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‘We lost everything’: 55+ Osceola County community told they won’t return home anytime soon

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — For residents of the flooded Good Samaritan Village, the Osceola County sheriff has a message: “Nobody’s going to be home anytime soon.”

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High waters forced people out of their homes in the 55+ community.

The water is contaminated and smells of sewage, and is spilling into people’s homes. The sheriff said the water hasn’t gone down.

READ: Floodwaters continue to rise in Osceola County

On Tuesday, Sheriff Marcos Lopez and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody went out on a boat to see what people like Angel Irizairy have lost and experienced in Osceola County.

“We know it’s not safe, we know (the water is) rising,” Irizairy said. “All we want to know is what’s going to happen to us now that we have no place to live, now that we lost everything.”

Lopez said this is the worst he’s seen this area after a storm, adding, “I wouldn’t live here if they didn’t fix this.”

READ: Florida mother credits Publix employee for brightening daughter’s 3rd birthday after Hurricane Ian

Irizairy said the only plan he’s received is an email from the housing community, repeating that the water is high.

“All we want is answers,” he said, adding that finding a new home is not an option in this market. Now he’s living in his car.

READ: Hurricane Ian death toll continues to climb in Florida

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.