MINNEAPOLIS — No question the forces behind the bridge collapses in Baltimore and Minneapolis were dramatically different.
One tragedy involved a design flaw; the other happened moments after a powerless cargo ship rammed into the structure.
But despite those different forces, the devastating consequences remain eerily familiar, especially to the Minnesota leaders who responded to bridge tragedy nearly 17 years ago.
That’s why former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak have already offered their guidance and support to their Maryland counterparts. It’s also why KARE 11’s Karla Hult sat down with the leaders to reflect upon the August 1, 2007 collapse of the 35-W bridge and how it relates to today.
“I heard on the radio about the collapse and automatically the part of my brain that I don’t always love going to just opened back up. And I think like so many people who were involved, the memories came flooding in. And they were of horror and gratitude and very much about people who I never knew who I wound up mourning very deeply,” Rybak reflected from his office at The Minneapolis Foundation.
Rybak shared he was grateful his staff at the time could address the logistical and coordination challenges involved in responding to the emergency. That allowed Rybak to play the role of community representative.
“I do think that at times like this we have to turn to our community leaders and say, ‘express that for me, because I want this person who’s suffering so much to know they’re not alone,’” Rybak said.
And that call for clear, compassionate communication was echoed by Pawlenty.
“Make sure you get your arms around the facts and communicate with empathy: the sense of loss and grief, but also the sense of confidence that there’s a plan and we’re doing all we can to rescue or recover the lost and take care of the injured,” Pawlenty said, adding that the communication should also reassure the community an investigation will find answers and will rebuild.
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