Family faces mounting challenges as seawall crumbles following Hurricane Ian
By Carlos Garcia
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CAPE CORAL, Florida (WBBH) — A Cape Coral family is grappling with the emotional and financial toll of repairing their home’s seawall, which has been collapsing since Hurricane Ian struck in 2022.
“You have to have the money to be able to fix it. And if you don’t, then you’re kind of screwed,” said Marsha Berg.
Berg’s 88-year-old mother, Lois, has lived in the home on Southeast 13th Terrace for nearly 30 years. After Lois’ husband passed away, Marsha and her disabled-veteran husband moved in to help care for her.
When Hurricane Ian hit, the storm caused significant damage, including black mold, which forced the family to leave their home for a year and incur expenses for temporary living arrangements.
“At one time we had tried to get, you know, stones to put it in there, but they ended up washing it away,” Berg said.
Now back in their home, the family is working to pay off their debt while facing rising repair costs. The seawall behind their property has massive holes, the ground is caving in, and their deck is on the verge of collapsing.
“Not just the cost, the physical even, for us to try like to get it in the back of a truck or whatever, we can’t physically,” Berg said.
The family says their homeowner’s insurance does not cover the damage, and the city cannot assist because the seawall is on private property.
“The homeowner’s insurance does not cover that. So, we are kind of in the situation of how do you fix it then?” Berg said.
Adding to the challenges, Marsha recently underwent a liver transplant, and her husband has limited physical ability, all while she continues to care for her elderly mother.
“She won’t leave. It’s her home. And I, I have to do it for her,” Berg said.
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