Apartment residents still displaced after flooding

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Many tenants at the Forest Creek apartments are now trying to piece their lives back together.

When a weekend of storms hit Pensacola June 8-10, unrelenting rain flooded streets, parking lots and buildings.

Sarquita McMillian was asleep in her bottom floor apartment.

She awoke to find it filling with water and had to escape with her five-year-old son.

“It’s rained plenty of times before but never like this. It really caught people off guard. It was out of control. We had to walk through the water to get to the front of the complex. It was waist high at that point,” said McMillian.

She says emergency responders in boats helped get victims to safety.

Now, all she can do is look at what’s left of her and her son’s home of two years. She said she was only able to save some clothing for about two weeks.

“Everything else is gone. My refrigerator was knocked over. My bed, table and couch were moved everywhere,” McMillian said.

McMillian’s story is, unfortunately, not exceptional here. Numerous bottom floor apartments were completely washed out.

But they haven’t been alone. The American Red Cross stepped up right after the floods hit, assisting in any way they could.

“This was one of those things like a tornado, where they don’t have a clue that it’ll happen, and they’re surprised,” said Patricia Gilliand with the American Red Cross.

Officials with the Red Cross say numbers of those needing assistance has gone down since June 8, but they’re still seeing dozens in need each day. They need donations to continue their work.

McMillian says she’s glad the Red Cross came out to help.

“Everyday they’re out here giving out hot dogs for the kids. They’re giving them something to do, bringing in dinners, cleaning supplies, bleach, and diapers. They’ve been really helpful,” McMillian said.

It's help that many here will continue to need until they’re back on their feet again.

Click here to donate to the Red Cross' efforts in Florida.