August 7, 2024, WFLA-TV News Channel 8, Tampa – “My heart is broken for the thousands of people faced with the fact that they lived in a flood zone and they never anticipated this amount of water,” insurance expert Lisa Miller said. Miller, the former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner, said it’s a tough reminder for residents. “Florida is a flood zone,” Miller said. For those now faced with the situation, Miller advises consumers to file a claim immediately and ask their insurance company to expedite it. Miller said many of the claims would likely be denied due to people not having flood insurance. “Then keep your eye on the web for what’s called ‘FEMA Individual Assistance Help,’” Miller said. Miller estimates that FEMA assistance should open within the next week, but stresses that FEMA will only cover so much. “The maximum that FEMA will pay, and this is the very, very maximum after all kinds of hoops and hurdles, is somewhere in the mid $30,000 range. FEMA does not make people whole. FEMA will not rebuild your home,” Miller said. (Original story location, including video version: https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/manatee-county/everything-is-destroyed-manatee-county-residents-cleaning-up-from-devastating-floods/)
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – As of Wednesday, the damage toll in Manatee County was estimated at more than $12.5 million for residential property owners, and the amount is expected to rise.
County officials said they’re still assessing the damage left behind by Hurricane Debby.
In Bradenton, families were able to return home Wednesday after flooding forced them out of their homes.
Allison Hogue was throwing away everything soaked by floodwater and running fans nonstop to dry out her home on Logan Road.
“Everything is destroyed, everything on the floor line. We’ve got to rip out cabinets today. We’re really concerned about mold growing because of the humidity, it just grows so fast,” Hogue said.
Hogue is grateful to have flood insurance but admits the experience has been devastating.their homes.
“It’s hard. It’s hard emotionally, and also physically. We’ve been working sun up to sun down,” she said.
Others are in even worse situations, they’ve lost everything and they don’t have flood insurance to cover it.
“We have lived here since 2011, my neighbors have lived here since 1997, and we have never had floods. We are not in the flood zone, and a lot of us don’t have flood insurance,” Jill Sauchinitz, who lives in Lakewood Ranch, said.
“My heart is broken for the thousands of people faced with the fact that they lived in a flood zone and they never anticipated this amount of water,” insurance expert Lisa Miller said. Miller, the former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner, said it’s a tough reminder for residents.
“Florida is a flood zone,” Miller said.
For those now faced with the situation, Miller advises consumers to file a claim immediately and ask their insurance company to expedite it.
Miller said many of the claims would likely be denied due to people not having flood insurance.
“Then keep your eye on the web for what’s called ‘FEMA Individual Assistance Help,’” Miller said.
Miller estimates that FEMA assistance should open within the next week, but stresses that FEMA will only cover so much.
“The maximum that FEMA will pay, and this is the very, very maximum after all kinds of hoops and hurdles, is somewhere in the mid $30,000 range. FEMA does not make people whole. FEMA will not rebuild your home,” Miller said.
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