Holy shit.

The 35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis has collapsed, totally, into the Mississippi River. This is a *major* freeway, right in the heart of the city, between the university and downtown. It fell at the height of rush hour, when it was jammed with traffic. It's not on my daily commute, but I drive across it all the time.

I wasn't on it. lapillus wasn't either, thankfully. But lots and lots of people were, some of whom may be friends or colleagues of mine or hers--there aren't any reports yet of casualties, but you know there are going to be plenty. Hell, there's a Twins game tonight, and 35W is the main access to the stadium.

My power went out (probably when the bridge went down) and so I didn't even know this had happened until someone called me. Now my power's back, but I can't get my TV working, so I'm trying to find streams online. I find, though, that my head isn't working very well, and my hands are shaking.

I just -- I don't know what to say. God almighty.

(no subject)

And now, we've got a big storm front moving in; I can smell ozone and rain, and the light is that weird luminous yellow-green of impending deluge. Just what the rescue people at the scene need.

I just -- the impulse is to keep waving my hands around and saying You don't understand, I go over that bridge ALL THE TIME. I was driving over it Monday evening! it's only a mile from my house! This is in my neighborhood! How can this be happening?? So so weird, to have one's neighborhood bridge, the environs of one's daily life, on the national news.

So far the fatality reports are surprisingly low, so I'm trying to be hopeful. But I keep thinking of all the people I know at the U who commute over that bridge, whose schedules would very possibly have taken them there at that moment.