Photo by: wtsp
Residents in Madeira Beach said they were still cleaning up after Hurricane Idalia when the area got flooded again over the weekend.
Many people in Madeira Beach are emptying their homes and assessing flooding damage after the impacts of a powerful Gulf storm over the weekend.
Some Madeira Beach residents explained they were still recovering from Hurricane Idalia, but now they have to deal with more damage.
One woman reached out to 10 Tampa Bay after running into dead ends as far as what they could do to receive funding for recovery efforts.
Madeira Beach Mayor Jim Rostek explained dozens of homes in the city were damaged in the storm and that city officials are in the process of tallying up how many homes were damaged.
Rostek said if he had to guess a rough estimate, he would assume 30 to 50 homes were damaged over the weekend. To know exactly how many, residents are encouraged to email city officials that way they can get a true number of how many homes were damaged.
With that information, Rostek said city officials will look to state and federal funding. This could be an avenue for residents as long as the city meets certain monetary requirements.
Next, 10 Tampa Bay asked Pinellas County officials if assistance was available. Pinellas County officials are asking people to report damage online by Dec. 22. With that information, county officials will submit the storm damage data to the state to see if there is funding to support local residents and businesses. Funding sources could include the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan program.
Pinellas County also mentioned the Salvation Army has cleanup kits available for residents and those can be requested by calling them at 727-446-4177.
Some residents expressed concern that no one has reached out to them or helped them navigate the aftermath of the storm.
“No one is telling us how to move forward or what’s available to us,” Madeira Beach resident Stacy Kay said.
Kay had her home damaged during Hurricane Idalia and was weeks away from finishing those renovations when the Gulf storm put those plans to a halt.
Kay said about 8 inches of water made it inside her home.
“I was woken up by my boyfriend saying we need to get out of here now. I had no shoes on, no clothes and two senior dogs. It came on so fast, it was so furious.”
Kay recalled being on the phone with 911 for almost 30 minutes. She said she was rescued and brought to a local 7-Eleven with her boyfriend and two dogs.
She now has nowhere to go as her house is unlivable from the flooding damage.
“They don’t give you a place to live,” Kay said. “I have no place to live. I lost everything and all of my contents now twice.”
She’s not alone.
A lot of people in her neighborhood sustained damage during Hurricane Idalia and many of them are dealing with flooding again.
“If you look around, all of these people are doing the same thing,” Kay said. “We are not even recovered. Now I find I am exactly in the same place as before. with absolutely nobody reaching out to me to say this is what we have available to you.”
FEMA officials told 10 Tampa Bay that residents and business owners with storm damage should report that to their insurance company and their local emergency management office. FEMA officials also explained those who have flood insurance should call to have an adjuster come out to assess the damage.
Officials said it’s important to document the damage for when it comes time to file a claim.
Experiencing flood damage can be devastating, but the team at Ovadia Law Group is here to support you through this challenging time. If you’ve suffered from flood damage, call us at 1-800-674-9396. Our dedicated team understands the hardships that come with such incidents. At Ovadia Law Group, we prioritize your well-being and will vigorously work to protect your rights. Whether it’s property damage, loss of valuables, or dealing with insurance claims, our experienced team of attorneys is ready to guide you through the legal complexities. Trust us to provide the support and assistance needed to navigate the aftermath of flood damage. Contact Ovadia Law Group today for expert legal guidance and representation following flood-related challenges.
Source: wtsp
