Crane topples at National Cathedral, damages buildings

[bigworld]

Source: Washington Post

A crane toppled over at the National Cathedral this morning, causing no injuries but damaging two out-buildings and crushing several vehicles.

No one was trapped or injured, said Oscar Mendez, a DC Fire/EMS spokesman. But when the 500-ton crane came down, it damaged both the Herb Cottage and Church House, the headquarters of the diocese. Three to five parked cars were also crushed, Mendez said. Firefighters and rescue officials arrived on the scene shortly after 11 a.m. and left a short time later, he said.

A spokesman for the cathedral said the cathedral itself was not damaged. Unconfirmed reports said three to five vehicles were crushed by the crane when it came down on the south side of the iconic structure at 3101 Wisconsin Ave.

The crane was there to repair damage from the Aug. 23 earthquake.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post_now/post/crane-topples-at-national-cathedral-damages-buildings/2011/09/07/gIQA2LBU9J_blog.html?wpisrc=al_weather

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[nobodyspecial]

4. That building is an architectural gem and historical treasure

Why would its destruction make you happy?

[xchrom]

7. why would you say it makes me happy?

i 'recommend' because i find it very news worthy.

& you don't know me as a poster if you think i don't appreciate that building & it's history.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. How did you read that into a simple Kick and rec?

[Poll_Blind]

16. You grossly misinterpreted that poster's comments. They were just reccing.

A rec doesn't necessarily agree with the story or whatever happened. Geeze. It means you think the article is of importance and should be read.

PB

[HereSince1628]

37. What DOES rec mean?

Being old, I thought it meant recommend, as in this post is something that is worth reading. But, that seems not to apply to all the times it is applied.

[hang a left]

What are you tripping on? nt

[hang a left]

33. friggin dupe

[jtuck004]

2. Sure, just park over there by the building. It's free. /nt

[elleng]

18. Undoubtedly it was workers, teachers, students who parked there;

And street parking in the area generally is free. Problem?

[jtuck004]

20. No. I was just thinking that it puts a whole new meaning on "free"

when you come out and find your car looking like it went through one of the old-timey wringer washers.

[yellowcanine]

3. If someone had caught it on video that would have been awesome.

Now that we know no one was hurt anyway.

[GodlessBiker]

5. I'd be surprised if there weren't any street cameras around there.

[snooper2]

41. I'm sure there will be a youtube video at some time...

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I don't think god likes DC anymore.

[brendan120678]

10. Well obviously not, since...

we don't have an honest, God-fearing man in the White House!!













:sarcasm: just in case anyone missed it. Although sarcasm works best when you don't have to point it out.

[hang a left]

34. I am hoping he never did nt

[hang a left]

35. I am hoping he never did nt

[Evasporque]

9. They used non-union iron workers....nt

[hedgehog]

13. Can you give a link to that with more info?

[Bennyboy]

32. The Crane Company is not mentioned by name

I posted on the comments to find out. Funny that tidbit of info is not int eh story at all..

[Bennyboy]

19. Link?

I am very curious about that myself. Seems though, that this would be a prevailing wage job anyway but no necessarily a union job.

[hang a left]

36. THE WRATH OF GOD BE ON YOU; YOU...YOU..YOU...

INFIDEL

[Doremus]

40. That's the first thought I had also.

I'm sure if they are union Ironworkers we will be hearing about it post-haste.

And not a whisper if they're scabs.

[Chipper Chat]

11. According to Pat Robertson, God sneezed

and crushed several vehicles owned by gays who were patronizing a nearby gay bar.

[hang a left]

38. AND were coaxing their nieces into having late term

abortions. Heathens!!!

[bongbong]

12. According to repigs

According to 'pigs, this calamity could've been avoided if we had just given billionaires more taxcuts.

[Ian David]

14. God really hates the National Cathedral. n/t

[undeterred]

17. He couldn't get a job there.

[AlbertCat]

24. God really hates the National Cathedral

Nonsense!
God obviously hates PARKING near the National Cathedral.

[ShockediSay]

15. U don't think this business caused all of this damage because

they were over regulated, do you? Like BP in the Gulf Coast? Like Massey Energy Upper Big Branch Mine in West Va?

No Mr Romney. We need government to 'get out of the way' so Big Corporate Greed Money Billionaire Bosses can create jobs and kill the people who work them.

[pansypoo53219]

21. don't like extra big cranes, i think it's a tower of babel thing.

of course the big one in milwaukee building our new baseball stadium killed 3 when it collapsed. glad no one killed.

[CreekDog]

22. why was the crane operating in 40-50mph winds?

and those winds are measured at ground level (as is standard).

up high, the winds were undoubtedly higher.

[elleng]

23. Winds come and go, ya know; earlier, things were calm,

deteriorated later. Lee's been moving.

[CreekDog]

25. so if there are winds you just do whatever you were doing?

that's what you seem to be saying.

[elleng]

26. Takes time to erect such cranes; its a big project to do so.

If winds are likely, and likely to continue, you don't 'just do whatever you were doing,' you stop. If winds suddenly appear, you hope there will be no damage.

[CreekDog]

27. i didn't say take down the crane in high winds --just don't operate it

in fact, there are rules that require that.

are you unaware of that?

[Javaman]

29. Usually they point them into the wind...

the operator has the choise, depending on weather reports of either "riding" it out or decending.

Decending in high winds is as dangerous as riding it out.

Had a buddy that operated one for years.

[Javaman]

28. Queue the religious right screaming that it's a "sign" from god. nt

[PuffedMica]

43. It's a sigh I tell you, It's a sigh

This is a sigh from God. Well maybe it was a sneeze, but anyway God has spoked 'em

[QUALAR]

30. Last Ten ears

Too many cranes have collapsed in recent years. Were the cranes built with inferior Chinese metals? I suspect they were.

[David Sky]

31. Crane collapsed in Boston yesterday, clearing limbs from trees from the..

storm Irene last week. Two houses damaged, no one injured.

God must hate cranes!!!

[Critters2]

39. God's punishment for being arrogant enough to call itself "The National Cathedral". nt

[bigworld]

42. awesome pic from top of cathedral

http://ow.ly/i/gVbt/original