Now that floodwaters have receded from homes affected by Mississippi River flooding, Mayor Laurence Leyens believes the real crisis has arrived with no viable solutions to offer victims who are ready to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.

Eight Federal Emergency Management Agency workers have been in Vicksburg since May13 and have set up a disaster recovery center at Kings Empowerment Center, where flood victims can fill out applications and request individual assistance. So far, $428,466.80 in federal cash has been given to the 98 victims requesting assistance, said Bettina Hutchings, external affairs officer for FEMA. Victims applying for assistance are also required to apply for low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Even though victims are receiving assistance – sometimes within days – Leyens said he wants a long-term solution to move people out of their damaged homes and into permanent housing out of the flood zone.

“I’m happy the federal government is here. I’m glad they’re here for relief,” he said. “But, all I see is a lot of tax dollars being spent.”

Since the waters began the climb above 43 feet – flood stage at Vicksburg – and filled many homes in low-lying areas during the worst flooding since 1973, Leyens said he hoped to have at least 25 homes bought out and demolished within six months. Most of the homes are in Ford subdivision, an area heavily damaged in the most recent flood and often affected by rising water. The city’s flood buyout program, created to reduce future losses, can take up to several months for people to receive payments and it’s optional, said Mississippi Emergency Management Agency deputy director Lea Stokes.

“Some people just don’t want to move, and they feel like they’re being forced out,” said Jeff Rent, a spokesman for MEMA.

Related stories:County told by MEMA to prove need for federal flood aidBuyouts are offered as a 95-5 ratio, which means the federal government will pay up to 75 percent of the fair market value with the state pitching in 20 percent and 5 percent being left up to the city, he said.

An ordinance adopted in Vicksburg and Warren County in 2003 prevents homeowners from receiving building permit or having utilities turned on at homes where flood damage exceeds 50 percent of the appraised value. For most Ford residents, where homes are considered a repetitive loss, that means demolition is inevitable, Leyens indicated.

To save people whose homes are in jeopardy and unable to be repaired or raised, the city has created a housing task force and met with nonprofit groups to assist flood victims.. For many, even if a flood buyout is sought, the fair market value is far below what it would cost to purchase another home, Rent said.

“Mother Nature’s won the war in Ford subdivision,” he said. “They’re so disenfranchised with the bureaucracy that they’re saying, ‘We just want to go home.’ They don’t understand their homes aren’t safe.”

Leyens, referencing FEMA’s lack of response in New Orleans post-Katrina, said the agency’s keyed-up efforts here seem “almost like a circus.”

“At the end of the day, it’s not making a difference like it could have,” he said.

“There’s no functional method. What are we doing to resolve the problem? It’s almost like a circus. I feel like there’s enough money on the table where most of these people could have a house that’s furnished. But, it’s not getting delivered.”

Hutchings, who said letters outlining how money is to be spent are sent to those receiving assistance, said FEMA’s goal is to come in after a disaster and provide initial assistance. After that point, she indicated, it’s up to state and local governments, as well as charitable organizations, to provide more long term assistance.

“We put people on the road to recovery and get people moving forward,” she said. “We provide the initial funding so people can get in a safe and secure dwelling.”

While each case is based on an inspection of a home and a damage assessment for each victim, the most a person can receive – if qualified for both housing assistance and other needs assistance – from FEMA is $28,800, Hutchings said.

In addition to Vicksburg and Warren County, FEMA is providing flood damage assistance, so far, to:127 flood victims in Bolivar County, which has received $390,634.26.98 in Washington County with $144,520.61 in federal assistance.65 in Wilkinson County, which has collected $20,133.98.

The Mississippi River surpassed flood stage on March 29 and crested at 50.9 feet April 19. The 1973 crest was 51.6 feet.

By the numbersFederal dollars paid to Mississippi River flood victims throughout Mississippi:$983,755.65…………………..Total$858,630.13…………………..Housing Assistance$125,125.52…………………..Other Needs AssistanceFederal dollars paid to Mississippi River flood victims in Warren County:$428,466.80…………………..Total$335,433.42…………………..Housing Assistance$93,033.38…………………….Other Needs AssistanceTotal federal dollars paid to Mississippi River flood victims in other counties:$390,634.26…………………..Bolivar County$144,520.61…………………..Washington County$20,133.98…………………….Wilkinson CountyFlood victims requesting assistance:Warren County……………….98Bolivar County……………….127Washington County………..98Wilkinson County…………..65FEMA employees in flood-affected areas:Warren County……………….8Bolivar County……………….8Washington County………..7Wilkinson County…………..6Flood infoPrivate donations to the flood victims fund may be mailed to Triumph Baptist Church in care of the Kings, Ford, Waltersville and Chickasaw Neighborhood Association at 124 Pittman Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180.To register with FEMA for assistance, visit the Kings Empowerment Center at 224 RL Chase Circle, call 800-621-3362 or register online at www.fema.gov. Representatives will be in Kings today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 am. to 1 p.m.Red Cross assistance is available by calling 601-636-9182 to schedule a damage assessment.Information on the city’s buyout program is available at 601-634-4525 or at the city’s planning department office at 819 South St. County residents may call 601-631-8807 or visit the county emergency management office in the basement of the courthouse.