Hurricane Helene leaves many families without homes

TAMPA, FL – Hurricane Helene has turned the lives of many people upside down and they don’t even know where they will sleep for the next few weeks.

Some are turning to hotels and Airbnbs. A South Tampa family plans to live in an RV parked in their driveway while they wait for their home to be repaired.

“When we decided to evacuate the house, the water on the sidewalk was up to my waist. We put our 16-year-old dog and cat in a wheelbarrow and my husband let them down into the street,” resident Kat Robinson said Malone.

TO READ: Hurricane Helene: ‘Heartbreaking’ destruction left on Anna Maria Island

Robinson-Malone has lived in her South Tampa home since 2011, but now she lives down the street with friends and is working on renovating the house.

“We don’t know if we can stay here or if this will continue to happen, and we don’t want to lose our family. I mean, that’s how we call each other in a friendly way because these are our people and it just sucks,” Robinson-Malone said.

Robinson-Malone lives about seven blocks from the bay. There were several inches of water in her home, which meant the flooring and water-damaged drywall had to be torn out. They plan to live in an RV in the driveway while the house is being repaired.

MORE: Pinellas residents on barrier islands return to ‘war zone’ after Hurricane Helene

Their reporter, Sophia Sanchez, said people in need of housing should contact their neighbors and be wary of scammers.

“This is where relationships are key. Find a great neighbor to help you use their computer, or ask them to help you look through resources. If there’s a little bit of forgiveness for employers right now, to give people a little bit of grace to maneuver, I think that’s essential,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said some of her displaced clients have had the most success finding temporary housing through Facebook. He also advises displaced homeowners to contact their realtors, as some agents are putting vacant homes on the market for displaced families in need.

TO READ: Oldsmar residents rally after Hurricane Helene

Meanwhile, when it comes to insurance claims, Sanchez said you should document everything with photos and keep a timeline of repairs made in case the insurance company has specific questions.

“Just making sure everything is ready. All supplies. And I’m a bit of a preparer, and I think a lot of people who live in this area must have that attitude, too,” Sanchez said.

We are also learning that transitional housing from FEMA will soon be available. Gov. Ron DeSantis mentioned he believes it will likely get approval. However, it is still unclear when and where it could open.

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