Weeks have passed since Hurricanes Helene and Milton unleashed their fury upon Fort Pierce, and residents like Alfred and Erin Ross are left grappling with a seemingly interminable aftermath. The storms, followed by an EF-3 tornado on October 9, have left families displaced and homes destroyed.

In a situation mirroring an ongoing battle for countless locals, the Ross family is fighting to receive adequate insurance help after their home was critically damaged by the tornado. In a recent interview with WPTV, Erin Ross recounted the harrowing experience of the storm and the subsequent struggle with their insurer, Florida's state-run Citizens Insurance. "I'm angry," said Erin Ross, as she detailed the insurance company's inadequate response to their claim. The family initially received $70,000 but found the amount insufficient when their home was declared structurally unsound.

Amid these personal crises, Governor Ron DeSantis announced an additional $7.8 million in funding from the Florida Disaster Fund to aid communities devastated by the recent extreme weather events. However, the aid seems to be trickling in slowly. Reporting by WPBF highlighted the widespread frustration as residents, like those in the Spanish Lakes community, continue to wait for much-needed support, with many having to seek temporary shelters like hotels.

People in need of assistance have been directed to the Hope Florida Hotline for further information. Yet, as both insurance and government aid lag, the weight of the storms' impacts bears heavily on families who are struggling to move forward. "We just need to be able to move forward," Alfred Ross told WPTV.