DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Some residents in a Daytona Beach apartment complex said Hurricane Matthew left them trapped in their homes, and they're still stuck weeks later.
Residents, which include elderly handicapped people, living in the 13-story Maley Apartments have been without a working elevator since the hurricane hit nearly two weeks ago.
Some residents said the elevators went out the Thursday before Matthew hit, and now many of them have to walk up 12 flights of stairs to get to their apartment.
Officials said a lightning strike and water damage fried the circuits of both elevators.
Cathy Marsden lives on the 11th floor.
She has a bad back and can barely walk without a walker.
Marsden described what it's been like living at the complex since Matthew hit.
“It's been difficult. It takes me 45 minutes to get back up the stairs, then I am winded. I'm scared I am going to have a heart attack,” Marsden said.
The stairwells are warm and there is no air conditioning.
Some of the residents in the building put chairs on different parts of the stairwells in case someone gets winded.
It's hot in the stairwells and there is no air conditioning, luckily some of the residents here in the building have put up chairs for people to take a break when they get winded.
"It's terrible. I have to sit down here for a couple of hours before I can get enough courage and energy right to go back up the steps,” said resident Gloria Stone.
Several residents don't even bother leaving their apartment.
"They have just been stranded up there,” said resident Jim Juling.
There are about 168 steps that people have to walk up to get to the 12th floor.
"We have been conducting regular wellness checks on our residents and in most instances providing food,” said Dr. Anthony Woods, the executive director of the Daytona Beach Housing Authority.
Woods said he sent representatives to visit every floor, and gave residents several options, including staying at one of two local hotels until the elevators are repaired.
They can also transfer to another available housing authority property in Daytona Beach, or an available property with a neighboring agency.
Housing Authority officials said it will cost $125,000 to repair the elevators.
They hope to get the parts in to fix them within the next three weeks.
The Housing Authority is also assisting residents in registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure they are given an opportunity to receive any benefits available.
Cox Media Group