concerning the High Rise collapse in Florida

 Florida is known for people building on sand simply because most of Florida tends to be a lot of sand. Though you might not have earthquakes in Florida like you would in California, you have other problems like when you build on Sand this becomes problematic where water can undermine a sandy soil that a high rise is built upon. Since the engineers are saying this type of failure usually occurs in the foundation first (a pancake collapse) this is something to look at because it is likely that the sand was undermined by rain over the years too.

If you have ever stood in the water when the waves are coming in on the shore and just stood in one place as the water washes in and out over your bare feet in the water often you too are undermined by the waters taking sand out from under you and you might fall over if you keep standing there long enough too in one place. You standing in one place gives you an idea of what can occur over time from rains undermining the sand under a high rises in Florida and other places that don't usually get earthquakes. But, the undermining of the foundations is real over time too.