A Florida woman is facing the heartbreaking loss of her childhood home after it was destroyed by flooding—just two years after a tornado demolished her previous property.
Terri Polk, of Fort Pierce, is once again trying to rebuild her life after flooding on November 2 severely damaged the home where she had been living after another natural disaster destroyed her earlier residence.
“I’m starting to feel like I’m invincible at this point,” Polk told WPTV.
Polk told the station that she was living in the Spanish Lakes community of St. Lucie two years ago when Hurricane Milton devastated parts of Florida.
WPTV reported that a tornado with winds estimated at between 136 and 165 mph struck Polk’s home during the Category 3 hurricane.
An analysis of tornado history data found that the storm “spawned 44 tornadoes across Florida in a single day, the largest single-day tornado count in state history, killing six people near Fort Pierce hours before landfall.”
Polk told WPBF that she later moved into her childhood home in Fort Pierce to care for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. The house was originally built by her parents and remains the “heart throb” of her family.
“My mother’s door has always been open to everyone in the family. This breaks your heart because I grew up in this house, I actually grew up here,” Polk told WPBF.
Terri Polk, a Fort Pierce resident, is recovering after flooding on November 2 destroyed her childhood home.
Polk moved back into the Fort Pierce home built by her parents to care for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease.
Cindy McGee, a friend of Polk’s, said she is a strong woman who gives generously to her community and neighbors.
“Terri is one of the most amazing people I’ve met,” McGee told WPTV.
When floodwater poured into the house that morning, it badly damaged Polk’s bed, bookcases and many other belongings.
“The water was up to the tops of the beds,” Polk said.
Today, furniture and belongings representing a lifetime of memories are piled across her lawn.
The City of Fort Pierce declared a local state of emergency on November 2 after “significant rainfall” caused “widespread flooding” throughout the community.
Officials strongly advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel, warning that the floodwater could be “deeper than it appears.”
Polk said she had gone days without sleep as she struggled to deal with the destruction.
Polk previously lived in the Spanish Lakes community of St. Lucie when Hurricane Milton produced widespread tornadoes across Florida two years ago. Pictured: St. Lucie, Florida, in 2024.
A tornado history analysis found that Hurricane Milton “spawned 44 tornadoes across Florida in a single day, the largest single-day tornado count in state history, killing six people near Fort Pierce hours before landfall.”
Although Polk has flood insurance, she is uncertain whether it will cover the full extent of the damage.
Despite the setback, Polk said she is determined to rebuild her life and recover what she can.
“No is not the answer, quit is not the answer,” she told WPBF.
“You know, to keep your focus, you just have to realize there are people out there that have it way worse. There are people out there that are so much worse, you know, and I have to be thankful that we got out with our lives,” she added.
Polk said her mother was “not aware of exactly everything that happened.” She has looked at the damaged house but has said little about it.
The Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County has warned residents about the potential health hazards associated with contaminated floodwater.
“Although skin contact with floodwater does not necessarily pose a serious health risk, floodwaters may contain harmful bacteria, chemicals, or dangerous debris,” the DOH-St. Lucie said in a news statement.
On November 10, the City of Fort Pierce issued a public notice saying its building department would visit affected neighborhoods to evaluate property damage caused by the heavy rainfall.
The assessments are being conducted in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Daily Mail has contacted Terri Polk for comment.