Several homes in Ford Subdivision that took on water during 2008 flooding may be able to be repaired under FEMA and city guidelines without being elevated, mayoral candidate John Shorter told the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen at a special meeting Tuesday.

After water from the worst flooding since 1973 receded, some owners of homes in the north Vicksburg neighborhood were told they had three options:

* Accept a buyout

* Elevate their foundations on stilts or otherwise above the 100-year flood mark before starting any repairs, or

* Face condemnation orders and removal of the homes.

In order for owners of property in known flood areas to be eligible for the taxpayer-subsidized National Flood Insurance Program, cities and counties nationwide must enforce ordinances that, among other things, do not allow rebuilding of structures sustaining damage costing more than half their value. The idea is to eliminate repetitive claims. If cities and counties ignore the requirement and issue permits, FEMA, which administers NFIP, can cancel eligibility for policies countywide.

At least 83 homes had their utilities turned off while the Mississippi River was out of its banks in April and May. South Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield estimated two-thirds of them remain vacant and 90 percent of the owners of those homes have said they want to return.

Shorter presented the board with an estimate from a licensed contractor for repairs on one flooded home on Williams Street that would cost less than 50 percent of the home value, according to pre-flood tax rolls. He said he is confident there are other homes that could also be repaired for less than 50 percent of the pre-flood value, and will begin gathering more estimates from a contractor if the board approves turning the utilities back on at such homes. Mayfield said he doesn’t see any reason why a building permit should not be granted in such cases, and told Shorter he will work to have the issue put on the agenda for the next board meeting on Tuesday. South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman voiced sympathy for those still displaced from their homes 10 months after the flood, but had his doubts about Shorter’s claims.

“What you’re saying sounds simple,” Beauman said. “I’ve never seen anything quite that simple, which tends to make me believe that it isn’t that simple. If what you’re saying is correct, I don’t see the inspection department having any problems with it.”

Mayor Laurence Leyens, who was at the meeting briefly, stated the position the city has held on the flooded homes and left.

“As far as we’re concerned, if a house is safe structurally and can be inhabited, we’re happy for everybody to live in their houses that way,” said Leyens, “but FEMA came and met with us and made it real clear to us that they are going to cut our funding off if we don’t bring those houses into compliance.” 

Residents of the flooded homes have been outspoken at several public hearings about their desire to remain in the area — which primarily consists of homes that have been passed down through families for generations — and their lack of money to elevate the homes. In November, six residents on Williams and Ford streets were given 90 days by the board to begin working to elevate their homes or face having them torn down.

Sixteen have also agreed to buyouts — under which payment is the fair market value of a home before it flooded plus a relocation fee.

Beauman said the city is also looking into an option that would allow flood victims to rebuild their homes without elevating them if they sign waviers releasing FEMA from any responsibility in the future.  “It just came to our attention last week that there is a way that people can go back and reconstruct their homes without elevating them, but when they do the federal government wants to be relieved of the burden,” explained Beauman. “That means that you’re going to sign away all your rights to ever get a federal dime if it floods again. Would I do that? No, I wouldn’t, but someone who’s lived there for 60 years might.”

The Mississippi River at Vicksburg rose above flood stage of 43 feet on March 29, 2008, crested at 50.9 feet on April 19 and did not recede below flood stage until May 10. According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, 201 Warren County residents received $1.259 million in individual, household and other needs assistance from FEMA following the flood.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.