SURFSIDE STRONG

• At the Surfside Community Center, the welcome to all visitors is genuine and gracious. "Eat, eat," they say. "We have plenty of food," we have been cooking all night. Mothers, daughters and friends, many from the Jewish community and local church groups
• Some of the care team are professionals and come from other states, like the American Red Cross mental health co-ordinator who travelled from North Caroline and has taken her counselling skills to disasters all over the country including 911, the Paradise fires in California last year and earthquakes in Haiti. "Try not to watch the news too much, " she advises, "this tragedy is casting a very deep sadness over people everywhere." Miami Dade police officer, Grace, is one of the team of dog handlers who brought along therapy dogs to offer comfort. "Jeepers here, a beautiful black dashund brings a smile to the saddest face and everyone noticeably relaxes as they stroke her."