MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, chapter 8B of the Code of Miami-Dade County grants the County Mayor the authority to declare a Local State of Emergency and authorizes the County Mayor to issue and to take various actions to address such emergency; and
WHEREAS, in the early morning of June 24, 2021, a portion of the residential building located at 8777 Collins Avenue, known as Champlain Towers South, collapsed in on itself; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County first responders were immediately deployed to the area to aid in the search and rescue operation at the disaster site; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County recognizes the significant tragedy for the 98 victims who lost their lives in the collapse; and
WHEREAS, while the property at 8777 Collins Avenue (“the Collapse Site”) was turned over to the control of a Court-appointed receiver as of October 20, 2021, the Miami-Dade Police Department (“MDPD”) has continued to secure the materials being stored offsite; and
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2022, the National Institute of Standards and Technology informed MDPD that it was assuming custody and control effectively immediately and will maintain exclusive custody and control over all evidentiary debris; and
WHEREAS, the County’s investigation is still ongoing; and
WHEREAS, section 252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes, and chapter 8B of the Code of Miami-Dade County authorize the Mayor to extend the Local State of Emergency,
THEREFORE, as County Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I hereby extend the declaration of a Local State of Emergency for an additional period commencing on February 10, 2022, that will continue in effect for seven days if not cancelled at an earlier date. This Local State of Emergency includes all of Miami-Dade County. All existing Miami-Dade County Emergency Orders relating to the Collapse Site, including the authority to take the actions set forth in those Emergency Orders, are hereby renewed for the duration of this declaration.