Biden on Miami-area building collapse: 'There's nothing worse than having to wait and wonder what happened'

President Biden offered words of support to the families of those still missing following the partial collapse of a 12-story condominium in Surfside, Fla.

Video Transcript

JOE BIDEN: Before I sign, let me start with a few words about what's going on now in Florida, and the people who are here, who are part of what happened that night at the PULSE nightclub and the scores that I just spoke to a moment ago, they're online looking at this. They understand what it's like to have to wait and wonder what happened. I remember going down there to the PULSE nightclub afterwards, and wondering is it my son, my daughter, my husband, someone I love that who got lost because they didn't know for certain initially?

And as Congressman Cicilline knows, there's nothing worse than having to wait and wonder what happened. And I know, Val, when you were a police chief, you had to go through waiting a lot as well. And so, I just want to say I've spoken to Governor DeSantis, and we provided all the help that they have, they need. We sent the best people from FEMA down there.

We're going to stay with them with the disaster declaration we made, provide for everything from housing to God forbid whether there's a need for a moratoria for the bodies to be placed, everything in between.

But I just want to say, and I'm sure I speak for all the members of the Congress here today and all the survivors here that it's a tough, tough time. There's so many people waiting. Are they alive?

So our heart goes out to them, and I've spoken to Debbie Wasserman Schultz, I've spoken to most of the folks down there and authority, and I promise you, the administration, the Congressmen, are doing everything possible to be of assistance now and after this occurs after they decide exactly what the state of play is.