Island Park residents struggle to return home - FOX 35 News Orlando

Island Park residents struggle to return home

It's been nine weeks since Superstorm Sandy and Tina Silvers' Island Park home is still in shambles. She has been living in a hotel. The contents of her home are covered in mold in her backyard.

So far Tina has received a $10,000 advance from Allstate, and $5,000 from FEMA has helped to pay for a hotel. But now she's in limbo. She received another check from Allstate but she doesn't know how to use it because she doesn't know if her home can be fixed.

She says Allstate brought in a structural engineer on December 12. The engineer said a report would take two weeks. She is still waiting to hear back. She says her calls to Allstate and her homeowners insurance company have gone unreturned.

Fox 5 tried to contact Tina's homeowners insurance company but they had no comment. Fox 5 also called Allstate regarding the structural engineer report. Allstate said those reports can take 4 to 6 weeks. The claims department is looking into the matter and is hoping the silvers will hear something as soon as possible.

Tina's friend Catherine is dealing with similar paperwork and similar frustrations. Catherine says the mortgage companies and insurance companies aren't helping her. Catherine lives across town. She said she lost her whole first floor.

Since the storm, she has also been living in a hotel with her husband and 4-year-old son, who has special needs.

But FEMA is only offering assistance through Sunday. After that, she is on her own as are thousands in our area whose federal assistance runs out this weekend.