Erosion threatens condo building

SOUTH PALM BEACH, FL -- Waves batter a condo building's foundation and this isn't even high tide. South Palm Beach Mayor Marty Millar says, "Right now we have a serious situation."

It's a serious situation as erosion outside of the Imperial House worsens. The sandy support below the building is sucked into the ocean, walkways peel away from the building and just on the other side of a badly cracked wall is where Bonnie Fischer sleeps each night.

She and residents in 18 other units on the east side of the complex were asked to evacuate because of the danger the mayor says could be life threatening.  "Your life is more important than your apartment," Millar says.

Fischer didn't want to leave but with each splash of salt water that makes its way onto her porch, Fischer realizes it's time to pack, drags in the patio furniture and gets ready to evacuate.

She says, "It just brings back memories of 2 years ago."

Two years ago, erosion destroyed the building's retaining wall. Huge concrete blocks were put in as a temporary fix until a new wall could be built but that hasn't happened yet.

Despite homeowners' attempts to patch the problem with sandbags, they couldn't stop this sense of déjà vu.

Now, the emergency work begins. "We need to move ahead because this ocean is not giving up; Mother Nature is not going to give us a break," Millar says.

Meanwhile Fischer leaves her home of 33 years not knowing if it will be standing when she returns.

Millar says workers will be out starting Tuesday morning to put boulders along the building's south wall. He says it could be at least a week before residents can return to their homes.