Reporters were told by Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Mayor. "We have them dealing with the news that their loved ones might not be out alive, and still hoping against hope that they will. They are learning that their loved ones might be resected as body parts. This information is too painful for anyone.
It was treacherous and deliberate. Thunderstorms struck the area Tuesday morning and debris fell from the damaged edge of the building that remains onto the search area over night. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett stated that rescuers were forced to draw a line at the search area and concentrate their efforts on the parts of the debris pile farther away from the structure.
The White House also announced Tuesday that President Joe Biden, and Jill Biden, first lady, would travel to Surfside on Wednesday.
Two more bodies were discovered Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed dead up to 11. This leaves 150 people unaccounted for in the just outside of Miami.
Families are often contacted by authorities to discuss their work and answer any questions. The mayor stated that they have discussed DNA matches and how next-of-kin will contact them. They also explained in detail how they search the mound.
Families can now make their own decisions based on this knowledge, she stated.
"Some people feel more optimistic than others, but we don't have the answers. We tell them the facts. She said, "We take them to the location." They have seen the operation. They now know how it works and are ready for the news.
Rescuers use bucket brigades, heavy machinery and heavy equipment to climb a precarious mountain of pulverized concrete and twisted steel that is made up of the remains of many homes. Search experts, sonar and radar-equipped search specialists are all part of the rescue effort.
Officials said that it is still a search and rescue operation. However, no one was found alive after Thursday's collapse.
The building's collapse in a pancake left layers upon layers of intertwined debris. It was difficult to reach anyone who might have survived in the small space.
Monday's news conference saw Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah say, "Every action has a reaction." "It's not a problem if we just attach a few cords to a boulder of concrete and lift it and call that a day." Some concrete pieces are smaller than basketballs and baseballs.
On Monday, over two dozen relatives watched as search teams excavated the building site from a nearby building. For support, some held on to each other. Others hugged each other and offered prayers. Others took photographs.
Authorities insist that they don't lose heart.
It is difficult to make the transition from search-and rescue work to a recovery operation, according to Dr. Joseph A. Barbera of George Washington University. He said that this decision is complicated and requires considerations that can only be made by those who are on the ground.
Barbera was the co-author of a study that examined disasters in which some people were able to survive for extended periods under rubble. Barbera has advised teams about where to find survivors and when to conclude that "the probability of continuing survival is very, very low."
