‘Trying To Avoid A Florida’: Waukesha Condo Evacuated Due To ‘Imminent Threat Of Collapse’

A Wisconsin condo has been evacuated after authorities declared that there was an “imminent threat of collapse” for the building. 

Residents evacuated the six-story building in Waukesha, Wisconsin on Thursday evening following analysis by engineers that it was structurally unsound and might collapse soon. The order to evacuate Horizon West Condominium Building was by Fire Chief Steve Howard. 

One officer who aided in the evacuation noted that they took action to “avoid” the tragedy in Surfside, Florida, where nearly 100 people died after a 12-story condo building partially collapsed in the middle of the night. 

“We’re trying to avoid a Florida,” said Waukesha Police Lt. Kevin Rice, according to the Associated Press. 

The determination to evacuate on Thursday evening was based on “deteriorating structural conditions” found by independent evaluation, said the city. 

“According to an independent structural engineering report, the building is at an imminent threat of collapse due to compromised conditions of existing structural columns,” a Waukesha city Facebook post stated. 

The city also noted that there were 48 housing units in the building and that it would work with the Salvation Army to arrange for housing for those who had been displaced by the move.

“We understand the impact this has [on] the families that are being affected by this decision, but the public safety is of the utmost importance,” the city said. “We will have more detailed information for the media tomorrow, but tonight our priority is to notify each and every resident of the affected properties that they must immediately evacuate.”

“How much more can Waukesha take right now?” said community member Vanessa Terraza.

Six people were killed and dozens wounded in Waukesha’s Christmas parade where a suspect intentionally drove his vehicle into participants. One of those killed in the attack was eight-year-old Jackson Sparks.  

Another community member said that her father, who lived in the building was away at Bible study during the evacuation. 

“I don’t even know if he knows he isn’t going to have a home when he comes back from Bible study,” said Jacqueline Gonzales. “He’s got nothing right now.”

Earlier this summer, a condo in Florida collapsed leading to 98 deaths. 

“The collapse came as the building was undergoing its 40-year recertification, which likely meant steep assessments for condo owners to finance structural and other problems identified several years earlier,” ABC reported. 

Court action is expected this summer as families of those killed in the collapse are seeking damages saying that the building was structurally unsafe and constructed. 

The lawsuit alleges that the collapse was “preventable” and that the condo “was an older building in need of routine repairs and maintenance, but it was not until excavation and construction began on the luxury high-rise condominium project next door.”

“I’m not granting extensions or continuances. Not in this case,” said Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman. “Come next summer, we’re going to be picking a jury in this case. It’s not going to go beyond that.”

Officials are still investigating the collapse, and have not yet released a report.

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