Urban Search and Rescue in Brownsville, Texas Following a Commercial BuildingCollapse

摘要

In the middle of Thursday afternoon, July 7, 1988, heavy thunderstorms caused aflooding condition on the roof of a 3-story commercial dry goods store, La Tienda Amigo, in Brownsville, Texas. The weight of the water collapsed the roof in a pancake style blowing out the front wall and collapsing the side walls on top of the debris. Responding fire, police, and emergency service workers began a cooperative effort to assist the injured and remove all trapped victims. After three days of continuous rescue effort, the count reached 14 dead and 47 injured. Victims were inside the commercial dry goods store, under a sidewalk awning, and in a parked car in front of the store. Working in 90 deg temperatures, rescue workers suffered heat exhaustion and dehydration.