Heavy rain during the first weekend of November flooded Terry Polk's Fort Pierce home, leaving extensive damage two years after a Hurricane Milton tornado destroyed her previous home. Polk said she has flood insurance but is unsure whether her coverage will pay to fix everything.
Water rose to depths measured in feet inside the home as flooding swept through her block. Polk was inside when the water began rising. “We were actually in the house,” Polk said. “When we were wading around, like around knee-deep water, I started getting scared.”
Polk said she and others were rescued by kayaks and returned after the water receded. The flooding left ruined furniture and drywall, which piled up as debris in front of her home.
Two years ago, Polk lived in the Spanish Lakes community of St. Lucie County when Hurricane Milton spawned widespread tornadoes. An EF3 tornado struck the community, killing six people and destroying homes, including hers.
Her friend Cindy McGee described Polk as someone who helps those around her. “Terry is one of the most amazing people I've met,” McGee said. “She's very strong, does a lot for the community, a lot for the neighborhood.”
Facing another damaged home, Polk said she was thankful to have survived. “You know, to keep your focus, you just have to realize there are people out there that have it way worse. There are people out there that are so much worse, you know, and I have to be thankful that we got out with our lives,” she said.