Reflections on The Champlain Towers South, Surfside Building Collapse

Course overview

The Champlain Towers South Collapse in Surfside, Florida, claimed the lives of 98 residents and left traumatic loss, grief, and psychological sequelae in its wake. The initial crisis response involved practical, targeted efforts aimed at search and rescue, and providing psychological first aid for victims' families, witnesses, survivors, and community members. The long-term response consisted of grief counseling and trauma work. As the rescue and support efforts were implemented, and a unique "Surfside Collapse Community" emerged, key themes became clear and revealed intrinsic links between the first-responder/search and rescue and psychological strategies. Relevant psychodynamic concepts underpinned, and were observed, in the integrated strategy that was utilized. All this will be described as well as what was learned.