TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It’s been four months since Hurricanes Helene and Milton slammed Tampa Bay.

Thousands of people were left picking up the tab, which for many is a small fortune.

But what does that really look like?

Meet Sherri Allen, a single woman living on her own income in Forest Hills, an area of Tampa in flood zone “X”.

Allen was blindsided by Hurricane Milton, and though she’s received about $16,000 from FEMA, she’s still in debt and wondering how she’s going to retire.

“I’m going to be 65 this year,” she said. “I started getting everything cleaned up in the house, so I could retire and not have debt.”

“Now, because replacing furniture and things, I’m now $30K in debt,” she said.

Down the street, Patti Branham said her home never stood a chance.

“We couldn’t even get back into the house for five days,” she explained. “It was flooded here for so long that by the time we got in, the mold was just coming out everywhere.”

If that’s you, and you still need help from FEMA, specialists will be available in-person in Tampa Bay from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day until Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“We are giving out mitigation ideas when it comes to preventing any further damage, say another storm is to come,” FEMA representative Brandon Cleveland said. “We’re also doing application status checks and things like that.”

“We have a flood insurance specialist with us as well,” he continued.

We got in touch with one of those specialists at the Tampa location Monday afternoon to get an answer to one of our most asked questions from the community.

“If someone got the infamous denial letter, what should they do next?” News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked.

“Anything from FEMA, you can appeal,” Cleveland responded. “Read the entire letter.”

“It will tell you what they’re looking for to continue the process,” he continued.