Deteriorated nails, believed to be from 1994, caused balcony collapse that killed Houston ‘PR Fairy’ Susan Farb Morris

Houston’s ‘PR Fairy’ Susan Farb Morris dies after balcony collapse in Galveston on Father’s Day weekend (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

Investigators are continuing their work to determine how a balcony collapsed in Galveston, leaving a notable Houstonian dead over the weekend.

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Susan Farb Morris, known as the PR Fairy, was killed tragically while on a balcony at a residence in Galveston while she and her family were enjoying the Father’s Day weekend.

Inspectors went out to the home on Tuesday and determined several factors that played a role in the structural collapse.

According to Kurt Koopmann with the City of Galveston, inspectors said that the deck was attached to a ledger. He said it appears that over time, the nails deteriorated and failed to hold the imposed weight, causing the attachment to collapse.

Koopmann said a tag on one of the joist boards was found with a date of 1994, indicating the balcony was built in 1994, the same time the house was built.

Previously, the city stated that the residence was private property and that there were no permits pulled there, meaning there was no reason for the city to inspect the property.

Funeral services for Morris were held on Monday, June 17 at the Barish Sanctuary at Congregation Emanu El.


About the Author

Moriah Ballard joined the KPRC 2 digital team in the fall of 2021. Prior to becoming a digital content producer in Southeast Texas and a Houstonian, Moriah was an award-winning radio host in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, and previously worked as a producer/content creator in Cleveland. Her faith, family, and community are her top passions.

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