ORLANDO, Fla. – Residents are sifting through damage at an Orlando condo complex that saw dozens of rescues after Hurricane Ian.
A week after the storm hit, floodwater receded from Dockside at Ventura, but waterlogged belongings remain.
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Luis DeJesus lives in a first-floor unit that was overcome with water.
“The water rose so fast that I needed to escape my apartment,” DeJesus said. “The water came rushing to my waist when I opened the door.”
First responders rushed to the complex last week as the water was rising, rescuing 81 people before taking them to an emergency shelter.
Here’s video of some of the high water rescue this morning at the Dockside condo apartment in Orlando. At last check at least 81 people have been rescued. They are being taken to shelters. pic.twitter.com/07GcNoc2aX
— Jerry Askin (@JerryAskinNews6) September 29, 2022
“The wall has been broken because rescuers were here taking people out in boats,” DeJesus said. “I got so afraid, so scared that I was shaking all over because the water was (rising) so fast.”
In the days since, residents have been emptying out their units that have been ruined by water.
DeJesus said he’s been in contact with Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives and trying to figure out where he’s going to stay.
“I could probably rent on the second floor in one of the apartments. That is my plan A,” he said. “Plan B is to then start looking outside of this community.”
While neighbors have been turning to each other for support, DeJesus said he’s grateful for the help he’s received from the city as the entire community is working to recover.
“I have nothing but thanks from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “Without them, it would have been worse.”
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