May 18, 2013
Crawfordville, Florida- July 2, 2012
Citizens and officials gathered in Crawfordville to assess the damage left behind by Tropical Storm Debby. Many wondered if conditions were improving in the days following the storm.
"Well if you can call the water not rising any higher better, yes, but it's receding slowly in most areas, some areas it's staying steady," said commisioner Michael Stewart.
The board is confident that the local Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide individual assistance for flood victims, but they need federal permission in order to get public assistance.
Public assistance would include money to clear roadside debris. George Strickland's house on Seminole Lane and his neighbors in Sopchoppy all have debris in their yard. He's been working non-stop since the flooding to try and clean up.
"Well it's been very traumatic, very tiring. We would work from early in the morning 'til about 7 in the evening...take a bath have dinner and get back to it," said Strickland.
The water came up to the ceiling of his garage damaging much of the contents.
"Bed, mattress, I was able to save our washing machine, our dryer and freezer even though they were completely covered in water and floating," he said.
For now, his pile and many others will just sit outside until a resolution can be found
"I was told that even if they don't get a grant they would remove it someway somehow, how long that would take I don't know."
