FEMA Demands Money Back From Flood Victims
GLEN HAVEN, Colo. (CBS4)- Several families in Glen Haven will have to pay back FEMA money they used to make repairs in the aftermath of last fall's devastating flooding because of their Home Owner's Association policy.
Seven homeowners in the area, located northwest of Loveland, were informed in June that they should not have received FEMA money to rebuild their roads. They appealed that decision but their appeal was denied.
Two weeks ago those homeowners received a letter from FEMA informing them they would need to repay the nearly $20,000 they each received back to the government.
"You don't give someone money and then later say, 'We need to take that back'," said Glen Haven resident George Haverin.
The road connecting the homes is on private property and maintained by an HOA. By law, FEMA cannot assist property maintained by an HOA.
Those homeowners met with FEMA on Wednesday evening.
"In order to make the funding decisions we have to go by what is written in the articles of incorporation and bylaws but again as we see, every case is different and there are nuances and that's why it's important to have these conversations to make sure we get to the right decisions and the right answer," said FEMA spokesman Daniel Alexander.
More than a year after the damaging floods ripped through the mountain community residents are still trying to rebuild.
"The river and the road changed place," said Haverin. "The road is up on our property now and the river is quite a few feet away."
"Many times there isn't one convenient program that addresses all of those needs," said Alexander.