North Carolina chaplains provide emotional, spiritual care to those involved in Florida condo collapse recovery efforts

The frantic search for survivors in the Florida condo collapse continues on Thursday night. The search resumed earlier in the afternoon after President Joe Biden visited the site and pledged full support from the federal government.

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team from North Carolina has sent a team of chaplains to Surfside, Florida, to help with the rescue effort.

After traveling more than 700 miles, the three chaplains will provide emotional and spiritual care.

The chaplains have been at the site since last Friday.

"Emotions are high," described Michelle Gawlinski, with Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. "The families in the last few days have lost hope. They are looking for closure and have been expressing that."

Armed with their bibles and a smile, the chaplains said they are there to listen to grieving and be a constant presence.

"There is nothing we can really say. The words ... there are no words we tell them. We are praying for them and lifting them in prayer. We give them a touch on the shoulder or a smile," said Gawlinski.

Gawlinski said that touch was needed this week when families were driven on buses to the scene of the collapse. Then, searching had to pause due to concerns that the building may be shifting.

Once the search started back up, crews have worked around the clock to remove the rubble as family members hold out hope.

“They are disheartened. You can see how weary they are. How tired they are ,, a long eight days for those workers," said Gawlinski.

Gawlinski added that the chaplains are also praying for the first responders who are working as fast as they can to remove the rubble.

On Thursday, Biden said five more search and rescue teams have been added to the efforts.

The team of chaplains will return to North Carolina on Saturday.