| REPORT: |
Chairman Diaz announced the Board of County Commissioners would consider Discussion Item 6B1 at 11 a.m.
Chairman Diaz provided a prepared statement for the Surfside Tragedy on behalf of the victims, survivors, and first responders and he observed a moment of silence.
County Attorney Geri Bonzon-Keenan advised an active investigation was in progress for the Surfside Tragedy matter. She noted in some instances during the discussion representatives from different government agencies and departments, may not be able to comment on a particular issue.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava thanked the first responders, Commissioners, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other governmental agencies. Mayor Levine Cava provided a PowerPoint presentation and statement of the Surfside Tragedy. She noted total information would be provided to the public to offer insight pertaining to the response and efforts accomplished by Miami-Dade County (MDC). Mayor Levine Cava presented the PowerPoint as follows:
~ I. Response Overview
~ II. Command Staff Updates
~ III. Next Steps
~ Surfside Overview
~ Coordination Compassion Collaboration
Command Staff Presentations Briefings
Mayor Levine Cava invited Deputy Incident Commander Charles Cyrille to brief the Board about the surfside tragedy.
Deputy Incident Commander Charles Cyrille
Deputy Charles Cyrille, Deputy Incident Commander (please indicate which agency he represents) Presented a PowerPoint presentation as follows:
~ Planning & Plan Implementation
~ Coordination, Collaboration, Communication
~Roles & Responsibilities
~Surfside Command Center, Champlain Towers South Building Collapse Table of Organization
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Alan Cominsky presented a PowerPoint presentation as follows:
~Introduction
~Florida Task Force 1
~USAR Resources
~Meeting with Family Members
~ Search and Recovery Operation
Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez
Mr. Freddy Ramirez, Miami-Dade Police Director thanked the men and women of the Miami-Dade Police and Fire Departments, Miami Beach, State of Florida Officials, and those who supported these efforts. He also acknowledged volunteers who provided meals to the first responders.
Mr. Ramirez indicated the primary scope was to support and assist the men and women of the Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue department (MDFR). He informed the Board three critical components for the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) including the following:
~Building the Village with the command post and traffic pole led by Assistant Director Pat Handling.
~Assistant Director Stephanie Daniels created a family Assistant Center for the families.
~Ground zero homicide detectives, crime scene personnel, working with the fire rescue working to bring closure to the families. Rabbi, chaplains, and clergies brought comfort to the families.
Mr. Ramirez stated the evidence collection sites department would be working with the State Attorney’s Office and noted during victim recovery the focus would shift to a death investigation. He stressed the first goal was to locate the families, and the next goal was to find out why this tragedy occurred.
Community Action & Human Services Interim Director, Annika Holder
Ms. Annika Holder, Community Action & Human Services Interim Director, commented on the work-taking place at the Family Assistance Center. She noted Support Surfside was launched June 28 , 2021, four days after the tragic event. She noted staff has intently served families that included survivors and displaced families who were waiting to be notified. Ms. Holder stated the center met with people who may have worked in the building that was part of the unaccounted. She pointed out that everyone was extremely compassionate and the center had 12 navigators from the Florida Crisis Response Team, sitting with families to assess their needs and provide services. Ms. Holder noted there were providers set up to help families with driver-license replacement, copy of registration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lodging, or grief counseling, etc. She stated staff worked relentlessly, and stressed that mental health was a major component for families and many employees working ground zero. She emphasized that staff would ensure the families received structure and up to date long term support.
Chief Operations Officer, Jimmy Morales
Mr. Jimmy Morales, Chief Operations Officer, Office of the Mayor, noted his role was to provide and coordinate with the police and fire department for logistical support of the men and women engaged in the search and rescue effort, as well as the death investigation. He noted part of the requirements were to provide the moving machinery equipment to move the debris. Mr. Morales stated a procurement contract was developed for debris removal and pointed out the debris removal would make room for the rescue team to keep working, while for the crime scene investigators to examined the debris off site to find material evidence. . He noted the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) provided yearly hauling of the debris, and worked closely with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Lastly, he assured that all expenses were eligible for reimbursement.
Mayor Levine Cava provided closing remarks regarding building audits being conducted across Miami-Dade County. She noted swift action needed to be taken on buildings that have not completed the forty year recertification. Mayor Levine Cava encouraged local cities to conduct their own building audits, and acknowledged the Cities of North Miami Beach and Miami Beach for conducting building audits. She indicated she was working with the Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross to create a process for any future evacuations. Mayor Levine Cava also announced that she would be meeting with subjects from expert fields such as engineering, legal, construction, development, etc. to review building safety and to set recommendations for building changes. She announced she was co-chairing a group of leaders with Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners’ Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz using a unified intergovernmental approach on any reforms to come from this tragedy.
Florida Department of Emergency Management, Steve Hynes
Mr. Steve Hynes, Florida Department of Emergency Management, informed the Board the department of emergency management supported the local efforts on life safety and civilization. He noted the plan was to maintain presence at ground zero until it was closed out. Mr. Hynes stated so far the projected cost to support this endeavor was around $75 million of State resources, to which the State of Florida Governor, Ronald DeSantis was committed to support. He noted all State of Florida departments would continue to support Surfside and he added that FDEM would max out all opportunities for the cost of the recovery phase.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coordinating Officer, Tom McCool
Mr. Tom McCool, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coordinating Officer, stated his job was to coordinate with all federal agencies to provide resources to the ongoing search and rescue to now search and recovery efforts. He provided his condolences to the victims and survivors of this surfside tragedy. Mr. McCool indicated he worked with Mayor Levine Cava and her exceptional team, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett, Governor DeSantis, along with the Florida Department of Emergency Management. He stated all efforts were executed at the local and federal level with resources to support the search and recovery. Mr. McCool noted individual assistance was authorized by President Joe Biden as an emergency declaration, as well as working closely with the State, County, and City to manage that program. He also stated his agency was working closely with the residents for $100,000.00 in funding that was obligated to the survivors. Mr. McCool stated the Red Cross provided immediate mass care services, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided assistance to the families, and Small Business Administration (SBA) would provide low interest personal and business loans. He reported public assistance would also be provided for the debris removal.
Small Business Administration (SBA), Roberto Baltodano
Mr. Roberto Baltodano, Small Business Administration (SBA), provided his condolences to the Surfside community. He noted SBA had been on the ground since June 30th at the Family Assistance Center meeting with families in need. Mr. Baltodano stated he and staff met with 60 families and business. He noted from the 60 families and businesses 31 home loan applications were processed, 21 business loans were processed, and 17 applied for economic injury loans. Mr. Baltodano informed the Board that SBA was operating out of a business recovery center effective July 9, 2021. He encouraged the business community and individuals who were homeowners or renters affected by this disaster to reach out to SBA for assistance in obtaining affordable low interest long term federal disaster loans.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Judith Mitrani-Reiser
Ms. Judith Mitrani-Reiser, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that NIST would be conducting a full technical investigation into the cause of the June 24, 2021partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium. She noted the investigation would be a fact finding and not fault finding ongoing investigation. Ms. Mitrani-Reiser indicated the investigation would take time and possibly several years to determine the cause of Champlain Tower partial collapse. She assured the Board NIST would not stop until a determination was found for the cause of the collapse. Ms. Mitrani-Reiser informed the Board NIST investigated numerous tragedies and learned from these events to better building codes, emergency response, and emergency communication efforts. She noted based on the information collected, it was recommended that a full technical investigation be conducted under the National Construction Safety Team Act. Additionally, she thanked all the agencies for their compassion, collaboration, and coordination during the Surfside tragedy.
Commissioners Gilbert III, Sosa, Garcia, Cohen-Higgins, Regalado, Souto, and Monestime thanked Mayor Levine Cava for her leadership, Miami-Dade Police and Fire Departments, Miami-Dade County Staff, Governor Ronald DeSantis and President Joe Biden for the unification of the state, local, and federal government. The Board offered their condolences and support to the families, as well as support to fire fighters in need of emotional counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Also, the Commission cautioned there was an ongoing investigation and viewpoints should be delayed until after the investigation concluded.
Followed by the Commission comments, Chairman Diaz concluded by thanking Miami-Dade County Attorneys for their participation during the Surfside tragedy.
Chairman Diaz noted that this Board of County Commissioners would recess for lunch until 1:44 p.m. |
