After Hard Rock Hotel Collapse in New Orleans Scroll to Continue With
City Provides Update on Operations and Impacts at the Site of the Hard Rock Hotel Construction Collapse
The City of New Orleans continues emergency operations at the site of the Hard Rock Hotel construction collapse. Sunday's controlled demolition of the two unstable cranes at the construction site was successful. The structure is significantly more stable at this point. The City is working with the property owner to continue to secure the site and begin the demolition process.
Victim Recovery
The recovery of the two victims in the collapsed structure remains the top priority for Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City of New Orleans. The Louisiana Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team will be leading recovery efforts as soon as it is safe to do so. The Task Force is working closely with the demolition contractors to begin the necessary debris removal that will allow access to the locations of the deceased.
Evacuation Zone to Shrink
Perimeter fencing will be erected around the site to secure surrounding properties ahead of demolition operations. Once fencing is installed, the New Orleans Fire Department will begin to shrink the evacuation zone as long as it is safe to do so. Businesses within the current evacuation zone will need to complete a safety check with the New Orleans Fire Department, Louisiana State Fire Marshall's Office, and the Department of Safety and Permits. Business owners in the evacuation zone should call 3-1-1 to schedule their safety check. The current evacuation zone is bounded by Canal, Basin, Burgundy Streets, and both sides of Iberville streets. No vehicles or non-emergency personnel are allowed into the evacuation zone. Residents and businesses on Bienville Street have been allowed access after a completed safety check.
Street Closures Decrease, Major Streets Remain Closed
Street closures remain in place near the site of the collapsed structure. The following streets are closed to vehicle traffic:
- Canal Street from Basin to Dauphine streets
- Iberville from N. Rampart to Burgundy streets
- Bienville from Basin to Burgundy streets
- N. Rampart Street from Conti to Common streets
- Burgundy Street from Conti to Canal streets
Basin Street has reopened to vehicle traffic in the Uptownbound direction. Downtown-bound Basin will re-open later this evening. Roosevelt Way from Common to Canal Streets has reopened to vehicle traffic. Traffic must turn right onto Canal Street.
Residents and visitors are asked to remain patient and to expect heavier than normal traffic in this area.
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Adjusts Services Around Collapse Site
At 3:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 23rd, the New Orleans RTA will relocate its temporary central transit hub from RTA headquarters (2817 Canal Street) to Duncan Plaza (343 Loyola Avenue). This was previously scheduled for Sunday, October 20th but was delayed due to the Hard Rock crane demolition. As the City of New Orleans continues its response to the Hard Rock Hotel building collapse, this temporary solution keeps riders closer to the original transit hub while remaining outside of the accident scene. The RTA will provide onsite operations management and customer service. The RTA is not servicing bus stops located at Elk and Canal, riders should go to Duncan Plaza to catch buses normally serviced at Elk and Canal. The RTA is working closely with the City of New Orleans and will continue to update riders as new information becomes available. The RTA has implemented these service changes to minimize the burden to its riders while continuing to provide safe, reliable service. These changes will remain in effect until further notice. More information is available at norta.com.
Information for Affected Employees and Businesses
Business Impact Survey
Businesses in the evacuation zone or road closure zone or otherwise impacted businesses should complete the following survey as soon as possible: https://www.nola.gov/economic-development/hard-rock-hotel-collapse-business-response-survey/. This information will help aid the response and communication efforts.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Response
Individuals whose work situation has been adversely affected by the Hard Rock Hotel collapse may reach out to the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) for unemployment insurance consideration.
- The first step would be to file an unemployment claim, either via the LWC website, where this a button on the homepage for impacted employees: http://www.laworks.net/ (available 24 hours a day), or by calling the LWC Unemployment Call Center, 866-783-5567, during normal business hours. The call is toll free.
- Individuals can go to the Job 1 Career Center, 3400 Tulane Ave., 2nd Floor, New Orleans, for computer access; however, individual unemployment assistance from staff is not available.
To be eligible to file for unemployment benefits in connection with this event, an individual must have been employed by one of the businesses directly affected by the Hard Rock hotel incident at the time of the collapse.
Unemployment claims associated with the hotel collapse would be considered "job attached," with plans to return work for the same company. In this situation, normal work search requirements will be waived/deferred for six weeks.
A number of factors determine unemployment eligibility, such as the total amount of wages earned by the individual during the eligibility period, whether or not the individual is considered self-employed, and if the employing company is exempt from paying unemployment taxes.
- A review of an individual's employment history and wages over the last 18 months is done to determine eligibility and the amount of benefits to be awarded.
- If any recent employment was in another state or with the military or federal government, it may take a little longer to process the unemployment claim.
As long as an individual is unemployed, he or she should file for benefits every week, even while the claim is under review for eligibility. All claims have what is called a "week of waiting." No benefits are paid for the first week that you file for unemployment. Affected workers may also contact JOB1, 3400 Tulane Avenue, (504) 658-4500.
Staff from the City's Community and Economic Development Office area assisting businesses and employees affected by the collapse. Call 3-1-1 for details.
Source: https://ready.nola.gov/incident/hard-rock-building-collapse/city-provides-update-on-operations-and-impacts-at/
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