PORT ORANGE, Fla. — Residents of the Colony in the Wood retirement community in Port Orange are looking for answers after experiencing major flooding during Hurricane Ian.

Phil Restino is praying their homes won’t be condemned because he said most people in this 55 and up community have nowhere else to turn. On Wednesday, city officials made clear that no homes have been condemned.

“It’s the water line. If you look at that water line down here, it is just enough to get on the floor,” explained Restino. “Of course, the water came under the floor.”

The 20-year resident of the mobile home park added that while he didn’t suffer significant damage, he couldn’t leave his home for days because the streets were flooded. 

According to Restino, some of his neighbors weren’t as lucky. He said that one neighbor turned over their home because there was too much damage.

“So you could see how just a few inches on these folks’ home if these floods were maybe 6 inches lower, they would still have their home,” said Restino.

Emails from the community manager to residents dated Sept. 26 read in part, “As a reminder, The community canal pumps WILL NOT prevent any retaining water. Our team will not operate the canal pumps during the storm. Once the worst of the storm passes we will begin pushing water out to the County B-19 field.”

After the storm passed through, the community manager sent out another email reading in part, “As previously mentioned the City of Port Orange has been coming around home to home requesting to look inside your home to determine if you have more than 50% damage than what your home is worth. If it is- they are marking it as being “Condemned.”

Restino believes it added to the confusion and fears over what will happen to their homes.

City of Port Orange officials told residents no homes had been condemned since Wednesday evening.

“We told a couple of people basically that it appears basically an unhealthy living situation and that we strongly urge you to find some there,” explained Tim Burman, the Community Development Director for the City of Port Orange. “We have not condemned anyone or told anyone that you are not able to go into your home.”

Residents who experienced damage and are looking to make improvements must apply for a building permit. At this time, the fee for a building permit is being waived.