Military Support Continues in Minneapolis Bridge Recovery Operations

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 17, 2007 - Defense Department forces assisting with search-and-recovery operations at the site of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis are continuing their efforts around the clock. The westbound span of the Interstate 35 bridge across the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis collapsed Aug. 1 during the evening rush hour. Eleven people are confirmed killed, and two more still are missing. Divers are continuing to search for remains in the river beneath the rubble.

Recovery operations are ongoing as U.S. Navy divers conduct rigging operations with onsite contractors, U.S. Northern Command officials said. The contractors, hired by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, are using heavy equipment to cut through the debris, which will provide access to remaining vehicles. The divers continue to assess their best access points to remaining vehicles as debris is removed, officials said.

"Recovery operations will continue as part of a larger team effort, with safety being a paramount concern during debris removal and dive operations," said Army Col. Michael Chesney, the defense coordinating officer and on-scene commander for Defense Department assets involved in the recovery efforts. "We are here to help and provide support to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office as long as we are requested."

Chesney said he is impressed with the spirit of cooperation among agencies participating in the recovery operations.

"As I observe the (Navy) divers working in partnership with the contractors removing debris, it demonstrates the joint effort being put forth by everyone as we continue 24/7 recovery operations," he said.

Defense Department assets assisting in this effort include a Defense Coordinating Element augmented with personnel from U.S. Army North, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. They have been in Minneapolis since Aug. 6, at the request of the U.S. Department of Transportation and in support of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

(From a U.S. Northern Command news release.)

Defense Coordinating Element Provides Assistance in Minneapolis

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 10, 2007 - The Department of Defense has deployed a Defense Coordinating Element to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to assist with last week's 35W bridge collapse. The six-person Region 5 Defense Coordinating Element, based in Chicago, prepares for civil support missions by working daily with federal and state emergency planners and consequence managers in the six-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Army Col. Michael Chesney, defense coordinating officer, is DoD's on-scene representative to provide command and control of responding active-duty forces and will facilitate requests for any additional DoD support.

"We are here at the request of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and Department of Transportation," Chesney said. "Sheriff Rich Stanek is the incident commander, so we are here to provide support to him and residents affected by this unfortunate disaster."

Chesney and the team are assigned to U.S. Army North, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Army North provides defense support to civil authorities as the Army component of U.S. Northern Command, the unified command on Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., that is responsible for homeland defense and civil support.

The Defense Department brings additional capabilities as part of a larger federal response when requested by states and approved by the secretary of defense. Currently, DoD is providing two dive teams and support personnel from Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., to assist with recovery efforts after the bridge collapse.

"The Navy has some specialized skills on this type of operation where we're capable of entering into a confined space with high currents to recover the remains that the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is using as part of their investigation of the incident," said Navy Capt. Rich Hooper, director of ocean engineering and supervisor of salvage and diving at Naval Sea Systems Command.

"They need that specialized expertise the (unit) has to get into cramped, confined spaces that are heavily damaged and that are very high-risk situations for divers," Hooper said. "That specialized skill is not something you can commonly get out on the commercial market."

Seventeen divers and a five-person command-and-control element from the unit are on site in Minneapolis.

The dive team was able to enter the confined space under the collapsed bridge, an area that was previously inaccessible to local and FBI recovery attempts. "The team will conduct a hand-over-hand search of the entire area, which will take some time," Hooper said. "There is no room for error."

(From a U.S. Northern Command news release.)

Reservists Rush Aid to Utah Mine; Navy Begins Diving at Minnesota Bridge

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 7, 2007 - Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft are rushing equipment needed to rescue six miners trapped in a cave-in in Huntington, Utah, and Navy divers are ready to begin work at the site of the collapsed bridge in Minneapolis. The Department of Labor asked for the aircraft to move a seismic vehicle, a shelter, an auxiliary truck and a small number of people to Utah. Pentagon officials said two planes and crews from the 911th Airlift Wing, based in Pittsburgh, flew needed equipment to the site today.

The seismic vehicle is to be used to listen for signs of life in the collapsed mine, labor officials said.

In Minneapolis, about 30 Defense Department personnel are working in support of state and local authorities. "The Navy diving detachment is on site and the salvage team consists of 18 personnel and six-man support team," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

The divers, part of Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit 2 in Little Creek, Va., will search for bodies at the disaster scene and move tons of rubble from the bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River on Aug. 1.

Military Helps Recovery Effort in Minnesota Bridge Collapse

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 6, 2007 - Navy divers will aid in recovery efforts at the site of the Aug. 1 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Defense Department officials said today. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates approved a request from Transportation Secretary Mary Peters over the weekend, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said today.

The westbound Interstate 35 bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed Aug. 1 during the evening rush hour. Five people are known dead, with 98 injured. Minneapolis officials said 24 of those injured remain in critical condition. Officials said eight more people remain unaccounted for in the collapse.

Navy divers will help state and local divers examine wreckage and clear debris. The divers will come from Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit 2, based in Little Creek, Va. The unit has sent a five-man assessment team to the city to work with state and local officials.

Whitman said U.S. Northern Command has a coordinating officer at the site to assess requests from state, local and national officials for Defense Department aid. Northern Command coordinates assistance to civilian authorities in such emergencies.

Swirling currents and low visibility make for treacherous conditions for divers, state officials said. In addition, steel rebar and concrete from the bridge itself can hook hoses or trap divers.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials are working with officials to aid the search-and-recovery effort. Corps engineers lowered the level of the Mississippi River two feet to lessen the current at the site, officials said.

National Guard personnel working under state orders also are providing support and expertise at the site, defense officials said.