TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis released the following statement ahead of the two-year anniversary of the tragic Surfside condo collapse this Saturday, June 24, 2023.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “When I think about the Surfside building collapse, the first thing I think of are the 98 souls that were lost to tragedy in the blink of an eye. Two years later and I can still see the mound of rubble, hear the sounds of rescue dogs and equipment being used to remove debris, and feel the weight of the sun beating down on the rescue teams working against the clock to save as many lives as possible. It was truly hell on Earth. Yet, in all the chaos, I witnessed the hand of God working through the 400 brave men and women of Florida’s Urban Search & Rescue Teams as they battled fire, rain, and heat to give hope to the families and loved ones who had survived.

“These heroes worked day and night in what became the largest non-hurricane deployment of task force resources in the history of the state of Florida. I will never forget the worldwide effort made by our foreign allies to bring closure and healing to all the parents, brothers, sisters, and children who were left behind. We honor the 98 souls, their families, and all the heroes who proved to the world that faith, hope, and love still exist and can unite the hearts of many even in our most dark and desperate hours.”

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).