'We started hearing cracking': Florida homeowner says roof collapsed on Christmas Eve
Dec 26, 2024
A Seminole Heights family lost their home after their roof collapsed while workers were in the process of replacing it.A pile of rubble is whats left of what had been the happy home that Victoria Sowell shared with her military veteran husband Casey and their son and daughter. The historic Seminole Heights bungalow was damaged by Hurricane Milton in October. The roof was scheduled to be fixed in time for Christmas. Instead, the house was destroyed. She thought she was getting a new roof for Christmas, and now theyre homeless, said neighbor Ariel Pitcher.Pitcher shot photos and video as the roof started to cave in.Victoria and Casey were inside while the roofers were working. We started hearing cracking, and I started screaming, Stop! Stop!," Victoria said. "The roofs came in and were like, Oh my God."ABC Action News' Adam Walser met up with Victoria near her moms house, where shes temporarily staying.Its dozens of miles from her kid's school and from the VA hospital where Casey works.Victoria said she and her husband had to escape their home through a bathroom window when it happened Monday.Thank goodness the children werent home," Pitcher said. "Nobody was injured.Police, firefighters and code enforcement arrived to assist, but the house was already condemned.Im really sad and devastated this happened, especially two days before Christmas with two little kids," Pitcher said.The house was demolished Christmas Eve to prevent it from collapsing on a neighbors home and to keep anyone from getting hurt.The Sowells havent been able to reach their insurance agent yet.Its Christmas, so were in a holding pattern," Victoria said. "Were literally taking one step at a time."The family is now trying to figure out what comes next.Weve been giving each other lots of hugs, and were focusing on the fact that were all safe and its just a house," Victoria said. "What matters is we are all together."Neighbors and relatives have set up a Go-Fund-Me page to help the family with their immediate needs.Victoria says shes lived in Seminole Heights for more than a decade and has received an outpouring of love from her neighbors.Everybodys just been very supportive, which is amazing," Victoria said. "I love my community, and its sad that I dont have a home in the community anymore, but well figure it out."