‘FEMA is our only hope:’ Gulfport boaters struggling to recover after Debby, community stepping up to help [Video]

GULFPORT, Fla. – Gulfport business owners and residents are banding together to help the owners of sailboats displaced or damaged after Hurricane Debby impacted the coast.

On Sunday, the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced disaster assistance funds are now available for qualifying individuals in a number of counties, including Sarasota and Manatee.

Boat owners like Kaylee Walker were devastated to learn Pinellas County residents are not eligible at this time.

“FEMA is our only hope. I mean we will never be able to financially recover from the amount of money we put into that boat,” she said.

PREVIOUS: Gulfport boaters say ‘everything was taken’ after Debby leaves behind damage

Last spring, she and her partner sacrificed everything to pick up from Kentucky and move to Gulfport and live out their dream. The couple put every penny they had into renovating a sailboat to move into last June in the Gulfport Marina.

“We sacrificed everything …