
'This is a moment like Katrina and like Andrew': Surfside condo collapse raises questions beyond South Florida
CNN
A Florida condominium's deadly collapse could force stunned engineers and architects, homeowners associations and local officials to address questions about whether they've done enough to maintain other decades-old buildings -- and who should foot the bill for more frequent inspections and improvements.
"I don't think anyone in the structural engineering community saw this type of tragedy coming. I think all of us are reeling from it, and saying, 'Wow, there is definitely something to be learned here,'" said Anne Cope, the chief engineer for the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. "This is a moment like Katrina and like Andrew, where we are going to learn something and make changes." South Florida's building codes, experts said, are among the nation's strongest -- designed to keep residents safe from hurricanes. The state implemented mandatory codes after Hurricane Andrew ripped homes from their foundations and left 65 dead in 1992, and some counties have added more stringent requirements.More Related News