Weeks after Hurricane Irma and the heavy rain that followed, some Palm Bay residents are still dealing with problems brought on by the storms.
- 50 blue tarps given out to residents Wednesday
- Palm Bay and United Way of Brevard partnered
- Palm Bay's Susan Dinkins waiting on insurance company, FEMA
Dozens of people waited inside Palm Bay City Hall Wednesday, each hoping to get their hands on a free blue tarp provided by the city.
"I came early around 8:30, second in line," said Susan Dinkins, who wasn't going to miss out on this latest giveaway.
A couple of weeks ago, blue tarps were gone within minutes, and she went home without one.
Dinkins needed a tarp badly because of the damage to her house. She and her great-grandson have been trying to deal with the problems as best they can.
"There is damage on the porch, the roof is leaking, the screen door was blown away," she said.
Dinkins also still has trees down, a crack in a wall and an ant infestation.
Right now, neither her insurance company nor FEMA have come out for an inspection.
Her persistence paid off Wednesday, as she was one of 50 people who got a tarp.
She said the best advice for those like her who are still struggling so many weeks after is: Take matters into your own hands.
Palm Bay and United Way of Brevard partnered in the tarp giveaway on Wednesday.