Condo residents forced to move out for up to a year during hurricane repairs [Video]

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Walking away from the home Jennifer McKown shares with her mother is tough.

“It’s home. The memories,” she said as she held back tears.

Her condo, like most in the Gardens at Beacon Square, took in water from Hurricane Helene’s storm surge. But she said the repairs shouldn’t force her to move out for as long as a year.

However, that’s just what the condo association is telling people here.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Mckown said.

In a letter to residents, attorneys for the condo association said flood water infiltration is dangerous, so remediation needs to start immediately. They said flood damage is covered by FEMA, which handles the cost of remediation and reconstruction but not damage to personal property.

People are now faced with finding somewhere else to live for six to twelve months and figuring out how to pay for it while still covering their mortgage, condo dues, and …