'Their Courage Will Not Be Forgotten': DeSantis Commemorates Surfside Condo Collapse

MIAMI, FL—Though the Surfside condominium that collapsed and killed 98 people was demolished mere days later, Governor Ron DeSantis made sure that the tragedy's memory does not meet a similar fate...nor will it ever be repeated.

"Three years ago, we lost 98 lives in the Champlain Towers tragedy in Surfside," DeSantis posted on X. "Today, we continue to honor their legacy and pray for the families grieving their loved ones. May their memories always be a blessing. We also honor the hundreds of first responders who worked around the clock in unimaginable conditions for days following the tragedy,"

"Their courage will not be forgotten," he continued.

Just after 1 A.M. on June 24, 2021, the 12-story beachfront condominium Champlain Towers South came crashing down, killing 98 and injuring 11 more. The building was demolished ten days later.

Now, it's been three years, going down as the third-largest non-weather-related death event in Florida history.

When Champlain Towers South collapsed, it was in the preliminary stages of its "40-year inspection", required for older, coastline buildings. According to CBS News Miami's public records request, the condo had severe concrete issues—including cracks and missing pieces—three years before the collapse.

After this reveal, engineers and architects insisted that Florida needed to replace its 40-year inspection rule with a 20-year safety review with follow-ups every 7 years, they argued. So the state Legislature got to work.

In February 2022, they passed HB 7069, which required coastline buildings to undergo an initial inspection 25 years after occupancy and all other buildings after 30 years. The following year, the law was revised to require buildings to be reviewed every 10 years after their initial inspections.

In May 2022, the controversial SB 4D was signed into law, mandating more money be stored for potential condo repairment necessities. Critics, however, argue this law means many—especially retirees on fixed incomes—will have trouble affording their homes.