At a news conference at Hillsborough Community College Thursday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the quick work of first responders saved lives after the partial collapse at the Champlain Towers condominium in Surfside, but he warned, “We are bracing for some bad news given the destruction that we’re seeing.”
The governor said he had spoken with the mayors of Surfside and Bal Harbour and he planned a 12:30 news conference.
“I just want to thank everybody who responded to the condo collapse down in Surfside, and we had a major, major structure and one side of it collapsed in the wee hours of the morning,’‘ he said.
“The first responders were able to save a lot of people. They are going to be going through more and, you know, it’s a really, really tragic situation so we’ll hope for the best in terms of additional recoveries, although we are bracing for some bad news just given the destruction that we’re seeing.”
Later in the morning, President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, offering support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other aid from Washington.
“Just got off the phone with @POTUS," Levine Cava posted on her Twitter feed, including a photo of her sitting 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 gov. to help our community during this difficult time,” the post read. “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.”
At a new conference at the White House, Biden said he would have more to say on the building collapse later Thursday.
“All of our hearts go out to the family and friends who have lost their beloved during this horrific incident, as well as to the families who wait in anguish as search-and-rescue teams assess and work through the devastation,’’ White House spokesperson Ike Hajinazarian said in a statement. “In coordination with FEMA, the White House is continuing to monitor the situation and we send our gratitude to the heroic first responders working tirelessly to save lives today.”
DeSantis also said the state will provide assistance “in any way that we can.”“
He added that “the quick response was very important and I do think it saved lives. So I want to thank the folks for their bravery in doing that.”
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.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted: “Miami-Dade fire has one of the best urban search and rescue teams in the world and they have been on the scene for hours searching for victims and survivors.”
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.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who also represents Surfside, said she hopes casualties are limited.
“My prayers are with Surfside as rescuers from across South Florida work tirelessly to locate and save residents,” Wasserman Schultz tweeted. “While details are still emerging, we pray that the casualties are limited and first responders are safe as they address this horrific collapse.”
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(Miami Herald staff writer Douglas Hanks contributed to this report.)
