Crane Stabilization and Reduced Evacuation Zone at Hard Rock Hotel Collapse

Today, the City of New Orleans announced successful crane stabilization operations and the reduction of the evacuation zone at the site of the collapsed Hard Rock Hotel.

The property owner, 1031 Canal Development LLC, hired a contractor to secure the demolished crane tower and boom over Canal Street using a series of cables strapped to the core tower of the building. Work was completed this morning and an engineer provided a stamped letter to the New Orleans Fire Department verifying the crane’s stability and recommending a reduced evacuation zone.

Evacuation Zone Reduced

For this reason, the City will allow pedestrian reentry into buildings on the Uptown side of Canal Street and half of the block of the Downtown side of Canal Street closest to Burgundy Street (1001-1015 Canal St.). Additionally, a temporary protected walkway has been completed, which will allow the Saenger Theatre to reopen in early December. Further engineering reviews are underway to determine whether buildings on Burgundy Street can be safely allowed to reenter. The following businesses will be allowed to reopen:

• Fischer’s Jewelry
• HI New Orleans
• Big Easy Tattoo
• Ace Cash Express
• Viva
• Ruby Slipper
• Diva Beauty Supplies
• Rainbow
• Saenger Theatre

Crews have moved perimeter fencing to open pedestrian walkways on Canal Street. Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office detailed officers and private security professionals will continue to secure the evacuation zone 24/7 and two additional light towers have been placed to light the pedestrian walkway. The property owners have also contracted traffic signage to communicate street closures and detours in the footprint near the collapse zone. While residents and visitors are encouraged to patronize the newly opened businesses, they are asked to obey signage and security instructions and to stay outside of the evacuated area.

Today, Sewerage and Water Board crews completed work to bury a temporary rerouted sewer line, which will allow for the reopening of Burgundy Street from Iberville to Bienville streets beginning Saturday morning. Rampart Street from Iberville to Canal streets, Iberville Street from Burgundy to North Rampart streets, and Canal from Elk to Burgundy streets will remain closed through the demolition.

Demolition Planning Underway

Plans to demolish the Hard Rock Hotel after it collapsed mid-construction on Oct. 12, 2019, are continuing to be developed. The demolition timeline will be more precisely communicated in the weeks to come. After demolition, the Louisiana Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team will lead efforts to recover the remains of the two victims who are still inside the structure. Debris removal will follow recovery efforts and the investigation will be ongoing.
The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) and the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) will continue to maintain control of the site to ensure public safety throughout demolition operations. The City has hired an independent engineer to review the project scope and ensure the demolition plan is safe and does not endanger neighboring buildings. The demolition contractors will be required to secure the necessary permits from all applicable governing authorities.

Impacted Residents and Businesses

NOHSEP, NOFD and the City’s Office of Economic Development continue to communicate regularly with residents and businesses in the evacuated area. In early November, Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses that have been economically impacted by the Hard Rock Hotel collapse and related evacuation and street closures. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

The request for SBA assistance was made by NOHSEP to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, which forwarded a formal request to the SBA. The City thanks the SBA for recognizing the impact this disaster has had on businesses in and around the evacuated area. SBA disaster loans are offered as an addition to traditional forms of financial assistance businesses may receive through private insurance or litigation.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Aug. 5, 2020.

Impacted residents and businesses who need information or assistance should call 3-1-1.