Flood Zone Buyout
By: Brittany Sweeney
Updated: March 14, 2013
Plymouth Township, Luzerne County- It's been nearly a year and a half since hurricane Irene and people in Plymouth Township are finally getting the reassurance they need from FEMA. Thursday night many of those people and others who's homes suffered flood damage learned they'll have the option to participate in a buyout program. Hurricane Irene rocked many homes in the flood-zone back in 2011, but that wasn't the first time water wreaked havoc on these properties and it surely won't be the last.
Tammy Bidding of Plymouth Township says "2011 I had over 7 feet on my first floor." Now, FEMA and PEMA are trying to help by giving 30 homeowners in Plymouth Township the option of a government buyout at the appraised price. "A lot of folks think 'ok I want to be acquired' especially right after the event and they think it will happen in a month or two, it doesn't," says Tom Hughes of PEMA. The main problem many have with this program is the time frame. Michael Kelly of Plymouth Township says "my main concern right now is if I sign the closing and if they say at closing you have to be out of the house, but I don't have money to go buy another house, what am I going to do? It's a catch 22 situation more or less."
That's not the only issue; looting has been a huge problem from day one. "3 days after the flood my house was looted. Everything that wasn't lost in the flood was stolen and unfortunately the police couldn't help because there was so much going on, they had their hands full with other stuff," says Kelly. Bidding says "my house has been broken into twice and a third attempt. They didn't get in a third time, but everything is gone. My house is trashed."
People like Bidding and Kelly both received insurance money to repair flood damage, but the damage from the break-ins and stolen property add up to a lot more. PEMA says as long as there is proof they will try to help. "We'll do everything we can, with in the regulations, to help them get the funds that are due to them," says Hughes. At Thursday night's meeting the homeowners were told as long as everything continues to go as planned The buyouts on these homes should go through within 12 to 18 months.
Tammy Bidding of Plymouth Township says "2011 I had over 7 feet on my first floor." Now, FEMA and PEMA are trying to help by giving 30 homeowners in Plymouth Township the option of a government buyout at the appraised price. "A lot of folks think 'ok I want to be acquired' especially right after the event and they think it will happen in a month or two, it doesn't," says Tom Hughes of PEMA. The main problem many have with this program is the time frame. Michael Kelly of Plymouth Township says "my main concern right now is if I sign the closing and if they say at closing you have to be out of the house, but I don't have money to go buy another house, what am I going to do? It's a catch 22 situation more or less."
That's not the only issue; looting has been a huge problem from day one. "3 days after the flood my house was looted. Everything that wasn't lost in the flood was stolen and unfortunately the police couldn't help because there was so much going on, they had their hands full with other stuff," says Kelly. Bidding says "my house has been broken into twice and a third attempt. They didn't get in a third time, but everything is gone. My house is trashed."
People like Bidding and Kelly both received insurance money to repair flood damage, but the damage from the break-ins and stolen property add up to a lot more. PEMA says as long as there is proof they will try to help. "We'll do everything we can, with in the regulations, to help them get the funds that are due to them," says Hughes. At Thursday night's meeting the homeowners were told as long as everything continues to go as planned The buyouts on these homes should go through within 12 to 18 months.
