Searching among the debris and the rubble of last week’s parking garage collapse were drones and a robotic dog. The rescue technology was deployed in the deadly lower Manhattan cave-in amid concerns about first responders’ safety.
New video released by the city on Tuesday showed the depth of the wreckage, including the difficulty first responders had getting inside the structure.
“This is not an administration that is going to be fearful of using everything possible to save the lives of New Yorkers,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference.
What You Need To Know
- City officials on Tuesday demonstrated how technology was pivotal in their rescue efforts in last week’s deadly parking garage collapse in lower Manhattan
- New video released by the city showed the depth of the wreckage, including the difficulty first responders had getting inside the structure
- In total, three drones and one “Digidog” were used in the rescue efforts. The technology was able to relay vital information back to officials on the ground
In total, three drones and one “Digidog” were used in the rescue efforts. The technology was able to relay vital information back to officials on the ground, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said.
“The drone video gave a real-time picture of the structural stability of the building, things like the stability of the beams, info on the conditions of the structures, anything that could be pertinent to [the city’s Department of Buildings] to help with their response,” Kavanagh said.
The NYPD supplied one drone on the day of the tragedy.
“A single five-minute drone flight relayed critical, timely information that would have otherwise taken much longer to gather, and would have endangered many first responders in the process,” said Edward Caban, first deputy commissioner at the police department.
The “Digidog” is equipped with microphones and infrared technology that can be crucial for identifying victims in a dangerous situation. The manager of the garage, Willis Moore, died in the collapse.
The garage, located at 57 Ann St., had three open violations at the time of the collapse related to hazardous conditions and defective concrete.
One official on Tuesday suggested that the owner was in the process of correcting the issues, including hiring an engineer and submitting a plan to address the problems, but hadn’t filed official paperwork confirming the work.
“It’s a good indication that the owner at least initiated those repairs. We do not have final certificate of corrections on those violations, but our inspectors visited the site after repairs were completed and did not issue any new violations,” DOB Commissioner Kazimir said. Vilenchik.
The garage was also in the process of being inspected under a new local law, with a report due by the end of the year. The collapse remains under investigation, and it’s unclear what caused the incident.
Adams, in response to concerns over security and surveillance, emphasized that the technology will only be used in limited situations — and not abused.
The announcement came at an opportune time for Kavanagh, who is facing some criticism within her ranks and is in need of good publicity.
Just last month, three former fire chiefs sued the department and the commissioner alleging age discrimination. Kavanagh is the department’s first female commissioner.
