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, recovery operations are still ongoing; however, a substantial number of individuals are still unaccounted for; and

WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County recognizes the extreme potential for significant loss of life; and

WHEREAS, active management of the disaster material and debris at 8777 Collins Avenue mitigates and minimizes threats to the health and safety of residents who live immediately adjacent to that property; and

WHEREAS, absent ongoing active management, the existing material and debris at 8777 Collins Avenue poses an imminent threat to the health and safety of the residents who live immediately adjacent to that property, as such material and debris may include hazardous organic and inorganic materials, and also generates harmful airborne particulates and odors; and

WHEREAS, absent ongoing active management, the existing material and debris at 8777 Collins Avenue poses an imminent threat to the health and safety of residents who live immediately adjacent to that property, as such materials and debris pose a fire threat, and in fact have intermittently caught fire after the collapse; and

WHEREAS, absent ongoing active management, the existing material and debris at 8777 Collins Avenue poses an imminent threat to the health and safety of residents who live immediately adjacent to the property, as loose materials and debris may become windborne projectiles in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane; and

WHEREAS, absent ongoing active management, the material and debris at 8777 Collins Avenue may become unstable and shift, posing additional logistical challenges and safety risks; and

WHEREAS, jurisdiction over 8777 Collins Avenue remains with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department as it continues ongoing recovery efforts; and

WHERAS, the Miami-Dade Police Department has also asserted jurisdiction over the property at 8777 Collins Avenue as a potential crime scene and to preserve the evidentiary value of such material; and

WHEREAS, section 252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes and Chapter 8B of the Code of Miami-Dade County authorizes the Mayor to extend the Local State of Emergency; and

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 July 8, 2021, that will continue in effect for seven (7) days if not cancelled before that period of time. This Local State of Emergency includes all of Miami-Dade County. Concurrent with this Declaration, I renew all existing Miami-Dade County Emergency Orders, including the authority to take the actions set forth in those Emergency Orders, for the duration of this Declaration