The following statement regarding the building collapse in Surfside, Miami Dade County may be attributed to the American Red Cross:
As details continue to emerge about the heartbreaking building collapse in Surfside, Florida, families are dealing with the pain of losing their homes and the uncertainty of missing loved ones.
To help people cope, the American Red Cross is providing emergency hotel lodging for more than 30 residents and others displaced by the crisis. Red Cross volunteers are supporting families at the assistance center — which is a safe space for people to receive emotional support, get something to eat and drink, connect with community organizations offering aid, and hear updates from authorities. More than 100 Red Crossers are providing aid to the Surfside community, including specially trained disaster mental health and spiritual care volunteers who are providing one-on-one support to those coping with this tragedy. Red Cross caseworkers are meeting with families to help them plan their next steps and providing financial assistance when needed.
Our teams are grateful for the offers of help and outpouring of support. At this time, the Red Cross has what it needs to assist people impacted and is not accepting financial donations specifically for this tragedy. We are asking people to not send items like stuffed animals, blankets, clothing and household goods — as it takes time and money to store, sort, clean and distribute these items, which diverts limited resources away from helping those most affected. In the days ahead, we will continue to coordinate with local officials and community partners to determine how we can best support the Surfside community during this time of need.
This is a difficult time for everyone affected and it’s important for people to connect with and support each other. The Red Cross offers the following tips to help people stay strong:
Children can also be affected by tragedies and, just like adults, their reactions can vary. How a child reacts will depend on their age, previous experiences and how they typically cope with stress. Children may also react, in part, to what they see from the adults around them. When parents respond calmly and confidently, they can provide better support.
Parents should let children talk about their fears and reassure them about their safety, and talk with them in ways that they can easily understand, letting the child guide the conversation. Share details only when they ask about them, and limit exposure to news coverage of the event as children are especially vulnerable to stress reactions related to media.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/southflorida or visit us on Facebook or Twitter at @SFLRedCross.