EASTPOINT, Fla. (WTXL) - Eastpoint families who lost everything three weeks ago in the Limerock Wildfire are still waiting to be accommodated with temporary housing.
The Franklin County Sheriffs Office purchased 6 permanent mobile homes using the money raised from the Eastpoint GoFundMe account which are currently awaiting zoning approval from the county surveyor.
Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith says the county isn't allowing him to give out the trailers until property owners have elevation certificates for the land. In order to get this certificate, a land surveyor needs to come and approve it.
Sheriff Smith says the county requiring elevation permits for the 6 permanent housing accomidations is out of his control. WTXL reached out to county officials to learn more about the permits and how much they will cost Eastpoint families. We are still waiting to hear back.
Once approved, these 6 permanent trailers will be distributed by the Sheriff's Office to the elderly first and then afterwards families with the largest amount of children.
However, behind the scenes, state agencies, county government, and Capital Area Community Action Agency Partners have also worked tirelessly to obtain 24 travel trailers in addition to the 6 permanent ones purchased by the Sheriff's Office.
These 24 temporary travel trailers are not under the Sheriff's purview and will not cost residents a dime.
The Franklin's Promise Coalition has paid for all power poles to be replaced with their donated funds. And FPC has arranged for a certified plumber to begin re-connecting water and sewer as soon as the travel trailers are in place.
FPC says that they are grateful for the many volunteers and agencies who have and still are putting in 10-12 hour days to get folks taken care of.
