Surfside building collapse rescue could be complicated by Elsa
By
Mark Puleo, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Jul 5, 2021 9:30 AM EST
Emergency officials are moving ahead with plans to demolish a partially collapsed high-rise before winds and rain from Elsa arrive in Miami.
The recent tragedy in Surfside, Florida, may take another heart-wrenching turn in the coming days. Just one week after a condominium collapsed, killing at least 24 people and leaving over 120 others unaccounted for, a tropical storm is on track to complicate rescue efforts.
First responders have worked around the clock amid steady storminess since the building collapsed early in the morning on June 24. According to precipitation reports from nearby Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, it rained every single day in the area from June 24 to July 2.
"This is life and death," President Joe Biden said during a Thursday briefing at the scene. "We can do it; just the simple act of everyone doing what needs to be done makes a difference."
Search and rescue personnel place a stretcher with remains into a bin to be moved by a crane, atop the rubble at the Champlain Towers South condo building where scores of people remain missing more than a week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Rescue efforts resumed Thursday evening after being halted for most of the day over concerns about the stability of the remaining structure. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Miami Herald reported on June 25 that rescue crews were working through the ongoing thunderstorms to uncover victims through the 16-feet-deep concrete. ABC News has since added that heat, humidity, heavy rain, strong winds and lightning have also made the conditions difficult for rescuers.
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida department of emergency management, said at a Wednesday press conference that his team was working with the National Hurricane Center in preparation for possible tropical system development.
Search and rescue personnel remove buckets of rubble atop the rubble at the Champlain Towers South condo building, where scores of people remain missing more than a week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Rescue efforts resumed Thursday evening after being halted for most of the day over concerns about the stability of the remaining structure. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
With the development of Elsa, which became a hurricane on Friday before becoming a tropical storm Saturday, those backup plans will be crucial now.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency on Saturday in anticipation of Elsa's arrival in the U.S., 7 News Miami reported. The state of emergency encapsulates 15 counties across the state, including Miami-Dade County where Surfside is located.
Elsa strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic season's on Friday morning, and AccuWeather hurricane experts worry that its track could spell trouble, not just for the rescue of last week's victims but also for the upcoming safety plans the city has for surrounding buildings.
On July 2, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava signed an emergency order to demolish what is left of the building. The demolition occurred shortly before 11 p.m. EDT on Sunday night.
In the worst-case scenario, forecasters say Elsa could approach hurricane status again after passing through Cuba and approaching the western coast of Florida, all while packing high winds and triggering localized flooding in the Miami area.
"Even a mere tropical storm traveling northward along the Florida Gulf coast can bring those conditions," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "The stronger the system becomes once clearing Cuba, the worse conditions might get over South Florida in general, assuming a track close by."
Search and rescue personnel work alongside heavy machinery, atop the rubble at the Champlain Towers South condo building, where scores of people remain missing one week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
On Friday, Guthrie said in a tweet that his team is prepared to support both the building collapse and any Elsa needs.
"We will not leave our local partners at Surfside," he assured.
Search and rescue workers descend from the rubble pile at the Champlain Towers South condo building, where scores of people remain missing one week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added that "Tis the season and you’ve got to be ready."
“This is hurricane season. We take this very seriously and take whatever steps are necessary," he said. "We hope we don’t have to; we hope it doesn’t come to that, but it is the season and you’ve got to be ready.”
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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News / Hurricane
Surfside building collapse rescue could be complicated by Elsa
By Mark Puleo, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Jul 5, 2021 9:30 AM EST
Emergency officials are moving ahead with plans to demolish a partially collapsed high-rise before winds and rain from Elsa arrive in Miami.
The recent tragedy in Surfside, Florida, may take another heart-wrenching turn in the coming days. Just one week after a condominium collapsed, killing at least 24 people and leaving over 120 others unaccounted for, a tropical storm is on track to complicate rescue efforts.
First responders have worked around the clock amid steady storminess since the building collapsed early in the morning on June 24. According to precipitation reports from nearby Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, it rained every single day in the area from June 24 to July 2.
"This is life and death," President Joe Biden said during a Thursday briefing at the scene. "We can do it; just the simple act of everyone doing what needs to be done makes a difference."
Search and rescue personnel place a stretcher with remains into a bin to be moved by a crane, atop the rubble at the Champlain Towers South condo building where scores of people remain missing more than a week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Rescue efforts resumed Thursday evening after being halted for most of the day over concerns about the stability of the remaining structure. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Miami Herald reported on June 25 that rescue crews were working through the ongoing thunderstorms to uncover victims through the 16-feet-deep concrete. ABC News has since added that heat, humidity, heavy rain, strong winds and lightning have also made the conditions difficult for rescuers.
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida department of emergency management, said at a Wednesday press conference that his team was working with the National Hurricane Center in preparation for possible tropical system development.
Search and rescue personnel remove buckets of rubble atop the rubble at the Champlain Towers South condo building, where scores of people remain missing more than a week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Rescue efforts resumed Thursday evening after being halted for most of the day over concerns about the stability of the remaining structure. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
With the development of Elsa, which became a hurricane on Friday before becoming a tropical storm Saturday, those backup plans will be crucial now.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency on Saturday in anticipation of Elsa's arrival in the U.S., 7 News Miami reported. The state of emergency encapsulates 15 counties across the state, including Miami-Dade County where Surfside is located.
Elsa strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic season's on Friday morning, and AccuWeather hurricane experts worry that its track could spell trouble, not just for the rescue of last week's victims but also for the upcoming safety plans the city has for surrounding buildings.
On July 2, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava signed an emergency order to demolish what is left of the building. The demolition occurred shortly before 11 p.m. EDT on Sunday night.
In the worst-case scenario, forecasters say Elsa could approach hurricane status again after passing through Cuba and approaching the western coast of Florida, all while packing high winds and triggering localized flooding in the Miami area.
"Even a mere tropical storm traveling northward along the Florida Gulf coast can bring those conditions," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "The stronger the system becomes once clearing Cuba, the worse conditions might get over South Florida in general, assuming a track close by."
Search and rescue personnel work alongside heavy machinery, atop the rubble at the Champlain Towers South condo building, where scores of people remain missing one week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
On Friday, Guthrie said in a tweet that his team is prepared to support both the building collapse and any Elsa needs.
"We will not leave our local partners at Surfside," he assured.
Search and rescue workers descend from the rubble pile at the Champlain Towers South condo building, where scores of people remain missing one week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added that "Tis the season and you’ve got to be ready."
“This is hurricane season. We take this very seriously and take whatever steps are necessary," he said. "We hope we don’t have to; we hope it doesn’t come to that, but it is the season and you’ve got to be ready.”
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo