Donations for Philly plane crash: What to know
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Several homes sustained damage in last week's jet crash in Northeast Philly. Photo: Thomas Hengge/Anadolu via Getty
Many are wondering how to help those affected by Friday's plane crash in Northeast Philly, but city officials are urging people to hold off for now.
The big picture: There's currently no city-approved donation collection or GoFundMe account, and Mayor Cherelle Parker over the weekend cautioned people against unofficial online campaigns.
State of play: In the coming weeks, Parker's administration will reveal more details about how and where people can donate, spokesperson Joe Grace tells Axios.
- The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania is not seeking donations for those affected by the crash, a spokesperson tells Axios.
- The organization was helping run a shelter at Samuel Fels High School for those who have been displaced, which was scheduled to close Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, GoFundMe launched a centralized hub Tuesday for verified fundraisers linked to the crash, company spokesperson Melanie Standage tells Axios.
- Two fundraisers there have raised more than $61,500 combined, as of Tuesday.
- The company will update the page with more fundraisers as they are verified, Standage says.
Zoom in: Barbara Roque tells Axios she's running one of those GoFundMe fundraisers for her friend Alexis Lloyd, whose Cottman Avenue house has been condemned after sustaining significant damage in the crash.
- Lloyd was home at the time of the crash and managed to escape uninjured, but she and her 7-year-old daughter are now homeless, says Roque.
- "There are real needs," Roque says. "Alexis has no home. She's experiencing real trauma."
Catch up quick: Investigators are still examining what brought down the small medical jet last Friday in Northeast Philly.
- Six passengers onboard and a driver on the ground died in the crash.
- At least 24 people were injured, two of which were in critical condition as of Monday.
- The crash damaged at least 11 homes, of which four were destroyed and six had major damage, per 6ABC.
The latest: The National Transportation Safety Board finished its on-site investigation into the crash on Tuesday, city managing director Adam Thiel said at a news conference.
- The city's forensics investigation remains ongoing.
Plus: City crews were working Tuesday to clean the street and assess damage in the area.
- Thiel cautioned that restoring the area back to normalcy "is still going to be a long process."
Businesses in the crash site are expected to open sometime on Wednesday.
- The Roosevelt Mall will reopen at noon on Wednesday with the exception of Dunkin' and Raising Cane's, a spokesperson for the mall's owner tells Axios.
- Thiel didn't give a specific timeline for when all residents can return to their homes in the area.
What's next: City officials will hold a town hall meeting about the plane crash at 7pm Wednesday to answer residents' questions and share resources.
- The location: Solomon Solis-Cohen School (7001 Horrocks St.).