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Preparing for the Unthinkable and Unknowing

2007 Aug 2 Posted by Joseph Pascarella

An interstate highway bridge in downtown Minneapolis plunged into the Mississippi river yesterday killing 9 persons and injuring over 60. The collapse occurred at approximately 6:00 PM in the height of rush-hour traffic and the incident does not, at this time appear to be related to a terror-attack.

A responding Minneapolis police lieutenant, quoted shorted after the incident that she had never seen anything remotely as the collapse. The bridge collapse is yet another example of how public safety personnel must be prepared operationally, tactically, and emotionally for just about any type of disaster in today’s world. Consider yesterday’s incident in which a very large and seemingly invincible structure, was rendered a twisted pile of concrete and steel leaving a path of tradegy. A large yellow school bus on the bridge was a reminder of the enormity of this tradegy.

Responding public safety personnel must react swiftly and professionally during these types of incidents and there is no margin for operational errors. However, hours of training and preparedness can hardly train public safety for the emotional toll in both the short term and long term.

This tradegey is particularly unnerving for those of us in the Capella University community given that downtown Minneapolis is the headquarters of Capella and many of our colleagues live and work in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan region. Are prayers are with all those affected.

Joe Pascarella

August 2, 2007 | Filed under: 35W bridge, Capella, Capella University, Minneapolis bridge collapse, Public Safety Signals, Public safety, bridge collapse, online college, online degrees, online university
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6 Responses to “Preparing for the Unthinkable and Unknowing”

Enrollment Counselor Says:

Thank you for your comments. Capella University staff patiently awaits news regarding the safety of one of or peers.

August 2nd, 2007 at 8:10 pm

Joy Spicer Says:

Did those responsible for the aftermath have a disaster management plan in place that covered something like this? I’m sure a lot of municipalities across the country are looking at their own disaster plans and seeing if they have something to cover a situation like this.

August 3rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm

Joe Pascarella Says:

Our prayers are certainly with our colleague.

Joe Pascarella

August 5th, 2007 at 7:11 am

Joe Pascarella Says:

Joy,

Thanks for the comment and great point. Ideally, all public safety agencies have a disaster plan.

This disaster is particularly difficult due to the complete surprise (there was no warning, or sudden trauma to the structure), quickness (the bridge collapsed in less than 4 seconds), and intensity.

Joe Pascarella

August 5th, 2007 at 7:14 am

Joy Spicer Says:

I know after the Virginia Tech incident I kept reading how colleges and universities all over the country reviewed their disaster management plan and made sure to include contingencies such as what happened. I think municipalities with bridges over bodies of water are now including this unthinkable contingency in their disaster plans. The incidents are always horribly, horribly sad, but our industry, public safety, always learns from each indcident and grows.

August 6th, 2007 at 6:02 pm

Joe Pascarella Says:

Joy,

Thanks for the post and you made a great point. Ideally, that is the logical progression.

However, it is very easy to become complacent in public safety given the rarity and randomness of these events.

Joe Pascarella

August 7th, 2007 at 5:21 pm

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