As the new year begins, Treasure Island residents continue grappling with challenges left in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Months after the storms, many homeowners are still awaiting permits to repair their damaged properties, while others face an even more frustrating hurdle: inaccurate damage assessments.

Residents have raised concerns about substantial discrepancies in the evaluations, which have caused confusion and distress—especially among the elderly. Some homes that were never flooded have been flagged for demolition, while neighboring properties with similar damage received vastly different assessments.

“A very large amount of these letters are nowhere near accurate,” resident Chris Clark told Fox 13 News. “Two houses next to each other with the same amount of water—one gets a letter saying it’s 46% damaged, and the other says 98%. These people don’t know what to do; a lot of them are elderly.”

Clark also cited another example: “A homeowner on Sunshine Beach with four steps into their house and no water damage received a letter claiming 58% damage. There’s no rhyme or reason to these letters.”

Inadequate Inspections

The city hired a private company to conduct substantial damage evaluations, but residents allege the inspections were often incomplete. Some inspectors reportedly never entered homes, relying instead on exterior observations to determine damage levels.

City Leaders Respond

At a city commission meeting on Thursday, Mayor John Doctor acknowledged the community’s frustrations, stating, “The community is strong and resilient, but this is wearing on us. Three, four months—it begins to take a toll. People hoped the process would move faster. While it’s quicker than initially expected, it’s still not where they want it to be, nor where I’d like it to be. We need to get people back in their homes, and we’re now 97 days in.”

Residents continue to urge city officials to address the inaccuracies and expedite the recovery process so they can begin rebuilding their lives.

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(Image credit: Fox 13 News Tampa Bay)