Hurricane recovery darkens Christmas observance
LAKE WORTH, Fla. (AP) – For Thanksgiving, Annie Johnston, her grandson and some neighbors made green bean casserole and stuffing and ate outside by flashlight. They had the meager leftovers for the next three days. They had hoped that by Christmas – three months after back-to-back hurricanes hit – life would be easier, that power would be restored in their rundown circle of trailers and that they could have a present or two under a tree blinking with lights.
The days have only become harder for many poor families like Johnston’s, who are still struggling to recover from a lost job, a damaged home, the mounting expenses of replacing ruined clothes, food and furniture, or worse.
Across Florida, the recovery after this year’s unusually harsh hurricane season will take years. But the worst of it ended weeks ago for most Floridians. Insurance companies are helping those with damaged homes and businesses make repairs, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has brought help to others.
At the Tropical Trailer Gardens many tenants feel abandoned, although they have received some help from FEMA.
Johnston and her neighbors fear they will soon be homeless. Their landlord says fixing the electrical problems would be so expensive that he wants to bulldoze the place instead.
Sherry Henderson, 56, received $300 from FEMA, but like most of her neighbors, she spent it weeks ago on food and a few nights in a motel so she could have a hot shower. She has appealed for more aid. Her Social Security disability income is not enough to move on.
While some of her neighbors have had part of their power restored, Henderson has no power. Her septic system is backed up, so she goes to a neighbor’s trailer to use to the bathroom.
Fifteen tenants, many of who are disabled and on a fixed income, are suing the landlord, Wesley Cox, who they say carelessly patched up a faulty electrical system for the past decade. Most are withholding at least part of their $250 monthly rent until improvements are made. On Thursday, Cox issued written demands for the back rent – the first step toward evicting residents.
Cox said he could fix the problems himself, but the city is requiring him to hire a licensed electrical contractor and fining him $200 a day until he does.
Cox and his attorney, Bill Layton, said replacing the electrical system could cost more than $100,000 and require a bank loan. Cox called it “an impossibility” because the damaged property would not qualify.
But FEMA officials say the trailer park could be eligible for a low-interest loan from the Small Business Association, and tenants can apply again if they need more help.
—
On the Net:
Florida Hurricane Relief Fund: http://www.flahurricanefund.org