Parking garage collapse in Atlanta

[wise871]

Just came across the news, parking garage collapse in Atlanta around the GT mid-town area. I went to monitor some live feed but there are no Atlanta feeds active. So far no reports of injuries.

[b7spectra]

According to the fishwrapper, Atlanta, Cobb & DeKalb are all on scene (MA for manpower/heat), so I'm guessing they, SHOULD BE, working off of ITAC channels?

[4phun]

Originally Posted by wise871

Just came across the news, parking garage collapse in Atlanta around the GT mid-town area. I went to monitor some live feed but there are no Atlanta feeds active. So far no reports of injuries.

You should have checked FOX or CNN, they were all over it - LIVE. So much so my wife was filling in the details as I was telling her what happened. If you can't beat them, join them.

[dsheli]

Does anyone have a digital scanner that can feed the AFD stream?
David

[4phun]

It would be helpful to look at the events so far and to plan to check in Tuesday morning when the search for victims resumes.

Here is the report presented by the AJC

Search of collapsed parking deck resuming tonight
Engineers are at Midtown garage

By Megan Matteucci, Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Monday, June 29, 2009

The search of the partially collapsed Centergy parking garage is expected to resume around 9:15 p.m., officials say.

Concerns over the soundness of the structure had halted the search around 7 p.m., but Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran said engineers currently on the scene should allow firefighters, police officers and canine rescue teams to resume looking for anyone who might be trapped inside.

<snip>

The initial view of the deck collapse (AJC)



Rescue crews must bring in jacks to stabilize areas they are going to enter (AJC)




Candice Crossfield, who works at Electric Cities of Georgia, entered the parking deck moments after the collapse unaware of what had just happened.

She walked up to her car on the fourth floor and that’s when she saw a big, gaping hole.

“I said ‘Oh my God,’” she said. “It was an amazing sight.”

She daringly walked up to the edge of the hole, near a car with two wheels dangling over the edge, snapped a photo with her cellphone and called her boss. Late for a lunch appointment, she drove out of the garage, exiting at street level on the third floor.

It was only then that she realized, “This whole thing could go down.”

Candice Crossfield took this photo from the fourth floor of the Centergy Parking deck just as it collapsed. Candice Crossfield (AJC)




Twenty or more photos at AJC web site on this story so far.

Gallery | Parking deck collapses in Midtown | ajc.com

My favorite photo is this one by KD Johnson of the Atlanta FD Search and Rescue Truck, they keep on Marietta Ave in NW Atlanta.

At least three Georgia Search and Rescue units arrived at the site. Kent D. Johnson / kdjohnson@ajc.com



Cobb has at least one similar heavy rescue unit and I suspect it was sent to the scene too along with one from DeKalb County.

This would be a good time to see if any of the channels on the Georgia Regional System which is affiliated with Cobb are being used. It was designed for events such as this.

More by the print reporters at the AJC web site ...
Searchers poised to re-enter collapsed garage | ajc.com

More photos and a video at 11Alive.com

Parking Deck Collapses in Midtown - 11Alive.com | WXIA | Atlanta, GA

[CapStar362]

poor volvo, 2nd picture down.


sad this had to happen right near a holiday

[4phun]

I knew it.

Candice shot that picture with her iPhone!


I suspected that was true based on the quality of the picture and the lighting defect to the right and it was confirmed when I saw her on Fox Five tonight. Engineers are directing welding operations on deck four to strengthen a weak area before rescuers are allowed back in. They still have three of the five searches to perform before the site is cleared. The first two searches seem to indicate no one has been killed in the collapse but they are not certain yet.

The forth and most dangerous search will involved tunneling through the debris.

The fifth and final search will involve cadaver dogs and thermal imaging.

This is an on going Atlanta fire rescue incident that probably will last into the late afternoon on Tuesday June 30. 2009.

BTW the same firm who built the collapsed walkway at the CDC built this deck. Coincidence?

[MTS2000des]

partially correct, Hardin Construction did have the job for the property but subcontracted the parking deck to another contractor according to Fox 5.

[MtnBiker2005]

I think there was a sign at the entrance to that parking garage.

"Park at your own risk"
"Not responsible for damage or theft to vehicles or vehicle contents"

[4phun]

Originally Posted by MtnBiker2005

I think there was a sign at the entrance to that parking garage.

"Park at your own risk"
"Not responsible for damage or theft to vehicles or vehicle contents"

Update

<snip from AJC>

The search was halted for about three hours Monday night because of some shifting of the deck, but resumed about 9:40 p.m., Atlanta Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Steven Woodworth said Tuesday during a predawn news conference.

“We have secured [the shifting], and are moving forward,” Woodworth said.

“We are continuing to shore the building,” he said. “We have made tremendous progress in that area. We are also continuing the searches as we shore. We have made tremendous progress there.”

Woodworth said that the search operations had continued throughout the night using cadaver-sniffing dogs as well as “live-victim” dogs.

“We’ve had dogs run through the rubble pile twice,” he said. “At this time, we have not had any hits from the dogs. However, due to the depth of the pile, we will continue to run the dogs through.”

Crews were also using cameras mounted on long poles to look for victims, Woodworth said. “As we clear some [rubble], they’re getting the cameras down into the cars.” He said there were 80 emergency personnel working the scene.

....

APD has reopened the streets near there for AM rush hour traffic which is flowing normally. Since most of the undamaged cars have been removed and stored by APD for the time being, I wonder if only a few who work nearby will show up for work today. They may have to use Marta to get to work in that area for some time to come.

[Metrofire31]

Anyone have a good list of the agencies involved in this incident? I've heard from monitoring that Atlanta (of course), Cobb and DeKalb GSAR units were involved along with many AFD units who have been shuttling in/our over time. Yesterday, on the way home, I heard on my scanner the arrival of a truck company from Forest Park Fire so I suspect a full mutual aid response coordinated by GMAG has been in place. Anyone know of other jurisdictions that have sent M/A companies?

[4phun]

Originally Posted by Metrofire31

Anyone have a good list of the agencies involved in this incident? I've heard from monitoring that Atlanta (of course), Cobb and DeKalb GSAR units were involved along with many AFD units who have been shuttling in/our over time. Yesterday, on the way home, I heard on my scanner the arrival of a truck company from Forest Park Fire so I suspect a full mutual aid response coordinated by GMAG has been in place. Anyone know of other jurisdictions that have sent M/A companies?

Gwinnett Fire

It is a car graveyard - AJC News

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/met...eck_scene.html

Emergency shoring seen which was built overnight and added to garage decks for safety



New Video, No Victims in Parking Garage Collapse

http://www.11alive.com/rss/rss_story...storyid=131937

To find out the status of your car, call 5th Street Management at 404-419-9600 and be ready with the vehicle's year, make, model and tag number, plus the floor it was parked on, if you know it.



"...your car is between the suburban and several hundred tons of concrete."

[Firebuff880]

GMAG was activated and has a large response in place. Both for station back fill, and a full structural task force in staging at the scene. Along with some members of the IMT.

There are six GSAR units in the Metro Area. They are setup up so that two units make a team. Fulton, Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Atlanta. There is also a GSAR Logistics team which I think is based in Douglasville, or Douglas I never get it right. By the way GSAR = Georgia Search and Rescue is funded by grants and operated by the local FDs with support from the state..

If you have an old VHF scanner you might want to listen to 154.280. State Fire M/A.

Originally Posted by Metrofire31

Anyone have a good list of the agencies involved in this incident? I've heard from monitoring that Atlanta (of course), Cobb and DeKalb GSAR units were involved along with many AFD units who have been shuttling in/our over time. Yesterday, on the way home, I heard on my scanner the arrival of a truck company from Forest Park Fire so I suspect a full mutual aid response coordinated by GMAG has been in place. Anyone know of other jurisdictions that have sent M/A companies?

[dsheli]

I think they are probably using a 800mhz itac channel, I highly doubt any of the departments on scene have a vhf radio but they might.

[Firebuff880]

I stand by what I recommended ..... Monitor 154.280 if you are in the area.. Although I think most M/A and most of GSAR has demobilized today.. A partial list of FDs that provided assitance;

Warner Robins, West Jackson, Rockdale County, Sandy Springs, Walker County Rescue, Martinez,
Morrow, Riverdale, Loganville, Macon-Bibb Co., Marietta Fire, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Henry County, Decatur, Dekalb County, Forest Park, Clayton County, Cobb County, Covington,
Cartersville, Cherokee County Fire, GMAG Canteen ..

Originally Posted by dsheli

I think they are probably using a 800mhz itac channel, I highly doubt any of the departments on scene have a vhf radio but they might.

[4phun]

Originally Posted by Firebuff880

I stand by what I recommended ..... Monitor 154.280 if you are in the area.. Although I think most M/A and most of GSAR has demobilized today.. A partial list of FDs that provided assitance;

Warner Robins, West Jackson, Rockdale County, Sandy Springs, Walker County Rescue, Martinez,
Morrow, Riverdale, Loganville, Macon-Bibb Co., Marietta Fire, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Henry County, Decatur, Dekalb County, Forest Park, Clayton County, Cobb County, Covington,
Cartersville, Cherokee County Fire, GMAG Canteen ..

Wow, some of those are up to two hours away in normal traffic. I wonder if those far out agencies responded emergency to cut the total travel time? I suspect some went for advanced training and practice, it would have been a helpful learning experience for rookies.