WAPELLO, Iowa — Federal and state disaster assistance workers told more than 120 people who met Monday evening in a muggy Wapello High School gymnasium that they needed to continue registering and seeking assistance through a variety of programs, but not to expect any quick buyout of their flooded properties.

“I know we sound like a broken record,” Jaime Forero, branch director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Area 2, told the crowd after encouraging everyone to register.

However, he said the desire for some victims to forego assistance, believing others had suffered greater damage, might cause someone who was eligible to miss out on benefits.

“We want you to get every cent you’re eligible for,” he told the group.

He said nearly 550 disaster applications had been filed and $3.8 million in assistance already distributed in the area. He also said around 200 FEMA workers were scattered throughout the local area helping residents recover from the flooding.

Although Forero encouraged those at the meeting to continue to seek assistance for such needs as housing, repairs, mitigation or other issues, other workers at the meeting acknowledged continuing problems in meeting some of those needs.

Doug Huddleston, a FEMA housing specialist, said the agency was struggling to find temporary housing sites.

“We’re trying to identify commercial pads in the area,” he said. While several sites have been inspected, most fail to meet required standards, including operating utilities. He urged anyone who knew of potential sites to contact FEMA. He also said anyone who had registered for FEMA and had a housing question could call 1-866-274-4392 for more information and help.

While Huddleston agreed that meeting the housing needs in the area would remain a big issue until enough suitable temporary locations were found, the question of a potential FEMA buy-out program was quickly answered.

“There is no FEMA buy-out program,” Gloria Prince, a mitigation specialist for the federal agency, reported.

She said what is available is a hazard mitigation grant program that provides funding for local governments to purchase severely damaged properties. Prince said up to 15 percent of a disaster area’s total damage can be used for this program.

“If you are interested (in a buy-out), you must go to the individual community, (which) must apply,” Prince said.

She said residents in an incorporated area would need to ask their city council to participate, while unincorporated area residents would ask their county board of supervisors. The local governments would then need to develop a notice of interest by Sept. 12. Properties that would be targeted first for any buyout would be those located in the 100-year floodplain and that sustained damage that amounted to at least 50 percent of its value.

Prince said only about 10 percent of Oakville was in the 100-year floodplain, but that quickly brought a chorus of objections.

“Tell the truth,” one unidentified person yelled.

Oakville Mayor Benita Grooms also disagreed with Prince, explaining most of the community was in a levee-protected classification.

Meeting moderator, the Rev. Dan Doolin, said the lack of information on the floodplain pointed to the need for another meeting and agreed to schedule one for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Wapello.

Louisa County Assessor Greg Johnson said he would attend and could answer county floodplain questions. Doolin said he would try and schedule other floodplain experts.

In the meantime, a buyout will still hinge on state and local officials making a final determination on each potential buyout property and Prince warned the group that some residents seeking a buyout would be disappointed.

“There will not be enough money to fund all the projects,” she predicted.

That will mean some residents might be forced to use other federal assistance to rebuild.

One of those programs would be low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Gary Colton, SBA communication specialist, said residential and business property owners could apply to that agency for help. A residential loan would have a 2.67 percent interest rate and property owners could borrow up to $200,000 to rebuild and another $40,000 to replace damaged personal property. Businesses would qualify for up to $2 million in loans at 4 percent interest.

Correspondent contact information

Jim Rudisill: 319-523-2213

jimrudisill@yahoo.com