LARGO, Fla. — As many as two dozen families have been uprooted at a single apartment complex in Largo after floodwaters from then-Tropical Storm Debby inundated their units.
At the Winding Lane Apartments off Belcher Road, fire rescue workers performed dramatic water rescues during the storm.
Hours later, residents were allowed to return but many found apartment management had already been inside several of the units — ripping out drywall, doors, floorboards and more.
“I feel good because I'm alive,” Kelly McLaughlin, one of dozens in her apartment complex who saw several inches of water in their units said.
“I really don't have any idea what I'm going to do. I don't know where to start,” she said.
McLaughlin shared video and frightening images of just how quickly the water rose both inside her apartment and outside in the parking lot.
Cars were flooded. At least one firetruck was overcome by the rising water.
Small rescue boats had to be used to get people to higher ground.
“It came out of there,” McLaughlin said pointing to her living room wall. “And I'm looking, and I am like OK, OK, and then, wait a minute this isn't right. Up and up and up. To my knees.”
Like many, McLaughlin was still in shock. Grateful to be safe, but shaken by just how quickly her life has been turned upside down.
“Pictures, pictures that I love. Everything got wet," McLaughlin said. "As you can see. It's just sentimental things like everybody thinks it's not gonna happen, you know what I mean? You feel for people that it happens to. But you think — never me.”