84-year-old Fort Myers man battles FEMA alone after Hurricane Ian denial

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—A Fort Myers man who says he lost everything in Hurricane Ian is still fighting with FEMA nearly four years after the storm.

Donald Jones took the federal government to court after being repeatedly denied assistance.

His battle comes as lawmakers consider sweeping changes to the agency.

FEMA gave out more than $10 billion after Hurricane Ian decimated parts of Southwest Florida. That money went to things like home repairs, emergency services and flood insurance claims.

As Hurricane Ian smashed into Southwest Florida, flooding the streets of downtown Fort Myers, Jones realized he was in a fight for his life.

"There was about three feet of water, so I said, 'it's time for me to get out of here,'" said Jones, who was staying in a hotel in downtown during the storm.

Jones tells WINK Investigates he swam through the flood waters to get to dryer land.

"That water was coming down from MLK (Blvd) like a waterfall," Jones said.

Nearly four years later, he says he has permanent nerve damage and is struggling to get by.

"I'm living off of Social Security, that's it," Jones said. In the weeks and months after the storm, Jones says he applied for FEMA assistance.

He lost his belongings and his car in the flooding.

"Everyone in the area was applying for FEMA. I brought the receipts to them, I brought the records to them," Jones said.

But he kept getting the same answer—denied.

With no money to hire an attorney, Jones sued the federal government by himself and lost.

At 84 years old, he says he's had to start over.

"I'm broke. At my senior age, this is the worst time. If I was younger, I could start something else," Jones said. "You read about so many people, homeless people, living on the street. You say, 'oh, that's not gonna be me.' Then Boom, then that storm hit. Then everything just went," Jones said.

FEMA wouldn't comment on an individual's claims.

Jones's battle comes as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are considering sweeping reforms of the relief agency.

Last month, a congressional committee hearing touted a bipartisan bill that would overhaul FEMA.

Among other things, the bill would make FEMA an independent cabinet-level agency with the goals of expediting payments and streamlining requests.

Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate testified the legislation would help struggling residents like Jones return to their homes.

"Giving FEMA the authority to repair homes, to get them back in the state where people can move back in is key. Up until this point we only had authority to shelter people," Fugate said.

After being denied by FEMA and losing his court battle, Jones says his only remaining option is to let others know about the struggles he's faced.

"And this is our taxpayers’ money, and they can't pay us back? This is ridiculous," Jones said.

The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act currently has 72 co-sponsors from both parties.

While there is agreement changes need to be made to the agency, lawmakers warn it could be years before any meaningful reform happens.