Part memorial and part plea, a new Web site is focused on the stories and needs of victims of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
The site, www.35wbridge.com was conceived by survivors of the Aug. 1 tragedy, which killed 13 people and injured about a hundred. It’s part of an effort to garner legislative backing for a state compensation fund for victims.
Kimberly Brown and Mercedes Gorden, both from Minneapolis, said they wanted to convey the human effect of the collapse as well as provide an easy way to contact legislators.
“We can be on TV till we go blue in the face but it doesn’t necessarily give us the time that we need to explain ourselves,” Gorden said.
On the site are links for finding state legislators, a sample letter to send them and an “impact map” showing the general areas where victims are from. There is also a scrolling memorial of photos of the people who died.
“We need Minnesota’s help to ensure that one year from now, five years from now, and 20 years from now, we are not financially ruined by medical expenses that we cannot foresee, please help,” the site says.
When the 2008 session convenes, legislators will consider whether to create a state fund to help bridge survivors as well as survivors of future disasters. Some survivors are already getting help from money contributed to the Bridge Disaster Fund.
Brown said she hopes the site will answer people who have been skeptical about survivors’ needs.
“Some people are like, ‘It was a car accident. What’s your problem? You should just deal with it.”‘ Brown said. “They just think that insurance covers everything.”
Gorden, for example, suffered massive injuries to her legs and back when her car smashed into a stone wall at the base of the fallen bridge. She is still out of work and preparing for her eighth surgery. Despite having insurance, she said she faces thousands in uncovered expenses.
“It’s not something I’ve sat down and crunched numbers yet,” she said. “I think I’m still a little bit in denial.
Topics Training Development Minnesota
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