FL- 12 Story Condo Partial Building Collapse, many still unaccounted for, Miami, 24 June 2021 #2

[KALI]

Goodbye wonderful innocent people and animals.
The world grieves for all of you ❤
Much love to All.

 

[SuziQ]

It does seem like their priorities were a little scrambled. Why work on the roof when the foundation of the building was the red flag? And worrying about parking when there was so much evidence of serious deterioration of the structural integrity of the building?

Somewhere along the way the roofing contractor said the roof was a priority because hurricane season was coming up. The bids for the rest of the work was to be submitted by July 7th. IMO that probably meant the work wasn't going to start till 2022.

 

[SouthAussie]

The two people who lived in Australia have been found.


The bodies of an Australian man and his wife are among the latest to be pulled from the rubble of a collapsed Florida apartment building, taking the official death toll to 28.
Miami-Dade police on Tuesday formally identified Ingrid and Tzvi Ainsworth as victims of the Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside, Florida.

After spending nearly 20 years living in Australia, the couple moved back to the US four years ago to be closer to some of their seven children and extended family.
The couple’s niece, Devorah Leah Phillips, described her aunt as very loving.
“She fills up everyone’s buckets with an abundance of love and compliments that there is no space for negativity,” Ms Phillips said in an Instagram post last week.

Two Australians have been found in the wreckage

 

[sds71]

Julieta Apfelbaum broke down before the photo of her neighbor’s smiling daughter.

At the growing memorial of the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Apfelbaum on Monday night mourned the loss of Graciela Cattarossi and the three generations of her family who are still missing. Apfelbaum also lived in the building — but made it out alive.

“I saved my life,” she said in Spanish. “I lost everything. My house, my belongings. I had my house full of things. I lost everything. I have nothing now.”

In the early morning of June 24, Apfelbaum said she awoke to what she felt was an earthquake. Lights wouldn’t turn on and neither would water. The hallway was dark.

She added that she ran to the balcony and a neighbor told her that the building next to them collapsed. The neighbor told her the elevator wasn’t working and the stairs were broken.

Apfelbaum changed into a shirt and grabbed her purse. She waved at first responders, who rescued her off her balcony…

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/lo...ami-beach/article252588043.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Skigh]

Rescuers at demolished Surfside condo battle strong winds at Tropical Storm Elsa bears down Florida | Daily Mail Online

 

[nhmemorymaker]

What I am wondering is - because the owners had (at least in April, if not before as well) become aware of the extensive concrete deterioration - why interim measures were not taken.

I watch (house) reno shows a lot. Often jacks, temporary supports, are put in to support a building while walls are taken down and supporting beams are added.

Surely some equivalent temporary measure could have been taken? Until the proper repairs were undertaken.
It seems to me that such temporary measures would have had to be used anyway, while the supports were being worked on.

I think that that one issue of unwillingness to close the pool area was one of great consequence.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

On the surface, that seems logical. However, the true depth of the deterioration, even in April would have required a mandatory evacuation. I believe that because the inspectors quickly looked at other condo structures in the vicinity and promptly evacuated everyone this week. The Dolphin Towers history here and this collapse has everyone on their toes. Nobody wants to be blamed and have another collapse. Everyone up the food chain is paying attention now. They're all in deep dooty for not doing their jobs in the past and they know it. The proverbial poop has hit the fan. People lost their lives as a result. Unbearably painful to be an observer to this tragedy. It makes me sad but also mad.

This feels like such a universal truth right now. Thus I am requoting!
Unbearably painful to be an observer to this tragedy. It makes me sad but also mad.

What I have really thought about is the fact that "condos and condo living" is really a rather recent phenomenon.... From the 70s forward really. Think of all those repairs that have not been done given they are the collective responsibility of "people", not a corporation. Money talks, and this catastrophe is going to lead us into to great turbulence.

And when you couple this with all the alarming climate information --so specifically affecting the Florida coastline...

Will Florida be lost forever to the climate crisis?

Ground Temps Reached 118°F In The Arctic Circle Yesterday


Is there such a thing as "the future"?? I kindof feel we just live by "lets just erase it all away", and move on"

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I've realized that belonging to WS has opened me up to some questionable searches regarding murder, spouses, insurance and contracts.

ha ha!! It IS a great picture!!!

 

[TootsieFootsie]

We might be in trouble if someone close to us goes missing or is murdered

ha ha!! It IS a great picture!!!

 

[drama_farmer]

We might be in trouble if someone close to us goes missing or is murdered

It's the equivalent of the 19th century dying instruction of "burn all my letters" lol

 

[nhmemorymaker]

My family was vacationing in some northeastern states above CT and there are some cities and towns that have a moratorium on building beachfront properties such as multilevel homes, businesses and condos. This is not based on obstructing views but more on maintaining coastline habitat, and saving the ecosystem.

I am on a barrier island. In Florida. And this is what our county has done, just recently. They LOWERED the maximum height at a commissioners meeting, and so beachfront is 45" and off beach is 35". And it was primarily to protect the eco system as well.

There are 5 commissioners, and the vote was 3 to 2.
We are often astounded to how big decisions about our future and our welfare comes down to one single human vote.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

@JaimeInLA
Thank you for posting your friend's first-hand account.

I had thought that the smell must be awful there, which of course we can't glean through watching the news. Of course the stench of death, but I hadn't thought of the rotting food, etc.

These searchers---my admiration knows no bounds. What they see and hear and smell and endure, yet they carry on ceaselessly. This despite the very real risk to their own lives.

IMO the Israeli team is the best of the best, probably in the entire world. Their 3-D modeling techniques are superb, their depth of knowledge in how to approach this hideous task is unrivaled, they show utter professionalism and compassion in every phase of what they have to do. They have shown up in so many places in the world with similar disasters. I didn't know that they had also catalogued the artifacts for the families. God bless them and all those who are searching in this madness.

As poignant as it was to watch the remaining tower be demolished, and such a devastation to the safe families who lived there, hopefully it opens up avenues to find each and every missing person. I know there will be a lot of body parts, and it had to be done to find everyone who is missing and presumed dead.

So many tragedies in the past have led to enormous changes in how we live our lives. Hopefully, this one will lead to real and lasting change in infrastructure. No one else should ever tumble from their beds straight to their death.

Thank you for posting more clarification of what the Israeli team does. I have known of their expertise, but you have provided much more clarity.

 

[ilovewings]

Goodbye wonderful innocent people and animals.
The world grieves for all of you ❤
Much love to All.

Beautifully said Kali---

 

[SouthAussie]

“No one ever asked about a 40-year recertification before,” Ines Hegedus-Garcia, a real estate agent with Avanti Way Realty in South Florida, said of the process of assessing the structural condition of buildings constructed decades ago. “Nobody ever did that, but buyers are now asking for that.”

Cordelia Anderson, a Miami real estate agent, said five clients who had been looking at units in older condo buildings asked for hefty discounts after the collapse, or abandoned the coast altogether and instead wanted to search farther inland.

‘Should we sell?’: After the collapse, Florida’s hot real estate market faces uncertainty.

 

[sds71]

@fguzmanon7

Surfside update: 32 now confirmed dead. 113 remain unaccounted for, though
@MayorDaniella
cautions that detectives have only confirmed about 70 of them as having been in the building at the time.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Body of one Canadian found at site of Florida condo collapse; 3 still missing

 

[Chelly]

My family was vacationing in some northeastern states above CT and there are some cities and towns that have a moratorium on building beachfront properties such as multilevel homes, businesses and condos. This is not based on obstructing views but more on maintaining coastline habitat, and saving the ecosystem.

That is wonderful to know. Hope the entire east coast begins to follow this moratorium.

 

[IQuestion]

An April 9 "Dear Neighbours" letter from Champlain Towers South Condominium president Jean Wodnicki hinted at an ongoing debate over the repairs and a reluctance by some condo owners to pay for major work that would cost at least $US15.5 million.

"A lot of this work could have been done or planned for in years gone by. But this is where we are now," she wrote in the letter.

"Indeed the observable damage such as in the garage has gotten significantly worse since the initial inspection," she wrote. "The concrete deterioration is accelerating.

"It is impossible to know the extent of the damage to the underlying rebar until the concrete is opened up.

"Oftentimes the damage is more extensive than can be determined by inspection of the surface," she wrote.

She added, "I acknowledge that we are talking about a huge project and a very large assessment. The longer we wait, the higher the bids will be."

Miami apartment building owners warned weeks before collapse that problems had got 'significantly worse'

SouthAussie Words can be powerful and I wonder what if changing one word would have conveyed a more urgent situation? Would others have read this differently if the word DAMAGE was changed to DANGER.
Ie: The observable danger....
It is impossible to know the extent of the danger...
Oftentimes the danger is more extensive than can be determined by inspection of the surface....
Instead of imminent danger being emphasized, screaming to high heaven, the sky is falling (literally!) the plea to the residents is on how much more the repairs will cost if they delay.
If I was walking through the underground garage and saw small chunks of concrete on the ground or near my car....the last thing I would think is, "I hope they keep the swimming pool open."
Having use of a fricking swimming pool is soooo important? Why not negotiate (pay for) swimming pool privileges with their sister building CTN during repairs? I can read the intent, but it was 3 years too late. IMO

 

[dotr]

Remains of Canadian found at site of collapsed condo in Florida - CityNews Toronto
''Global Affairs Canada confirmed Tuesday morning that a Canadian citizen is among the 32 dead at the site in Surfside.

Another three Canadians remain unaccounted for and three different families have been affected by the collapse.

Statement from Global Affairs Canada:

“Canada sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends who lost a loved one in the building collapse in Surfside, Florida. Global Affairs Canada can confirm that the remains of one Canadian citizen were found at the site. At least three other Canadian citizens remain unaccounted for. Three different families have been affected by this tragedy.

Global Affairs says Canadian officials in Miami have been providing support to the family of the deceased and the families of the missing individuals.

“We stand ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens as necessary,” reads the statement. “We will also continue to liaise with local authorities in case they have any updates to provide on these Canadians and the situation more broadly.”

 

[Hope32]

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article252591303.html

10:13 a.m.: Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava officially announced at the Tuesday morning briefing that four more victims bodies had been recovered. The death toll is at 32 with 26 identified and the reports of people possibly unaccounted for number 113. Levine Cava said there are “only 70 we can confirm were in the building at the time of collapse.”