Prayers in Minnesota - Bridge Tragedy

[Bulbasaur4]

As a Minnesotan myself, it is really hard and rather shocking to try to understand how such a tragic event has occured.

If you don't know, Minnesota had one of their most active bridges fall into a river and down upon traffic below at 6:05 PM, central time. This happened during our rush hour, and many people were injured. Up to right now, 6 are officially dead and dozens critically or severely injured. Of course, this is only for those accounted for on or around the accessable areas of the bridge. This doesn't include those who fell into the river itself, since they need to find the bodies and the cars.

The bridge was not old, but was built in 1967 which is relatively new in bridge standards. It went through inspections in 2005 and 2006, and they said that renovation would not be needed until 2020. So they do not understand how the bridge fell, and only minor cement construction was being done on non-critical areas of the bridge. It doesn't appear to be terrorism (terrorists would attack our 35E bridge, not this one if you want a more active brige) and so people are really scratching their heads.

The big news is, for Minnesota standards, this is the most shocking and tragic experience we've had since the big floods back about nine years ago and they don't even compare right now.


I just ask if people could please pray and keep the people and their families involved in this tragic occurance in their thoughts. ;_;


* Also, keep in mind that all their death and injury tallies are only those found on the bridge. According to our local Minnesotan news, they haven't even begun estimating or investigating those who fell and are missing in the river yet. Also, many internet sources mention the construction done on the bridge but as of now they say the construction was minor and wouldn't/shouldn't have affected the structural intergity of the bridge.

[Roy Karrde]

It should also be noted that Homeland Security right now is saying that they do not think it was a terrorist attack, but there is just something striking me about this of something possible. Anyway when I first saw this on Fox News, I immediatly thought of you Kalah. I hope your family and friends in Minnesota are safe.

[Perfect Chaos]

Yeah, its a great shock to everyone. I know when I heard about it I found it to be pretty freaky. But I also don't think it was a terrorist attack or anything.

I will be praying for all the citizens of Minnesota. Did anyone you know get affected Kalah?

[Gavin Luper]

Heard about this on the radio news this morning. What a tragedy. Shall pray for the people and their families.

[Magi of all]

My heart goes out to the families and friends of those on the bridge. I will keep them in my prayers.

[RedStarWarrior]

I'm just surprised that it hadn't collapsed under a full load, but rather when two were closed. Also, I find it a little too coincidental that it fell directly when a train was passing below. I hope it was just a freak accident, but I can't help but be suspicious until the investigation is complete.

[Jeff]

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who were involved. As a Marylander I can definitely relate to this due to all the bridges we have here, and especially since we had our own bridge-related tragedy a few months ago. Fortunately though, in that case the bridge didn't collapse, but three people were killed in the accident, and countess others were tied up in the resulting traffic, including me. Considering how much sadness and confusion was caused by that accident, I can't even imagine what must be going on in the Twin Cites right now with an entire bridge collapsing.

[Arnen]

I was freaking out so bad when this happened, since virtually all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mom's side of the family live in the Minneapolis area. I'm so thankful they were all at home or on the other side of town when this occurred, and my best wishes go out to anyone involved with this.

[kainashi]

It should also be noted that Homeland Security right now is saying that they do not think it was a terrorist attack, but there is just something striking me about this of something possible. Anyway when I first saw this on Fox News, I immediatly thought of you Kalah. I hope your family and friends in Minnesota are safe.

not everything bad that happens in america is a terrorist attack, bub. the bridge just buckled under all the stress it had been taking through the years i guess.

[Blademaster]

not everything bad that happens in america is a terrorist attack, bub.

Thank you.

[firepokemon]

Roy Karrde represents everything so wrong about America.

[Blademaster]

Roy Karrde represents everything so wrong about America.

Easy there, cowboy - we don't need yet another flame war and/or terrorism/Iraq/Bush/whatever thread here just because nobody agrees with Roy's POV, so let's try and keep it sane and sensitive for once instead, shall we?

[Magmar]

My state (Rhode Island) has the worst bridges in the country. That makes me juuust a little nervous.

[firepokemon]

Easy there, cowboy - we don't need yet another flame war and/or terrorism/Iraq/Bush/whatever thread here just because nobody agrees with Roy's POV, so let's try and keep it sane and sensitive for once instead, shall we?

......

[RedStarWarrior]

fp, behave.

Anyway, the investigation is focusing on steel plates right now and they are looking at whether the weight of the construction equipment contributed.

[Roy Karrde]

not everything bad that happens in america is a terrorist attack, bub. the bridge just buckled under all the stress it had been taking through the years i guess.

In this day and age that is one thing that we do have to worry about when it happened and in the chaos no one knew what caused it, I was just saying that it has been ruled out becuase when people see it they will remember images of 9/11. Lets also not forget that one of Al Qaeda's favorite target in Iraq is Bridges, and there have been ominous warnings of something big happening.

Easy there, cowboy - we don't need yet another flame war and/or terrorism/Iraq/Bush/whatever thread here just because nobody agrees with Roy's POV, so let's try and keep it sane and sensitive for once instead, shall we

9 People died, we should remember that, as for my point of view, it is mine, I don't care if you agree with me or not, infact I would rather have you not agree with me becuase that makes debates alot more interesting.

Roy Karrde represents everything so wrong about America.

I have a final project due tomorrow and I have been working on it for 24 hours with out sleep, I am under a huge amount of stress to the point I am shaking. I just want everyone to keep that in mind for what I say next.

Go Fuck your God Damn pathetic bastard self, you Mother Fucker

[Heald]

Hey Roy, the second quote you use is actually by Blademaster.

YEAH YOU STUPID

*ahem*

I was in Florida, coincidentally, when BREAKING NEWS told us that the bridge had gone Pete Tong and the President apparently made some announcement, but I was too busy watching some other crap.

[Magi of all]

Go Fuck your God Damn pathetic bastard self, you Mother Fucker

Motion seconded

[Blademaster]

9 People died, we should remember that, as for my point of view, it is mine, I don't care if you agree with me or not, infact I would rather have you not agree with me becuase that makes debates alot more interesting.

You do realize I was talking to firepokemon and not you, right dude? And I used 'nobody' as a generalization - I agree with you sometimes (About once a year maybe, but that's beside the point. ).

Go Fuck your God Damn pathetic bastard self, you Mother Fucker

...

Anybody mind if I sig that?

[Roy Karrde]

You do realize I was talking to firepokemon and not you, right dude? And I used 'nobody' as a generalization - I agree with you sometimes (About once a year maybe, but that's beside the point. ).

Sorry about that, you have to realize I was going with very little sleep when I wrote that post, and under alot of stress.

...

Anybody mind if I sig that?

I would if you please.

[Blademaster]

You would what? You'd sig it? Or you'd mind if I sigged it?

[Toxicity]

I was in Florida, coincidentally, when BREAKING NEWS told us that the bridge had gone Pete Tong and the President apparently made some announcement, but I was too busy watching some other crap.

...you were in Florida not too long ago, and we didn't meet up.
...
...
...I dunno if that's a good or bad thing.
...
...
...
ANYWAY.

Yeah. It's kind of sad that it happened, especially considering it was a surprise thing. But if it's just a bridge, almost everybody involved survived, and it's merely a slip of weight and construction, it isn't exactly supposed to be a national tragedy, no offense to anybody. It's been a few weeks and it's on the majority placed aside unless we hear of the reconstruction or another missing person found. Good to hear that our users in that area are okay, though.

Personally, I think they could've easily limited the bridge access during construction and it probably wouldn't have happened when it did; a lot of bridges I've seen have been known to do that. But even then they probably didn't think there was an issue in the design of the bridge for it to be a main concern.

Potential Moral of the Story - Shit happens. Usually when you don't pay attention and most likely for no reason.

And Blade, I think he means that he'd mind. But you may want to wait until he talks to you about it being in its, ahem, current state before doing anything else.

[darktyranitar]

Ryan, don't post if you're not in a good shape. You don't have to post in every topic, you know.

...because that's Brian's job!

And I think he meant that he'd be upset if people sig that, but eh. It's already sigged.

Nah, I don't think this is terrorist's work; the terrorists I know would make big announcement, or something of that sort. *shrug*

[mr_pikachu]

Ryan, don't post if you're not in a good shape. You don't have to post in every topic, you know.

...because that's Brian's job!

Fine, fine. I can see I've got a reputation to uphold.

Toxicity, I think the big deal with this is that it's brought our vulnerability to our attention. Like a lot of people have said, many bridges are in far worse shape than this one was... who knows what could happen if they aren't fixed? The "it could've been me" philosophy really applies here.

And the other issue is that it was a major flashback to 9/11. The mere fact that so many people seriously considered terrorism a possibility for so long shows how much this was a shock to the system.

[Asilynne]

I cant believe you guys, this is a prayer topic. People died and the only thing you can think of is using it as another excuse to get at who you have feuds with on the board. Grow up, people in the area of Minnesota that this happened in would probably give anything to only have to worry about the silly problems you guys have with each other, but no, they have to deal with something a whole lot worse. The fear and apprehension associated with a tragety in which they dont know whether or not their loved ones will live, the fate and location of those lost under the river, and they have to deal with the fact that this could happen again with another bridge. Can you imagine losing someone you care about to a bridge falling? Youd never know if being on or under a bridge would be safe again, and your mind would reel with possibilities, "If only they were a few minutes late driving to work", "If only they took a different road", "If only someone had inspected the bridge more carefully", for all the If onlys, people could have still been alive, but it happened, so have a lil decency.
Acting like animals, using a tragedy to make a point about the government, thats disgusting no matter who does it, so please guys think a lil before you go off on personal feuds x.x