Maryland Declares State of Emergency

This article originally appeared on The Epoch Times and was republished with permission.

Guest post by Chase Smith

In response to the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency.

“I have declared a State of Emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” the Democrat governor said in a press release. “We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone’s safety.”

The move was announced following an incident where a cargo ship departing from the Port of Baltimore collided with the bridge around 1:30 a.m., leading to its partial collapse.

Mr. Moore, in coordination with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, and the Baltimore Fire Department, have committed to a swift and thorough response to the tragedy.

The state’s priority remains the safety and rescue of individuals affected by this disaster, leveraging federal, state, and local resources to support the ongoing efforts.

NEW- Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Cargo Ship Collision Sparks Chaos and Questions📍Baltimore, MD |

In the dark hours of the early morning, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a cargo ship; Dali, collided with it, leaving the city in shock and scrambling for… pic.twitter.com/SWr9LP2MjT

— Vigilant News (@VigilantNews) March 26, 2024

Transportation Secretary Gives Updates

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, during a press conference, detailed the initial response and the immediate steps taken following the collapse.

Emergency personnel from the Maryland Transportation Authority, the toll authority, and various federal, state, and local partners promptly responded to the incident.

At the time of the collapse, there were individuals on the bridge, including workers involved in maintenance activities, Mr. Wiedefeld said.

The search and rescue mission is the foremost priority, focusing on locating any survivors, whether they were on the bridge or in the water at the time of the incident.

Read the full story in The Epoch Times.