Flood victims face second onslaught -- of paperwork

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Flood victims face second onslaught -- of paperwork

June 27, 2006

Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/06/27/fl

ood_victims_face_second_onslaught____of_paperwork/

SALEM, N.H. --Some victims of record flooding in southern New

Hampshire last month say federal aid has been of little help.

" I have completely given up, " said Donna St. who along with

her husband, , received $6,000 from the federal government

immediately following the flood, but still owe $238,000 on a

mortgage for their house, which they say is so infested by mold it's

uninhabitable.

The St. Jeans refinanced in 2004, shortly before Donna St. fell

ill. The couple moved into a 55-plus housing community in September

2005. Their son, St. Jr., was living in the first house

and paying the mortgage when the Spicket River flooded the home in

May, leaving mold, damaged property and a weakened foundation in its

wake.

After being told they had to apply for a loan which they say they

would have no hope of repaying, the couple gave up, Donna St. Jean

said.

" I'd have to knock (the house) down and rebuild it, and I don't have

that kind of money, " she said.

St. Sr., 67, plans to call his finance company soon to

discuss how he might pay the mortgage. He said he hasn't been making

the payments, but he's not worried about that.

" What are they going to do to me at my age? " he said.

Another couple, and Fenlon, have their own frustrations.

Despite many applications and conversations, they still haven't seen

a check reimbursing them for the repairs they've made to their home.

About three weeks ago, however, they were promised money from their

flood insurance provider, and are waiting for that to arrive.

More than a week ago, the Fenlons were turned down for a loan from

the Small Business Administration. If that agency turns down flood

victims for a loan request, the victims are referred to FEMA for

grant money.

The town of Salem, meanwhile, is pursuing a hazardous mitigation

plan through FEMA. If the plan is approved, the federal government

could buy homes susceptible to flooding at fair market value,

clearing the land to prevent flood damage in the future.

Town Manager Henry LaBranche said the town will not likely meet the

June 30 deadline for submitting its hazardous mitigation plan

application. Missing the deadline means any federal buyout would be

pushed out another calendar year.

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Information from: Eagle Tribune, http://www.eagletribune.com