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Not everyone has power back yet after Irma

Posted at 5:35 PM, Sep 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-19 04:32:30-04

Of the more than 107,000 Florida Power and Light customers in St. Lucie County that lost power during Irma, only 70 were without power as of 6 p.m. Monday.

RELATED:Later power outage numbers| Less than 1% still without power

42 years ago, Joe and Brenda Campbell laid down roots off Orange Avenue.  Four decades of personal history tucked away in the attic that Brenda Campbell scans Monday afternoon.  She spots Christmas decorations and wonders if they'll ever be usable again.    

Through Frances, Jeanne, and Fay the home stood, flooding just once. But Irma was too much.

“This is the water line in the garage, the level the water came up in here, said Brenda Campbell, pointing to a spot more than a foot off the ground. They’ve been without power more than a week and Brenda says right now, what’s the point?

“At this point, in our situation power might not make any difference.  It would make it nicer in the house.  You could have the fans on," said Campbell. 

Now, the Campbells are looking ahead to another family homestead for the next 42 years.

“The best scenario would be to declare it a total loss.  There’s no way I could build it back what I’m insured for.  Not planning on building here again.”

The Campbells have been sleeping at her mother's home nearby, in a neighborhood that didn't lose power at all during the storm.