2 p.m: Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, the spiritual leader at the Shul of Bal Harbour, the sprawling Orthodox synagogue just four blocks from the condo collapse, spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon outside the Surfside Community Center, which is serving as the family reunification center
[…] He said a vigil at his synagogue began at 1 p.m. and will be ongoing. He couldn’t give an exact number of the Shul members among those missing and injured, but said it is “a lot.”
“There are certain things you can talk about it but you can’t say anything,” the rabbi said. “No words can contain the real of what happened.”
Asked by a reporter how the Jewish community of Surfside can move forward from an event like this, Lipskar said, “Jewish people have faced adversity throughout our history.”
He said one of the urgent tasks now will be helping families displaced by the crash find temporary places to live.
- via Miami Herald newspaper
DONATE TO THE SHUL’S 8777 COLLINS AVENUE RELIEF FUND:
via The Shul’s website update:
Thank you all so much for the incredible outpouring of support. We really appreciate your kindness and have received many generous contributions of essential items for the many families affected by this terrible tragedy. As we are challenged with space to sort and store all the emergency supplies, we suggest that you use our website at www.theshul.org/8777 to make further contributions as the need will be great and ongoing. Our emergency hotline has transferred to our regular Shul line at 305-868-1411. If you have already left a message with names, you will be contacted with updates as they become available. If you have a new person to add to the list, please include their name, age and apartment number, as well as your contact information so that we can reach you, when necessary. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May Hashem comfort and console them at this sad time. The Shul https://www.theshul.org/8777
At least 27 people from Latin American nations - including Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Argentina - are among those reported missing by friends and family following the partial collapse of a residential building in Surfside on early Thursday morning, highlighting the international reach of the tragedy in a region that serves as a link between the United States and Latin America.
- via Miami Herald newspaper
As this is a developing story, the news is subject to change throughout the coming weeks/months as investigations commence. The “search & rescue” efforts are still ongoing and will likely continue for weeks. Please follow CNN’s links to any current updates as well as any updated news below:
- The Shul is collecting monetary donations here to help the Jewish community members from their synagogue affected (which also has Sephardic Jewish members). They are no longer asking for item donations at this time as the support has been overwhelming, and they are running out of space, but continue to accept monetary donations.
- The Greater Miami Jewish Federation has also opened an emergency assistance fund for the short- and long-term needs of those in our community affected. The Federation will absorb all administrative costs so that 100 percent of funds collected will be used to provide assistance to those affected, and is asking others to please participate in the community’s collective response.
- Deep fires underneath the pile of rubble has been affecting the ongoing search. The fire is currently “contained”/isolated as of early morning on 06/26/21, but there is also smoke in the area.
- As of 06/25/21, at least 31 people are still unaccounted for from six Latin American countries (including Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Argentina)
- As of 06/26/21 there are 156 still missing, 5 confirmed dead.
- Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett told CNN on Saturday that he has recommended residents of Champlain Towers’ North Tower to evacuate out of “an abundance of caution.” The Champlain North tower is located a block away from the South Tower, which collapsed Thursday. “I’ve recommended that that building be evacuated pending a thorough structural investigation,” Burkett said. “Because I don’t think people need to live with the possibility, or the thought that their” building may collapse, Burkett added. “It had the same developer, it probably had the same materials, they probably had the same plans, and people are asking me is the building safe, and I can’t tell them it is safe,” Burkett said. As of about 8 PM EST 06/26/21, evacuations of that building along with the East tower are “voluntary”, but along with the previous statements, “recommended”
- This situation is a developing story that is ongoing and investigations will likely (according to many officials interviewed by CNN and other news outlets) continue into coming weeks/months, which is also very serious as Florida, as well, has entered Hurricane season. (Hurricane season officially began June 1, 2021, and does not end until November 30, 2021.)
- If you are living in/near the area or the affected building, please take caution. Check often for emergency notices, nearby road closures, etc
*EVERYONE IS ALLOWED TO REBLOG & BOOST BUT PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL ON THIS POST, AS IT IS A TRAGEDY AFFECTING MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF SURFSIDE (the surrounding area affected has a notable Jewish community presence) / MIAMI / FLORIDA, (AS WELL AS) SEPHARDIC JEWISH & LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ANYONE & EVERYONE WHO CAN HELP BOOST AWARENESS!!!!!*
UPDATES & further notable information as of 06/29/21:
The death toll now stands at 11. 150 people are still missing.
- Canada said that as of Friday evening, preliminary reports indicate that at least four Canadian citizens may be affected in the collapse of a residential building in Surfside, Florida, Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Ciara Trudeau tells CNN. According to Trudeau, Canadian consular officials in Miami are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information and are also in contact with the affected families. According to Global Affairs Canada, Canadian citizens in Florida requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Consulate General of Canada in Miami or may also contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre.
- ATJC Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center is also collecting donations for individuals and families impacted by the collapse. The organization is asking for urgent items including sheets, pillows, phone chargers, and snack food. 100% of the donations will go to help those affected.
- Maryland’s Montgomery County fire chief Goldstein, told CNN there was evidence of four collapse types in the Surfside incident. Aside from a pancake collapse, that includes a V-shaped collapse, when the center of the floor collapses and creates voids on either side; a lean-to collapse, when a floor collapses on one side while the other side is still attached to a wall; and a cantilever collapse, when one wall supporting floors is damaged but the opposite wall is intact. Void spaces are more likely in V-shaped, lean-to and cantilever collapses. “Each of those spaces provide opportunities for a survivable area,” Goldstein told CNN on Friday.
- Evacuations for residents in Champlain Towers North and East are voluntary following the collapse of Champlain Towers South, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said at a Saturday night news conference. After speaking with other officials, the decision was made to give residents the information so they can make the decision on whether to relocate. They are working with FEMA on relocation options.
- The mayor also pleaded with families with missing loved ones to fill out police reports, as there are still some family members that detectives have not been able to reach and who have not opened police reports. “The site is open 24 hours a day. We’re taking DNA swabs from everybody at that location so if relatives come in, we will take DNA swabs and this will be critically important for identification,” Levine Cava said.
- The investigation into what caused the collapse could take months (as previously mentioned, this could even last well into Hurricane season) before any “conclusive” evidence is found.
- While it’s estimated about 80% of the 136 units were owned or leased, families in Surfside tend to travel “quite a bit,” especially in June, so officials are struggling to get a headcount of who might be missing, Town Manager Andrew Wyatt said. It’s “a little concerning,” Wyatt said, that officials aren’t receiving more phone calls from residents reporting they are traveling or otherwise OK. Downey implored anyone with information on who was or wasn’t in the building to call the county’s missing persons hotline at 305-614-1819.
- As of 06/29/21, almost $1.2 million dollars have also been raised by The Shul’s emergency fund. We are highly thankful to everyone who has spread awareness! We hope and ask that people will continue to signal boost awareness of the incident and donate regardless, as so many families affected will need all the help they can get.
- The death toll has risen to 18. Children have been found in the rubble. (Warning: videos/stories in the CNN links may contain distressing imagery/descriptions) We are heartbroken for all the families and victims affected.
- PLEASE CONTINUE TO SIGNAL BOOST AWARENESS!!! As the death toll rises, all of these families and victims involved can use the support.
- As CNN’s live coverage above has slowed and shifted at points, please continue to follow the headlines on their website. Search combinations of “Surfside” “Building” “collapse” for all latest news/updates.
- We continue to keep a close eye on the weather, such as Tropical Storm Elsa. Should bad weather move in, please, we beg you refrain from making jokes/memes about Florida and Tropical storms/Hurricanes, especially South Florida as these conditions will still likely be very concerning, even deadly for the building collapse victims, and any Search & Rescue workers helping. There is a time and a place, and during these times in South Florida is NOT it!
- Should you be in the path of any incoming bad weather, PLEASE PREPARE APPROPRIATELY. Follow all standard guidelines for Tropical storms or Hurricanes preparedness in your area should they approach near your area, especially if bad weather further moves into Surfside. Please take care in these times
