SOUTH PASADENA, Fla. — Due to storm surge from Hurricane Helene, a South Pasadena apartment building for seniors had to shut down as the first floor flooded and power was knocked out.

Lutheran Residences in South Pasadena remains closed, and residents are still displaced. 

What You Need To Know

  • More than 160 residents need to find new homes after their apartment building shut down due to damage from Hurricane Helene 

  • The apartment's power grid was on the first floor and was destroyed by surging floodwaters 

  • Many residents are now in extended stay hotels covered by FEMA 

Management at the apartment estimates it could take six to ten months to restore power and make repairs.

However, residents are now allowed to enter the building and grab what they can carry of their belongings.

“Clothing, personal pictures — things like that,” resident Diane Ludwig said. “Everything else, furniture, dishes, that sort of stuff you have to leave up there.”

Some residents said they are staying at extended stay hotels that are covered by FEMA for up to six months. Others are staying with family.

Management said they are in the process of reimbursing rent for the month of October, as well as deposits. They are still assessing the damage and how to move forward with repairs.