RSSUpdates from the Terrible Minnesota Bridge Collapse Catastrophe … It could Have Been Worse
Before we begin the blame game, let’s first pray for the families who were lost or are missing. Then let’s be thankful that this tragedy was not much, much worse. In the wake of the Minneapolis I-35 bridge collapse, people search for survivors, loved ones, and answers. It is being reported that maybe 7 have been killed, many injured and still others missing following the catastrophic bridge collapse in Minneapolis. MN yesterday. It is being reported that there may be up to 20 people still missing. Actually, it is rather stunning that the death toll was not much higher taking into account that the collapse occurred during evening rush hour. If the school bus shown below went off the edge of the bridge, today we would be discussing a tragedy on monumental sorrow & disbelief.
(CNN)
However, as the rescue efforts turn to one of recovery, many will begin to second guess and look for someone to blame for this tragedy. The acts of rescuers and their heroism should not be forgotten. However, before we begin the blame game or question where God was or why he would allow such a horrific tragedy to take place. Look a little closer and notice he was there as a bus load of 60 children were miraculously saved.
Riding tons of falling concrete to the river bank below, dozens of children on a summer youth program field trip survived the collapse of an interstate bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the evening rush hour on Wednesday.
Other survivors tell their stories …
I told them we would help with rescue efforts, but I also told them how much we are in prayer for those who suffered. And I thank my fellow citizens for holding up those who are suffering right now in prayer.
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24 Responses to “Updates from the Terrible Minnesota Bridge Collapse Catastrophe … It could Have Been Worse”
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As one who is scared of heights (manmade ones, in any case), this is about the most terrifying catastrophe I can think of. I’ve read that the death count has been reduced from seven to four … we’ll see where it winds up.
But I agree, praise the Lord that the toll wasn’t much worse. And expect the usual political bloviators to start huffing and puffing … now that the tragedy has taken place.
Watch for a federal … I was going to say “crash program,” but that might sound like some sick kind of pun.
Anyway, someone is sure to urge a multi-billion-dollar program to replace all bridges everywhere.
Right Richard – but instead of ensuring the design and the materials are appropriate, we will probably just go building bridges.
was that the bridge to the 21st century?……guess we need a “war on dangerous bridges”
Infrastructure in this country is in need of billions, but we are spending those billions to make Israel safe instead of our roads and bridges safe.
Zillions of bridges have less than stellar inspection reports. Signal lights that would create a bottle neck but atleast stagger the bridge traffic were an option. That would have kept only a few vehicles on the bridge as it collapsed. Was the bridge weakened by the truck traffic over it caused by construction of a new sports complex?
Fools Gold….there is no way signal lights would have worked here.
Not sure where you live, but imagine the most congested place of your daily rush hour traffic….an interstate that gets slowed to “stop and go” conditions. This bridge was that. A signal system would have caused such incredible traffic snarls (probably worse than what will be taking place right now as they rebuild for the next two years). A signal system is great in a small rural town….it don’t work on a major interstate in a major metropolitan area.
Everyone in the Twin Cities used this bridge. I have used it 7-8 times in the last seven days. I was going to go up late yesterday afternoon to meet some European friends that are in town and would have crossed it going to and fro…..fortunately, their schedule was full and we put off meeting.
This is going to be a major hemorrhod for the next three years for the Twin Cities.
As far as trying to state that Bush is at fault as you are implying…please don’t waste our time. The reality is this bridge would not have been dealt with even if money wasn’t going to “protect Isreal”. Then you would be complaining about how we gave rich people tax breaks rather than fund infrastructure….or how Bush did this so Halliburton could get the construction contract.
Let’s just be frank….this was a terrible accident that took place and no one is to blame. Unfortunately, these things happen. The world is not perfect and neither are the inspectors who inspected, the builders who built it, or the road crews that were working on it at the time.
’nuff said….Anyone hear if Aruba is quietly closing the case today? Seeing that Matt Lauer and everyone else are flying into the Twin Cities to cover (and thus Brittney, Lindsey, and Paris are irrelevant again)…seems like this is the perfect time to finish the cover-up. How ’bout it Aruba and KLPD….we’re waiting!
md
[...] tragedy–initial observations on communication August 2nd, 2007 First, as other bloggers have done, I must express my sorrow and condolences to those impacted by the tragedy in Minnesota. My [...]
I notice over on the forum there has been some discussion of this being a “crime scene”.
Actually, they are – and should – treat this like a “crime scene” even though initial indications are structural issues.
This does not mean a crime has taken place. Unlike Aruba, our law enforcement here in Minneapolis has sealed off the area and will do substantial testing and investigation of the scene. No judges will be present to amend search warrants or restrict the whole scene from being searched.
If a crime has taken place, I am confident we will hear about it shortly.
With all of that said….there are many odd things about how the bridge went down. Also, on August 1 our Al Qaeda friends issued a warning of a “big surprise” was to come….was this it?
Minneapolis is a home to a large Muslim population. Many of them Somali refugees. We have had the taxi cab problems (won’t drive you if you are carrying alcohol), the flying imams problem, and…thanks to our yellow dog democrats we have the incompetent and first muslim US rep, Keith Ellison. I can say I have several Muslim friends and never have had any issues….but there is, in my opinion, an large and evil cult environment within the religion.
Let’s hope that it is not terrorism. One or two 9/11 like events in this country and I do not believe – as accepting as we are of other cultures – that Americans will restrain themselves from taking things out on innocent citizens. Britain has the same thing going right now.
md
waiting for the usual taglines to start appearing…… re: what caused this?
-the Bush administration’s diversion of billions in resources to an illegal war for oil in Iraq
-softening of the steel caused by global warming
-rising tides from melted glaciers caused by global warming
-the increased weight load caused by gas guzzling SUV’s that also require larger gas tanks
-an increase in corrosive pollutants in the water and air caused by George Bush’s friends in big industry
-George Bush’s WTC7 black ops demolition team
-the increase in obesity-you guessed it-under the Bush administration
-a diversion from the Bush administration’s refusal to allow Karl Rove to respond to a subpoena from Congress
-the pork barrel Republican spending like the bridge to nowhere……you guessed it….under the Bush administration
-an attempt by the Bush administration to take us to war in Iran
did I leave anything out?
I was living in Tampa, FL when that barge hit the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa BAy where numerous people were killed. Sadly, a Greyhound bus full of people went in and all died. Death toll was high. My mother-in-law was a supervisor/dispatcher for Hillsborough Country Sheriff and took the calls from relatives looking for loved ones. VERY hard week for her.
SO glad those children in this recent collapse were uninjured for the most part.
Yes…congestion was BAD for a long time in Tampa after this. Certainly no different in Minnesota right now and for the a long time coming.
The river is by far the most dangerous place this could have happened. The water was probably 50 ft. deep under the Skyway in Tampa. Here…only a few feet which means it probably is fairly swift.
Brenda
columbo…you are a dumbo.
(ain’t I cute?)
Would be best if you had something to add that actually has any basis in fact. Not the usual “girly-man because he’s such a whimp” whining we are used to hearing from the liberal male creature.
Global warming…is it also Bush’s fault ALL of the planets in the solar system are warming? Oh My!!! Could it be the sun like so many scientists are saying…but the news media refuses to tell of?
Hope the big words they use in the link below aren’t too difficult for you. Some are more than 5 letters long.
http://www.livescience.com/environment/070312_solarsys_warming.html
Brenda
Nope, I think you’ve given Jane, Rosie, George et.al. a very good start….LOL
This is a tradgedy, and from what I’m hearing and seeing, the way that bridge went down, is highly suspicious. Some people heard a loud “boom”, and the WHOLE bridge went down SIMULTANEOUSLY, something the experts are saying should never happen…..very strange…very suspicious. And this bridge was only 30 or 40 years old.. With modern technology…look at the bridges that are standing for over 100 years in New York city, that have not only car and truck traffic, heavy at ALL times of day, but trains going accross them.
I think maybe we will hear something from Al Queada over the Internet taking responsibility…..and joy for yet another dastardly act!!!
They are right now celebrating in Muslim countries. Shouting….Allah…..
Brenda:
Dunno whether you’re cute or not……but you so need to get a sense of humor
Sounds like there was already a bottleneck. Signals would have atleast kept only a few vehicles at a time on the bridge.
‘crime scene’ simply means a forensic orientation rather than just clearing away debris. It does not mean that there is any actual belief that a criminal act was committed. Simply that cleanup will give a priority to evidence collection until further information is available.
Yeah, I’m so cute it is a sin. And I have a GREAT sense of humor…too bad you don’t.
brenda
Oh yeah…and if you were joking…i’m so freaking cute it doesn’t matter if I didn’t realize it…hehehe. And you said I had not funny bone.
Brenda
How about this Columbo, would this be the reason?
Suey, Suey, Suey, Here Comes the Porkers!
The Hill reveals the major pork in the Military Defense spending bill. Sure they support our troops; it’s the one way they can get pork to take home that has nothing to do with troops.
And the largest porkers are:
John Porker Murtha (D PA) $150.5 million
Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.) $117.2 million
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) $95 million
Jack Kingston (R-Ga). $55.3 million
Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.)$44 million
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) $37.5 million
Majority Leader Steny Hoyers (D-Md.) $26 million
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) $19 million
Er, Columbo, that was a tongue in cheek, was it not?? I thought it was quite humorous, and as I said a good start for the Hollywood Halfwits!
Next time you feel like braying “No new taxes!” think about the bridge collapse. And the levee collapse. Government sometimes costs money. Our governments neglect things like bridge repair and maintenance in order to dole out money for social programs. That never works. It is just a symbolic response, throwing money at a problem. That money would be better spent on roads and bridges.
As I said above, just wait until some people in Congress start throwing the partisan lingo.
One thing is certain … the death toll is far, far less than what it COULD have been. I frankly don’t understand how anyone on the bridge at the time survived. Let’s be grateful for that.
Oh, David, the money for the levees in New Orleans was allocated, unfortunately, the money cannot be “located”….. I think if you looked into the deep pockets of some in the “big Easy” you’d find that “tax money” to fix the levees…..( It ain’t THAT hard to figure what went wrong in the “Big Easy”)!!
David r,
You typically can buy votes to get elected by giving money to various social programs,etc or coddling up to Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, or CAIR. Doling out money for bridges doesn’t get you votes…even though it provides a lot of money for your union buddies because the dole usually requires union workers to do the work.
That is my biggest question to those that are using “politics blame” before all of the bodies are even out of the water….what social programs do you want to cut in order to fund infrastructure? (note – please don’t divert to “get out of Iraq” as we are there for at least the next 10 years; or raise taxes as JFK and George Bush have shown that lowering the tax burden expands the economy and actually creates RECORD tax receipts for the government).
I will be waiting with the crickets for those who want to play “blame politics” to create their list of social programs to cut.
md
I’ve heard people comment that it is a crime scene since the bridge was certified as structurally deficient.
Latest word from NTSB is based on video the bridge may have shifted 50 feet on one end, so they are going to look at why the shift.
I live in Saint Paul, but TV is as best I’ve seen it. I am driving around the wrecked bridge tomorrow morning. It is an absolute miracle there were not more fatalaties.
Its pretty much business as usual here except for those who always commuted that route. I used to live on the North end here and commuted over that stretch of 35 often from 1998 to 2005. Scary that it could have collapsed any time. But I think all factors were ripe when it did. Heat, weight, construction & other vibration…. (The boom noises were said to be the sound of the collapse.)
Could someone please provide me with an email address for the support organisation for the victims of the bridge disaster so that I can send them a Blessing from God certificate from the website http://www.godsblessingsforyou.com
Like many others, I know they will appreciate the comfort and security of receiving a Blessing from God.