Florida officials seek federal help with building collapse
Poll
Yes
SURFSIDE, Florida (AP) – Florida officials said Tuesday that they have requested help from the federal government as they near the end of their sixth day searching the rubble of a collapsed Florida condo building.
Kevin Guthries of the Florida Division of Emergency Management said his agency had requested an additional search and rescue team from the federal government, and that one would likely be coming from Virginia.
Guthries said state officials want to rotate some of their teams out, so that they’re on hand in case they have to deal with possible severe weather in the coming days.
Florida officials pledge multiple probes into condo collapse as death toll rises to 12
June 29, 2021 6:07 PM Associated Press
SURFSIDE, Florida (AP) Elected officials are vowing to conduct multiple investigations into the deadly collapse of an oceanfront Florida condo building.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Tuesday that she will pursue a grand jury investigation to examine factors that led to Thursday’s collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South building in Surfside.
The disaster killed at least 12 people and left 149 unaccounted for. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said she and her staff will meet with engineering, construction and geology experts, among others, to examine any issue related to building safety.
Florida officials pledge multiple probes into condo collapse - World News castanet.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from castanet.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Miami-Dade Mayor Levine Cava and State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle (Getty)
UPDATED, June 29, 10:40 p.m.: State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle will empanel a grand jury investigation to determine the cause of the fatal condo collapse in Surfside, as President Joe Biden plans a visit to the site.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced on Tuesday that Fernandez Rundle will ask a grand jury to look into the partial Champlain Towers South collapse. Separately, she said that Biden will be meeting with families of victims and first responders during his visit on Thursday.
The grand jury move comes amid increased scrutiny over the condo association’s and Surfside’s actions tied to the building’s 40-year recertification, as well as damning reports and emails citing crucial repairs the 12-story building needed prior to the collapse.
Condo board boss warned of worsening damage before collapse
Weeks before a Florida condo building collapsed, the president of its board wrote that structural problems identified in a 2018 inspection had âgotten significantly worseâ and owners needed to pay a hefty price to get them fixed.
The April 9 âDear Neighborsâ 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 $15.5 million.
âA lot of this work could have been done or planned for in years gone by. But this is where we are now,â she wrote in the letter, which was confirmed to The Associated Press by a spokesman for the condo board.