BAKER — Stanley Lane residents are still assessing damage from the historic floods on April 29. Several truck and trailer loads of roadside debris have been taken to a local landfill, but several more piles remain.
In homes, health is a top concern.
"What we are doing now is trying to get (the house) clean, get all of the bacteria out and keep mold from growing (inside)," Kellye Gray said.
A foot of water ruined household furniture, interior walls and other items in the house that Pat Cyrus shares with her daughter, Kellye, son-in-law, George, and her two grandchildren.
The flooding also left two family vehicles inoperable; Kellye is now using a company-owned vehicle to commute.
The Grays are still going through flood-damaged storage sheds to see what is salvageable; family and friends have helped.
The couple could not estimate the total cost in flood damage, but whatever it is could have been offset by flood insurance. George said they didn't have it before the flood, but now he's reviewing policy options.
"Nobody out here has flood insurance," neighbor Michael Turman said. "Who would have thought you would need flood insurance out here?"
The neighborhood's properties average between 218 and 230 feet above sea level, according to Scott Henson, a stormwater division manager for Okaloosa County.
In addition to losing two beloved pet dogs, which drowned during the flooding, Turman estimates that the damage would cost around $30,000. His garage, including a couple of antique cars he renovated as a hobby, sustained enough damage to spur Turman to sign up for flood insurance.
"You (have to) be prepared for next time," he said. "This might be a once-in-a-50-year event, but it might not."
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker residents assess damage, consider flood insurance