A few resources for this anniversary of a historic Kansas City tragedy . . .
IE: Understanding the Tragic Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse
"On July 17th, 1981, more than 100 people were killed and another 200 or so injured when two walkways collapsed within the Hyatt Regency Kansas City Hotel. At the time, a Tea Dance was being held in the hotel's lobby when the walkways fell. This was the deadliest structural collapse in U.S. history until the tragic events of the World Trade Centre some 20 years later."
Read more:
Wiki: Hyatt Regency walkway collapse
KC History: Hotel Horror
Timeline: When this hotel skywalk collapsed, it was one of the deadliest structural failures in US history
On the 10:00 news that night there was a call out for blood donors. I went to the blood bank on Main and there were probably a thousand people lined up. Many more than they needed but I will always remember how people responded.
ReplyDeleteAs one of the "first responders" who was on ground zero, I would to ask the readers to remember the many that ended their lives many years after the event. Very few of us are still alive and in the city.The city did make major changes due to this massive event, but most of the emergency planning currently taking place today is loosing track of what was learned. Community involvement is still critical in overcoming disasters.
ReplyDelete^^^Whatever.
ReplyDeleteI didn't live close to there at all but I remember plenty of sirens that night going off for hours, it took a while to learn that the Hyatt building was the place of all the activity.
ReplyDelete(TKC wasn't around to catch the latest back then) ;)
The next time someone whines about "over-regulation" and "government overreach" interfering with private enterprise, remind them of the skywalks collapse and ask if the government should have scrutinized an architect's change order, or a contractor's shortcut to save a few bucks at the expense of more than 100 lives and scores more injured for life.
ReplyDeleteI can tell the readers that the fault is with the greedy contactor employees and the city inspectors on the take. I personally know the architect and his family and I can tell you they knew many of the victims like I did and they always inspected every job sight as work took place after this disaster.
DeleteI had many friends that were there. The fault lay with KC inspection corruption ignoring design flaws. Other Hyatts around country did not have the poorly designed catwalks this hotel did. I had crossed the catwalks many times. Mike Burke and Sly were not to blame for this failure, but they will be when a disaster occurs on one of their projects. Baltimore Cordish will be nowhere in sight. Gone with the wind. Killa City corruption keeps on rolling along. The graveyards are full of people that didn't have to die, but are lost because mayors like Barnes and Sly only cared about developers.
ReplyDelete^^I'm sooo old and tired. Blah blah blah.
ReplyDeleteI have a better idea, let's forward the address of the COWARD posting anonymous threats at 11:01 before his insanity increases enough to where he causes actual harm, probably to a small child, since it's evident that the gutless wonder is impotent!
ReplyDeleteTake a trip with me to Kansas City MO
ReplyDeleteTo the Hyatt House, to the big dance floor
You can still see the ghosts
But you can't see the sense
Why they let the monkey go
And blamed the monkey wrench
And we were rockin' at the T-Dance...
ReplyDeleteIt happened it's over and the people to blame will eventually be held accountable some day for their neglect.
Right now I remember the people who were there and the lady I worked with who was not hurt, but shook up. Rest in peace folks.