Hurricane victim finally gets federal assistance

Vernon Vanduyne fights for weeks to get FEMA help

HOLLY HILL, Fla. – A man whose home was split in two by a tree knocked down by Hurricane Matthew has finally gotten some results, after a six-week wait for federal assistance.

News 6 first reported the dangerous situation days after the storm passed through Central Florida.

Vernon Vanduyne said a giant tree slowly started crushing his home as the storm sent heavy winds blowing through Holly Hill.

He said he thought the Federal Emergency Management Agency would see his home and all of his possessions were not salvageable as he slept in a tent in his front yard.

Three weeks later, he said, FEMA only offered him $8,600 because the agency didn't think it was destroyed.

"That angered and frustrated me," Vanduyne said. "I wanted to yell and scream and call the president. Anybody and everybody. Tell me this ain't a disaster."

News 6 contacted FEMA, and within days, another inspector was sent to take a look at Vanduyne's home.

He agreed his home was destroyed.

"I received the letter two days ago,” Vanduyne said. “They had maxed me out."

The letter stated he will receive a check for more than $33,000 to get rid of the tree that is still wedged in his house.

He said the house will be torn down.

Meantime, Vanduyne is still living in a tent in his front yard listening to the radio at night. He said he's waiting to see what the next chapter of his life will entail and what a new home may look like.

His family has set up a GoFundMe page.

Click here to learn more.


About the Author:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

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