Wednesday was day one for the Pasco County Flood Recovery Center.
The doors at the flood recovery center opened at 11 a.m. to eager flood victims.
“I’m hoping to get some kind of a feel for how long this is going to last so I know if I’m kind of looking for a permanent place or if I’m going to get back in my home,” said Carol Rehberger of Bass Lake.
“We’re to the point of physical and mental exhaustion I don’t know what else to do,” said Rudolph Chuites.
Bay News 9 met Chuites Tuesday at his Bass Lake home. He still had about a foot of water inside.
We followed both Rehberger and Chuites through the process Wednesday. But what we were told from emergency management Tuesday wasn’t what we saw at the center the next day.
“If repair can be affected we’re going to help you get that repair conducted,” said Emergency Management Director, Annette Doying on Tuesday. “If you physically need to be relocated to a rental unit or into a new home, you owned a home, now you need a new home; we’re prepared to begin to assist you with that.”
“I am collecting this information, can I give you your home back the way it was? No,” said one of the people working there to Chuites.
“It seemed like it’s an intake service, no solutions just assessing the needs,” said Chuites.
“I didn’t get information, actually I gave information, where I live, the conditions of my home,” said Rehberger.
Bay News 9 spoke with one resident who said he did get some direction.
“I got the information I needed is what I got,” said Allen Falkman of Suncoast Gateway Mobile Home Park. “I’ve got phone numbers for in case I need help with stuff, the Red Cross gave me some information.”
So Bay News 9 went back to emergency management who told us the help with your home isn’t going to be immediate and residents have to meet strict criteria for community development funds.
“Whether or not they have a different pillow to lay their head on at a different address tonight, I suspect not, with the exception of perhaps being relocated through like hotel vouchers through one of the agencies that are here,” said Doying.
The county is also asking the governor for funds from the state housing initiative fund. It’s been told it can possibly get a max of $2 million.
Residents who come to the center can get other resources like supplies and help with insurance. The center is also allowing the county to better identify the needs of the community.
As time goes on the county says it will adjust what it has to offer to meet the needs of the residents.
The center, located at 7536 State Street in New Port Richey, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day and can be reached at (727) 847-8128.
Officials say the center will be open every day until it is no longer needed.