MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, section 252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes, gives authority to political subdivisions to declare and enact a Local State of Emergency for a period of up to seven days, thereby waiving the procedures and formalities otherwise required of the political subdivision by law; and

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 was turned over to the control of a Court-appointed receiver as of October 20, 2021, and the property sold on July 27, 2022, the Miami-Dade Police Department (“MDPD”) has continued to secure building materials stored offsite; and

WHEREAS, on January 28, 2022, the National Institute of Standards and Technology informed MDPD that it was assuming custody and control effective immediately and will maintain exclusive custody and control over all evidentiary debris; and

WHEREAS, the County’s investigation is still ongoing; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the requirements of section 8B-6 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, affidavits are on file with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners detailing the need for extending the declaration of Local State of Emergency for longer than 30 days; 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 May 18, 2023, 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.