SOME FLOOD VICTIMS QUALIFY FOR AID

JACKSON -- Some flood victims in Cape Girardeau County already qualify for individual assistance, but the word isn't out on how many will qualify for federal buyouts.

State Emergency Management Agency Director Jerry Uhlmann was before the county commission Thursday, listening to what commissioners think the area needs in state assistance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency works with state and local agencies on a 75-25 split, purchasing homes at pre-flood market value if the owners want to sell. But Uhlmann said a community doesn't have to be excluded from a buyout just because it doesn't have its matching funds.

He said the buyout program wouldn't be established for a few weeks. SEMA must communicate with local governments to see if they are interested in applying for the program.

If a homeowner sells to the government, the city or county his land is in becomes responsible for its maintenance.

Uhlmann said homeowners who wanted to be bought out should contact the city or county they are in to let officials know. Their applications may be successful depending on site and other factors.

The amount of money available for buyouts is based on the amount paid out in individual and public assistance provided statewide for flood victims and the communities where they live.

Individual assistance is to help victims get back on their feet and includes temporary housing, Small Business Association loans and grants to be used for home repairs or major appliances. People who received money to buy flood insurance in 1993 and failed to do so may not qualify for anything other than temporary housing, County Emergency Manager Brian Miller said.

Public assistance goes to repair damaged roads, bridges, sewer systems and water systems. The money also may be used to pay overtime to some emergency workers.

County officials surveyed the damage and requested more than $1 million in public assistance this year for the county, the city of Cape, two levee districts and the Cape Special Road District.

Public officials from Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties will meet at 11 a.m. Friday, June 30, at the County Administrative Building to find out about how much they can receive for various rebuilding projects.

On the individual level, Uhlmann said he would like to see less rebuilding and more moving.

"The true answer is to put people out of the way so it doesn't happen anymore," he said. "We probably should have handled the flood plain differently, but now some things can't be changed. The floodwalls at Cape Girardeau, Kansas City and St. Louis aren't going to be moved."

Some things can be changed, Uhlmann added, like quitting building on the flood plain and turning flooded areas into permanent wetlands.

But some people are determined to stay on the property they own, including Dutchtown residents who want a permanent levee instead of the temporary ones the county erected in 1993 and a few weeks ago along Highway 74.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said the expense of the temporary structures is too high for the county to bear again.

"I told the residents there that if they ever want to see another one of these levees, they better be out here taking pictures," he said.

Representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers will join Dutchtown residents at the commission's meeting at 10:30 a.m. Monday.