Baltimore Key Bridge collapses, 6 presumed dead

TODAY WE TRANSITIONED FROM SEARCH AND RESCUE TO RECOVERY. WE NEED TO BRING A SENSE OF CLOSURE AND COMFORT TO THE FAMILIES, AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. AND TO ALL THE FAMILIES, I SAY ESTAMOS CONTIGO AHORA SIEMPRE LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER THE COLLAPSE, WE HAD DIVERS IN THE WATER AT 2:25 A.M. TO BEGIN SEARCH AND RESCUE. THIS MORNING WE HAD DIVERS IN THE WATER STARTING AT 6 A.M. FOR SEARCH AND RECOVERY. THIS IS NOT A CONCLUSION. IT’S A CONTINUATION. AND WE TAKE THIS PHASE JUST AS SERIOUSLY. AND JUST AS PERSONALLY AS WE TOOK THE LAST PHASE. AND I WANT TO THANK, AS ALWAYS, ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE, THE COAST GUARD, THE NATURAL RESOURCES POLICE, BALTIMORE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND BALTIMORE COUNTY, BALTIMORE CITY AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND EVERYBODY WHO WAS INVOLVED INSIDE OF THIS WORK. NOW, I CAN TELL YOU OVER THESE PAST DAYS, WE HAVE HEARD AN OUTPOURING OF THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS COMING IN FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD FOR BALTIMORE, FOR MARYLAND, FOR THE VICTIMS AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AND TO EVERYBODY WHO IS SENDING OUT THOSE PRAYERS, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE FELT THEM AND WE’VE BEEN COMFORTED BY THEM. TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS SHARED KIND WORDS, WE WANT TO SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE THE WORDS AND THE KIND GESTURES THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN. AND WE ALSO WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THIS, THAT GOING FORWARD, WE’RE ALSO GOING TO NEED YOUR SUPPORT. THE COLLAPSE OF THE KEY BRIDGE IS NOT JUST A MARYLAND CRISIS. THE COLLAPSE OF THE KEY BRIDGE IS A GLOBAL CRISIS. THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND THE WORLD’S ECONOMY DEPENDS ON THE PORT OF BALTIMORE. THE PORT HANDLES MORE CARGO CARS AND MORE FARM EQUIPMENT THAN ANY OTHER PORT IN THE COUNTRY. KHIREE LAST YEAR ALONE, THE PORT HANDLED $80 BILLION OF FOREIGN CARGO, THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. NONETHELESS, 24 HOURS THAT WE’VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THE NAVY TO MOBILIZE MAJOR RESOURCES ALL AROUND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THINGS MOVING. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED AT RECORD SPEED. AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE STILL ASSESSING THE AREA AND ORGANIZING WITH A THOROUGH PLAN OF ACTION. THIS AFTERNOON, I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND MY EXECUTIVE TEAM AND ALL THE LEADERS THERE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOBILIZE ASSETS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD COLLECTIVELY WITH OUR RESPONSE. TODAY, ALSO, MARYLAND SUBMITTED OUR REQUEST TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, ASKING FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS TO ASSIST IN OUR WORK GOING FORWARD. AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE PRESIDENT AGAIN TODAY BY PHONE. I’M THANKFUL ALSO THAT WE’RE HERE JOINED BY TOM PEREZ, WHO I KNOW IS ALSO GOING TO SHARE WORDS LATER ON. AND, TOM, IT’S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND WORK. SO THE THING WE KNOW IS THIS I DO NOT KNOW AT THIS POINT WHAT THE TOTAL COSTS ARE GOING TO BE. I DO NOT YET KNOW WHAT THE FULL TIMELINE IS GOING TO BE, BUT THE THING THAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE TASK IN FRONT OF US, IT WILL BE REAL, IT WILL BE DAUNTING. BUT DESPITE THIS TASK AHEAD OF US BEING DAUNTING, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW OUR RESOLVE IS UNSHAKEN. WE WILL GET TO COMPLETION. WE WILL DO IT TOGETHER. THIS WORK WILL TAKE TIME, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE. NO ONE BEHIND. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE. AT LEAST 8000 WORKERS ON THE DOCKS HAVE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE COLLAPSE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE’RE SUPPORTING THEM IN THIS MOMENT, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THEM BACK ON THE JOB AND THE SAME GOES FOR MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS CRISIS, BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE WE ARE MARYLAND TOUGH AND BALTIMORE STRONG. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO COLONEL BUTLER FROM THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE FOR UPDATES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. I’M COLONEL ROLANDO BUTLER, JUNIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE. THIS MORNING, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, WE MOVED FROM SEARCH AND RESCUE TO SEARCH AND RECOVERY. THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE, ALONG WITH THE UNDERWATER RECOVERY TEAMS SUPPORTED BY STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL PARTNERS, MADE A TRAGIC FINDING SHORTLY. BEFORE 10 A.M., DIVERS LOCATED A RED PICKUP TRUCK SUBMERGED IN APPROXIMATELY 25FT OF WATER IN THE AREA OF THE MIDDLE SPAN OF THE BRIDGE. DIVERS RECOVERED TWO VEHICLES. TWO VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY TRAPPED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VICTIMS WERE IDENTIFIED AS ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ FUENTES, 35 YEARS OLD, A BALTIMORE AND DALTON RONALD CASTILLO CABRERA, 26 YEARS OLD, OF DUNDALK. THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE NOTIFIED JUST OVER AN HOUR AGO IN PERSON BY MARYLAND STATE POLICE PERSONNEL WITH CRISIS INTERVENTION PERSONNEL PRESENT. KNOWING THE GRAVITY OF THIS, WE’VE PROVIDED THEM WITH A LIST OF RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN REFER TO AND REFER THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO. AT THIS POINT, BASED UPON THE CONDITIONS WE’RE NOW MOVING FROM A RECOVERY MODE TO A SALVAGE OPERATION BECAUSE OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE SURROUNDING THE VEHICLE. WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE THE VEHICLES AND THE AMOUNT OF CONCRETE AND DEBRIS. DIVERS ARE NO LONGER ABLE ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE OR OPERATE AROUND THAT. WE HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL SEARCH EFFORTS IN THE AREAS AROUND THIS. THIS WRECKAGE, AND BASED ON SONAR SCANS, WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLES ARE ENCASED IN THE SUPERSTRUCTURE AND CONCRETE THAT WE TRAGICALLY SAW COME DOWN. AT THIS POINT. AS THIS MOVES TO A SALVAGE RECOVERY EFFORT, THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE UNIFIED COMMAND AS THE SALVAGE ASSESSMENT PHASE TAKES PLACE AND THE US COAST GUARD WILL BRIEF YOU ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT TO EXPECT AND POSSIBLY HOW LONG THIS COULD TAKE. BUT I’LL TELL YOU NOW, THERE’S NO DEFINITIVE TIMELINE ON THIS. PLEASE BE PATIENT. PLEASE KEEP THE FAMILY MEMBERS IN MIND IN COORDINATION WITH OUR FBI PARTNERS. WE’VE DETERMINED THE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN OF THOSE THAT ARE PRESUMED DECEASED TO BE MEXICO, GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS. THE NOTIFICATION TO THESE INDIVIDUALS FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IS BEING HANDLED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS. AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE AND THOSE THAT THEY LOVE, AND THEY LOST. THEY’RE GOING TO NEED YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT NOW HANDED OFF TO THE ADMIRAL. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS REAR ADMIRAL SHANNON GILREATH. FIRST I WANT TO SAY OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE. AND SYMPATHY GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS. UM, I ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE COAST GUARD, ALONG WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL AGENCY PARTNERS, HAVE STOOD UP A UNIFIED COMMAND. OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN THAT UNIFIED COMMAND IS TO REOPEN THE WATERWAY SO THAT WE CAN SAFELY MOVE COMMERCE IN AND OUT OF THE PORT OF BALTIMORE. THAT’S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE’RE GOING TO DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING FROM A UNIFIED COMMAND PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING. PAUL WIEDEFELD SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. UM, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT IS HEARTBROKEN. UH, TO TO HAVE LOST THESE INDIVIDUALS ON ONE OF OUR FACILITIES. I DID WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON THE EFFORTS THAT WE’RE DOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY THE GOVERNOR. AND WE HAVE APPLIED FOR THE DOLLARS. UH, THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF PURPOSE. I SENT A LETTER EARLIER THIS MORNING. I JUST GOT OFF A PHONE CALL WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR ON THE ON THE STEP OF THE PROCESS THAT WE’RE MOVING FORWARD. WE INTEND TO GET RECEIVE SOME ADDITIONAL FEDERAL DOLLARS VERY QUICKLY TO START THAT PROCESS. AND THEN WE WILL COME UP WITH A DESIGN FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THAT BRIDGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO GET THE PORT BACK UP. AND THE COMMUNITY BACK UP AND RUNNING. THANK YOU. SENATOR BEN CARDIN. FIRST, LET ME EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. AND I ALSO WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS. I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE FIRSTHAND SOME OF THE DIVING ACTIVITIES, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING, TO SAY THE LEAST. AND WE WE KNOW THAT THE QUICK ACTION OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS SAVED LIVES BY KEEPING VEHICLES OFF THE BRIDGE BEFORE IT COLLAPSED. SO I REALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. WHEN YOU HAVE A CATASTROPHIC EVENT LIKE THIS THAT AFFECTS TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR REGION. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES TO YOUR HELP, AND WE ARE ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP US THROUGH THIS CRISIS. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS RESPONDED IN A VERY DIRECT WAY. WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL GET THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION THAT WE NEED. UH, THANKS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, WE ALSO WILL NEED THE HELP OF THE CONGRESS. SENATOR VAN HOLLEN AND I WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR ENTIRE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AUTHORIZATION, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES TO MAKE THIS RECOVERY COMPLETE AND THAT WE CAN MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, OUR TOP PRIORITY IS TO GET THE SHIPPING LANE OPEN. WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY DAY IT’S CLOSED AND THE IMPACT IT HAS, NOT JUST ON BALTIMORE AND OUR ECONOMY IN THE STATE OF ECONOMY, BUT IN OUR COUNTRY. AND IT AFFECTS THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN. AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE WITH DISPATCH IN REGARDS TO OPENING THE CHANNEL. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TODAY ON ON A REPLACEMENT BRIDGE SO THAT WE CAN ALSO HAVE THOSE PLANS IN PLACE AND HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE. SO THAT WE CAN RECONSTRUCT THE BRIDGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. FIRST PRIORITY OPEN SHIPPING LANES. LET US REPLACE THE BRIDGE AND WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. SENATOR VAN HOLLEN, THANK YOU. I WANT TO START WHERE THE GOVERNOR AND SENATOR CARDIN AND OTHERS DID BY SAYING TO THE FAMILIES OF THE SIX THAT WE LOST IN THIS TRAGIC ACCIDENT, THAT OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO YOU AND WE AS THE MARYLAND FAMILY WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME. IT’S ALSO A SOLEMN REMINDER OF BOTH THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE SACRIFICES THAT OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE FIRST RESPONDERS FOR, FIRST OF ALL, THE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION. AND NOW THE RECOVERY OPERATION. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU’RE DOING. AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, WE HAVE TWO PRIORITIES. THE MOST URGENT PRIORITY IS TO OPEN UP THE PORT OF BALTIMORE BECAUSE AS THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE LIVELIHOODS OF PEOPLE HERE IN BALTIMORE AND MARYLAND. AND IN FACT, THE ECONOMIES OF THE REGION AND WILL IMPACT PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. THE PORT OF BALTIMORE IS THAT IMPORTANT. AND AND IT IS THE THE 8000 PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING THERE DIRECTLY, THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHOSE ECONOMIC LIVELIHOOD IS TIED UP WITH THE WITH THE PORT. SO I WANT TO THANK THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES, WHO CALLED MANY OF US YESTERDAY AND THEN SPOKE TO THE NATION IS ALREADY DELIVERING ON HIS PROMISE, WHICH HE IS ORDERED THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER TO DO EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO CLEAR THE CHANNEL SO THAT WE CAN REOPEN THOSE SHIPPING LANES IF WE HAVE TO OPEN ONE FIRST AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. UH, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SHIPS PASSING THROUGH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. UH, THE THE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PICK UP THE COSTS FOR THAT. AND THOSE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. I SAW PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES BETWEEN 40 AND $50 MILLION, BUT THEY’RE VERY PRELIMINARY. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE ARMY CORPS WILL PICK UP THE COSTS. I WANT TO COMMEND THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR FAST ACTION IN PUTTING FORWARD THE NOTICE THAT THEY’RE GOING TO APPLY FOR THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, PART OF THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UH PROGRAM. THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, UH, WE WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE SECRETARY, WIEDEFELD AND OTHERS AND THEIR TEAM AS YOU PROCESS THAT, JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL A SENSE OF WHAT THAT WHAT THAT MEANS, UH, FOR THAT, YOU CAN DRAW DOWN FUNDS IMMEDIATELY FOR SOME OF THE COSTS OF DIVERTING TRAFFIC, UM, AND OTHER IMMEDIATE COSTS TO, TO ADJUST TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SHORT TERME. AND THEN GOING FORWARD, THAT RELIEF FUND PROVIDES FOR A STRONG FEDERAL MATCH. WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE 90 OVER TEN. UM, IN TERMS OF THE FEDERAL SHARE, UM, FOR THE 10% REMAINDER, UH, SENATOR CARDIN AND I WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY, UH, WITH THE PRESIDENT AND OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE CONGRESS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN’S PLEDGE TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PICKS UP THE COSTS. SOME HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE SHIP OWNERS THEMSELVES, OBVIOUSLY, AS THE NTSB CONDUCTS ITS REVIEW, WE’LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. AND IF ANYBODY IS LIABLE FOR NEGLIGENCE OR WRONGDOING, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL BE PURSUING, UH, THOSE FUNDS AS PART OF THE, UH, THE COST SHARE FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL POINT OF VIEW, WE WILL BE PURSUING, AS I SAY, UH, WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE ABOUT 10% OF THE TOTAL COST, UH, THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, UH, WE WILL PUSH TO INCREASE, MAKE ANY INCREASES NECESSARY, UH, IN THAT EMERGENCY FEDERAL FUND AND AGAIN, PUT FORWARD LEGISLATION. UH, SENATOR CARDIN AND I ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF REACHING OUT, PUTTING A PHONE CALL INTO SPEAKER JOHNSON. UH, BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THIS IS SOME SOMETHING WHERE AMERICANS SHOULD COME TOGETHER. THERE SHOULD NOT BE A QUESTION OF REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN AMERICAN CHALLENGE. WE ARE A GREAT AMERICAN CITY HERE IN BALTIMORE, AND WE’RE HOPING THAT ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES WILL COME TOGETHER AND JOIN US IN MAKING SURE WE REBUILD THE BRIDGE, BECAUSE AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, WE DO THIS TOGETHER, AND WE HOPE THAT WILL ALSO BE TRUE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. SO THANK THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO’S BEEN PART OF THIS. UH, I’M NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR OF THIS. I’M SORRY, TO TOM PEREZ, ANOTHER GREAT MARYLANDER, UH, WHO IS NOW, UH, AT THE WHITE HOUSE DOING WONDERFUL WORK WITH THE PRESIDENT, TOM PEREZ. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TOM PEREZ, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT. BIDEN AND PRESIDENT BIDEN LIKED THE NATION GRIEVES FOR THESE VICTIMS, AND HE IS NO STRANGER TO TRAGEDY IN HIS OWN FAMILY. AND, GOVERNOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS CHALLENGING SITUATION. IT’S BEEN STEADFAST AND IT HAS BEEN REMARKABLE. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY MORNING, HE SUMMONED EVERYONE WHO HAD A RELEVANT STAKE IN THE GAME TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY FEDERAL RESOURCE WAS PUT TO BEAR. SO WE SEE THE COAST GUARD, WE SEE THE ARMY CORPS, WE SEE THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, WE SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE PRESIDENT DIRECTED US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. SUCCESS OCCURS WHEN EVERYBODY IS WORKING TOGETHER AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. I MET WITH THE FAMILIES EARLIER TODAY, AND IT IS REALLY, REALLY TRAGIC AND WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. WE HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. AND THE PRESIDENT HAS DIRECTED US TO MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH. THOSE AREN’T MY WORDS. THOSE ARE HIS WORDS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HELPING THE REMARKABLE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF MARYLAND TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE WE WILL INDEED, GOVERNOR, I CAN INFORM YOU WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL PROCESS YOUR REQUEST PROMPTLY BECAUSE THE SITUATION CALLS FOR PROMPT ACTION. THE HABLAR POQUITO EN ESPANOL PORQUE LA VICTIMAS SON LATINOS MAYOR THOMAS PEREZ YO TRABAJO POR EL PRESIDENT BIDEN. HOY ES UN DIA MUY, MUY TRISTE PARA NUESTRO ESTADO Y NUESTRO PAIS E EL PRESIDENTE ENTIENDE BIEN EL SUFRIMIENTO DE LA COMUNIDAD Y EL PRESIDENTE EN LA DAMA. PRIMERA UM LAS ORACIONES DE ELLOS SON CON LA FAMILIA DE LA VICTIMAS. PRESIDENT BIDEN ENTIENDE BIEN LA NECESIDAD DE CONSTRUIR LA PUENTE DE CONSTRUIR OPORTUNIDAD PARA TODOS LOS RESIDENTES DE MARYLAND, Y VAMOS A TRABAJAR JUNTO EN ESTE CASO, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS WORK, WHETHER IT’S THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WHETHER IT’S THE TO OUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE TODAY, WE WILL DO THAT TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT TEAMWORK IS ABOUT. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM, GOVERNOR, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. AND SPEAKING OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM, IT’S AN HONOR TO PRESENT TO YOU THE MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF BALTIMORE, BRANDON SCOTT. GOOD EVENING. UH, FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO EACH OF THE FAMILIES, KNOW THAT MY HEART AND THE HEART OF THE ENTIRE CITY OF BALTIMORE IS WITH YOU. AND WILL BE WITH YOU FOREVER. TO EVERY FIRST RESPONDER, WHETHER YOU’RE FROM BALTIMORE FIRE OR BALTIMORE POLICE, MARYLAND STATE POLICE, OR THE COAST GUARD, OUR COUNTY PARTNERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING FEARLESS AND SELFLESS AND FOR PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK TO SAVE OTHERS, AS YOU DID YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND EACH AND EVERY DAY TO BALTIMORE. WE ALL HURTING, BUT WE MUST BE REMINDED IN THIS MOMENT THAT WE ARE BALTIMORE, THE CITY OF BALTIMORE CANNOT BE BROKEN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS THROUGH THIS. WE WILL NOT BE BROKEN, BUT WE ARE ASKING TODAY ALSO FOR SOME PATIENCE. AS YOU HEARD. UH, WE WILL REOPEN THE CHANNEL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT’S JUST IMPORTANT THAT IT’S DONE. THE RIGHT WAY. WE ALSO. WELL, THIS IS ME. I’M ALSO ASKING FOR FOLKS TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DECENCY AND RESPECT. UH, DON’T SPREAD MISINFORMATION, PASSION. DON’T PLAY BRIDGE ENGINEER ONLINE OR IN THE MEDIA. REMEMBER THAT. THESE ARE PEOPLE’S FAMILY MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE TRANSIT BETTER FOR THE REST OF US. WE ARE STRONG. OUR SPIRIT AND OUR CITY IS STRONG AND CANNOT BE BROKEN. WE WILL REBUILD AND HEAL THE BALTIMORE WAY, AND THAT’S TOGETHER. THANK YOU. AND I’LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE GOVERNOR. THANKS, MR. THANK YOU ALL. I’M GOING TO TAKE SOME QUESTIONS. START WITH AARON COX FROM THE FRONT. HI, SIR. UM, WE’VE HEARD A LOT OF REPORTS THAT THE SHIP HAD ENGINE FAILURE BEFORE IT GOT TO PORT. THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS AT PORT. WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE STATE OF THE SHIP AS IT WAS PULLING OUT RIGHT BEFORE IT HIT? THAT BRIDGE? WE STILL ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED, AND WE DON’T HAVE A DECLARATIVE ANSWER AS TO WHY THERE WAS POWER CHALLENGE AND POWER ISSUES. THE THING THAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT THERE WERE POWER CHALLENGES AS THE AS THE THE FREIGHT WAS COMING UP ON THE BRIDGE. AND WHEN THE MAYDAY CALL WAS COMING IN, THE MAYDAY CALL CAME IN BECAUSE OF THE POWER ISSUES AND THE LACK OF ABILITY TO STEER THE VESSEL. CAN I WILL. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND SAY BY POWER CHALLENGES, DO YOU MEAN REPORTS THAT IT LOST POWER BEFORE IT EVEN LEFT THE PORT AND CAN POSSIBLY SECRETARY WIEDEFELD, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT ONE OF THE TWO PEOPLE RESCUED YESTERDAY WAS A STATE INSPECTOR? YES, ONE OF THEM WAS AN INSPECTOR, ACTUALLY, WITH A CONTRACTOR, BUT NOT WITH THE THE FIRM THAT WAS DOING THE WORK. I’M SORRY. IT WAS. IT WAS A ENGINEERING FIRM. AND NOT NOT THE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK ON THE BRIDGE CONTRACTED BY THE STATE? YES, YES, BUT NOT. BUT NOT A STATE EMPLOYEE. RIGHT? NO, NO BROADER BUILDERS. THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. AND THEN THERE’S ANOTHER ENGINEERING COMPANY. I’LL GET YOU THE NAME. AND THAT WAS THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER OVERSEEING THE WORK. AND WHAT ABOUT THE ENGINE QUESTION? UH, CONFIRM IT. I HEARD. SO, UH, AS FAR AS THE ENGINE GOES, WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VESSEL. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WERE GOING TO CONDUCT ROUTINE ENGINE MAINTENANCE ON IT WHILE IT WAS IN PORT, AND THAT’S THE ONLY THING WE WERE INFORMED ABOUT THE VESSEL IN THAT REGARD, MA’AM. THANK YOU. BRIAN, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ANY MORE ABOUT WHAT THE POWER ISSUE WAS? THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, UH, SOME CONJECTURE THAT MAYBE FUEL WAS INVOLVED. UH, WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THAT AT THIS TIME? SO. SO WHAT WE KNOW AT THIS TIME IS WE DON’T HAVE A CONFIRMED ANSWER AS TO WHAT EXACTLY THE POWER ISSUE WAS. WE KNOW THAT THE POWER ISSUE, UH, CONNECTED AND MEANT IT WAS AN INABILITY FOR THERE TO BE PROPER STEERING AND PROPER ADJUSTMENTS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE VESSEL. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE, UH, ANY FURTHER DETAILS AS OF YET UNTIL THE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED. 545 WE KNOW DRIVERS WERE STOPPED FROM GOING ON TO THE BRIDGE, BUT WERE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ABLE TO BE NOTIFIED? YES. SO SO THE FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO AGAIN, WERE REALLY MOVED TO HEROICALLY, UH, AFTER THE FIRST MAYDAY WAS CALLED, WERE ABLE TO BOTH MOVE TOWARDS KEEPING ADDITIONAL CARS FROM COMING ON. UH, COMING ON THE BRIDGE AND ALSO BEGIN TO NOTIFY, UH, SOME OF THE WORKERS AND PEOPLE ON THE BRIDGE THAT THEY NEEDED TO MOVE OFF THE BRIDGE. UH, IN FACT, UH, ONE OF THE THE THE SURVIVORS WHO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS HE MENTIONED TO ME WAS AS HE WAS MOVING OFF OF THE BRIDGE, UH, AND LITERALLY SAW THE BRIDGE FALL RIGHT AFTER HE MOVED OFF. UH, IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRST RESPONDER WHO WAS TELLING HIM TO MOVE OFF OF THE BRIDGE. I’M SORRY. HOW DID THAT COMMUNICATION HAPPEN? BECAUSE THE FIRST I’VE HEARD OF IT. HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CREW? WAS IT ON THE OTHER RADIO CHANNEL? WELL, THE WHAT? THE FIRST RESPONDERS, WHEN THEY WHEN THEY WERE FIRST RESPONDING AND THEY BEGAN TO MOVE AND TO KEEP CARS FROM COMING ON. THEY WERE ALSO NOTIFYING PEOPLE ON THE BRIDGE THEY NEED TO MOVE OFF THE BRIDGE. BUT HOW HOW DID THEY NOTIFY THE CELL PHONE RADIO? WELL, I THINK WE’LL FIND OUT VIA INVESTIGATION WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. I KNOW THAT THE ONE PERSON I SPOKE WITH, HE SAID IT WAS AUDIBLY THAT THE THAT THE OFFICER WAS TELLING HIM TO MOVE OFF. ALL RIGHT. WE’RE GOING TO MOVE ON. ABC SEVEN. I WAS ESSENTIALLY GOING TO ASK THAT SAME THAT SAME QUESTION JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THERE WERE EFFORTS MADE. ALL RIGHT. THEY WERE BRED. YES. YEAH. DO YOU SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PORT ACT IN SPITE OF THE STATE’S CURRENT FISCAL SITUATION? I’VE NOT GONE THROUGH THE, UH, THE THE PORT ACT, UH, IN DETAIL. THE THING THAT I KNOW IS THAT WE WILL WORK IN COORDINATION WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UH, WITH THE RESPONSE, UH, WE WILL WORK WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, WE’RE THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT WE’RE HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL SIDE OF THE FEDERAL DELEGATION AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE WHITE HOUSE ON IT AS WELL. AND WE KNOW THE RESPONSE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AS A STATE IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED, UH, AND ONE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO AND MAKE TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT. RIGHT HERE, LET ME CONFIRM THAT THE TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOVERED TODAY WERE SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THAT WERE PART OF THE CREW. AND CAN YOU ALSO GIVE US A TIME STAMP FOR WHEN DIVERS HAD TO COME OUT OF THE WATER TODAY? OBVIOUSLY, THE WATER WAS TERRIBLE OR THE WEATHER WAS TERRIBLE. YEAH. I CAN I CAN SPEAK TO THE FIRST QUESTION IN ADMIRAL OR. UH, YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS I UNDERSTAND THAT SHORTLY AFTER 10 A.M., THE DIVERS LOCATED THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK THEM A WHILE TO SECURE THAT VEHICLE PROPERLY PLACED AIRBAGS AROUND THE VEHICLE. THEN IT WAS VERY SLOW TRAVELING TO TOW THAT VEHICLE TO THE SHORELINE. AT SOME POINT, THEY REALIZED THAT THE WATER’S DEPTH WOULD NOT SUPPORT TOWING IT ALL THE WAY IN. IT WAS AT THAT POINT THE, UH, THE SEATS WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND BROUGHT TO THE SHORE, WHERE THEY WERE PLACED IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE. THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION WAS JUST CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM THOSE TWO, THOSE WERE TWO OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, TWO OF THE SIX. THEY WERE BOTH WORKING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WAS IDENTIFIED BY A DRIVER’S LICENSE IN HIS POCKET. THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL WAS IDENTIFIED BY FINGERPRINT. UH, SO WHAT TIME DID ALL THIS? THE SEARCHING STOP TODAY OR THE IN WATER SEARCHING STOP? WAS IT AT THAT? THE WATER SERGEANT IN WATER SEARCHING STOPPED AT ABOUT 4:00 TODAY. THE DIVERS DID EXHAUST THE SEARCH AREA AROUND THAT TO ENSURE THAT THEY COULDN’T GET IN THERE. THE SONAR SUPPORTED THE CONCLUSION THAT THE DIVERS ALL REACHED. AND YOU HAD DIVERS WORKING FROM MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS. AND THE SONAR SIMPLY SAID THAT THEY CANNOT GET TO THAT AREA BECAUSE IT WAS FULLY ENCASED AND THE SUPERSTRUCTURE FOR NOW, ONCE THAT SALVAGE EFFORT TAKES PLACE AND THAT SUPERSTRUCTURE IS REMOVED, THOSE SAME DIVERS ARE GOING TO GO BACK OUT THERE AND BRING THOSE PEOPLE CLOSURE. ALL RIGHT. NEXT QUESTION. UH, ARE YOU NOW RULING OUT THAT THERE WERE ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR POTENTIAL VICTIMS BEYOND THE SIX? YEAH, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AS OF RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES. UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL STILL BE A FULL INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED, BUT WE HAVE NO INFORMATION AS OF RIGHT NOW THAT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES AND BRIEFLY, THE NATIONALITY OF THE TWO VICTIMS RECOVERED TODAY. I DO. UH, THIS SHOWS MISTER ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ FUENTES LIVED IN BALTIMORE, BUT WAS FROM MEXICO, AND MISTER CABRERA WAS FROM GUATEMALA. CAN YOU JUST SPELL THOSE NAMES? SINCE WE’RE ALL GOING TO ASK? YEAH. UH. THANK YOU. I’M SORRY. UH, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU LIKE FIRST? ALEJANDRO? I’M SORRY. A L E J A N D R O. THE MIDDLE IS HERNANDEZ. H E R N A N MENDEZ. LAST NAME OF FUENTES — E T E S. THE SECOND VICTIM. FIRST NAME SPELLING D’AW R L I A N HIS TWO MIDDLE NAMES R O N I A L. THE NEXT IS CASTILLO CASS. T I L L O AND THE LAST OF CABRERA C A B R E R A. AND IF YOU ARE MISSING THOSE NAMES, WE WILL GET THAT TO YOU. UM, AFTERWARDS, IF YOU DID NOT GET THAT, WE’LL TAKE ABC NEWS AND TAKE TWO MORE QUESTIONS AFTER THAT. DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THE MEDICAL CONDITION OF THE THE SURVIVOR WHO WAS HOSPITALIZED? UH. THE SURVIVOR WHO WAS HOSPITALIZED WAS RELEASED EARLIER TODAY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT QUESTION. HAS THAT PERSON BEEN INTERVIEWED? AND WHAT KIND OF INTERVIEWS DO YOU EXPECT TO WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION DO YOU EXPECT TO NEED TO GET FROM THAT PERSON? OBVIOUSLY, WE’RE LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS TRAGEDY. HE HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED. THAT WILL PROBABLY BE FOLLOW UP INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE AND NTSB. AS WELL AS FEDERAL PARTNERS. HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING IN THOSE THAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOMENTS BEFORE AT THIS JUNCTURE, I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I WENT INTO WHAT’S GOING ON IN AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION. ALL RIGHT. ONE MORE TIME. OUR BARGES WITH CRANES ON THE WAY. I KNOW THERE’S NO WAY TO HAVE A TIME FRAME TO GET ANYTHING REOPENED, BUT I GUESS I’M ESSENTIALLY ASKING IS HOW PHYSICALLY ON THE WAY. AND YOU HAVE A TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THINGS COULD START BEING LIFTED FROM THE WATER. I DON’T HAVE A TIME FRAME ON THE ACTUAL LIFT YET, BECAUSE WE’RE STILL PUTTING THOSE PLANS TOGETHER. WE’RE GOING TO LIFT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE DO HAVE BARGES ON THE WAY AND THE CRANE BARGES AS WELL. THEY’RE COMING, UH, AS WE SPEAK NOW, SIR, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE ONE FINAL QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION. OH, WE UNDERSTAND, AND AT LEAST IN THE PAST, THAT, UM, THE CARGO SHIPS WERE TUGGED, BROUGHT BY TUGS THROUGH AND UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE, BUT THAT THAT STOPPED, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR VARIOUS REASONS. IS THERE ANY. I’M NOT SURE. IT’S A LOCAL QUESTION, BUT IS THERE ANY PLANS TO. MAYBE ONCE IT’S OPEN, WE’RE INSTITUTE THAT AND HAVE THESE SHIPS TUGGED OUT? UH, I’M SURE YOU KNOW, NO MATTER. IT COULD HAVE BEEN GOING ONE KNOT AND IT WAS MAKE A BRIDGE DOWN SOMEDAY. SO ARE THERE PLANS TO CHANGE THE PROTOCOL? BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WILL OBVIOUSLY INVESTIGATE ALL PROTOCOLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. WE’LL ALSO LOOK TO THE NTSB AND SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, BECAUSE THEY’LL REVIEW THE ENTIRE EVERY PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW AT THE PORT OF BALTIMORE. THAN

Recovery efforts resumed Wednesday on the web site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.Divers returned to the location early Wednesday after difficult in a single day situations improved, scouring the waters for any indicators of six lacking staff.Officials stated shortly earlier than 10 a.m. Wednesday, divers situated a crimson pickup truck submerged in about 25 ft of water. Divers recovered two victims’ our bodies from the truck.The six individuals unaccounted for and presumed dead have been a part of a building crew repairing potholes on the bridge.THE LATEST RIGHT NOWRecovery efforts resumed Wednesday for the six lacking building staff. All six are presumed dead, Coast Guard officers say.Two victims’ our bodies have been recovered from inside a crimson pickup truck beneath roughly 25 ft of water.They are recognized as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, of Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Dundalk.Officials are shifting to a “salvage” operation as divers consider the opposite our bodies are trapped beneath particles.The survivor who was taken to Shock Trauma Tuesday was launched Wednesday morning.The focus now turns to investigating what occurred and reopening the channel as rapidly and as safely as potential. Preliminary investigation reveals this was not intentional.Baltimore BeltwayI-695 closed from Glen Burnie to Dundalk (visitors map right here).The iconic Baltimore bridge collapsed round 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when the container ship Dali slammed right into a pillar, inflicting an extended span of the bridge to crumple into the Patapsco River.VIDEO: Officials say two our bodies pulled from car beneath bridgeAt least eight individuals went into the water. Two have been rescued however the different six, a part of a building crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge, have been lacking and presumed dead.The seek for the lacking modified from a search and rescue mission to a restoration mission late Tuesday night time, 18 hours after the employees disappeared.”Based on the size of time that we have gone within the search, the intensive search efforts we have put into it, the water temperature, we don’t consider that we’re going to discover any of those people alive, and so this night round 7:30, we’re going to droop energetic search and rescue efforts,” U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath stated Tuesday.To the households of these lacking, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated Tuesday afternoon at a information convention: “We are right here with you each step of the best way. We are praying with you.””This is an excruciating day for a number of households who awoke in the present day to information that nobody desires to obtain. They are hoping and praying, and we hope and praying with them. We are all placing our arms across the metropolis of Baltimore,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated at a information convention Tuesday afternoon.RELATED: Video reveals second when Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapsesMaryland State Police Col. Ronald Butler Jr. stated the main focus now shifts to a “salvage operation,” because the bridge’s tremendous construction is obstructing diver entry to the remaining victims.”We have exhausted all search efforts and the areas round this wreckage, and primarily based on the sonar scans, we firmly consider the (remaining) automobiles are encased within the tremendous construction and concrete that we tragically noticed come down,” he stated.WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?Efforts up to now have been largely centered on the seek for the six lacking staff. But the main focus will quickly shift to 2 primary aims: investigating what occurred and reopening the channel as rapidly and safely as potential.VIDEO: NTSB supplies updates on investigationNational Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy stated the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the vessel Tuesday and downloaded the voyage knowledge recorder. She stated a timeline of occasions primarily based on proof gathered can be shared through social media quickly. “We will start searching for any type of electronics, documentation, we are going to wish to take footage, we are going to wish to have a look at the engine room of the vessel, the bridge, after which we are going to wish to have a look at the freeway construction itself now that it has collapsed,” Homendy stated.PORT OF BALTIMORE OPERATIONSThe Maryland Port Administration suspended vessel visitors into and out of the Port of Baltimore till additional discover. The port isn’t shut down and they’re nonetheless processing vehicles inside the terminals.Starting Wednesday, the New Vail Street gate will shut till additional discover. All truck visitors should enter by way of the Seagirt primary gate at 2600 Broening Highway.The Seagirt primary gate won’t be prolonged to five:30 p.m. on Thursday as beforehand scheduled. It will shut on the regular time of 4:30 p.m.The Seagirt Marine Terminal can be closed on Good Friday.NO INDICATIONS OF TERRORISM Baltimore police Commissioner Richard Worley stated there isn’t any intelligence or any indication that the incident was intentional.The FBI launched the next assertion, saying: “There is not any particular and credible info to counsel any ties to terrorism at the moment. The investigation is ongoing. FBI Baltimore will proceed to assist our companions on the native, state and federal ranges.”Video beneath captures collapse of Key BridgeThe ship underwent 27 inspections because the Dali got here into service in 2016. There have been no points till June, when Chilean authorities discovered deficiencies in propulsion and the auxiliary equipment.DHS stated the Dali misplaced propulsion because it left Baltimore Harbor, which makes the June inspection notably fascinating.SkyTeam 11 video beneath reveals bridge collapse & level of impactA STATE OF EMERGENCYThe governor’s workplace launched an announcement, saying: “My workplace is in shut communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”I’ve declared a state of emergency right here in Maryland and we’re working with an interagency staff to rapidly deploy federal assets from the Biden administration.”We are grateful for the courageous women and men who’re finishing up efforts to rescue these concerned and pray for everybody’s security.” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an govt order declaring a state of emergency in Baltimore City in response to the collapse beginning at 9 a.m. and can stay in place for 30 days, which permits the mobilization of emergency companies and assets.Video beneath: Lester Holt — ‘Sometimes you see life change on a dime'”This is an unthinkable tragedy,” Scott stated at a information convention early Tuesday morning. “This is a tragedy you may by no means think about. Never did you suppose you’d see the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It regarded like one thing out of a film … Our focus must be the preservation of life.””We all awoke this morning to an unspeakable tragedy,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski stated at a information convention early Tuesday morning. “We have an extended street forward, not simply within the search and rescue however within the fallout after this.”ALTERNATE ROUTESInterstate 695 is closed between Maryland Route 157 (Peninsula Expressway) in Dundalk and Maryland Route 10 (Arundel Expressway) in Glen Burnie.Interstate 95Fort McHenry Tunnel (Maximum top: 14 ft, 6 inches; most width: 11 ft)Interstate 895Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (Maximum top: 13 ft, 6 inches; most width: 8 ft)Vehicles transporting hazardous supplies (together with propane of greater than 10 kilos) are prohibited in tunnels and will use the western part of I-695 round tunnels.See official truck routes by way of Baltimore City right here.BIDEN: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PAY TO REBUILDPresident Joe Biden spoke on the bridge collapse Tuesday afternoon, saying the federal authorities will ship all of the assets wanted by the town and state.Video: President speaks about bridge collapse”We’re with you. We’re going to stick with you for so long as it takes. Like the governor stated, you are Maryland powerful, you are Baltimore sturdy, and we will get by way of this collectively, and I promise we’re not leaving,” Biden stated.The president referred to as on Congress to place into movement the federal authorities paying for the development of a alternative bridge.”It’s my intention that the federal authorities can pay for the whole price to reconstruct the bridge,” Biden stated.Buttigieg stated the president’s plan is to rebuild the bridge and reopen the port. He stated the administration is ready to approve emergency funding upon request from the state.Video beneath: NTSB supplies replace on Key Bridge collapseThe Federal Highway Administration launched an announcement, saying: “The I-695 hall is a crucial connection for individuals and items touring alongside the East Coast, and we stand prepared to supply technical help — together with emergency reduction funding — to assist handle visitors and rebuild the bridge as rapidly and safely as potential.”In response to the collapse, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have been actively coordinating with federal, state, and native officers within the area, together with the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the town of Baltimore, U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB and others.”Secretary (Pete) Buttigieg, Federal Highway Administrator (Shailen) Bhatt, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on web site in the present day to supply federal assist and help.”WHAT’S NEXT?The collapse is bound to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, alongside the East Coast, shutting down ship visitors on the Port of Baltimore, a serious transport hub. The accident may also snarl cargo and commuter visitors.“Losing this bridge will devastate the whole space, in addition to the whole East Coast,” Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling stated.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, talking at a information convention close to the location Tuesday, stated it was too quickly to estimate how lengthy it should take to clear the channel, which is about 50 ft deep.“This is not any extraordinary bridge. This is likely one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” he stated at a information convention in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon. “It has been a part of the skyline for this area for longer than many people have been alive.”Highway indicators as far south as Virginia are warning drivers of delays related to the closure of the bridge.“Aside from the plain tragedy, this incident can have vital and long-lasting impacts on the area,” American Trucking Associations spokesperson Jessica Gail stated, calling Key Bridge and Baltimore’s port “crucial parts’’ of the nation’s infrastructure.Gail famous that 1.3 million vehicles cross the bridge yearly — 3,600 a day. Trucks that carry hazardous supplies will now need to make 30 miles of detours round Baltimore as a result of they’re prohibited from utilizing the town’s tunnels, she stated, including to delays and rising gas prices.WHERE IS THE BRIDGE?The Key Bridge opened in 1977, finishing the Baltimore Beltway’s circumference across the metropolis. The bridge is southeast of the town correct and spans from Sparrows Point to the southernmost tip of Baltimore.According to a Maryland Transportation Authority report issued in November, the Key Bridge carried greater than 12.4 million industrial and passenger automobiles in 2023.Federal Highway Administration data present the bridge was final inspected in May 2021, when inspectors rated it in truthful situation general at a ranking of six (passable) out of 9 on three parameters. These inspections are purported to happen each 24 months.The Key Bridge was certainly final inspected in May 2023 and “discovered to be in passable situation with an general ranking of truthful,” per a press aide for U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That inspection discovered the bridge was in truthful situation as nicely.HOW TO DONATEThe Baltimore Civic Fund is providing a method for individuals to contribute to the households of these misplaced within the tragedy.”In gentle of this tragic lack of life, we’re opening a donation account to assist these victims’ households and the households of the survivors. The cash raised can be distributed to the households of these impacted. While financial assist can by no means substitute the lack of a liked one, our aim is to assist ease the burden of these affected by this tragedy,” the web site states.Click right here to be taught extra.FULL COVERAGE FROM WBAL