Surfside Building Collapse Tragedy

Dear Village of El Portal Residents,

As our hearts and prayers go out to those who have lost their lives in the Surfside Building Collapse Tragedy, we continue to hope and pray that those missing will be located and rescued soon.

The Village of El Portal has been in contact with the Town of Surfside, offering its full support. Mayor Nickerson, Manager Alou, Chief Magnusson, and Attorney Geller are in daily attendance of multiple Surfside-Focused, Miami-Dade County Emergency Management and Emergency Team Update Agency Meetings. Our El Portal Police Officers have answered the call for Multi-Agency Police Assistance, as they stand ready to help whenever and however needed. The Village Council and Village Administration have been in contact with organizations and elected officials from Surfside, Miami-Dade County, and the State of Florida, offering assistance.

As you know, this is an ongoing situation that is extremely fluid and subject to change day-by-day, and even hour-by-hour. Currently, they are still in an active search and rescue mission and are not yet in the recovery phase. Access to the site has been limited, due to the increased amount of heavy machinery and personnel, who are needed, to continue to search for, and rescue, those missing.

The Family Reunification Center is currently located at 9301 Collins Ave., but the Reunification Center will be moving soon, to a larger space. To mark a loved one or report them missing, please call 1-305-614-1819 or visit www.miamidade.gov/emergency.

A Champlain Towers Emergency Phone Line has been set up. For more information on the emergency, please call 1-305-993-1071.

Florida Blue, in partnership with New Directions Behavioral Health, is offering a free Bilingual Grief Counseling Hotline to anyone in need of emotional support following the building collapse in Surfside. The phone number is 1-833-848-1762.

If you know of anyone willing and able to help with Grief Counseling in the coming days, please have them email Michelle Theurer at michelle.theurer@miamidade.gov and Jessica Sandoval at jessica.sandoval@miamidade.gov.

The Town of Surfside wants to express its immense gratitude for those who wish to show support and donate. We have been told that, at the current moment, Surfside has received all of the food donations and volunteer support that they need. Those who would like to contribute and donate, the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Key Biscayne Community Foundation and Miami Foundation have set up an emergency fund, strictly for the Town of Surfside. To make a donation, please visit https://SupportSurfside.org.

While the Town of Surfside has stated that volunteers are not immediately needed, you can provide your information on their Volunteer Registration Form and someone will be in touch, if and when volunteers are needed.

We would like to thank all of the residents who reached out to offer their assistance, help, and support. Our Village is a Wonderful Community full of Wonderful Neighbors. You are all appreciated.

Thank You,

The Village of El Portal

500 NE 87th Street
El Portal, FL 33138​
1-305-795-7880
1-305-795-7876
1-305-795-7870
1-305-338-2730 (Mayor Omarr C. Nickerson’s Phone Number)