‘10,000 Surfsides’: GEM founder, back from Venezuela, describes the devastation

Michael Capponi, president and founder of the biggest group sending U.S. aid to Venezuela after two devastating earthquakes, described the disaster zone that has claimed lives of nearly 5,000 people as “10,000 Surfsides.”

Read more Are Publix, Walmart, Chipotle, others impacted by lettuce recall? What they say

“This looks exactly like if you drove from First Street Miami Beach to like North Hollywood, and every other building or so looked like Surfside [after the condo collapse],” Capponi said of La Guaira, the hardest hit state on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.

Cappponi, who spoke to the Herald before a press conference at Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) headquarters in Doral on Friday, just spent 18 days in the South American country. He said he’s heard from engineers that as many as 10,000 buildings have collapsed. He plans to return on Tuesday.

“You have 10,000 Surfsides,” he told the Herald.

Capponi, 54, arrived in La Guaira with the first round of aid on Sunday June 27, three days after two earthquakes — 7.2 and 7.5 — struck the Caribbean coast of Venezuela just 39 seconds apart.

GEM has led relief operations in partnership with I Love Venezuela Foundation, Cáritas Venezuela, local authorities, and in coordination with the U.S. State Department.

Capponi said he thinks at least 500,000 people have been displaced and need help.

Despite the destruction and rubble choking off La Guaira, he said the people affected are grateful and hopeful. He said he was surprised that the people, even in Chavista neighborhoods, asked for pictures with U.S. Marines and even local police cheered when they arrived with help.

At the press conference, Capponi was joined by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who thanked the nearly 20,000 volunteers who’ve gone to help Venezuela.

Read more ‘10,000 Surfsides’: GEM founder, back from Venezuela, describes the devastation

“There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer,“ Collins said.

Capponi said the organization plans to expand its response. He also announced a Latin American headquarters in La Guaira and said GEM is committed long-term to supporting Venezuela in its recovery. GEM estimates it will serve at least 250,000 earthquake survivors over the coming months.

“Indefinitely,” he said when asked how long GEM would be in Venezuela. “Mark my words on it: We will be there all year, and the next year and the next year, with your support.”

The disaster relief organization has six warehouses designated for the Venezuelan response: the headquarters in Doral, three other local warehouses (two in Doral and one in Sweetwater) and two warehouses in La Guaira, the state hardest hit by the earthquakes.

“That’s five Costcos filled to the brim with aid for Venezuela,” Capponi said about the warehouses in South Florida. In total, 37 states have set up drop-off sites and are sending aid for Venezuela through GEM.

According to the organization, they have served 105,498 people as of Wednesday. Over 37,000 family necessity kits were distributed, more than 1,000 pallets of humanitarian aid have been mobilized and $6.5 million in aid delivered.

Capponi stressed the importance of donations. While GEM’s Doral headquarters accepts donations daily, there are other drop-off points throughout South Florida that are also accepting donations including Nu Stadium, Marlins Park, several Coral Gables fire houses, and local businesses. To find one near you visit www.gemdropoff.com.

To volunteer you can sign up for a time slot by visiting www.globalempowermentmission.org/volunteer/.

Read more Historic cottage site may sell to billionaire Ken Griffin as he buys out city block

This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 6:57 PM.