PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than 600 people came to Solomon Solis-Cohen School for the Northeast Emergency Community Impact Town Hall on Wednesday night, just blocks from the site of Friday’s deadly medical jet crash. There city officials spoke with residents about their concerns.
The crash that killed seven people and injured two dozen more was a traumatic event for the neighborhood. Of the 24 people who were injured, four are still in the hospital, two in critical condition.
Harvey Garmeder was one of those hurt Friday night. Still visible on his head is the spot where a piece of flying debris grazed him. But he says the city has done its job in the days since.
“Excellent, phenomenal response,” Garmeder said. “Very involved, and this is a very good thing that happened today.”
Posquale Dudley lived on the corner of Cottman Avenue and Rupert Street, but his home was destroyed Friday. He says city officials have been helpful in their response
“They been helping, and they’ve been alert. I can’t even say nothing wrong or bad about them. They been alert. They been on the scene every day. They’ve been resourceful.”
His father, Hasan, spoke up Wednesday night with concerns, but those were assuaged.
“Everything that I had questions about, somebody was able to talk to me today,” Hasan said. “I feel that the city jumped on it immediately, and I’m satisfied.”
City Managing Director Adam Thiel says people may still find plane debris in the Roosevelt Mall area, especially as investigators have left the site and commerce opens back up. If you do, don’t touch it. Report it to the NTSB website or 911.
“If you find what you believe to be aircraft debris, you can go to NTSB.gov, and there’s information for how to turn it in,” Thiel said.
And for businesses who lost revenue, Mayor Cherelle Parker says the Department of Commerce has provided recourse.
“We have established an emergency relief grant that can provide up to $20,000 to businesses facing hardship due to this incident,” she said.
Additionally, there will be emergency response units at the crash site area from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
On Thursday afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Friends Hospital, there will be multi-agency resource meetings. And people can donate now to the One Philly Fund at philacityfund.org/onephilly.