lives. reporter: crews are now looking at the license plates of cars in the parking garage to try to determine who was in the building. the residents represented international and cultural mix. my brother, wife and children, two, six and nine. losing hope. overnight, president biden declared a federal emergency in florida making federal aid available and experts are studying the structure which was undergoing a 40-year certification and determine whether an investigation that could impact building codes is necessary. an attorney for the association of condo residents tells cnn has engineer had conducted an inspection to determine needed repairs but the only work that had started was on the roof. judy spiegle is among the missing. tonight, her husband ketch who was out of town at the time of collapse ander that three adult children are holding out hope. i have to be hopeful.
now we are learning more, of course, about the people who are unaccounted for. right now that number stands at 159. my colleague poppy harlow interviewed a woman named rachel spiegle, she told us about her mother judy spiegle. the last time that she had communication with her mother was on wednesday, hours before the collapse. and now it is a very moving text for this woman. she said that her mom found a dress, a princess dress for her daughter. take a listen. she wanted this dress and my mom found it onlineond it came back in my daughter s size which is a four and my mom bought it and that is the last that i have, at 9:00 something she bought the dress and she was so excited. and the dress is in the mail and i just want my mom to give it to her. my moms helps me a lot.