HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — Hundreds of Hillsborough County residents who lived in non-flood zones are still looking for answers after their homes were destroyed following Hurricane Milton.

On Wednesday, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners voted in favor of launching an independent investigation alongside the city of Tampa.

What You Need To Know

  • Cinnamon Cove Apartments resident Adrian Aye says that after Hurricane Milton made landfall, he lost everything and is now displaced

  • Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp said what's most concerning is that these residents were not in an evacuation zone, and severe flooding was unexpected

  • Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners voted in favor of launching an independent investigation of Milton flooding alongside the city of Tampa.

  • District 4 Commissioner Christine Miller proposed forming a flood control Task Force with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which also passed

Cinnamon Cove Apartments resident Adrian Aye says that after Hurricane Milton made landfall, he lost everything and is now displaced.

“Everything was gone, everything. I have nothing to show for anything except the clothes on my back,” he said.

He and several tenants attended the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners meeting to ask questions.

“Water was not flowing. It was still, and I asked myself why?” he added.

Commissioners are also looking for answers.

Commissioner Pat Kemp said what was most concerning was that these residents were not in an evacuation zone.

“The residents were not aware of any danger they faced,” said Kemp.

Hillsborough County BOCC now plans to launch an independent investigation.

District 4 Commissioner Christine Miller proposed forming a flood control Task Force with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which also passed.

“I think it’s important the citizens that were very much affected, we have some farmers….we heard it talked about today, several generations. They have knowledge on water flows that would be helpful and also other key stakeholders. The Task Force is the important part. That is going to lead and allow everyone to have those voices at the table,“ said Miller.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation of Tampa Bay (PSL) has been advocating for displaced Cinnamon Cove tenants.

“They are basically being kicked out,” said PSL Tampa Bay Chair Ruth Beltran. “Tenants are being given the option of returning, but they are not being given an actual date outside of months. It could take months and they are not being reimbursed at this point for their prorated rate. My fear is that Hurricane Milton is being used as a way to displace working poor people. We know that the landlord will now have an opportunity to repair those units and rent them at a much higher rate two months from now. What will happen to the many people working-class, disabled, and elderly people who live at Cinnamon Cove? We know tenants are living in the streets. Many of them are living in their cars. Some of them go directly from their cars to their jobs,” Beltran added.

In addition to immediate resources, Aye says he wants accountability.

”We were told that our area wouldn’t be impacted in any kind of significant way. I was watching my entire life fall apart and I realized I need to voice these issues in a way that’s going to have more of an impact than me just sitting around and being upset about it,” he said.

Spectrum News contacted Cinnamon Cove management, who said they are not answering any questions at this time.