KASTEN: `FEDERAL BUYOUTS NOT LIKELY'

Federal buyouts of flood damaged homes in Cape Girardeau may be unlikely, State Rep. Mary Kasten said Wednesday.

"It's so complex, I don't think it's worthwhile," the Cape Girardeau Republican said as she toured flooded areas of the city.

The state representative said she had spoken previously with a number of residents of the Red Star area scene of some of the city's worst flooding who have expressed interest in the government buying their damaged homes.

In order to qualify for a Federal Emergency Management Agency buyout, the property owner must have federal flood insurance.

"I don't think many people down there have it," said Kasten.

In addition, she said, the house must have sustained at least 50 percent damage to be considered for the buyout.

Also, the purchased property would then have to be turned over to a local governmental entity, such as the city, Kasten said.

At this point, some Cape Girardeau homes are still reachable only by boat and it could be some time before the buyout picture is clarified, she said.

On her trip through the flood-ravaged areas Wednesday, Kasten stopped to speak with Michael J. Huey, who was surveying the damage to his home at 1110 N. Spanish.

During the height of the flood, water stood 5 inches deep in his home. His floors are now buckled and one corner of the foundation appears to be sagging.

Huey has flood insurance. "I got it at the last minute," he said. He purchased the insurance on Aug. 2. Four days later, his home was flooded.

"I know there are a number of people in the FEMA program who seriously want a buyout," he said.

Huey himself has been in touch with FEMA in an effort to secure federal disaster funds.

With many of the homes in his neighborhood being rental properties, Huey wonders about the flood-prone area's future.

"I wish we could scoop it all up and clean it out," Kasten said of the dirty cleanup job that Huey and others now face.

Kasten said state officials and lawmakers are looking at how to pay for anticipated road repairs and other costs associated with the flood.

One idea being considered is to speed up imposition of a 2-cent hike in the gasoline tax, currently scheduled to go into effect in April.

Levying an additional quarter-cent or one-eighth-cent sales tax is another idea being studied, Kasten said.

At one point during the historic flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries this summer, about 250 miles of highways were under water in Missouri.

Although floodwaters are receding, Kasten said the price tag on damages in Missouri has yet to be tallied.

She said the flood issue may be considered when lawmakers return to Jefferson City this fall for the veto session.