Nonprofit offering legal services before and after storms

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — After a storm hits, many are worried about insurance claims, flood damage and roof damage.

But calling an attorney to help with these issues isn’t usually what people know is an option. Bay Area Legal Services attorneys want to change that.

Two years ago, the legal nonprofit launched its disaster legal hotline, and over the last year, the calls haven’t stopped coming in. One of those calls came from Kelly Murphy and her family.

“I have chill bumps. It is such a blessing,” Murphy said. “There’s been a couple of court dates that have come and gone, and I didn’t have to go, so this next one I’ll have to go. But they have gone the extra mile, Bay Area Legal Services.”

Murphy said Hurricane Milton brought in inches of flood water inside her one-bedroom apartment, which eventually led to mold.

Murphy is disabled and on a fixed income, so her options of relocating are limited.

She said on top of the damage from the storm and health concerns, she was also facing eviction. That is when she made the call.

“We just want to make sure people have a place to call, even if they’re not sure if they have a legal issue,” said Bay Area Legal Services attorney John Lawless. “If they just have an issue and want to talk to somebody, we can do that. If they do have a legal issue, we can offer them advice, assistance, and in certain cases, even go to court and represent them.” 

Bay Area Legal Services serves five counties: Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota. Their hotline and services are available to all, but they try to focus on providing services to underserved communities who may not be able to afford legal assistance.

Anyone seeking legal assistance can contact the hotline at 833-514-2940, or fill out an online application on the Bay Area Legal Services website.