

sinking the bridge is gone and uh it was

02:43

it's unbelievable unbelievable I've been

02:44

in this neighborhood 5 57 years I

02:47

remember when they started building that

02:48

bridge and can't believe it's gone I

02:51

heard a very loud noise felt like or

02:55

heard like thunder to me however it's

02:56

like very long Thunder but it was very

02:59

loud I live not too far from here in

03:01

dundock so I thought it was Thunder or

03:04

possibly a train Crews worked for hours

03:06

in the dark cold Patapsco River to

03:09

rescue those who plunged into the water

03:11

members of a construction crew repairing

03:13

potholes on the structure I hope ever

03:15

single one of them's okay I prayed for

03:17

them I'll continue to pray until they're

03:19

found or okay investigators will look at

03:22

all aspects of the ship and the

03:26

bridge this is video from our WJZ crew

03:29

that passed under the Key Bridge 11

03:32

hours before its collapse my dad he

03:34

takes it the middle of the night to

03:36

basically like right in the morning cuz

03:38

that's what time he gets off so I

03:40

imagine him going over that bridge at

03:42

like 11:00 a.m. like it's got to be

03:44

crazy I'm sure you're going to hug your

03:46

dad when you see him I am the biggest

03:48

hug the port remains closed traffic

03:51

rerouted many simply cannot believe the

03:55

Key Bridge is gone you know we go

03:57

through a lot sometimes Baltimore gets a

03:59

bad rep

04:00

but uh that's the one amazing thing

04:02

about our community we all come together

04:04

and and we fight especially in times of

04:06

need and tragedy like this one Nicole

04:08

skanga has been following this story for

04:10

us all day in Maryland Nicole great to

04:13

have you with us you have some new

04:15

reporting about what happened on the

04:17

ship in the minutes before the bridge

04:19

was hit what can you tell

04:21

us yeah I want to outline a few things

04:24

uh Robert good to be with you first and

04:26

foremost I just heard from the Baltimore

04:28

County Executive he told me that roughly

04:31

2 minutes elapsed between when the pilot

04:35

and crew first notified Maryland

04:37

authorities that something was wrong

04:40

with the cargo containers ship Dolly and

04:43

when that Collision occurred at

04:45

approximately 1:30 a.m. that is how

04:48

quickly local law enforcement here had

04:51

to jump into action in order to close

04:54

down traffic to and from the bridge

04:57

we're also learning uh from local and

04:59

Federal law enforcement officials that

05:01

the tugs on the dolly were loose prior

05:05

uh to the Collision that occurred uh

05:08

that it is standard operating procedure

05:10

for the tugs to escort uh these large

05:13

container ships out of the port out of

05:15

their docking station but that it is not

05:17

required for an escort to be there uh

05:21

when when going under the Francis Scott

05:23

Key bridge and so an important note

05:25

there and also key for law enforcement

05:28

uh in the coming days and spefic

05:29

specifically the NTSB which has launched

05:31

its independent investigation of this is

05:34

getting on board the ship they were not

05:37

able NTSB to get on the ship today to

05:39

get those recorders to determine at what

05:41

time did the power go off at what time

05:45

uh did the ships controls really get out

05:47

of whack here I was told by law

05:50

enforcement uh by internal briefing

05:53

papers that uh there were alarms that

05:56

rang out aboard the dolly uh that the

05:59

pilot in crw really had seconds to run a

06:01

few system checks and that it was at

06:04

that moment that the system checks

06:05

failed that they reached out and

06:07

notified Maryland authorities this

06:09

morning Maryland governor Wes Moore says

06:11

the ship sent a Mayday call after losing

06:14

power this enabled officials there to

06:16

limit some traffic on the bridge before

06:18

the

06:19

crash I recognize that many of us are

06:22

scared right now and so I want to be

06:25

very clear about where everything

06:27

stands we are still investing tigating

06:29

what happened but we are quickly

06:32

Gathering details the preliminary

06:35

investigation points to an accident we

06:38

haven't seen any credible evidence of a

06:41

terrorist attack our Administration is

06:44

working closely with leaders from all

06:46

levels of government and Society to

06:49

respond to this crisis and not but just

06:51

by addressing the immediate aftermath

06:54

but also by building a state that is

06:57

more resilient and a state that's more

07:00

safe and I want to bring in Nicole

07:02

skanga for more on this story she's on

07:03

the ground near the scene of this

07:05

collapse at this media checkpoint uh

07:07

Nicole you've been there all morning

07:08

hearing about this Mayday call that

07:10

happens uh before the bridge went down

07:13

May indicate what led up to this whole

07:17

incident yeah the city of Baltimore

07:19

right now in shock and a dramatic

07:22

retelling from the governor just then

07:23

about this Mayday call now CBS News has

07:26

obtained an unclassified Memo from the

07:29

Department of Homeland Security that

07:31

indicates uh the cargo ship had lost

07:34

propulsion it was a motor ship it had

07:36

lost propulsion and the memo goes on to

07:38

say that the The Vessel notified the

07:40

Maryland Department of Transportation

07:42

that they had lost control of the vessel

07:45

and that a collision with the bridge was

07:47

possible just moments ago I asked the

07:49

Baltimore mayor Mayor Scott about this

07:51

moment he said it was critical in order

07:54

for emergency Personnel to get to the

07:56

scene and for law enforcement to push

07:59

back any further traffic so that no one

08:01

else crossed so this Mayday call he says

08:04

saved many lives here in Baltimore so I

08:07

want to speak briefly about the terrible

08:08

incident and accident that happened in

08:11

Baltimore this morning at about 1:30

08:14

container ship struck the Francis Scott

08:16

Key bridge which I've been over many

08:18

many times commuting from the state of

08:21

Delaware either our trainer by car been

08:23

to Baltimore Harvard many times and uh

08:27

the bridge collapsed sending several

08:28

people Vehicles into the water into the

08:31

river and the multiple US Coast Guard

08:33

units which are stationed very nearby

08:35

thank God were immediately deployed

08:37

along with local emergency personnel and

08:40

the Coast Guard is leading the response

08:41

to the port where representatives from

08:43

the Federal Highway Administration the

08:45

FBI the Department of Transportation the

08:48

Army Corps of Engineers as well as

08:50

Maryland officials and Baltimore Police

08:52

and Fire they're all working together to

08:55

coordinate an emergency response

08:57

officials at the scene EST eight people

09:00

were unaccounted for still not still

09:02

were unaccounted for that number might

09:04

change two have been rescued one without

09:07

Injury One in critical condition and the

09:09

search and rescue operation is

09:11

continuing for all those remaining as we

09:13

speak I spoke with Governor Moore this

09:16

morning as well as the mayor Baltimore

09:18

the county executive United to both

09:20

United States senators and the

09:21

congressman and my secretary

09:23

transportation is on the scene I told

09:26

them we're going to send all the federal

09:28

resources they need as we respond to

09:30

this emergency and I mean all the

09:32

federal resources and we're going to

09:34

rebuild that Port together everything so

09:36

far indicates that this was a terrible

09:38

accident at this time we have no other

09:41

indication no other reason to believe

09:43

there's any intentional act here

09:45

Personnel on board the ship were able to

09:47

alert the Maryland Department of

09:48

Transportation that they had lost

09:50

control of their vessel as you all know

09:52

and reported as a result local

09:54

authorities were able to close the

09:55

bridge of traffic before the bridge was

09:58

struck which doubtedly Sav lives and our

10:01

prayers are with everyone involved in

10:03

this terrible accident all the families

10:05

especially those waiting for the news of

10:07

their loved one right now I know every

10:09

minute in that circumstance feels like a

10:12

lifetime you just don't know it's just

10:15

terrible we're incredibly grateful for

10:17

the brave Rescuers who immediately rush

10:19

to the scene and to the people of

10:21

Baltimore who want to say we're with you

10:24

we're going to stay with you as long as

10:26

it takes and like Governor said your

10:29

Maryland tough your Baltimore strong and

10:31

we're going to get through this together

10:32

and I promise we're not leaving here's

10:35

what's happening now the search and

10:37

rescue operation is our top priority

10:39

ship traffic in the Port of Baltimore

10:41

has been suspended until further notice

10:43

and we'll need to clear that channel

10:45

before the ship traffic can resume the

10:49

Army Corps of Engineers is on the spot

10:51

and is going to help lead this effort to

10:53

clear the channel the Port of Baltimore

10:55

is one of the nation's largest shipping

10:57

hubs and I been there a number of times

11:01

as a senator and as a vice president it

11:03

handles a record amount of cargo last

11:05

year it's also the top port in America

11:08

for both imports and exports of

11:09

automobiles and light trucks around

11:12

850,000 Vehicles go through that Port

11:14

every single year and we're going to get

11:16

it up and running again as soon as

11:18

possible 15,000 jobs depend on that port

11:22

and we're going to do everything we can

11:23

to protect those jobs and help those

11:25

workers the bridge is also critical to

11:28

for travel not just for Baltimore but

11:30

for the Northeast Corridor over 30,000

11:34

Vehicles cross the Francis scoty bridge

11:36

on a daily basis is

11:38

virtually that well it's one of the most

11:41

important elements for the economy in

11:43

the Northeast and the quality of life my

11:46

Transportation secretary is there now as

11:49

I told Governor Moore I've directed my

11:51

team to move Heaven and Earth to reopen

11:52

the port and rebuild the bridge as soon

11:54

as humanly possible and we're going to

11:57

work hand inand with the support of

11:59

Maryland to support Maryland whatever

12:02

they ask for we're going to work with

12:03

our partners in Congress to make sure

12:05

the state gets the support it needs it's

12:07

my intention that federal government

12:09

will pay for the entire cost of

12:11

reconstructing that bridge and I expect

12:14

the Congress to support my effort this

12:16

is going to take some time the people of

12:19

Baltimore can count on us though to

12:21

stick with them at every step of the way

12:23

until the port is reopened and the

12:25

bridge is rebuilt you know we're not

12:28

leaving until this job gets done not

12:30

leave until then so I just want to say

12:33

God bless everybody who uh everyone harm

12:36

this morning and their families and may

12:39

God bless the First Responders many of

12:41

them risking their lives March 23rd

12:46

1977 Baltimore welcomed the Key Bridge

12:49

spaning across the psico river

12:51

completing the Eastern sector of I

12:54

695 the bridge was a key part of you

12:57

know the skyline of our infrastructure

13:00

um it it knits together the fabric of

13:03

communities connecting dun to Baltimore

13:06

and Baltimore to the world construction

13:08

on the 1.6 mile bridge started in

13:12

1972 to ease congestion throughout the

13:14

city Nicholas reading CEO and president

13:18

of preservation Maryland says the

13:20

estimated $110 million project filled a

13:24

major void in transportation shipping

13:26

and infrastructure they knew that there

13:28

had to be a second Crossing and

13:30

initially they thought that they would

13:31

build uh a tunnel um but the the reality

13:35

was the tunnel was going to be too

13:37

expensive uh and this bridge would not

13:39

only uh be cheaper but would allow them

13:42

to move a lot of materials um in a

13:45

pretty heavily congested area one of the

13:47

longest truss bridges in the United

13:50

States named after Francis Scott Key who

13:53

was inspired to write the Star Spangled

13:55

Banner after witnessing the bombardment

13:57

of Fort McKenry and 8 154 CU it's

14:00

believed that key was about 100 yard

14:03

away give or take from the bridge itself

14:05

when he was a board ship and penned what

14:08

would become uh our Star Spangled Banner

14:11

also nestled between Fort Carroll and

14:13

its 47 years the iconic Bridge has

14:16

undergone many changes and perhaps the

14:19

most notable its expansion to the lanes

14:21

leading up to it there was expansion

14:23

efforts to make sure that there were

14:25

four lanes meeting it on either side um

14:27

so there have been upgrades expansions

14:30

done to this uh facility over the years

14:33

aiding the nearly 31,000 people that

14:36

mdta says traveled the bridge each and

14:39

every day and over 11 million a year

14:42

sometimes we take things like this for

14:43

granted and then when we lose them um

14:46

you know we we really see the impact

14:48

quite profoundly the effort to rebuild

14:50

it uh is going to be equally historic um

14:53

because it's going to be uh a big effort

14:55

to not only do that but to do it quickly

14:58

safely

14:59

and we want to take you now to Baltimore

15:01

where officials are giving an update on

15:02

this morning's bridge collapse as well

15:04

as Colonel Roland L Butler Jr

15:07

superintendent Maryland State Police uh

15:09

tonight we're going to hear from uh

15:11

brief statement from each of them on

15:13

current

15:14

updates and after that we'll be able to

15:16

take a few questions uh but we do need

15:18

to keep it brief because we want to get

15:20

these folks back to work uh with that

15:21

I'd like to introduce re Admiral Shannon

15:24

G hey good evening everyone first I'd

15:27

like to say thank you to all of the

15:29

First Responders that have come out

15:31

today to assist in looking for these

15:33

individuals we've had tremendous support

15:36

across the state and County and City and

15:40

federal Enterprise you've seen for

15:41

yourself the helicopters flying over the

15:44

small boats that are out there the Coast

15:46

Guard Cutters out there the boats that

15:47

go back and forth bringing people out on

15:50

scene to search for these individuals so

15:52

thank you to those this entire Community

15:54

for helping in that regard second I want

15:56

to say thank you to the community for

15:59

the outpouring of support to those First

16:02

Responders and in particularly the

16:04

outpouring of support and prayers and

16:06

support for the families of the six

16:09

individuals so i' would like to announce

16:11

tonight that based on the length of time

16:15

that we've gone in the search the

16:17

extensive search efforts that we've put

16:19

into it the water temperature that at

16:22

this point we do not believe that we're

16:24

going to find any of these individuals

16:26

still alive and so this evening at about

16:30

uh 7:30 we are going to suspend the

16:33

active search and rescue efforts Coast

16:35

Guard's not going away none of our

16:38

partners are going away but we're just

16:40

going to transition to a different phase

16:42

and so I'm going to turn it over to

16:43

Colonel Butler

16:45

please good evening and thank you all

16:48

for being here to Echo the adal's

16:50

comments here we really appreciate the

16:53

support from the community to all the

16:54

First Responders here we appreciate your

16:56

patience and allowing us to do the best

16:59

job possible and get the information as

17:01

it comes up at this point as the Admiral

17:04

said we're going away from the search

17:06

and rescue portion so a recovery

17:08

operation the changing conditions out

17:10

there have made it dangerous for the

17:12

First Responders the divers in the water

17:15

we will still have surface ships out

17:17

overnight at 0600 hours tomorrow we are

17:21

hoping to put divers in the water and

17:23

begin a more detailed search to do our

17:26

very best to recover those six missing

17:28

people

17:29

I

17:33

gu thank you with that we have time for

17:35

just a few questions we know there's a

17:37

lot of questions uh that still have to

17:39

be answered and uh we do have time for

17:41

just a few so uh if we could take a few

17:43

please so do we think it's it's still

17:44

just six there's talk of maybe other

17:47

cars on the bridge all the information

17:50

we have is six individuals got it yes

17:52

sir can you go into detail uh about how

17:55

difficult this might be for the recovery

17:58

uh phase of this now like what kind of

17:59

challenges are you up

18:01

against well I I'll start by saying I'm

18:04

going to turn it over to the experts on

18:06

diving I'm not an expert on diving but

18:08

we've got very difficult water

18:11

temperatures you have structures from

18:13

the bridge that are in the water that

18:14

can move with the tides and currents

18:17

making that dangerous for divers and

18:20

people in the water to actually try to

18:22

do recovery and we do not want to injure

18:25

any of these First Responders in this

18:27

recovery effort we we absolutely want to

18:30

be as safe as possible for everyone

18:32

involved in this and I'll I'll let see C

18:36

has anything he wants to add can you go

18:37

into specifics about what the search and

18:39

rescue entailed like were there scuba

18:42

divers or was everything above water

18:44

sear any sort of equipment that might

18:46

have been utilized over the past 12

18:49

hours from the outset we moved all those

18:51

resources in with dive teams from

18:54

various State local and uh County

18:57

agencies we also use

19:00

sonar we're doing our very best in some

19:02

very difficult times and difficult

19:04

conditions which is why we're making

19:06

that transition now the last thing we

19:08

want to do is put divers in the water

19:11

with changing currents low temperatures

19:14

very poor visibility visibility and so

19:17

much metal and other unknown objects in

19:20

the water all it takes is one object to

19:23

strike an individual and all of a sudden

19:25

we have a first responder trying to

19:27

recover another first responder I think

19:29

at 0600 we'll find oursel in a better

19:32

position to understand the Dynamics of

19:34

what we're dealing with and to address

19:36

the issue in a much safer manner did the

19:39

authorities have six IDs now and have

19:41

those victims each been contacted those

19:43

families I should say I can't speak on

19:45

that that's still in the investigative

19:47

portion of this can you speak to some of

19:49

the difficulties in actually retrieving

19:52

The Remains have any remains been

19:54

retrieved so far we've also heard

19:56

reports that there might be individuals

19:59

inside of vehicles that there might be

20:00

debris that has made it more challenging

20:02

for FBI and other law enforcement to

20:05

deploy all of that is unknown at this

20:07

point and as I said we have to cease

20:09

operations we can't start again until we

20:12

can ensure the safety of those divers

20:14

and the rescue Personnel that are going

20:16

to participate in this if we look at how

20:19

how challenging it is at a simple motor

20:22

vehicle crash to extract an individual

20:24

I'm sure we can all imagine how much

20:26

harder it is to do it than climate

20:29

weather when it's cold under the water

20:31

with very limited to no visibility so

20:34

just to clarify no remains have been

20:36

removed thus far by search and rescue

20:39

teams other than the two who were

20:41

rescued a lot earlier that is correct so

20:44

Colonel you're confident then that no

20:46

other vehicles made it onto that bridge

20:49

before the collapse or as it was

20:51

collapsing I should

20:52

say based upon the fact the original

20:55

information that was provided the

20:56

Maryland Transportation Authority police

20:58

Department was able to shut down traffic

21:01

is there the possibility there was

21:02

another vehicle on there other than

21:04

those Vehicles involved in the

21:06

construction process I think we all

21:08

would have to understand yes that's a

21:10

distinct

21:11

possibility as unfortunate as may be

21:14

it's a distinct possibility however we

21:16

don't have any information to support

21:18

that at this point when you bring the

21:20

divers out do you have an idea of where

21:22

you individuals are if they were in cars

21:24

or not and do you know how long the

21:27

recovery effort is going to take we do

21:28

not know at this point I'm sure as

21:30

you've seen some of the aerial photos

21:33

there is a tremendous amount of debris

21:34

in the water from containers hanging off

21:37

ships we have to make sure those ass

21:39

shorted up we're going to work with

21:40

Structural Engineers to help them

21:43

understand how to navigate and address

21:45

the challenges of having Bridge

21:47

structure in the water that may be sharp

21:50

that could puncture a suit that could

21:52

puncture an airline all of these are

21:54

things that we must take our time with

21:56

where the vics are this last question

21:59

I'm sorry where the victims are located

22:01

in the water been find them yet if

22:03

they're in cars or not at this point we

22:05

do not know where they are but we intend

22:09

to give it our best effort to help these

22:11

families find closure how might

22:12

inclement weather tomorrow impact the

22:14

recovery

22:16

efforts very clearly it could but we're

22:18

going to do everything in our power to

22:20

help these families find closure theat

22:23

has Bo how get their names title

22:26

spelling anybody folks we're going to be

22:28

we're going to be established a unified

22:29

command as well as a joint information

22:31

center and I know there's a lot of

22:32

questions um and we're going to be

22:34

providing that information where we will

22:36

uh continue to provide updates uh but

22:38

that is that is the extent of our

22:40

updates tonight we thank you all for

22:42

coming you've been listening to

22:44

officials give an update on the major

22:46

bridge collapse in Baltimore the Coast

22:48

Guard says the search and rescue

22:49

operation is being suspended it expects

22:51

the six missing workers are likely dead

22:55

Linda Tran joins me now she's a former

22:57

senior adviser to trans a secretary Pete

22:59

Budaj she is currently a partner at Epic

23:02

Works advisers a consulting firm working

23:05

in the transportation sector thanks so

23:07

much for joining us we just heard the

23:09

search and rescue is being suspended um

23:12

what does the rest of an investigation

23:13

into an incident obviously this is an

23:15

extraordinary incident but what else

23:17

might it look like the investigation

23:19

into an incident like

23:21

this well first of all I think it's

23:23

important to understand that there are

23:24

two parallel but related processes that

23:26

will be underway so earlier today we

23:28

heard from chair Jennifer homendy and

23:30

the national Transportation safety board

23:32

which will be looking into everything

23:34

from the operations and safety protocols

23:37

that were uh taking place all around the

23:40

cargo vessel itself as well as taking a

23:43

look at the technology and any sort of

23:44

forensic evidence that they can Discover

23:47

at the same time the US Department of

23:49

Transportation the US Coast Guard and

23:52

the Maryland Transportation Authority

23:54

you can expect they will once the

23:56

recovery effort has ended they will be

23:58

taking on additional information they'll

24:00

be dredging the waterways there to make

24:02

sure that operations can get underway as

24:04

quickly as possible the responsibilities

24:06

on the US do side of things will be

24:08

things like supply chain disruptions and

24:11

making sure that the roadways are open

24:13

and functioning as quickly and as

24:15

responsibly as possible while the NTSB

24:18

continues to look at the safety

24:19

implications any sort of uh Tim line and

24:23

detailed protocol that uh will be a

24:25

result of their discussions and the

24:27

information that they discover and Linda

24:29

I want to ask you about that supply

24:30

chain um disruption this has forced the

24:33

Port of Baltimore to close indefinitely

24:35

and I just want to run through some of

24:37

the statistics about the port it handled

24:38

$80 billion worth of cargo in 23 the

24:41

port supports more than 15,000 jobs and

24:44

is key to shipping things like cars and

24:46

construction Machinery so two questions

24:49

really how do you think officials with

24:51

Federal money or otherwise going to

24:53

lessen the effects on the supply chain

24:55

and do you think there was any case in

24:57

or or any instance in which the federal

24:58

funds might be used to lessen the blow

25:00

that this will will levy on the actual

25:03

workers at the Docks and and related to

25:05

Commerce through this

25:07

area well look John it wasn't very long

25:10

ago you've heard the president you've

25:12

heard secretary Pete talk about how we

25:14

thought Christmas was going to be

25:15

canceled that obviously didn't come to

25:17

pass I had the good fortune or the bad

25:19

fortune of being on the front lines of

25:21

those discussions and the work that was

25:22

done to make sure that those disruptions

25:25

did not persist however it's important

25:27

to know that that our Goods movement

25:29

chain the supply chain r large is still

25:31

very fragile and these kinds of impacts

25:34

on you know one of the nation's largest

25:35

ports which had as far as I know 40

25:38

inbound vessels today 34 of them cargo

25:41

vessels that's going to have an impact

25:43

and some of the the actions that you saw

25:46

take place during the major disruptions

25:48

just a couple of years ago you can

25:50

expect are going to come into play here

25:51

so you'll see diversions to the ports of

25:54

Virginia to New York New Jersey Etc and

25:57

then also in terms of the actual traffic

25:59

flows there's some additional

26:00

implications because it's Baltimore so

26:03

the trucks that are going to be most

26:04

impacted I believe there's something

26:05

like 4900 trucks that would come across

26:08

the Francis Scott Key bridge every

26:09

single day and those that are uh

26:12

carrying um liquids um dangerous

26:15

chemicals those sorts of things that

26:17

cannot go into tunnels they're going to

26:18

have to do significant diversions right

26:20

approximately 30 miles in addition to

26:23

what they would have been able to do on

26:24

a regular basis if the tragedy hadn't

26:26

happened with the bridge so they're

26:27

going to some big shifts that um have

26:30

we've seen happen in other circumstances

26:32

over the last few years but there's no

26:34

doubt there's going to be a tremendous

26:35

impact here can you give us a sense of

26:36

what that would feel like so 11 million

26:38

cars drive across the bridge every year

26:42

if that is now going to have to be

26:43

diverted you already mentioned some of

26:45

the you know you can't just take a new

26:47

route if you're carrying materials that

26:48

are hazardous and that can't go on those

26:50

New Roads so what happens does does

26:53

capacity have to be upgraded in those

26:55

other routes um to give us is it

26:58

possible to give us a sense of what life

26:59

might look like in other areas that are

27:01

now going to have to handle all this

27:03

traffic so we haven't seen this kind of

27:05

a tragedy John so I'm not going to um

27:08

predict what exactly the local

27:10

authorities are going to do what I do

27:12

know is that this is very interesting in

27:14

terms of the turf and who's in charge

27:17

you've got Federal officials involved

27:18

You' got State officials involved you

27:20

have the city as well as the county and

27:22

I know they're all talking to each other

27:23

about how they're going to adjust their

27:25

plans how they're going to prioritize

27:28

what sort of traffic flow happens and

27:30

how they're going to address this over

27:32

the coming weeks Linda Tran former

27:34

senior adviser to Transportation

27:36

secretary Pete Budaj thanks so much for

27:38

being with us we have been out here for

27:40

hours now 10 plus hours and 10 hours ago

27:42

when we first arrived hundreds of people

27:44

were out here trying to get a view for

27:46

themselves to see what was left of the

27:48

Key Bridge here we are at close to 8:00

27:51

and people are still making their way

27:53

over here snapping photos looking at it

27:55

in disbelief having trouble coming to

27:57

grips that this is the reality that this

27:59

state is now dealing with and the worst

28:01

nightmare has become a reality after the

28:03

Coast Guard confirming just a short time

28:05

ago that search and rescue has now

28:07

turned to search and recovery for those

28:09

six construction workers that are still

28:12

missing tonight it has been an

28:13

outpouring of support though coming in

28:15

from this community and if there's one

28:16

thing as you both know that Baltimore

28:18

knows how to do and Maryland knows how

28:19

to do better than anyone that is coming

28:22

together during a dire situation and a

28:24

tragic time and my colleague Jessica

28:26

alare she's had a chance to see that

28:27

first hand with a visual that was held

28:29

tonight in Baltimore County and that's

28:31

where we pick our coverage up with right

28:33

now Jessica good

28:36

evening good evening Rick that vigil

28:38

came together in just a matter of hours

28:40

and like you said it really just speaks

28:42

to the spirit of Baltimore of this

28:44

community of the entire state of

28:46

Maryland people here are going to look

28:48

out for each other in tough times like

28:50

these I will tell you that there were a

28:53

lot of people at this vigil including

28:54

the mayor and the county executive and

28:56

several other leaders it was held at

28:58

Mount Olive Baptist Church I spoke to

29:01

the pastor this evening he says he's

29:03

hoping prayer and coming together will

29:04

bring healing to the community and the

29:06

loved ones of these construction workers

29:08

who are now presumed dead at tonight's

29:11

vigil community members also set a

29:12

prayer for the First Responders who have

29:14

been out on that water all day long

29:16

searching for these construction workers

29:18

and trying to find answers to to what

29:21

played out here in uh this community I

29:24

talked to several other community

29:26

members who say that the Key Bridge and

29:28

and the the body of water here in this

29:30

area means so much to them it's an

29:32

iconic fixture and now they're having to

29:34

Grapple with the fact that it is gone

29:36

and that uh community members have also

29:40

presumed to be dead at this point this

29:42

vigil really something special so many

29:45

people coming together to lift each

29:47

other up in prayer

29:50

Rick Jessica excellent coverage thank

29:53

you as we get ready to wrap things up

29:55

out here multiple people still coming by

29:57

to take a look at this and it all

29:58

happened at 1:30 this morning and things

30:01

uh quickly played out after that in

30:03

terms of developments coming through but

30:04

still lots of unanswered questions that

30:07

we're dealing with tonight an

30:08

investigation the ntsv said could take

30:11

months and months and months to complete

30:13

they brought up another bridge accident

30:15

and collapse that took them two years

30:17

just to get some of the answers they

30:18

were looking for but those six

30:20

construction workers that is the big

30:22

development here as we get into the

30:23

later hours of the night now presumed

30:26

dead search and rescue has turned to

30:28

search and recovery so please six men

30:31

who we know came from overseas living in

30:33

the dundock and Highland town community

30:35

simply just doing their job at 1:30 in

30:37

the morning and now presumed dead keep

30:40

their families in their prayers and as

30:42

we continue to learn more about them

30:43

there will be ways to support them and

30:45

their families so please keep that in

30:47

mind as we move forward here in the

30:49

coming

30:54

days

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العلامات ذات الصلة
BridgeCollapseBaltimoreCargoShipRescueEffortsCommunitySupportEmergencyResponseInfrastructureFrancisScottKeyMaritimeAccidentSearchAndRecovery
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