OT: Thoughts/prayers please

[Minnesota]

Here is a pic of the underside of the bridge that collapsed you can see to the right side of the pic the bridge that is still standing, give a little before and after perspective for those who don't know minneapolis. I am still proweling through my photos to find a better one but here is one off the net
http://www.johnweeks.com/bridges/pics/i35wmiss01.jpg
Minnesota

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

• Structure ID: NBI: 9340.
• Location: River Mile 853.20.
• River Elevation: 725 Feet.
• Highway: I-35W.
• Daily Traffic Count: 140,000 (2002).
• Bridge Type: Steel Arch Deck Truss Bridge.
• Length: 1,907 Feet, 458 Foot Longest Span.
• Width: 8 Traffic Lanes, 108 Feet.
• Navigation Channel Width: 390 Feet.
• Height Above Water: 64 Feet.
• Date Built: Opened November 1967.

Claim to fame: was built with a single 458 foot long steel arch to avoid putting any piers in the water to impede river navigation.
This bridge features an anti-ice system. A series of PVC pipes carries a deicer fluid to outlets that are drilled into the deck of the bridge. When the temperature for ice is right, the deicer fluid is pumped onto the bridge deck. This system has proven to be successful enough that it is being installed on other bridges in Minnesota.

 

[AprilFool]

I am from Winnipeg, Canada. (About 8 hours away) We were in Minneapolis 2 weeks ago. I love it there. My thoughts and prayers are for anyone affected by this terrible tragedy.

 

[allaboutmm]

 

[peezee]

Thanks for all the prayers ..

If you don't live in the "Cities" you probably won't have an idea of what a disaster in so many different ways this is.

I work in transportation myself here and am stunned in what has happened - fortunately all "my" drivers have been accounted for, yet this will put a sizeable burden on us for months, ney, years to come.

This road was the pulse/lifeblood of our area - in some ways we will have been cut off from each other - hopefully our leaders will find a way to rebuild quickly.

Odd, how a "road" can be so defining - but this was "it" in our area.

My heart bleeds for many in the area - once again, thanks for the thoughts and prayers...

 

[vanillasoftserve]

and

 

[deide71]

I work at Hennepin County Medical Center, a level one trauma center about a mile from the scene.

I had the day off today, and I was happily painting my family room. About 6:30 I went to the kitchen to make dinner for the kiddos, and turned on the radio...what a shock. I immediately called work to see if I needed to come in, but I couldn't get cell phone service. I put my scrubs on and drove to work.

I got to the hospital about 7:15. It was surreal...news crews and police all around. I walked into the ER to see what I would call very well controlled chaos. We had recieved a few critical patients at that time, but no one knew what to expect.

We ended up getting 6 criticals, and one DOA (presumed drowning). Much less than we had anticipated. Word is that many victims were sent to other hospitals due to logistical problems, the hospital is south of the bridge, so maybe that had something to do with it?

The staff response was amazing though. Several people from my department (Respiratory Therapy) just showed up, and many more volunteered to work the night shift and beef up the staff tommorow. The hospital was pretty busy before the collapse, so now we are very busy, but everyone is being accomidating.

My heart goes out to the EMS workers. I am sure the scene is just heart wrenching. I am so afraid the fatality count is going to rise throught the night and tommorow.

Anyone that lives in this area has been on that bridge many times. 35W is a main artery that runs N-S through the heart of the Metro area. Truly, we are all still in shock around here. I don't know how to express it.

Many heartfelt prayers for the victims and their families, as well as anyone desprately searching for a loved one tonight.

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

 

[Disneyaunt4]

Thoughts and prayers to all those involved

 

[petrymom]

My prayers are with the families affected by this tragedy.

 

[mom2mykids]

WOW. My friend's niece by chance took a different way yesterday and didn't go over the bridge. My thoughts and prayers are with all who have been touched by this tragedy in one way or another

The pictures posted are amazing. Thank you.

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

Our thoughts and prayers to all those affected

 

[disneymom99]

My thoughts and prayers go out ot all those affected by this tragedy.

 

[northie]

Another Minnesota person here checking in. We were at the airport when it went down and daughter was already at work, so all are OK. Our hearts go out to all affected by this. Last night seeing the play by play on TV at the airport it looked awful but this morning we have seen a traffic cam view that shows the actual collapse. It's a miracle there weren't more people killed. If all eight lanes had been opened, well I don't even want to think about that.

 

[katiemomoftwo]

Praying for everyone involved in this tragic event. We live about 4 hours from Minneapolis in NW Iowa. We are headed up there on Saturday for the Twins game- assuming it will still go on. We've been across that bridge many times. Scary, scary stuff!!
Katie

 

[Pooh Bear Lisa]

We came home around 7pm last night & turned on the news. We couldn't believe it!!! Our son goes to the U & has an evening class. We couldn't get ahold of him for 1 hour. Finally, he called & said he was ok. He & his girlfriend went down to the river after class to view the destruction. He said it was awful.

 

[northie]

Praying for everyone involved in this tragic event. We live about 4 hours from Minneapolis in NW Iowa. We are headed up there on Saturday for the Twins game- assuming it will still go on. We've been across that bridge many times. Scary, scary stuff!!
Katie

Katie, they have canceled today's game but so far looks like Saturday's game is still on.

 

[bbump]

My parents and sister all work at the UofM and are all safe.
My sister's boyfriend and room mate traveled over the bridge a little while before the colapse.

 

[ALWEASEL]

Hello All.
I'm a very lucky guy.
I don't know anyone that got hurt or was on the bridge when it went down.
Oh and deide71, Every one that works in the medical community were real heroes yesterday. You all did really well under pressure.
That and the people that dragged people out of the cars and bridge were heroes also.

My heart and prayers go with everyone dealing with all this.
Alweasel

 

[EMom]

I would like to mention that you might want to consider whether or not you allow your child to see footage of the collapse. In December 1967, Silver Bridge collapsed (between WV and OH, killing around 47 people, I believe) and I can still remember seeing it on TV, even though I was VERY young. It left me with a lifelong phobia of crossing bridges. So much so that years later, I decided to research it on the internet to make certain of what I was remembering and what I might be imagining. Turns out, I remembered it exactly as it had happened, because it had made such an impact. I remembered seeing cars in the water, them talking about how many people died, whether or not they had suffered, and the Christmas tree being in the room while we saw all this on TV.

I have not turned the TV on at all while DD has been around, for fear she might start to worry about the same things that have stuck with me all these years. I drive over bridges now, but I have to make myself do it. Seeing yesterday's bridge collapse was like a nasty trip back in time. You may think I'm being overly dramatic, but remember after 9/11 when people realized children thought dozens of buildings were collapsing because they saw the footage over and over and did not realize it was just repeated footage? Some poor kids may think bridges are collapsing all over the place, depending on how young they are. If as adult, you find that scene difficult to watch, you may want to think twice before letting a child see it.