DUNEDIN, Fla. — Some mobile home park residents say being without power since Hurricane Helene made landfall two months ago was inconvenient then.

However, now that temperatures are dipping into the 50s and 40s, they say the situation is dire as they continue to wait for power restoration.

What You Need To Know

  • The owners of mobile homes left without power after Hurricane Helene say they are struggling now that temperatures are dropping

  •  Dunedin resident Dan McCarthy says he is spending $45 a day on gas to fuel his generator

  •  Representatives of Duke Energy have told Spectrum News that power has been restored to all customers who can safely receive it

At some of the properties, the delay in restoring power involves electric boxes, which must be replaced and upgraded to code for power to be restored.

Each day, Dan McCarthy says it costs him $45 in gas to run his generator at his home at Sun Retreats in Dunedin.

“This is what is keeping us going,” McCarthy said.

Management at Sun Retreats say they are actively working to restore power by bringing electric boxes to code with guidance from their electrician, Pinellas County and Duke Energy.

Duke Energy previously told Spectrum News that all customers who are able to safely receive service have been restored.

“They have new posts in with electric to them now, the RV’s can plug right in, but being homeowners we have to get another permit and then hire an electrician,” McCarthy said.

He said this is one of countless tasks he has to complete in addition to the expenses needed to rebuild his home.

“Electricians are so busy because they are doing this everywhere, I guess," he said. "Once we get a permit, we might still be waiting to get an electrician to hook it up."

At Lantern RV Park in Hudson, residents are re-filling gallons of gas cans for their generators.

Many of the generators were provided by the park’s owner, who is also waiving rent for the moment.

Manager Elizabeth Moore said only six electric boxes in the park are left to be updated before power can be restored.

She said they have a permit and are working with an electrician but said the progress has been slow.

She’s concerned about the seniors living here.

“I have disabled people in this park,” she said. “I have women and children in this park that need milk, need to have clean clothes. Like we can't even wash clothes. Hardly nobody here has cars to get out of this park. It’s just is a big, big mess here.”

David Lambert, the general manager of Withlacoochee River Electric, visited the Lantern RV Park Monday to check on everything.

He told Spectrum News that the company has restored power to units that were approved by Pasco County.

However, there are safety concerns at the park that an electrician is looking into, which is why power has yet to be restored.

Residents who continue to use generators are being reminded to place them outside of the home while in use.

Duke Energy Lead Communications Manager Audrey Stasko shared the following statement with Spectrum News:

During Helene and Milton, many homes and businesses suffered damage to customer-owned equipment. In these situations, an electrician first makes repairs and then obtains verification from the local building inspection authority before power can be restored. We continue working very closely with the RV park owners and the local inspecting authority and our crews stand ready to respond when our customers are able to safely receive power. At this time, all customers who are able to safely receive service at this mobile home park, have been restored. We remain committed to rebuilding alongside the communities we serve.