MIAMI — Seventeen hours after the deadly partial collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium in Surfside, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Miami-Dade County on Thursday, enabling federal rescue, housing and financial assistance.
The decision was the capstone to a frenzied day of action from every level of government, as local, state and federal agencies deployed dozens of emergency response teams, medical personnel and structural engineers to mount a massive search and rescue effort to find survivors under the pile of rubble from the collapsed 12-story building.
At a news conference at the White House earlier in the day, President Joe Biden said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was standing by to help but was waiting on the governor to make the necessary formal request.
“We are ready to move federal resources immediately,” Biden said. “We can’t go in and do it but FEMA is down there taking a look at what’s needed, including whether the rest of the buildings need to be evacuated as well.”
He said federal resources could help with recovery, cleanup and shelter for families who were displaced.
“I’m waiting for the governor to declare an emergency,” Biden said. “I’ve made it clear, whatever help you want, the federal government can provide. We’re waiting, just ask us and we’ll be there.”
By midafternoon Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava signed an emergency declaration, which was needed to trigger a similar order from the governor.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents Surfside, said there should be “no daylight between federal state and local governments” and urged the governor to sign an order swiftly.
“There will be a need for federal housing assistance that comes with a federal disaster declaration,” Wasserman Schultz said. She said the White House has been preparing to make sure “everyone is ready, it’s all hands on deck.”
Three hours later, at about 6:20 p.m. Eastern time, DeSantis announced he had signed the order.
At about noon, DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez toured the wreckage with Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.
“The TV doesn’t do it justice,’’ the governor said at the news conference that followed. “I mean it is really, really traumatic to see the collapse of a massive structure like that.”
DeSantis repeatedly commended the bravery of the first responders, whom he credited for saving lives in the early morning hours when the collapse occurred.
“They were on that scene before we knew whether there’d be more collapse,’’ he said. “We didn’t know whether the building had any structural integrity, and they were shepherding people to safety, and they absolutely saved people’s lives.”
But at an earlier news conference at Hillsborough Community College, DeSantis warned, “We are bracing for some bad news given the destruction that we’re seeing.”
The governor ordered the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to also assist in the response.
Businesses affected by the partial collapse of the condominium complex in Surfside are being asked to complete a damage assessment survey to help the state direct resources to them.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is using the survey to assess how much revenue loss, physical damage and other impacts the damage has had on local businesses. It will share the results with various state and local agencies to implement appropriate relief programs. The survey can be taken at FloridaDisaster.biz BusinessDamageAssessments by selecting the “Surfside Condo Collapse.” For additional assistance, please call (850) 815-4925.
For residents displaced by the evacuation of the condo complex, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation has begun working with landlords in the Miami-Dade County area to identify rental vacancies to provide them with temporary housing. Displaced residents can use FHFC’s rental locator at https://www.floridahousingsearch.org/ or call (877) 428-8844 if they are unable to access the website.
In Washington, Biden said his chief of staff, Ron Klain, had been “deeply involved” in ongoing discussions for needed federal resources and relief help and he also credited Wasserman Schultz and Levine Cava.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said his staff was helping family members obtain humanitarian visas for family members of the missing, because “a substantial number of those living at the Surfside building which collapsed are originally from overseas.”
Biden spoke by phone with Levine Cava on Thursday morning, as she sat at a desk in the Surfside building being used as a reunification center for families of Champlain Towers residents. The president was on speaker phone as county aides listened.
“He offered the full support of the federal govt to help our community during this difficult time,” the mayor wrote in a Twitter post. “We continue to work with local, state, & federal agencies as we respond to this tragedy and do everything we can to support the impacted families.”
Florida’s other elected leaders also offered their support. Republican Sen. Rick Scott said he spoke with Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky and Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez.
“Ann and I are praying for everyone impacted by the terrible tragedy in Surfside and all of our brave first responders working search and rescue,” Scott said.
Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, whose district includes Surfside, tweeted condolences.
“This is truly devastating,” Salazar said. “My prayers are with all of the families and our brave Miami Beach Police and Miami-Dade Fire who are fighting around the clock to save lives.”
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(Miami Herald staff writer Douglas Hanks contributed to this report.)
