Biden approves emergency declaration for Florida following building collapse

President Biden on Friday approved an emergency declaration for Florida and ordered federal aid to assist response efforts after a building collapse in Miami left at least 4 people dead and about 100 others unaccounted for.

The White House said in a statement that Biden had authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to “coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures.”

The declaration comes after the Champlain Towers South Condo partially collapsed at roughly 2 a.m. on Thursday, causing approximately 55 of the more than 130 units to tumble to the ground.

The Miami-Dade County mayor’s office told The Washington Post that the death toll had risen to four after previously confirming that one person had died. Thirty-five people were recovered from the building as of Thursday afternoon. 

Biden said Thursday that FEMA was assessing the situation on the ground, including whether people nearby needed food and shelter. However, he said it could not provide help unless DeSantis declared a state of emergency.

The governor declared the state of emergency Thursday night.

“I say to the people of Florida, whatever help you want that the federal government can provide, we are waiting, just ask us, we’ll be there,” Biden said.