Recovery of bodies in Hard Rock collapse officially underway (New Orleans)

[fleur-de-lisa]

Recovery mission for bodies at Hard Rock officially underway, city expects to reach first victim by weeks end

https://www.wdsu.com/article/new-orleans-officials-providing-update-on-body-recovery-at-collapsed-hard-rock-hotel-site/33369274

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans city leaders held a news conference Monday where they announced that the body recovery process is officially underway. According to New Orleans Fire Chief Tim McConnell, they expect to reach the remains of the first victim by the end of this week.

McConnell said the demolition ball is on the site and the process to demolish parts of the building little by little is expected to begin this week. The city said last week that the projected timeline for removal would be early this week.

McConnell said one victim is on the 11th floor and another is on the deck area. According to the city, the recovery mission could take four to five days to remove the bodies of 63-year-old Jose Ponce Arreola and 36-year-old Quinnyon Wimberly. Anthony Magrette, 49, also died in the collapse. His body was removed the day after the collapse.

[bobbieinok]

1. WHEN did building collapse?

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. October 12, 2019

[bobbieinok]

3. Is it very usual for recovery to take so long?

[fleur-de-lisa]

4. No, not at all.

After the collapse, several cranes were hanging precariously from the wreckage and the developer and the City were worried that the cranes would collapse during recovery of the bodies, possibly injuring demolition crew members and causing more damage to adjacent buildings and the street below.

Then the lawyers were called in. A bunch of folks are suing the developer and the contractor (survivors, nearby businesses that were affected by falling debris or closure.) So construciton was halted until all data related to the design and construction had been recorded.

Then the demolition experts fought for several months about the best way to recover the bodies while not causing injury to demolition crews or damaging adjacent buildings.

It's been a freaking mess and the families of the two men trapped inside have been waiting all this time to bury their loved ones.

[bobbieinok]

5. Thanks for info.