New Orleans Hotel Collapse Site Could Face Further Danger From Tropical System in Gulf

Officials fear wind and rain from the system, which has a chance of developing into a tropical storm, could cause the unstable wreckage of the building to come down completely or topple over two unsteady cranes towering over the rubble and other structures, the Times-Picayune reported.

If the cranes fall, they could damage buildings nearby at the edge of the French Quarter, including the historic Saenger Theater.

“There’s no protecting it from that thing coming down,” New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent Tim McConnell said. “There’s nothing you could do.”

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As of Wednesday morning, the tropical system was a broad area of low pressure over southeastern Mexico and the Bay of Campeche. While future development was uncertain, rain and thunderstorms were expected to arrive along parts of the northern and eastern Gulf Coasts Friday.

"Showers and winds of 10 to 15 mph are currently expected in the New Orleans area Friday into the weekend as the disturbance in the Gulf approaches the northern Gulf Coast," weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam said.

The upper floors of the 18-story hotel under construction collapsed Saturday. Two construction workers were killed and one remains missing. The cause of the collapse hasn't been determined.

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The cranes were damaged in the collapse and officials are still grappling with how to secure them and the rest of the building, the Associated Press reported. One crane is about 270 feet high, well the other rises to around 300 feet.

Even without the threat of bad weather, the site remains susceptible to further damage. Monitoring equipment showed the cranes moving slightly on Tuesday, with barely a breeze blowing, according to the Times-Picayune.

“There is absolutely a very good likelihood of further collapse of this building,” McConnell said. “Our prayer is that it doesn’t impact the cranes.”

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