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FL Mayor: 210 Rescue Workers Now on Scene, No New Fatalities Today; Officials: 440 plus State Workers Assisting Search Effort; Officials Update Condo Collapse Search & Rescue; Officials: We've Moved over 3 Million Pounds of Concrete So Far. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired June 29, 2021 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[12:00:00]

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: I'm John King in Washington. You're listening here to a briefing. This is the Mayor of Miami-Dade County. The Florida Governor spoke just moments ago the Lieutenant Governor as well.

This is day six of course of the search and rescue operations in Surfside at the tower that collapsed. The mayor just saying that no new fatalities have been discovered since the last briefing last night but 11 confirmed fatalities.

Now the mayor also importantly assuring residents of the county that she has structural engineers and other experts now looking at other buildings around the county as well. Saying this will never happen again.

The Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at the top saying that he's committed to the families that the search will continue he says you are missing until you are found. And then mayor then noting there are 210 people, 210 search and rescue workers right now she says working on that mound, the collapsed condominium.

Let's get to CNN's Nick Valencia, who is one of our reporters on the scene for us in Florida. Nick we'll go back into the briefing some of the speakers obviously delving into Spanish because of the community. I will go back in but when you hear the mayor number one stressing the search and rescue operation continues but number two, saying that she has her full team now looking throughout the county trying to make sure this does not happen somewhere else.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're seeing reactive measures not just happened here in Surfside, but surrounding communities as far away as Sarasota. Here in the City of Miami, there has been an order given for any building six storeys or higher that is 40 plus years old to investigate itself or to find a third party rather to investigate it and, you know, share those results with the City of Miami within 45 days.

There is anger here among the families that have come to grips with knowing they know in their heart they say whether or not they get official word from these local emergency response teams that their loved ones had perished. They've now pivoted to accountability.

They feel as though there needs to be accountability, these condos how they are managed? What they need to disclose? What they are expected to disclose to their residents? And this news now, John that we're hearing of an April 9th letter sent to residents by the Condo President saying that there is millions, multi millions of dollars of structure change that needed to happen there in this building is just pouring salt in the wounds to these family members.

They believe that there was legal, grievous legal errors made here through this process and they want accountability. They want their family members found yes, of course. But as the days dwindle on, we have seen that evolution of emotions happen.

We have seen the hope that has gone hear from these community residents and family members and friends of those unaccounted fade in these days. Over the weekend, we saw so many clinging to hope that they too would find a loved one, a miracle here, be buried somewhere in the pile alive, if only clinging to the last grips of life. But that has not happened here.

As we enter day six, more and more family members are turning and pivoting towards that morning believing that they will never hear that good news. They want privacy at this point. They've even pushed away grief counselors, we're told Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Maggie Castro telling us that this briefing earlier today was contentious.

They're angry. They're frustrated with this process, the first responders telling them that they're moving as safely and as quickly as they can. We heard the numbers given there by the mayor. You know who is responding here on this pile and that they are going through this rescue mission, operating as if those unaccounted for the 150 unaccounted are still alive.

But sooner or later, they're going to pivot to a recovery effort. It's just a matter of protocol here right now. And just because of the totality and the scale that they're dealing with the amount of families involved, they can't quite pivot to that.

But as I mentioned, John, there are families already coming to grips overnight and this morning, that they will never see their loved ones again, John.

KING: To that point Nick, I want to come back to some of the questions about the structural issues a bit later. But to the personal point right now and the difficult moment you mentioned these families are at.

The officials will keep it a search and rescue operation as soon - as long as they could have any hope at all. But there's been any communication at all with the families about when the authorities believe I'm sorry, Nick, standby. We're going to go back into the press briefing. Let's listen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good afternoon. Under the leadership of the Mayor, Miami-Dade County is - a unified search, rescue and assistance efforts consisting of multiple county departments, such as - Fire Rescue, Monterey Police Department, Water and Sewer, ISD, County Attorney's Office, and much others in addition to our federal, state, local, international and not for profit organizations.

This is mapped to a seamless integration of these resources throughout the event. We continue to prosper and utilize these agencies up to 60 at this time, and over 800 responders who are supporting this effort integrating into our unified response and ensuring a successful search and rescue effort, thank you.

[12:05:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie.

KEVIN GUTHRIE, DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Good morning everyone. As far as state resources update well, first of all, because of the weather we have the new tin system, which I'm sure you guys will appreciate.

In addition to that we have over 440 state employees involved in on site response efforts. Those 440 do include the state emergency response team lead mutual aid, search and rescue teams. We will - we continue to provide assistance through items such as laundry trailer, as restroom trailer, shower trailers, jackhammers, buckets, air compressors, and many, many more.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management Logistics Team will continue to support all resource requests. As it is more - as of this morning we have 29 individuals who have registered with FEMA's Individual Assistance Program. Currently there are 22 organizations that are assisting.

I want to go ahead and let you know that FEMA has advised me through the administrator that Virginia Task Force One, Virginia Task Force Two and Ohio Task Force One are on standby awaiting any type of resource requests that we may need.

Again, I think it's appropriate to reiterate - point that we have all the resources we need. We do not need anyone to self deploy and help us. We have plenty of resources in reserves ready to respond. The Florida Department of Transportation as you see the dump trucks this morning, have started to assist with moving debris to an alternative site, and they will continue to do so.

The Florida Department of Management Services continues to search with a warehouse - for a warehouse for resource donations. The Florida Department of Children and Families is coordinating with Miami-Dade County to distribute gift cards for displaced individuals.

Additionally, as a reminder, the Florida Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles has deployed to their mobile units here for no fee cost-free driver's licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations and titles to the independent or to the impacted individuals. But I need to remind you that those hours on those mobile units are from 11 am to 5 pm at the Family Assistance Center. Florida Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles is also coordinating with the Red Cross to identify any impacted individuals needing additional assistance.

We know that this is a difficult time for families and first responders involved in the rescue and recovery efforts. Please know that Florida is here to help you. And I think the governor, lieutenant governor for their leadership and allowing us to respond and do what we need to do without any hesitation.

I want to remind you if you cannot find the resource that you're looking for, you can always call Florida's 211. And we will get you to decide that you need to be associated with. The state's priority right now is to ensure the county's needs are being met.

At the end personnel will continue to remain on the ground to assist with all response efforts until we are no longer needed. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Director and now for the Department of Economic Opportunities Secretary Dane Eagle.

DANE EAGLE, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITITES, SECRETARY: Good afternoon, everyone. As you all know the governor has been making sure that state resources are available where needed I was boots on the ground with him on Thursday day one to assess the situation.

And since then Department of Economic Opportunity sent two mobile units down here over the weekend. Now this one's bustling community has shut down not only to mourn, but to make way for the first responders so that they can do what they need to service this community and of course, continue to search and rescue mission.

Now we spoke with dozens of businesses who are putting their needs aside and servicing these first responders, whether it is through food. We've talked to cafes, or small barber shops, we're offering free haircuts. Now while they're doing that they're not having their usual business.

So there is a need there that needs to be met. We are trying to assess that need and we need the media's assistance in doing so. You can send local businesses and the businesses in the area the "floridadisaster.biz" "floridadisaster.biz".

Now the state is also requesting the assistance of the Small Business Administration. At the federal level we've been in communication with them, we hope to draw down some additional funds. But those surveys that these businesses can assess and do on the online will help us to bring down those funds as we continue to help those who are suffering not only the families, but the local businesses who are serving our first responders.

Thank you to the governor, the local community and the federal government for stepping up to assess this need.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mr. Secretary and now the Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett.

MAYOR CHARLES BURKETT, SURFSIDE, FLORIDA: Good morning. I would just like to add a few things. Talk about my - I walk the site this morning and tell you what I saw. We had overnight there were issues with some debris falling off the building.

[12:10:00]

BURKETT: The west side of the pile had to be cordoned off a little bit, because it was becoming excessively dangerous to work there. What has happened is that I understand the work still continues from the sides and underneath. But that area was cordoned off until they can sort of get their arms around the debris that's falling down.

The second thing is, is they've made very good progress on the east end, it's apparent that they've got the pile down to the point where you can see into the parking lot. So there is great progress. Lastly, with respect to the site, there is an overwhelming amount.

There are an overwhelming amount of workers, rescue workers on the site working with cranes and taking off debris and the work continues. I attended the family meeting this morning. It was - it was informative.

The Israelis had announced that they were going to be bringing in additional workers, which made the families rescue workers which made the families obviously I could tell that there was a more relief in the room. There was frustration. There was a little anger.

There was some - there were questions about why the work has to stop when there's rain and thunderstorms and lightning. The Police Chief or the Fire Chief addressed that issue and said that he would further - he would talk to the higher ups about whether or not that worked, because it was an interesting comment, because the speaker said that they're already risking their lives anyway.

They're working under a building that could fall down. Why do we have to stop for lightning? It was an interesting question. And the chief said he would get back to them. One of the other questions by the family members were how long can people survives under the rubble which was an excellent question.

And there, there didn't seem to be a good answer to that. I had several days ago, said Mayor Cava an article that I was sent, which dealt exactly with that point. And I thought it was very important to let the family members know. So I stood up. And I talked about what I knew in the - what I knew from the article.

And it talked about there were - there were several different instances. But the most notable was the one from May 2013, where a woman was pulled from the ruins of a factory in Bangladesh 17 days after it collapsed. So I think as the governor said earlier, nobody and the lieutenant governor, nobody's giving up hope here, nobody's stopping.

The work goes on full force, we're dedicated to get everyone out of that pile of rubble and reunite them with their families. We have all the resources we want. I've been saying this since the beginning; we don't have a resource problem.

We have a look problem. And as you know, we just got dumped on by some rain. But thankfully, it looks like that's clearing. But the work will go on. We will continue to work at 100 percent. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mayor and for the Border County Commission, the Chairman, Honorable Jose Diaz.

JOSE "PEPE" DIAZ, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN: Thank you officer. As you all know, the mayor, the governor, lieutenant governor, and all they're involved already said particulars. I simply want to say thank you to all of you for doing the reports in a very humane and proper way. And doing it in a way that it was full of information for people, which is important.

I want to thank you from all of us from my colleagues and I that is very important. The world is looking and your news and what you're putting out is what's going on. And I'm very proud that a bit too a lot of unfortunate disasters. And sometimes you really can't watch the news, because the way is presented.

And I will tell you that I'm very proud of all of you in the work you've done. As I am proud of the first responders as all have stated. And one of them that we haven't mentioned too much group though is the police.

I really want to thank them for the work that they - police and other police agencies are stepped it up from the cities are doing and every level, the chief the director that is here, and everybody else, so I want to thank them and all the other departments.

KING: We continue to listen to a briefing by county officials, emergency response officials in Surfside, Florida. We're dipping out while some of the speakers deliver an update in Spanish. No huge headlines and that in and of itself is the headline in that no new recoveries, no new fatalities since the briefing last night.

[12:15:00]

KING: Still 11 confirmed dead more than 150 still missing in the collapse of that tower. Let's get the CNN's Nick Valencia who was on the scene for us and has been listening to this briefing. Nick the officials describing just the monumental logistical physical challenge of this.

And then I thought Mayor Burkett making an interesting point that as they're trying to have this operation, interfered with by the weather interfered with at times by falling debris that makes this already dangerous site even more dangerous. The families asking how long can we get more people? How long? What is the known record for somebody surviving in such a situation like this?

VALENCIA: And they're telling a very delicate line John of trying to be compassionate and understanding that different family members process things differently when it comes to grief and mourning. Let's get back to that press conference.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A good afternoon. We continue to search grid layer by layer removing debris as we continue to move forward in our search and rescue efforts. As we mentioned before, this is a very tedious effort, devastating on what occurred and regards to the collapse and what we're seeing.

We're moving debris piece by piece and searching through. We moved over approximately 3 million pounds of concrete at this time, which equates to over 850 cubic feet. We have all the State Florida Task Forces here deployed, we have a Federal Task Force on standby has always had the federal incident support team arrived today.

Again, extremely, extremely difficult just when we first arrived and what we saw the horrific catastrophic type of collapse. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, we were able during that timeframe to remove 37 individuals.

37 individuals, and we continue searching with our assets and all the support assets, all the task forces here in Florida, but as well as the federal on standby, and we will continue to move through.

I want to emphasize when we started this search, it's extremely difficult to what we saw what we encountered. We deployed our search teams based on what we evaluated and what we saw in regards to highest probability.

And as we've been mentioned, and time and time again, with our searches, those are the key things we look forward. Constantly running with our canines, our live dogs searching for hope of life, using different audible equipment, as well as video equipment, searching for life that's what we've been doing from the get go.

And then we reevaluate and keep assessing, as we mentioned in regards to the grades, how we have it deployed now with our large equipment that's here, and all our different task force? 24 hours a day, we have over 200 task force members made up of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Florida Task Force One and then all the remaining Florida Task Force non-stop around the clock searching.

It is a methodical, very difficult process, you know, as we're moving debris, we're just finding more debris that's just concrete pulverized. You know, it's extremely difficult, as we mentioned in regards to look into void spaces, looking for key signs.

I want to be clear. I mean, we haven't been seeing this. You know, we've come across small, we keep moving, and we keep moving. We keep trying, from the get go from what we saw, devastate OK, but we continue moving forward and continue pushing. And we'll see if we know where we're at the end. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you chief. And now to give some comments in Spanish PIO from Miami-Dade Fire Rescuer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Foreign Language) KING: Take you back to CNN's Nick Valencia live on the ground there. Nick again, some of that we go keep going from English to Spanish. This is my Miami-Dade Fire & Rescue. I thought the chief there was quite interesting. 3 million, 3 million pounds of concrete has been moved and he was just expressing he says we keep moving. We keep trying. We keep looking, trying to understand the scope of this operation.

And again him speaking in plain spoken workman like words they know that there are hundreds of families and thousands and thousands of people waiting for some sign of hope they hope.

VALENCIA: And I'm messaging with some of those family and friends right now as that press conference happens into them. They're hearing these details and they're still not satisfied with the responses because all they care about at this point is hearing news.

What happened to their loved ones? Why did this happen? How could this have happened in America? One of the comments made to me just now by Abigail Pereira whose two friends and six-year-old daughter are among the unaccounted for.

She just messaged me I asked her if she's watching this press conference? She told me in Spanish she is good - she said this is still very painful, all of this. We have reached out to others to see if they're watching. Presumably they are.

[12:20:00]

VALENCIA: But this is a process that has been not fast enough for those who are watching this. We did see yesterday though a father who said that his son was possibly ID from the debris come across here, just right across the street to our live shot location across the street is this Reunification Center where the families have been waiting here for news of their loved ones.

And we saw that man cross the street and just spontaneously hug a police officer. We have talked about the frustration it's only fair that we also talked about the gratitude. There is just a range of emotions here, John, among those who are going through this all.

You know that hope fading yesterday some family members telling us that they had all but resigned knowing that their family member had perished today, though they're hoping for a miracle. Some though, are wondering if they're being given a false sense of hope. That press conference back underway now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, everyone. We've - we have a small update on our traffic plan, just a minute change. Our new plan has been communicated with our public safety partners and our city officials, and is also posted on social media. So new closures today, it's going to be Collins Avenue from 8/1 street to 9/1 street and from Harding from 8/1 street to 9/6 street.

We do have checkpoints at Abbott and 9/6 street at Harding at 9/6 street. And let me re emphasize again that residents specifically within the 33154 zip code, and also employees, business owners, employees of hotels and customers will be allowed access.

Please bear with us. We understand the challenges and are patient and we'll get this resolved as soon as we can. Eventually we're still reevaluating our daily basis and our ultimate goal at some point will be to open Harding Avenue.

KING: I'm John King in Washington back with you as the officer explains in Spanish. One of the giant challenges in this community if you don't live in the Miami-Dade area, and you're watching why do they have to talk about the traffic routes because this collapse, the building collapse the tragedy around it all the equipment being brought in hopefully, to continue the search for the victims the unaccounted for in the building is disrupting the community.

That's what you're hearing right there. I want to come back to Nick Valencia on the ground. You were relaying the frustration and again, the authorities going through in a methodical way. Sometimes perhaps it sounds impersonal to the family members about what they're doing?

The Chief of the Miami Dade talking to you about how so far they're not finding any voids? And what they're looking for is a void some sort of a structure in the collapse of all that concrete, some space created, where survivors could perhaps go on as soon as people as he's doing his job explaining what they're finding.

But if you're a family member, a relative, a close friend, and you're waiting for word that can sound, frankly cold and impersonal, although that is not the intent.

VALENCIA: Listen, the emotion that's happening here is not immune. These first responders are not immune from that emotion themselves. Just imagine digging day after day coming up empty handed and having to give two briefings per day to these family members, where we asked them what are you going to tell the family members? And they say, you know, status quo. Let's go back to that press conference.

RYAN LOGAN, AMERICAN RED CROSS: In addition, while our main priority is really focusing on the entire community, one of our main focuses at this very moment is to provide assistance to those survivors directly impacted from the Champlain South Tower.

We are asking for individuals from that tower if they have not done so already to meet with the Red Cross at the Family Assistance Center that the mayor mentioned earlier. As well as if there are any survivors that are staying with loved ones or friends or family outside of the area, we ask that they contact the local Red Cross wherever they are.

They will put them in contact with us here on the ground; so that we can make sure that we can assess and ensure that they have what they need for this immediate phase of their recovery. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I want to just reiterate, we know how this affects the emotions of folks both here locally and a farm.

And so as a result, we are working with our local community partners to offer some free emotional and psychological resiliency training. We hoped with over the next three to four days to actually have the locations of where we - where we will be providing those resources to the community.

So it'd be a great opportunity for folks just to assess themselves, but also learn how to recognize the signs of trauma or the impacts and their own family as well as how to speak to their children about things like this? So I would just encourage you guys to be on the lookout for that information as we get the actual dates and locations arranged.

[12:25:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you Mr. Logan. And we're going to go into questions and answers now and we appreciate your cooperation so far in all these press conferences to wait until you're being selected. Please address the person who you're going to question. So that way that person can come forward and immediately following the questions and answers, we're going to go to the Creole translation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible)

CAVA: So the grand jury has not yet been impaneled. So I was speaking to the state attorney this morning about it. And we were talking about whenever it is moving forward that we will be fully on board she has announced that she will be asking the grand jury to look at this matter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible).

CAVA: I'm sorry?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible).

CAVA: Like all of us answers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any of the Spanish media got a question so we can all - here in Spanish right here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Foreign Language).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Foreign Language).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So residents are talking to us about because they've evacuated hence being left behind? How did that dealt with? Is PCA dealing with that? What are you hearing on this?

ALAN COMINSKY, MIAMI-DADE FIRE CHIEF: With regard when we first arrived, we do it called primary search and a secondary search. So we see that devastation to the building that still standing. When we first arrived our units did immediate searches, immediate removals and regards from balconies, wherever we found individuals.

We searched each - for every unit that we're able to gain access, if not through the primary, which is the first time we go through. It's our secondary service. So we searched through there as well. Obviously, we're looking for live victims, individuals.

But obviously if we come across a pet, we removed them as well. We haven't. So we didn't come across any animals as we went through any types of pets during our primary and secondary. So we know that part of it's been searched. Other than that, you know, that's all I can confirm in regards to the customer events.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because there's many more to get to but the fact that you can't access now?

COMINSKY: The fact that we went through on our primary and secondary we would have came across.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: --just thinking thank god, I'm sorry.

COMINSKY: Yes. Yes. And another aspect, you know, when we went through there, the building itself again, in our line of work is as fire rescue professionals Miami-Dade Firefighters again, the first unit on scene as a fire chief I couldn't be proud of.

When I look to see what we did and even now and then I got here probably about 45 minutes into the incident. And when I see what we put ourselves in. Well, you know, the rescue efforts that we did, what we went through going on those initial first hours of this environment.

I had 1:30 in the morning 1:20 when this call came in and just not stopped throughout and we did non-stop since, non-stop since. Miami- Dade Fire Rescue Miami-Dade County, all our local resources within Miami-Dade County all our Florida resources come in with our task force with our federal teams coming on standby.

And that's where we emphasize I mean, we see the magnitude of this damage. We see that building collapsed almost in the footprint where that building stood. Put about 12 storeys, with sub train with garages, all within that same footprint.

So I'm just trying to emphasize the magnitude of what we're encountered. What we're seeing, and we still keep pushing forward. So yes, I mean we definitely searched and went through - I mean there are other issues as well. I mean, there are definitely structural issues and I kind of went off topic there.

[12:30:00]