Faith and fear: Surfside community attempts to cope after building collapse

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As rescue teams dig for those missing in the building collapse in Surfside, Florida, family and friends continue to wait.

The community is surrounded by five nearby synagogues, and many members of the Jewish community are feared to be among the missing.

Rosh Lowe, a resident and former new reporter for the region, says community members are relying on their faith to cope.

Shannon Longworth

Shannon Longworth was an investigative reporter and anchor for Straight Arrow News from 2021 to 2023. She started her career on California’s central coast, then made her way back home working in the sprawling suburbs of New York City

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SHANNON: SHOCK AND TEARS AS A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER. RESCUE TEAMS CONTINUE TO DIG FOR MISSING FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE BUILDING COLLAPSE IN SURFSIDE, FLORIDA.

FOR NOW, ALL PEOPLE CAN DO IS WAIT AND BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

NOW, THE TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY IS SURROUNDED BY FIVE NEARBY SYNAGOGUES.

MANY MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY ARE FEARED TO BE AMONG THE 159 MISSING.

I SPOKE WITH ONE RESIDENT, ROSH LOWE, WHO MOVED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN 2002 TO LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE HE CAN SHARE HIS FAITH WITH THOSE AROUND HIM.

HE SAYS MANY OF THOSE IN SURFSIDE ARE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER THROUGH SPIRITUALITY.

ROSH LOWE: AT MOMENTS LIKE THIS OF GREAT TRAGEDY, WHICH THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THERE ARE NO ANSWERS. THERE’S NO LOGICAL SENSE OF THIS. BUT WHAT THERE IS IS THE ABILITY TO GO OUT THERE AND HELP SOMEONE. AND IT’S BEEN VERY BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THAT IN SURFSIDE–PEOPLE DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN JUST TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBOR.

SHANNON: LOWE SAYS HE’S SEEN THAT HELP MOSTLY LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE BRINGING FOOD TO THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND REALLY JUST SHOWING UP FOR EACH OTHER IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. HE SAYS IT’S ONLY GETTING MORE DIFFICULT AS MORE TIME PASSES AND LOVED ONES REMAIN MISSING.

LOWE: AS EVERY MOMENT PASSES, THE ANXIETY INCREASES BECAUSE, IF PEOPLE ARE BURIED UNDERNEATH THAT RUBBLE, WE KNOW THAT SECONDS ARE PRECIOUS.