Employees at the Washington Navy Yard have announced they won’t be rushing their staff to work this week after Aaron Alexis opened fire in Building 197 and killed 12 people.
But the military facility did reopen for normal operations on Thursday and many returning employees are feeling a bit unsettled about returning to an area where so much tragedy and violence took place.
Some employees who streamed by the red brick wall of the Navy Yard in the early morning sun said it was too soon for them to even talk about the shootings. Others said it will take a while to get past the tragedy.
“I’d rather not be here today,” said Judy Farmer, a scheduler from Manassas, Va.
Authorities are making sure that the facility is tightly sealed and safe as employees trickle back into the installation. But that doesn’t take away the anxiety that some individuals are experiencing while returning to work.
“It’s a little surreal I guess,” said Brooke Roberts, an engineer who works across the street from the building where the shooting happened.
“You don’t think this sort of thing can happen to you at your workplace, so you’re just not prepared for it, regardless,” he said of the shooting as he walked by a blocked off gate he is accustomed to using to enter the Navy Yard. He described himself as feeling “still unsettled,” noting the blocked off entrance.
“It’s still not quite normal, and it probably won’t be for some time,” Roberts said.
All operations will continue as they normally would, however, Building 197 (where the shootings occurred) and the base gym will remain closed for investigation.
We send our thoughts and prayers to those returning to work today.
SOURCE: ABC | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
