GAITHERSBURG, Md.—The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today that it is immediately sending two structural engineers to Clinton, Mo., to gather information and examine last night's collapse of the building housing the Clinton Elks Lodge. One person was killed and nine were injured in the collapse.
In Clinton, the NIST experts will work with local officials to learn more about the collapse. Based on that reconnaissance, NIST will decide if any additional study is appropriate. The NIST engineers will not be evaluating the status of buildings adjacent to the one that collapsed.
As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.