Checking in from Surfside Rescue

Many of you know I do structural support for Search and Rescue and was sent to surfside. For those of you new to this discussion, it started here https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215558334

If you have seen the videos of the rescue effort with all of the blue uniforms, I am one of those guys. Most of the guys are specially trained firemen but there are a few positions for civilians like myself. My role is as a structural engineer to evaluate the building, guard against secondary collapse, mitigate dangers and generally keep the rescuers from further harm. I have been doing it for 25 years and have been to 9/11, Haiti Earthquake, Katrina and others. At this point, I figure I have been involved in four of the worst disasters in the western hemisphere in my lifetime. Crazy.

Among the stories you have seen, this was my team https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article252528388.html That was a gut-wrenching night.

Anyway, I am back after spending 14 days on the site. My team is still there but I came home a little early because the structural danger dropped dramatically when the remaining building was imploded.

I had promised to check-in when I returned so I wanted to let everyone know I am home safe and sound.

Unfortunately, I can't really say very much or show any pictures because we are on a very strict public relations protocol.

As to cause, I managed to get pretty involved with the investigators from NIST so I will refrain from laying out my opinions. I will comment on it when the report comes out which could be a ways off. Just try to ignore all the chatter on the internet because too many of them are forming opinions without all the facts. I will say that I think the problems were pretty unique to this building so I wouldn't lose any sleep over living in a high rise building.

Thanks for all the well wishes