ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – We say “Getting Results” all the time, but this time we’re putting our skills to the test, finding and solving problems for our viewers in the same day.
It all started with a phone call — actually many phone calls.
That’s when News 6 anchor Matt Austin took a call from Brittany Wedgewood, a stay-at-home mom of three girls in Apopka. Her roof of her family’s mobile home was left severely damaged by Hurricane Milton.
“Thankfully we were in a hotel. The fire department actually told us we had to go. When we came back, my house was full of water. My hallway, my bathroom. The walls of my bathroom pretty much melted into my bathtub,” Wedgewood said.
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Her situation was worse than initially believed due to the fact that the roof was covered in a sheet of thick plastic which made it difficult for inspectors to see the extent of the damage.
That’s when News 6 called in Brian Farr of BFARR Contracting to assess the problem. After climbing onto the roof, Farr was able to stick his foot several inches into a hole.
“It’s got an aluminum roof deck that they just wrap around the rafters that are inside, and the rafters are a third of the size of what a rafter is allowed to be today,” Farr told News 6.
Farr managed to plug one hole near the roof to prevent other water damage, but recommended an engineer visit the home to get a better understanding of the damage.
During the storm, the Wedgewoods also lost power which left the food inside their fridge rotten.
For a family on food stamps (SNAP) and help from FEMA at least weeks away, this was yet another setback.
As BFARR looked into alternative options for the family’s roof, News 6 called in another favor.
Within hours of sharing the Wedgewoods’ story with Light Orlando, a team from the nonprofit came to the home with boxes of groceries.
The delivery packed their fridge with fresh fruits, vegetables and snacks.
Wedgewood told News 6 she didn’t think help would come for someone like her.
“Before this, I did not think I was a somebody — that anyone cared,” Wedgewood said.
“How does it make you feel?” Matt asked.
“Hopeful, happy and I feel like somebody.
BFARR Contracting is looking into the possibility of helping her with a silicon roof which would cut down on costs and time.
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