LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — Lehigh Acres Dad’s Christmas Ruined by FEMA’s Last-Minute Trailer Removal Threat, leaving Joshua Doxtater and his two young children in a heart-wrenching situation. The holiday season, a time usually filled with joyful gatherings and cherished memories, has turned into an ordeal overshadowed by uncertainty, bureaucracy, and a painful lack of communication.
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Lee County Father Says FEMA Ruined His Christmas
Since May 2023, the Doxtater family has called a FEMA-provided trailer home, situated just a stone’s throw from the ruins of their beloved residence in Lehigh Acres. What was once a sanctuary, filled with laughter and cherished moments, suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Ian’s wrath in 2022. The onslaught didn’t cease; following hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton further devastated their abode, rendering it irreparable. Forced to abandon their property, the family sought refuge, relying on FEMA’s temporary assistance to navigate their new reality.
Initially, the situation seemed manageable. Doxtater dutifully paid monthly rent for the trailer while striving to provide stability for his children, dogs, and horses amid the storm’s aftermath. Yet, a mere week before Christmas, the fragile sense of security they had started to cultivate crumbled.
On December 16, an unsettling phone call from FEMA’s Direct Housing Department turned their world upside down. The agency informed Doxtater of their decision to remove the trailer on December 23, allowing him just six days to secure alternative living arrangements for his family.
“They told me they were coming for the trailer on the 23rd, and if my belongings were still inside, they’d throw everything in the dumpster,” Doxtater recounted, frustration evident in his voice. “I asked if they could at least give me until the 26th, just a single day after Christmas. They said no. I was left with no choice.”
As the holidays approached, Doxtater found himself frantically searching for a new home for his family. He took time off work, fervently packing up their belongings, all the while trying to maintain hope that they could celebrate Christmas together. However, December 23 came and went with no sign of FEMA.
“I took another day off to be here when they were supposed to come pick it up,” he lamented. “I’ve called and texted, but no one will give me any answers.”
Now, Doxtater’s possessions lie scattered in the dirt outside the trailer, a stark reminder of their ongoing struggle. This holiday season, a time meant for family togetherness, has become a painful memory etched in struggle and loss.
“I had bought gifts for my son and daughter,” he shared, his voice tinged with sorrow. “And now, Christmas feels like it’s been stolen away. What can I do?”
The Doxtater family finds themselves suspended in uncertainty, unsure of what the future may hold. They complied with FEMA’s directives, packing everything meticulously, yet the agency’s failure to follow through has left them in a precarious state. “I pretty much moved out, thinking if I didn’t listen to FEMA, I’d face consequences,” he expressed. “Now, here I stand, with everything in the dirt.”
Attempts to contact FEMA for clarity have proven fruitless. Doxtater has yet to receive any updates, and the continuous breakdown of communication fosters an overwhelming sense of helplessness. With dwindling options, hope is waning.
As the holiday season draws to a close, the Doxtater family’s Christmas is shrouded in chaos. What was supposed to be a temporary housing solution has spiraled into a prolonged crisis, leaving them grappling with the prospect of homelessness just as the year comes to an end.
Doxtater, whose patience is running thin, clings to the hope that someone, somewhere will intervene to assist his family in this time of despair. As they navigate a holiday season marked by loss, rather than warmth and joy, the vibrant spirit of Christmas fades further into the distance.
For now, in Lehigh Acres, Christmas is sadly canceled.
