The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

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June 12, 2008

Floods force couple out of home

For Mike and Connie Hoaks, the enjoyment of living in a new home lasted about 30 days.

The couple, who moved into their home at 1836 Monroe St. in Tilton on May 1, was among the victims of weekend flooding in Vermilion County that forced them out of the home they barely had time to get used to.

After staying at a hotel since Saturday, the Hoakses were planning on moving to another hotel Wednesday — this one provided by the local American Red Cross for the next three days.

Although the family is appreciative of the help they received, Connie Hoaks said life has been “moment to moment, day to day” since the flooding.

And the question they keep wondering — where was the help from Federal Emergency Management Agency and other organizations?

“When they say it’s a disaster, there’s supposed to be programs in place,” she said.

The home was deemed unfit to live in by the Red Cross, just the latest after two other families faced the same thing following the weekend. Appliances, furniture and clothing were lost.

“We got out with pictures and the clothes on our back,” she said. “We’ve lost everything.”

Volunteers with the Danville/Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency completed a damage assessment on Tuesday of the area hit by the weekend flooding.

Director Ted Fisher said damage is justified if it reaches the first floor living space of a building. Assessments found just one business and four homes — all in Tilton — where flood waters reached that level.

“There’s a whole lot of people with water in their crawl space and basement,” he said.

The damage assessments will be sent to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency once figures on overtime and costs to the city of Tilton are obtained, Fisher said.

Six counties were named disaster areas on Tuesday, including Clark and Coles counties to the south.

Hoaks said she has maintained contact with Congressman Tim Johnson’s office in regards to their situation, where other problems exist. The family did not have flood insurance on the property, which is surrounded by a creek on three sides.

She contends the family was told the house never floods.

“Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover anything,” she said.

While the county has seen a few sunny days this week, the area’s streak of clear weather is about to come to an end. The National Weather Service in Lincoln is calling for showers and thunderstorms beginning this evening and continuing throughout Friday.

Fisher said he has not received any hazardous warnings about the upcoming rainy weather.

In Danville, the Public Works Department is picking up items damaged by Saturday’s heavy rains. Workers must be notified of items placed outside the toters by calling 431-2288.

Guidelines for the extra items include:

-- Carpet and pad must be cut into 4 foot lengths and weigh less than 50 pounds.

-- Bag all items, including wet boxes. Bagged items must weigh less than 50 pounds.

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