Family members and advocates say loved ones have been placed in facilities as far south as Englewood and as far north as New Port Richey, with medical records, wheelchairs and personal belongings still trapped inside the damaged building. George Mendez, who holds power of attorney for 93-year-old Alfred Perani, came to the facility Monday after repeated phone calls to Aviata Health Group went unanswered.
Perani, who has been a resident at Aviata at Bradenton Villas for three years, was evacuated to a facility in Palm Harbor. Mendez found an available bed at another facility in Bradenton to bring his friend closer to home but says he cannot complete the transfer without Perani's medical records.
In a joint statement released Monday, the City of Bradenton and Manatee County provided new details about why the Fire Marshal ordered the emergency evacuation. Officials say the partial roof collapse compromised multiple building systems essential to safe operation, including fire protection, electrical and air conditioning systems. Damage to critical support areas necessary for resident care, combined with the inability to safely complete a full structural assessment during the emergency, made it unsafe for residents to remain.
The emergency response involved the City of Bradenton Fire Department, Manatee County Public Safety and Emergency Medical Services, and multiple regional partners. All 157 residents were evacuated by approximately 4 a.m. Sunday.
The City of Bradenton is in charge of the building assessment. A city spokesperson confirmed that city officials and the Fire Marshal were on-site at Aviata Monday, along with flooding and restoration specialists. According to the joint statement, the property owner's structural engineer is responsible for evaluating the building, and any determination regarding the cause of the collapse will be based on that evaluation. The Agency for Health Care Administration is conducting site visits at the facilities where residents were relocated as part of its state regulatory oversight.