PORT ORANGE, Fla. — One Port Orange family is still reeling from the loss they suffered as Hurricane Milton flooded their entire home.

What You Need To Know

  • The Sweeney family had purchased their home in Port Orange just three weeks before Hurricane Milton swept through

  • The family of seven had to be rescued by the Port Orange Police Department

  • As they adapt to their new normal, the entire family is now living in an RV on their property, while they pile their destroyed belongings at the entrance of the house

  • The family got a visit from FEMA this week, and they are hoping they can get some help

It had only been three weeks since the Sweeney family bought their home in Port Orange when Hurricane Milton swept through. Sarah and Mike Sweeney, along with their five children, were just getting settled in the new house when they got flooded. 

“It was very hectic. Everything was still in our garage. And so, we were moving everything to the other two areas," Sarah said. "And it was very, very hectic with the five children. One of our children had to have surgery again, twice, and it’s just it’s been very hectic with five kids."

She said they realized they couldn’t get out as the water continued to rise. Because of the flooding, the family of seven had to be rescued by the Port Orange Police Department using kayaks.

“The water came in the garage around two or three in the morning, and then it came in the house around four … we were rescued like around two in the afternoon by the police,” Mike said.

It wasn’t until two days later that they could get back into the house, because they were also having issues with the sewer backing up.

“It didn’t recede enough until Saturday for us to actually go into it and come even on the property," Mike said. "It was literally like a pond around our entire house."

As they walked through the house, he said the extent of the damage was obvious.

“That was surreal to go back in the house after the water went away and to see, like, all these doors falling over and stuff,” Mike said.

At the house now, all the walls have been gutted and several fans stay on nonstop to dry everything out.

As for the kids, Sarah said it’s hard for them to see most of their belongings piled up by the entrance of the house.

“I think the saddest part was watching them trying to find their stuff in here,” Mike said. “When they walk by the pile … they’re like, 'Oh, we had to throw that away,' and this is really heartbreaking.”

As they adapt to their new normal, the entire family is now living in an RV on their property.

The Sweeneys said they’ve also felt the support from friends at their church who have shown up to help.

“The Sunday after it happened, our church, they canceled the normal services and they had everyone on congregation, like, go out to the families that have been affected by the storm,” Mike said.

More than 20 people come out to their house, including a friend who has shown up every day since the hurricane.

For now, Mike said they are focusing on small wins, like a newfound addition to the family, the turtle Alex, which turned up in the family’s property after the hurricane. Alex is now the new family pet, and their parents say he is helping the kids get through this stressful time.

“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time … I’m trying to make things feel most back to normal or like a routine as I can with the kids and us,” Mike said.

The family got a visit from FEMA this week and said they are hoping they can get some help.