Oct 31 update: Calvary Baptist’s buildings will remain closed indefinitely. All services cancelled.
8:30 pm Update: FDNY believes that swaying of the crane is within safety limits and that the top of the crane that is broken will probably hold. Steam and gas lines shut were down on 57th St as a precaution.
7:01 pm Update: witnesses say high wind is shaking construction crane dangling over church. Winds clocked at 67 mph at JFK airport.
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Police have evacuated buildings around the crane. A resident in a building across from the crane told A Journey that the building management informed everyone in his building of the need to find another place to stay. At a press briefing Monday evening, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said nothing would be done to secure the crane while the storm descended on the city.
The crane dangles from the construction site of One57, a 90-story building slated to become one of the most expensive addresses in the world.
Calvary Baptist Church is one of the most well-known evangelical churches in the city. It started holding services in 1847. The church moved to the present site in 1883 and a new building was added in the 1920s. The pastor of the church is David Epstein.
http://youtu.be/214Xk4xB1-0
“We just don’t want to risk the lives of anybody trying to be a hero and secure it at the moment,” Bloomberg said. “We just cannot secure it. Best we can do is take precautions.”
Bloomberg added that the process of securing the crane could involve building a whole new crane next to it in order to disassemble it — a process that could take time.
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Follow excellent http://www.nycreligion.info for updates on the state of various faith-based relief agencies. Salvation Army is of course on the scene, but World Vision’s warehouse was hit very hard, etc.”
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Personally, I did not suffer a power outage or water or wind damage. We are 2 Cities: one is in light and almost normality; the other is in darkness and suffering, sometimes much. However, I think both cities feel a shock and numbness. It is tempting to try to move on and forget the people who are in real tragedies. Thank your for your prayers and thoughtful encouragements.
I am sure that people in the US and elsewhere are praying and supporting the people of NYC. I am impressed with the responses I am hearing about the way New Yorkers are fairly united and positive in dealing with the very real tragedies for many. I hope you are OK? It was sad life changing night for numerous folks both rich and poor. On another note- I truly appreciate the great work you are doing! I only wish I could write like you 😉 God Bless New York City- The World’s City.
Thank you for this!
Thank you for the note and the photo of the victims of Hurricane Sandy in Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic, to remind us that fundamental compassion belongs in our backyard, next door and across borders.
I hope that people in the US are praying and supporting our gateway city. I am impressed with the responses I am hearing about the way New York City is united and positive in dealing with the very real tragedies for many. I hope you are OK? It hear that it was a life changing night for many. On another note- I truly appreciate the great work you are doing! God Bless New York City- The World’s City.
In the midst of our worst tragedies, one must understand that it can always be far far worse… This is not a mental shell game, but in fact Reality.
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Thanks.
Yes. Spoke to person in building across the street.
Calvary is already closed today and tomorrow.
Are they evacuating the area?
Let us pray… Let us pray…