Overview
- Officials evacuated 358 residents on Thursday after county inspectors reported signs of instability at the Rialto complex in Doctor Phillips.
- Fire crews documented cracks in walls and hallways and around fire escapes and doors, and they broke several doors to free trapped residents.
- A structural engineering firm entered the building at 7 a.m. Friday to determine damage severity, occupancy safety, and needed repairs.
- County authorities directed the property owner to retain a Florida-licensed engineer or architect for a comprehensive structural evaluation under maintenance codes.
- Residents were largely denied re-entry as agencies coordinated hotel lodging and pet recovery, with Rosen Hotels offering a distress rate for those displaced.