As of this evening, at least 18 people are dead and 145 people are unaccounted for after a residential building partially collapsed in Surfside, Florida, last Thursday. Search and rescue teams continue to be deployed to assist in the rescue efforts. The cause of the collapse is still unknown.

AAFD members Joe Garrison and Joe Janosko have been deployed as rescue specialists with the Ohio USAR Task Force 1. OH-TF1 left shortly after 8 p.m. after being deployed Wednesday afternoon. We all are certainly proud of their contributions and wish them a safe return.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy along with the first responders and search and rescue teams.