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|  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NYC OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (OEM) PROVIDES UPDATE ON CITY’S RESPONSE TO EAST SIDE CRANE COLLAPSE Round the clock effort continues, East 56th through East 53rd Streets, previously closed to cross-town traffic, have now been completely reopened Second Avenue expected to partially reopen to traffic
later today The New York City Office of Emergency Management continues to coordinate the City’s response to the crane collapse on Manhattan’s East Side. OEM, along with the Department of Buildings (DOB), Fire Department (FDNY), Police Department (NYPD), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU), American Red Cross in Greater New York, the Salvation Army and ConEdison are all operating on scene. Since the collapse, agencies have been working around the clock to search for victims, remove debris and dismantle the damaged crane. Street closures remain necessary to accommodate rescue and recovery operations. The City has moved to reduce closures as safety permits. East 56th through East 53rd Streets, previously closed to cross-town traffic, have now been completely reopened. The City expects to partially reopen Second Avenue to traffic later today. Streets that remain closed include:
Remedial operations to secure the site continue in two primary locations. At 305 East 50th Street, DOB forensic engineers, crane experts, and inspectors continue to supervise the removal of the section of the crane’s mast that landed on top of the 4-story building at 305 East 50th Street. As of early Monday, seven of the 10 pieces of the mast have been removed. At 300 East 51st Street, the other work site, two mobile cranes, positioned at East 51st Street and 2nd Avenue, have lowered the crane’s boom to the street level. Once the crane’s boom was lowered, workers began dissembling into parts. This work was allowed to proceed after the bolts on the crane’s mast were thoroughly analyzed by engineers and found to be intact. Operations will continue as the crane’s mast is removed from the site and the debris pile is stabilized Some of these parts will be secured by the NYPD and sent to a testing laboratory for analysis as part of DOB’s forensic investigation. DOB has issued vacate orders for nearly 300 residential units in 17 buildings. All of the buildings remain vacated at this time. DOB will lift the vacate orders as soon as it is safe to do so. The Buildings Department will be able to better assess when tenants can safely return to their homes once more sections of crane and debris have been removed from site. Debris removal on the sidewalk in front of 305 East 50th Street has begun. The 17 vacated buildings are:
Buildings forensic engineers have confirmed at least 7 buildings sustained damage during the accident:
OEM, CAU and the American Red Cross in Greater New York set up a Family Assistance Center immediately after the collapse. Evacuated residents can visit the center to register with the Red Cross, receive temporary shelter and speak with DOB personnel. The center was previously at the High School for Arts and Design, but has relocated to Saint Peter’s Church at 619 Lexington Avenue. Hours of operation are from 9:00am to 9:00pm. To date, 113 residents have been seen at the center. OEM and CAU worked with the NYPD, FDNY and Red Cross to
rescue several pets from vacated apartments on Sunday. When residents registered
at the Family Assistance Center, a list was compiled of trapped pets. As soon as
the safety of emergency personnel could be assured, rescues were
made. The City of New York will remain on scene until recovery operations are completed. Updates on road closures, towed vehicles and vacated residential units will continue to be made available through 311.
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