Several Central Florida residents seeking help after Hurricane Irma have reported issues getting through to a real person on the Federal Emergency Management Agency hotline.
Orlo Vista resident Ethel King was still dealing with several leaks at her home Monday that were filling rooms with water, and two weeks after the storm she was only able to speak to a FEMA representative Sunday night.
She would call the hotline, wait in line, sometimes for hours, and then abruptly the line would go dead, King said.
“I was disconnected, I don’t know how many times,” she said. “It was a lot.”
King isn’t alone in dealing with the issue.
Several Central Florida residents told Channel 9 that they experienced the same problems that King did.
When WFTV reporter Michael Manzoni tried calling the FEMA hotline, he was disconnected twice over the course of four phone calls.
FEMA representatives said Monday night that they were unaware of any issue with the hotline, but were investigating the reports of problems.
FEMA spokesman Peter Sessum urged residents in need of help to keep trying to get through in the meantime.
“If (you’re) not getting any answer, call 800-621-FEMA and keep calling,” he said.
Cox Media Group
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