Baltimore bridge collapse: Federal funding approved, crane to arrive Friday

Officials suspend vessel traffic in Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse

Officials suspend vessel traffic in Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse

BRIDGE, WHICH OF COURSE CAN’T HAPPEN UNTIL. THAT DEBRIS IS CLEARED UP AND WORK ON THAT FIRST DIRECTIVE. CLEARING THE CHANNEL IS ALREADY GETTING UNDERWAY. 11 NEWS REPORTER TORI YORGEY JOINS US NOW LIVE, AND TORI, WHERE DO THOSE EFFORTS STAND TONIGHT? RIGHT. KAI ASHLEY. THAT’S WHAT THEY’VE BEEN SAYING ALL NIGHT. THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS, IS WHAT WE’RE HEARING FROM FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS IS CLEARING THE CHANNEL, GETTING THE KEY BRIDGE OUT OF THE PATAPSCO RIVER. AND WE DID LEARN TONIGHT FROM GOVERNOR WES MOORE HERE THAT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THEY REQUEST, MILLIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED. ON CLEARING THE CHANNEL AND OPENING THE VESSEL TRAFFIC TO THE PORT. I’VE SAID IT BEFORE. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, AND I WILL KEEP ON SAYING IT. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT MARYLAND. THIS IS ABOUT THE NATION’S ECONOMY. $60 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS COMING TO BALTIMORE FOR MOBILIZATION. AND OPERATIONS AND DEBRIS RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE. WE WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS JUST A DOWN PAYMENT. THE $60 MILLION. IT IS NOT THE FINAL PAYMENT ALL TO HELP WHAT STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS ARE CALLING A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW, GETTING THE PORT BACK UP AND RUNNING. THE U.S. COAST GUARD SAYS THIS WILL BE DONE IN STEPS. FIRST, THEY’LL CLEAR DEBRIS FROM THE CHANNEL, THEN REMOVE THE CARGO. SHIP BEFORE REMOVING THE REST OF THE BRIDGE. DEBRIS FROM THE WATER CRANES ARE ON THEIR WAY TO DO THAT. ONE ARRIVES LATER TONIGHT. ANOTHER SHOULD ARRIVE ON SATURDAY, BUT BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN LIFTING, WE’VE GOT TO COMPLETE THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS OF THE BRIDGE AND THE PIECES OF THE BRIDGE ARE IN THE WATER SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO CUT THE BRIDGE INTO THE RIGHT SIZE PIECES SO THAT WE CAN. ACTUALLY LIFT THEM WITH THE CRANE. THE ARMY CORPS IS MOVING THE LARGEST CRANE IN THE EASTERN SEABOARD TO BALTIMORE TO HELP US. IT’S ESTIMATED THAT THAT WILL ARRIVE LATER ON THIS EVENING. WE ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THE POTENTIAL HAZMAT LEAK. THE NTSB IS DOCUMENTING. HE SAYS 14 CONTAINERS ON THE DOLLY THAT WERE DAMAGED OR INVOLVED IN THE CRASH CONTAIN THINGS LIKE SOAP, PERFUME AND RESIN MATERIAL. THEY ARE MONITORING THE WATER AND AIR. SO FAR, THEY SAY NO INDICATION OF ANY THREAT. THE GOVERNOR SAYS THEY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL A BOOM IN THE WATER AND AROUND THE SHIP TO COLLECT ANYTHING COMING OFF OF IT, BUT WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT THE SHEEN THE NTSB SPOTTED ON THE WATERWAY. THE SHEEN. THAT I THINK HAS BEEN REPORTED, I THINK HAS TO DO WITH, UH, THERE’S A BOW THRUSTER. ON THE FRONT OF THE SHIP THAT ALLOWS THE SHIP TO NORMALLY MOVE TO PORT OR STARBOARD AS IT’S COMING INTO PORT, APPROACHING A DOCK, ETC. THERE’S SOME OIL ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BOW THRUSTER AND. WE THINK THERE WERE ROUGHLY 80L OF OIL IN THAT AREA. AND SO WE THINK THAT’S REALLY WHERE THE SHEEN IS COMING FROM. BUT OUR ABILITY TO GET DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THAT IS REALLY TOO DANGEROUS. AND TO BE CLEAR, A BOOM IS ESSENTIALLY A WATER BARRIER THAT’S PLACED THERE TO COLLECT ANY MATERIALS. POSSIBLY COMING OFF OF THAT SHIP. NOW, THE GOVERNOR COULD NOT GIVE A TIMELINE FOR ALL OF US. HIS EXACT WORDS WERE, THIS IS GOING. TO BE A LONG, COMPLICA

Baltimore bridge collapse: Federal funding approved, crane to arrive Friday

Officials suspend vessel traffic in Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse

Two bodies have been recovered following the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, and authorities are searching for the remains of four more people presumed dead.The bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera were recovered from a red pickup truck submerged in about 25 feet of water near the bridge’s middle span Wednesday afternoon. Four more people remain unaccounted for.As recovery efforts continue Thursday, many grapple with what’s next for the bridge. The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare along the East Coast for months, if not years, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major hub. The loss of the bridge will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.THE LATEST RIGHT NOW The bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera were recovered from a red pickup truck submerged in about 25 feet of waterFour others remain unaccounted for as recovery efforts continueThe focus now turns to investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and as safely as possiblePresident Joe Biden approved $60 million in funding for recovery effortsA 1,000-ton crane will arrive at the collapse site FridayThe collapse has gained worldwide attention, shutting down ship traffic at the major Port of Baltimore and snarling cargo and commuter traffic Preliminary investigation shows this was not intentional.Baltimore Beltway\I-695 closed from Glen Burnie to Dundalk (traffic map here).The iconic Baltimore bridge collapsed around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when the container ship Dali slammed into a pillar, causing a long span of the bridge to crumple into the Patapsco River.VIDEO: Officials announce approved federal funding for Key BridgeAt least eight people went into the water. Two were rescued, but the other six, part of a construction crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge, were missing and presumed dead.The search for the missing changed from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission late Tuesday night, 18 hours after the workers disappeared."Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts we've put into it, the water temperature, we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals alive, and so this evening around 7:30, we are going to suspend active search and rescue efforts," U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said Tuesday."This is an excruciating day for several families who woke up today to news that no one wants to receive. They are hoping and praying, and we are hoping and praying with them. We are all putting our arms around the city of Baltimore," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.RELATED: Video shows moment when Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsesMaryland State Police Col. Ronald Butler Jr. said the focus now shifts to a "salvage operation," as the bridge's superstructure is blocking diver access to the remaining victims."We have exhausted all search efforts and the areas around this wreckage, and based on the sonar scans, we firmly believe the (remaining) vehicles are encased in the superstructure and concrete that we tragically saw come down," he said. RELATED: What we know about the victims of the Key Bridge collapseJesus Campos, who has worked on the bridge for Brawner Builders and knows members of the construction crew who died, said he was told they were on a break and some were sitting in their trucks to warm up when the bridge collapsed.WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?Gov. Wes Moore submitted an emergency $60 million request for funding from the federal government. He announced Thursday evening that request was approved."We want to be clear — $60 million is just a down payment, not the final payment," U.S. Department of Transportation official Shailen Bhatt said.First, crews will clear debris from the channel, then remove the cargo ship, before removing the rest of the bridge debris from the water. Cranes are on the way to do that. One will arrive Friday, another on Saturday.Efforts so far have been largely focused on the search for the missing workers. But the focus will soon shift to two main objectives: investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and safely as possible.VIDEO: NTSB provides timeline of events from DaliNational Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators boarded the vessel and obtained a general timeline of events via the ship's voyage recorder data.At 1:24 a.m. Tuesday, numerous alarms went off on the bridge, and the VDR stopped. Two minutes later, it started again. That's when the pilots put out the first call for tugboats to assist. At 1:27 a.m., the pilot of the ship ordered the port anchor to drop and radioed that the ship lost power and was approaching the bridge. That's when the U.S. Coast Guard instructed the MDTA to shut down the bridge, and all lanes were closed.The VRD recorded the collision about two minutes later at 1:29 a.m.Officials also determined the ship has 56 containers containing 764 tons of hazardous materials that federal agencies are working to address."Some of the hazmat containers were breached. We have seen sheen on the waterway," Homendy said.But according to Moore, there is no indication of any serious threat at this time.Officials said a preliminary report should be released by the NTSB in 2-4 weeks, with a final report not expected for 12-24 months.SHIP UNDERWENT ENGINE MAINTENANCE BEFORE CRASHThe ship that crashed into a bridge in Baltimore was undergoing "routine engine maintenance" in the port beforehand, the Coast Guard said.U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference on Wednesday that authorities had been informed that the ship was going to undergo routine engine maintenance before it lost power. But he said authorities were not informed of any problems.Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said the cargo ship was carrying hazardous materials.NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy says there are 56 containers aboard containing hazardous materials, including corrosives, flammables and lithium-ion batteries. She said some containers were breached and a sheen there was a sheen in the water that will be dealt with by authorities. She said the voyage data recorder has been recovered.Homendy said the investigation could take 12 to 24 months but that the NTSB would not hesitate to issue urgent safety recommendations during that time. She said a preliminary report should be released in two to four weeks.“It’s a massive undertaking for an investigation,” Homendy said. “It’s a very tragic event.”PORT OF BALTIMORE OPERATIONSThe Maryland Port Administration suspended vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore until further notice. The port is not shut down and they are still processing trucks inside of the terminals.Starting Wednesday, the New Vail Street gate will close until further notice. All truck traffic must enter through the Seagirt main gate at 2600 Broening Highway.The Seagirt main gate will not be extended to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday as previously scheduled. It will close at the normal time of 4:30 p.m.The Seagirt Marine Terminal will be closed on Good Friday.NO INDICATIONS OF TERRORISM Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said there is no intelligence or any indication that the incident was intentional.The FBI released the following statement, saying: "There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time. The investigation is ongoing. FBI Baltimore will continue to support our partners at the local, state and federal levels."Video below captures collapse of Key BridgeThe ship underwent 27 inspections since the Dali came into service in 2016. There were no issues until June, when Chilean authorities found deficiencies in propulsion and the auxiliary machinery.DHS said the Dali lost propulsion as it left Baltimore Harbor, which makes the June inspection particularly interesting.SkyTeam 11 video below shows bridge collapse & point of impactA STATE OF EMERGENCYThe governor's office released a statement, saying: "My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge."I have declared a state of emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration."We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety." Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Baltimore City in response to the collapse starting at 9 a.m. and will remain in place for 30 days, which enables the mobilization of emergency services and resources.Video below: Lester Holt — 'Sometimes you see life change on a dime'"This is an unthinkable tragedy," Scott said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "This is a tragedy you can never imagine. Never did you think you would see the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of a movie ... Our focus should be the preservation of life.""We all awoke this morning to an unspeakable tragedy," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "We have a long road ahead, not just in the search and rescue but in the fallout after this."ALTERNATE ROUTESInterstate 695 is closed between Maryland Route 157 (Peninsula Expressway) in Dundalk and Maryland Route 10 (Arundel Expressway) in Glen Burnie.Interstate 95\Fort McHenry Tunnel (Maximum height: 14 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 11 feet)Interstate 895\Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (Maximum height: 13 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 8 feet)Vehicles transporting hazardous materials (including propane of more than 10 pounds) are prohibited in tunnels and should use the western section of I-695 around tunnels.See official truck routes through Baltimore City here.BIDEN: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PAY TO REBUILDPresident Joe Biden spoke on the bridge collapse Tuesday afternoon, saying the federal government will send all the resources needed by the city and state.Video: President speaks about bridge collapse"We're with you. We're going to stay with you for as long as it takes. Like the governor said, you're Maryland tough, you're Baltimore strong, and we're going to get through this together, and I promise we're not leaving," Biden said.The president called on Congress to put into motion the federal government paying for the construction of a replacement bridge."It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost to reconstruct the bridge," Biden said.Buttigieg said the president's plan is to rebuild the bridge and reopen the port. He said the administration is prepared to approve emergency funding upon request from the state.Video below: NTSB provides update on Key Bridge collapseThe Federal Highway Administration released a statement, saying: "The I-695 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and we stand ready to offer technical assistance — including emergency relief funding — to help manage traffic and rebuild the bridge as quickly and safely as possible."In response to the collapse, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have been actively coordinating with federal, state, and local officials in the region, including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the city of Baltimore, U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB and others."Secretary (Pete) Buttigieg, Federal Highway Administrator (Shailen) Bhatt, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on site today to offer federal support and assistance."WHAT'S NEXT?The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. The accident will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.“Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast,” Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, speaking at a news conference near the site Tuesday, said it was too soon to estimate how long it will take to clear the channel, which is about 50 feet deep.“This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” he said at a news conference in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon. “It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive.”Highway signs as far south as Virginia are warning drivers of delays associated with the closure of the bridge.“Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region,” American Trucking Associations spokesperson Jessica Gail said, calling Key Bridge and Baltimore’s port “critical components’’ of the nation’s infrastructure.Gail noted that 1.3 million trucks cross the bridge every year — 3,600 a day. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will now have to make 30 miles of detours around Baltimore because they are prohibited from using the city’s tunnels, she said, adding to delays and increasing fuel costs.WHERE IS THE BRIDGE?The Key Bridge opened in 1977, completing the Baltimore Beltway's circumference around the city. The bridge is southeast of the city proper and spans from Sparrows Point to the southernmost tip of Baltimore.According to a Maryland Transportation Authority report issued in November, the Key Bridge carried more than 12.4 million commercial and passenger vehicles in 2023.Federal Highway Administration records show the bridge was last inspected in May 2021, when inspectors rated it in fair condition overall at a rating of six (satisfactory) out of nine on three parameters. These inspections are supposed to occur every 24 months.The Key Bridge was indeed last inspected in May 2023 and "found to be in satisfactory condition with an overall rating of fair," per a press aide for U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That inspection found the bridge was in fair condition as well.HOW TO DONATEThe Baltimore Civic Fund is offering a way for people to contribute to the families of the victims."In light of this tragic loss of life, we are opening a donation account to support these victims' families and the families of the survivors. The money raised will be distributed to the families of those impacted. While monetary support can never replace the loss of a loved one, our goal is to help ease the burden of those affected by this tragedy," the website states.Click here to learn more.FULL COVERAGE FROM WBAL

Two bodies have been recovered following the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, and authorities are searching for the remains of four more people presumed dead.

The bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera were recovered from a red pickup truck submerged in about 25 feet of water near the bridge’s middle span Wednesday afternoon.

Four more people remain unaccounted for.

As recovery efforts continue Thursday, many grapple with what’s next for the bridge. The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare along the East Coast for months, if not years, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major hub. The loss of the bridge will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.

THE LATEST RIGHT NOW

The bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera were recovered from a red pickup truck submerged in about 25 feet of water
Four others remain unaccounted for as recovery efforts continue
The focus now turns to investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and as safely as possible
President Joe Biden approved $60 million in funding for recovery efforts
A 1,000-ton crane will arrive at the collapse site Friday
The collapse has gained worldwide attention, shutting down ship traffic at the major Port of Baltimore and snarling cargo and commuter traffic
Preliminary investigation shows this was not intentional.
Baltimore Beltway\I-695 closed from Glen Burnie to Dundalk (traffic map here).

The iconic Baltimore bridge collapsed around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when the container ship Dali slammed into a pillar, causing a long span of the bridge to crumple into the Patapsco River.

VIDEO: Officials announce approved federal funding for Key Bridge

At least eight people went into the water. Two were rescued, but the other six, part of a construction crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge, were missing and presumed dead.

The search for the missing changed from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission late Tuesday night, 18 hours after the workers disappeared.

"Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts we've put into it, the water temperature, we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals alive, and so this evening around 7:30, we are going to suspend active search and rescue efforts," U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said Tuesday.

"This is an excruciating day for several families who woke up today to news that no one wants to receive. They are hoping and praying, and we are hoping and praying with them. We are all putting our arms around the city of Baltimore," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Maryland State Police Col. Ronald Butler Jr. said the focus now shifts to a "salvage operation," as the bridge's superstructure is blocking diver access to the remaining victims.

"We have exhausted all search efforts and the areas around this wreckage, and based on the sonar scans, we firmly believe the (remaining) vehicles are encased in the superstructure and concrete that we tragically saw come down," he said.

Jesus Campos, who has worked on the bridge for Brawner Builders and knows members of the construction crew who died, said he was told they were on a break and some were sitting in their trucks to warm up when the bridge collapsed.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Gov. Wes Moore submitted an emergency $60 million request for funding from the federal government. He announced Thursday evening that request was approved.

"We want to be clear — $60 million is just a down payment, not the final payment," U.S. Department of Transportation official Shailen Bhatt said.

First, crews will clear debris from the channel, then remove the cargo ship, before removing the rest of the bridge debris from the water. Cranes are on the way to do that. One will arrive Friday, another on Saturday.

Efforts so far have been largely focused on the search for the missing workers. But the focus will soon shift to two main objectives: investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and safely as possible.

VIDEO: NTSB provides timeline of events from Dali

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators boarded the vessel and obtained a general timeline of events via the ship's voyage recorder data.

At 1:24 a.m. Tuesday, numerous alarms went off on the bridge, and the VDR stopped. Two minutes later, it started again. That's when the pilots put out the first call for tugboats to assist. At 1:27 a.m., the pilot of the ship ordered the port anchor to drop and radioed that the ship lost power and was approaching the bridge. That's when the U.S. Coast Guard instructed the MDTA to shut down the bridge, and all lanes were closed.

The VRD recorded the collision about two minutes later at 1:29 a.m.

Officials also determined the ship has 56 containers containing 764 tons of hazardous materials that federal agencies are working to address.

"Some of the hazmat containers were breached. We have seen sheen on the waterway," Homendy said.

But according to Moore, there is no indication of any serious threat at this time.

Officials said a preliminary report should be released by the NTSB in 2-4 weeks, with a final report not expected for 12-24 months.

SHIP UNDERWENT ENGINE MAINTENANCE BEFORE CRASH

The ship that crashed into a bridge in Baltimore was undergoing "routine engine maintenance" in the port beforehand, the Coast Guard said.

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference on Wednesday that authorities had been informed that the ship was going to undergo routine engine maintenance before it lost power. But he said authorities were not informed of any problems.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said the cargo ship was carrying hazardous materials.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy says there are 56 containers aboard containing hazardous materials, including corrosives, flammables and lithium-ion batteries.

She said some containers were breached and a sheen there was a sheen in the water that will be dealt with by authorities. She said the voyage data recorder has been recovered.

Homendy said the investigation could take 12 to 24 months but that the NTSB would not hesitate to issue urgent safety recommendations during that time. She said a preliminary report should be released in two to four weeks.

“It’s a massive undertaking for an investigation,” Homendy said. “It’s a very tragic event.”

PORT OF BALTIMORE OPERATIONS

The Maryland Port Administration suspended vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore until further notice. The port is not shut down and they are still processing trucks inside of the terminals.

Starting Wednesday, the New Vail Street gate will close until further notice. All truck traffic must enter through the Seagirt main gate at 2600 Broening Highway.

The Seagirt main gate will not be extended to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday as previously scheduled. It will close at the normal time of 4:30 p.m.

The Seagirt Marine Terminal will be closed on Good Friday.

NO INDICATIONS OF TERRORISM

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said there is no intelligence or any indication that the incident was intentional.

The FBI released the following statement, saying: "There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time. The investigation is ongoing. FBI Baltimore will continue to support our partners at the local, state and federal levels."

Video below captures collapse of Key Bridge

The ship underwent 27 inspections since the Dali came into service in 2016. There were no issues until June, when Chilean authorities found deficiencies in propulsion and the auxiliary machinery.

DHS said the Dali lost propulsion as it left Baltimore Harbor, which makes the June inspection particularly interesting.

SkyTeam 11 video below shows bridge collapse & point of impact

A STATE OF EMERGENCY

The governor's office released a statement, saying: "My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

"I have declared a state of emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration.

"We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety."

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Baltimore City in response to the collapse starting at 9 a.m. and will remain in place for 30 days, which enables the mobilization of emergency services and resources.

Video below: Lester Holt — 'Sometimes you see life change on a dime'

"This is an unthinkable tragedy," Scott said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "This is a tragedy you can never imagine. Never did you think you would see the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of a movie ... Our focus should be the preservation of life."

"We all awoke this morning to an unspeakable tragedy," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "We have a long road ahead, not just in the search and rescue but in the fallout after this."

ALTERNATE ROUTES

Interstate 695 is closed between Maryland Route 157 (Peninsula Expressway) in Dundalk and Maryland Route 10 (Arundel Expressway) in Glen Burnie.

Interstate 95\Fort McHenry Tunnel (Maximum height: 14 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 11 feet)
Interstate 895\Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (Maximum height: 13 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 8 feet)

Vehicles transporting hazardous materials (including propane of more than 10 pounds) are prohibited in tunnels and should use the western section of I-695 around tunnels.

See official truck routes through Baltimore City here.

BIDEN: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PAY TO REBUILD

President Joe Biden spoke on the bridge collapse Tuesday afternoon, saying the federal government will send all the resources needed by the city and state.

Video: President speaks about bridge collapse

"We're with you. We're going to stay with you for as long as it takes. Like the governor said, you're Maryland tough, you're Baltimore strong, and we're going to get through this together, and I promise we're not leaving," Biden said.

The president called on Congress to put into motion the federal government paying for the construction of a replacement bridge.

"It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost to reconstruct the bridge," Biden said.

Buttigieg said the president's plan is to rebuild the bridge and reopen the port. He said the administration is prepared to approve emergency funding upon request from the state.

Video below: NTSB provides update on Key Bridge collapse

The Federal Highway Administration released a statement, saying: "The I-695 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and we stand ready to offer technical assistance — including emergency relief funding — to help manage traffic and rebuild the bridge as quickly and safely as possible.

"In response to the collapse, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have been actively coordinating with federal, state, and local officials in the region, including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the city of Baltimore, U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB and others.

"Secretary (Pete) Buttigieg, Federal Highway Administrator (Shailen) Bhatt, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on site today to offer federal support and assistance."

WHAT'S NEXT?

The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. The accident will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.

“Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast,” Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, speaking at a news conference near the site Tuesday, said it was too soon to estimate how long it will take to clear the channel, which is about 50 feet deep.

“This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” he said at a news conference in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon. “It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive.”

Highway signs as far south as Virginia are warning drivers of delays associated with the closure of the bridge.

“Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region,” American Trucking Associations spokesperson Jessica Gail said, calling Key Bridge and Baltimore’s port “critical components’’ of the nation’s infrastructure.

Gail noted that 1.3 million trucks cross the bridge every year — 3,600 a day. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will now have to make 30 miles of detours around Baltimore because they are prohibited from using the city’s tunnels, she said, adding to delays and increasing fuel costs.

WHERE IS THE BRIDGE?

The Key Bridge opened in 1977, completing the Baltimore Beltway's circumference around the city. The bridge is southeast of the city proper and spans from Sparrows Point to the southernmost tip of Baltimore.

According to a Maryland Transportation Authority report issued in November, the Key Bridge carried more than 12.4 million commercial and passenger vehicles in 2023.

Federal Highway Administration records show the bridge was last inspected in May 2021, when inspectors rated it in fair condition overall at a rating of six (satisfactory) out of nine on three parameters. These inspections are supposed to occur every 24 months.

The Key Bridge was indeed last inspected in May 2023 and "found to be in satisfactory condition with an overall rating of fair," per a press aide for U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That inspection found the bridge was in fair condition as well.

HOW TO DONATE

The Baltimore Civic Fund is offering a way for people to contribute to the families of the victims.

"In light of this tragic loss of life, we are opening a donation account to support these victims' families and the families of the survivors. The money raised will be distributed to the families of those impacted. While monetary support can never replace the loss of a loved one, our goal is to help ease the burden of those affected by this tragedy," the website states.

Click here to learn more.