Rain Blamed For Lauderdale Lakes Apt. Roof Collapse

LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBS4) -A day after a heavy downpour left more than 100 people at a Lauderdale Lakes apartment complex nearly homeless, those living on the first and second floor were allowed back in, but only briefly.

On Saturday, those residents were allowed back into their apartments for 10 minutes to recover as much of their belongings as possible.

Residents in higher floors will have to wait before they are even allowed in to collect their belongings.

A mother of three expressed frustration and said she had been waiting since Saturday morning to enter her apartment.

"I don't have no money," she said. "I wasn't ready for this."

Other residents expressed frustration.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," said displaced resident Sharia Rhett. She told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that she four children and was worried about finding a place to live.

"I don't really have anyone who can help me right now," said Rhett, "and three of my children are very small."

"I was out of my apartment for a little while and when I came back there was water everywhere," said Rhett. "There was no way that we could live there. That was something else. I haven't seen anything like this for some time."

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that the problem was first noticed at 5 p.m. at a building at the Whispering Palms apartment complex at 4540 N.W. 36th St.

Jachles said it happened as some major roof repairs was going on. He said 64 units were affected. Fifty three of them were occupied.

Jachles said water poured through ceilings and light fixtures and outlets. A Building inspector from Lauderdale Lakes was notified and responded to the scene.

It's not know how long residents will be displaced. Jachles said the 3rd and 4th floors are totally uninhabitable.

"There was a major overhaul of the roof going on and unfortunately there was so much water coming down that workers could not keep the drains from being clogged up with debris," said Jachles.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue responded, helped residents and even took pictures of workers on the rooftop and released one photo showing some extensive damage inside an apartment.

The building's landlord is trying to find residents alternative lodging.

"I hope he can help my family," said Rhett. "We sure need it."