MIAMI — It has been 15 days since the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck in northern Venezuela.
Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins said she was proud of the Miami Department of Fire-Rescue’s response.
The U.S. State Department deployed 79 members of Florida Task Force 2 from June 27 to July 6.
“Within 24 hours, we got the call that we were deploying, and in three hours, we had to be on a plane at Homestead Air Force Base,” Miami Assistant Fire Chief Chris Diaz said.
The team searched through the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings in Venezuela’s coastal state of La Guaira, the hardest-hit area.
Higgins honored Fire Chief Robert Hevia, Diaz, and their teammates on Thursday at City Hall. They got a standing ovation.
“Risk a lot to save a lot, and there was a lot to save in Venezuela, so the team had to take some risks,” Hevia said. “We are very fortunate and very blessed that they all came back safely.”
Venezuelan officials reported the death toll was at 3,811, there were about 190 buildings destroyed, some 855 buildings damaged, and 18,000 people displaced.
More on Helping Venezuela
Related list: Aid for Venezuela drop-off locations in South Florida
- Faith-based nonprofit Mercy Chefs team arrives at Caracas
- A week after quakes, reports of hurdles abound
- Doral-based nonprofit GEM dispatches over $1 million in aid from community
- Inter Miami, Marlins, Dolphins join relief efforts
- NFL star joins Global Empowerment Mission’s team; his message to South Floridians, ‘Do what you can’
- More than 100 Venezuelans who were deported from the US hours before the earthquakes are missing
- Food for the Poor welcomes investments in reconstruction
- Physicians in Miami-Dade collect donations of medical supplies near Doral
- Meet Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. German Leal
- Pembroke Pines police officers announce collection drive
- Airbnb partners with nonprofit CADENA for emergency housing
- Hogar Bambi aims to protect vulnerable children
- Grey Bull Rescue Foundation team arrives at Caracas
- Officials close La Guaira, require volunteers to register in Caracas
- Amazon donates to Airlink to help charities with logistics
- Miami search-and-rescue team prepares to deploy
- Centro Comunitario AFE hosts collection drive in Miami-Dade
- Weston-based charity partners with local pharmacy
- Veteran-led Project DYNAMO delivers 20,000 pounds of aid in 1st 48 hours
- Altruism at El Arepazo feeds Global Empowerment Mission’s team effort
- Salvadoran rescuers work to free 15-year-old survivor in Caraballeda
- Food For The Poor packs disaster relief kits with ‘hopeful’ hand-written notes
- U.S. Southern Command focuses on airport damage
- State Department deploys Miami-Dade search-and-rescue team
- Miami Beach opens 4 new aid drop-off locations
- Miramar to keep 6 aid drop-off locations open 24/7
- Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
- Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
- Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
- Starlink offers free service through July 25, but a kit is $470
- International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
- Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
- Samaritan’s Purse focuses on ‘emergency field hospital’
- Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
- UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
- World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
- World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
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