LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — Bill Van Riper said he thinks his daughter’s home could be salvaged if repairs can get underway.
“This house is just decaying by the week, by the day because of the exposure to the elements. Some of the roofing is gone,” he said.
The home on Willow Wisp Drive, which belonged to Van Riper’s daughter, her husband, and their two children, is now deemed unsafe.
Inches and inches of rain that fell during Hurricane Milton washed out the ground under and between their home and their next-door neighbor’s.
A sign on the door reads “unsafe,” “do not occupy” and “enter at your own risk.”
Van Riper, who reached out to 8 On Your Side because the family was not receiving any help, said the property insurer denied their claim.
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“What good is the insurance company if something like this is not covered?” asked Van Riper.