Neighborhood in Cape Coral hit by tornado still struggle with aftermath

The damage still looks fresh after a tornado swept across Cape Coral one month ago. Now, these homeowners are still trying to put their lives back together.

A car, blown down the street by a tornado on Oct. 19, is now gone. But the blue tarps lining roofs all over the neighborhood remain.

“It’s not a pleasant sight,” said Peter Mitchko, who lives there. “The neighborhood is really, really nice without the blue tarps on the roof.”

It has been one month since a tornado whipped through the neighborhood and homes that are damaged beyond repair sit vacantly. But neighbors who can rebuild said they are anxious for life to return to normal.

“Not much has changed at all,” Jack Stevenson said. “We’re hoping in the near future it will.”

“People are getting a little frustrated,” Mitchko said, “by how long it takes to get the repairs that are needed.”

Neighbors told WINK News that the city had done a good job with clean up, but they are still finding pieces of debris all over the community.

Brian Gonzalez is having his roof fixed on Tuesday. He is paying for the construction without financial assistance from insurance.

“I’m not going to sit down and wait,” Gonzalez said. “I’m going to do what I have to do. I guess the money will come later.”

On the other side of the neighborhood, Mitchko is trying to sell his home, but he cannot until his insurance company pays to replace his roof.

“They’re just taking their time about it,” Mitchko said.

It is a waiting game that almost certainly will drag through the holidays. These neighbors want to put the tornado of 2019 behind them.

“I’d like to see us back to normal here come January,” Stevenson said.