Philly plane crash: Businesses look to pick up the pieces with help of city resources
How businesses are recovering after Philly plane crash
Folks went to the multi-agency resource center at the Friends Hospital to get resources for an employee they say is still struggling after the Philly plane crash. Here's what we know about the resources available.
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia residents and business owners are grappling with the after effects of the deadly medical transport plane crash in NE Philly last Friday.
The Shapiro Administration and Philadelphia city officials are offering to support those impacted with a new multi-agency resource center and additional resources.
What we know:
Philly plane crash: Shapiro Administration to open resource center for those impacted
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his administration are providing support to those impacted by the Northeast Philly plane crash with a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC).
For an employee of Hondumex Grocery Store along Cottman Avenue, Vivian Gonzalez, and the store’s owner, Griselda Jimenez, the sights that they saw on Friday evening will stay with them forever.
"It was like a war, some scenes like you see in the movies," said Gonzalez.
Currently, the building is still too unsafe for them to enter.
The pair showed up at a multi-agency resource center, opened at the Friends Hospital off Roosevelt Boulevard, from 1:30-5:30 on Thursday, to get resources for an employee they say is still struggling with what she witnessed.
"She’s here to try to get help for one of her employees because she’s mentally affected, she was in the moment at the scene and she needs the help," said Gonzalez, who translated for Jimenez.
The resource center consisted of at least 18 city and state departments.
What they're saying:
Gonzalez and Jimenez says they also wanted to get resources about safely reopening the business.
"Unfortunately, this recovery will be a full-time job for folks depending on what their level of recovery is," sad Dominick Mireles, Director of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management. "As you can imagine folks need everything from food, to housing, to replacement of critical documents, and even just ask questions, so that’s what we’re here to do today."
Other business owners returned to their buildings, hoping to start the process of rebuilding.
Mayor Cherelle Parker hosts community town hall after Philly plane crash
Mayor Cherelle Parker and other city officials hosted a Community Town Hall for those impacted by the deadly plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia.
Gregory Ott showed us the damage inside the building that housed Ott and Associates Insurance Group for 30 years.
With blown out windows, part of a wall destroyed, and some water damage, he’s still counting his blessings that his building was empty during the crash, with some employees only leaving minutes before.
His other building, housing a law firm at Cottman and Hanford, will need a complete re-build.
"I gotta’ re-do everything in there, so it’s going to be a long haul, but we’ll get it done, it’s not a big deal," he says. "I said it before, and I’ll say it again, I can redo this, it’s not a big deal, as long as no one’s hurt, we’re fine."
What you can do:
The city says people who could not attend can get the same information at the OEM trailer in the Macy’s parking lot from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., on their website or by texting 888-777 to get updates.
The Source: The information in this story is from city officials, and businesses impacted by the Philly plane crash.