On Monday, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett spoke out about meeting a girl praying for her missing parents near the scene of Thursday's apartment collapse.Video TranscriptCHARLES BURKETT : Last night I had toured-- this is purely personal. I had toured as usual the site. I usually visit the site three times per day: in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I met a little girl. She is about 11-12 years old.I knew this little girl from before. She was with her mom and we had spoken. She was with her dad, and I-- I don't know. She did mention that one of her parents lived in the building at the time it collapsed, while the other parent lives just a few blocks away. She said she travels back and forth.She was alone in a chair, staring at her phone, while no one was around, when I stumbled upon her. I approached her and asked, "So what are you doing?" Is it OK? She said yes. She said something. She was saying something that I didn't understand. It was a Jewish prayer. She was actually reading a Jewish prayer aloud, sitting by the spot where her parents are, presumably.That was what really made it all come home to me. This was her--and she wasn't even crying. She was lost. She was unsure of what to do, how to speak, and who to talk to. I looked for her at the family meeting this morning, but she wasn't there. But I will find her and tell her that we are all here to support her.It's still terrible. Although this is troubling, it is only one small example of the effects that this collapse has had upon our community. We are grateful.
