NEW ORLEANS – Superintendent Tim McConnell of the New Orleans Fire Department and Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Collin Arnold will give an update on the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site.
On Tuesday, disturbing photos surfaced on the web of a body in the rubble. A statement from the Mayor’s Office confirmed that a tarp had been placed to cover the body, but the tarp was displaced by heavy winds.
The following is a statement that may be attributed to 1031 Canal Street Development LLC:
“1031 Canal Street Development LLC is the sole developer and owner of the Hard Rock Hotel project and paid for and relied upon licensed construction and design professionals to construct the building including a General Contractor, Architect and Engineers, including Heaslip Engineering, who performed structural engineering for the building.”
“We agree wholeheartedly with the Cantrell Administration that sharing images from the site is “irresponsible, … indefensible, and … not who we are as New Orleanians.” Irresponsible commentary only serves to create further calamity in this matter.
“1031 Canal Street Development LLC also does not have control of the current site. The City has had control of the site since the incident first occurred. We are working together with the City to bring about the safest and most expedient demolition possible. We are committed more than ever to identifying the causes of this tragic event. Safety of everyone involved remains our top priority.”