DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The City of Daytona Beach will vote Wednesday to decide whether a new home can be built for a family impacted by Hurricane Ian.
This project is part of the county’s Transform 386 Initiative, and the family involved is looking forward to it.
Since the 1960s, Ursula Scott and her mother, Geraldine Payton, have made many memories in their family home.
“I have fond memories of this place, you know, because I’ve been here for so long. I wish there was some way we could elevate the house so I can keep the house I’m living in, but what will be will be,” Payton said.
Geraldine is in the process of packing up her things.
“We’re labeling as we go, so it’s easier for her when it’s time to unpack,” Scott said.
Ursula Scott did her research and turned to Volusia County’s Transform 386 Initiative.
It helps people rebuild from Hurricane Ian.
The program aims to cover the cost of Geraldine’s new home. It also helps people get help with renovations, repairs or mobile home replacements.
“Once it’s done and we know that another hurricane is coming, we don’t have to worry about her evacuating or her being caught here in the floodwaters or losing everything again,” Scott said.
Geraldine documented what happened during Hurricane Ian.
“The house was gutted, the whole house. Even the floors, we had to get new floors,” Payton said.
Images show the scope of the damage inside and outside her home.
Blueprints show what Geraldine’s home looks like now and what it could look like after this work is done.
Her daughter looks forward to the future.
“As far as worrying about the same loss over and over again, that’s not the case. I highly recommend anyone look into it,” Scott said.
Hurricane season starts June 1.
If you would like more information on Transform 386, visit this link.
So far under the initiative:
• 17 homes have been completed
• 117 are in the construction phase
• 611 current active cases
• The city is still accepting applications for Hurricane Ian at this time
As of now, only people who have damage from Hurricane Ian can apply, but the county is looking for ways to help those impacted by Hurricane Milton.
If all goes according to plan, the family tells Spectrum News 13 it will take around 120 days to build that new home.