Renee Banot's Blog

Waiting is the hardest part.

For eight families, whose loved ones are still missing, everything is moving in slow motion. Fear has clearly turned to frustration here in the Twin Cities. People are desperate to hear about those missing in the mess from the bridge collapse and search crews are desperate to find them. But it's not as easy as it sounds.

Divers have several factors in their favor. They have advanced technology to aid in the search: sonar, GPS, etc. Plus, the Army Corps of Engineers lowered the Mississippi River by about two feet. But mother nature makes their job difficult and dangerous.

Debris continues to fall into the River, making it hard for divers to get through to victims trapped underneath. The River's current has a dangerous pull. The debris makes that current even more dangerous, creating pockets where the water is swirling. They can't help the victims if they get swept under, too. Also, pieces of the bridge still hanging overhead threaten to fall at any moment. This is why the search has gone excruciatingly slow. At this point, the chance victims trapped in the River have survived is slim. Reasonably, the city wants to avoid putting anybody else's lives in danger.

I applaud Minneapolis police and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department for their overwhelming effort to inform the public. When loved ones are missing, and every minute counts, it helps to know exactly why the process is moving at a slow pace. It's a little bit of comfort, if there's any to be had in this situation.