While first responders search for victims in the rubble of the collapsed pedestrian bridge on the FIU campus, families wait.
“These are people who can’t find their loved ones who think that they might be there," said Grace Meinhofer, of the American Red Cross.
Families are waiting for news at the American Red Cross’ family assistance center set up in an FIU building. They're able to receive counseling and services there.
“Hopefully waiting to hear good news and if not, they’re just waiting to see what the authorities have to say," Meinhofer said.
The death toll was at six people Friday morning. The rescue effort changed to a recovery mission late Thursday night.
"Our mental health professionals are there to support them, to guide them, to listen to them to help them cope with what they’re going through right now," Meinhofer said.
While families wait to hear about their loved ones, everyone wants to know what caused the recently-installed bridge to collapse.
“Something here went wrong," said Congressman Carlos Curbelo. "I would like to believe that this new design, this new technology is not the culprit. That there was some other variable.”
The NTSB is out at the scene investigating.
“Something here went wrong," Congressman Carlos Curbelo said. "I would like to believe that this new design, this new technology is not the culprit. That there was some other variable.”
The Miami-Dade mayor has said a stress test was underway Thursday. Senator Marco Rubio tweeted about cables being tightened.
However, that hasn't been confirmed as the definitive reason behind the collapse.
"The officials who I met with just now have no information that would confirm that," Congressman Curbelo said.
A small makeshift memorial has started on a sidewalk near the scene. The American Red Cross is looking for somewhere specific to guide people to put down flowers and pay their respects.
Cape Coral Fire Department Chaplain Bob Ossler drove four hours Friday morning to do that. He hung up small crosses near the scene, the same kind of crosses as the ones he put up on a fence near Stoneman Douglas High School the day after the shooting there.
“I try to be a presence to be there to just pray or lean on or cry with them," Ossler said.