'It's a complete disaster': Sarasota County resident reacts to Hurricane Milton aftermath

Florida Homeowner’s Nightmare: “It’s Like One More Sucker Punch to the Face”

As Hurricane Nicole made landfall in Florida, many residents were forced to ride out the storm inside their homes, bracing themselves for the worst. Among them was Trenton, a long-time resident of Sarasota County, who experienced the devastating effects of the storm surge and flooding.

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Trenton, a commercial fisherman, joined us live tonight to share his harrowing account of the events. “The biggest issue was the storm surge,” he said. “My home flooded during Hurricane Ian, and now it’s flooded again. We’ve got sewage in the house – it’s a complete disaster.”

Trenton expressed his frustration and sense of helplessness, feeling that the frequency and intensity of storms are increasing out of control. “It’s like one more sucker punch to the face,” he lamented.

The aftermath of Hurricane Nicole has left Trenton’s home in shambles. The storm surge’s powerful waves were unforgiving, and the property was left severely damaged. “We got flooded with pine and sand, and then we put all our belongings that didn’t get flooded into a pod,” he recalled. “We couldn’t get enough stuff out in time, so the stuff we saved from Ian, which was a little bit of stuff, got flooded again – this time with a lot of dirty water, a lot of sludge, and it smells like sewage.”

The reality is daunting for Trenton and his wife, as they face the prospect of losing their beloved home. Under FEMA’s 50% rule, it appears they may not be eligible for repair assistance, and they lack sufficient insurance to rebuild or demolish the property. “I was going to ask you about that,” he said. “Insurance is a major problem for homeowners in the State of Florida. It’s gotten so high because of these hurricanes and other factors.”

As Trenton contemplates the future, he’s unsure where to turn. “We thought we were over-insured, but I’ve been talking to some builders, and it looks like we’re going to be possibly $250,000 short. That’s more money than we paid for the house when we bought it.” He’s worried about the potential implications on his fishing business, citing the need for a private dock to unload his catch, as regulations prohibit commercial fishing after 6 pm to 6 am.

As the community navigates the long and arduous process of recovery, Trenton’s story serves as a painful reminder of the devastating impact of natural disasters on daily life. We will continue to follow his story and offer support as he faces the challenges ahead.

suffered some losses due to the storms, he also expressed concerns about the future of his fishing business. “The fishing should still be there, it’s just fishing is a hard way to make a living,” he said.

As the community continues to recover from the aftermath of Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, we will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.

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