Surfside FL Condo Collapse
Start Date: 2021-06-25Description: On July 24, 2021 the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, FL collapsed leaving more than 100 persons dead or missing. After numerous calls to contacts through FL VOAD and American Red Cross, the S FL Division of ARC summoned HOPE AACR. During the 16-day deployment 19 canine teams and 6 team leaders from five regions interacted with more than 3800 families, first responders, and workers from responding agencies. The number of volunteer hours, including significant travel, exceeded 1,150. Among the locations served were the Family Assistance Center, the Community Center, Surfside Town Hall (staff, police, sheriff offices), the Memorial Wall, Ground Zero, and the 911 Communications Center in Doral, FL. HOPE AACR played a great role in helping traumatized families who were waiting for updates. On one occasion we were called to Ground Zero to support the remains identification process. Throughout the deployment first responders and agency workers took respite with HOPE teams.
Agency: FL Div of American Red CrossTeams: Susan Smalling/Mollie Mae and 18 other dog teams, 5 TLs
Region:
