Potential vulnerabilities associated with the I-35W bridge collapse
With reference to the rail network, the main vulnerabilities include the actual collapse of the bridge, blockage of the railroad, damage of rail cars and railroad, environmental pollution due to leakage of substances, destruction of goods, and harm to passengers and staff members. The environment within which the collapse occurred increased the likelihood of damage to railcars and railroads, environmental pollution, goods’ destruction, and harm to staff members.
The environmental pollution could have been extensive due to the season. For instance, a white substance leaked from the rail cars in piles. The rainy season at the time would have resulted in the drainage of the substance into the nearby water bodies. If the bridge collapsed during winter, more people would have perished (FEMA, 2007). The vehicles that fell into the river would have been trapped in ice sheets, making rescue operations impossible. In addition, the freezing temperatures would have resulted in numerous cases of hypothermia. Thus, more individuals would have lost their lives.
| Vulnerabilities in order of likelihood |
| 1. Rail car damage |
| 2. Railroad damage |
| 3. Pollution of the environment (aquatic species, natural habitats) |
| 4. Harm to members of staff |
| 5. Destruction of goods |
The damage to railcars and railroads would cost the Minnesota Commercial Railroad financial resources to repair. The environmental pollution would lead to the loss of natural habitats, negative effects on the aquatic species in the river and its surroundings, and possibly make the water unsafe for other uses such as drinking and irrigation. The destruction of goods would cost the Minnesota Commercial Railroad resources in the form of payment to the owners. Harm to staff members would have led to medical care costs, missed workdays, and increased workload for other members of staff.
Reference
FEMA. (2007). I-35W Bridge Collapse and Response. Retrieved from https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr_
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Question 
On August 1, 2007, the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring 121. The U.S. Fire Administration, an entity within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), produced a technical report covering the response, recovery activities, and lessons learned regarding this catastrophic event.
This report is available for download by clicking here.
Potential vulnerabilities associated with the I-35W bridge collapse
Under the M.U.S.E. offerings for this Phase, look for the item titled “FEMA Report on MN Bridge Collapse.” Review and study this presentation before answering the following questions. You may also conduct external research, but if you do, be sure to select professional source documents such as FEMA after-action reports, engineering records, and lessons. Be sure to answer the following questions:
-What potential vulnerabilities can be associated with the I-35W bridge collapse?
-Consider this type of list an organized form of brainstorming. Think of vulnerabilities as gaps in security or protection, structural flaws, or the likelihood of something bad happening. Do not limit the list of vulnerabilities at first; it can be reduced to the most likely or most potentially costly items at a later time.
-How does the environment impact which vulnerabilities are most likely or even possible?
-As you contemplate potential vulnerabilities, use the 360-degree analysis this course continues to reinforce. Notice how the vulnerabilities expand, contract, change, or are eliminated based on various changing conditions. -In this case, such a view should include assessing environments comprised of natural, manmade, and combined conditions. For example, think about the time of day and time of year when the bridge collapsed. An example question might be: Does the season impact the degree or depth of a vulnerability to this bridge? Or, how much greater might the loss of life have been if the collapse occurred in the winter?
-Based on the list of potential vulnerabilities, what potential costs or consequences might result from each?
-After listing the vulnerabilities and questions, reduce the list to the most likely possibilities and consider the potential costs or consequences of each vulnerability. Again, think in a 360-degree way of what might constitute costs or consequences. Do not get stuck on what the actual outcome resulted in, but also consider how much worse or how differently it might have turned out.
-How do you select the most likely vulnerabilities from a list of many?