ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — As recovery efforts continue in southwest Florida, many storm victims have left the area for safer shelter.

It's a hard life right now for Daniel Hoover and his father James. Although they escaped Hurricane Ian with their lives, they can't escape its aftermath.

“The roof is gone. The back porch, that’s gone,” Hoover said. The mobile home they lived in for the last seven years in North Port is in ruins.

Debris is everywhere — making it difficult to figure out what’s salvageable and what's not. Ever since the storm, the father and son have been seeking shelter in St. Petersburg.

They say the hotels close to home either have no vacancy or no ability to have them. Meantime, Hoover says hotels in St. Pete are quickly eating up the little money they have. 

“We were sun Ruskin and they were charging $170 a night and this one seems fair. It’s $500 for seven days,” Hoover said.

They’ve applied for FEMA assistance and even reached out to the Red Cross, but with so many people in need right now, it's been a hurry up and weight process. And that's weighing heavy on Hoover.

“I have faith. I’ve always had faith and I believe, but it’ just hard. I don’t know what to do or where to go.” Tough questions to answer, but Hoover says he keeps one thing in mind.

“Other people have had worse too, so I can’t complain.”