Arlington Families Still Displaced By Hermine Flooding

ARLINGTON (AP) - Dozens of families displaced by flooding when the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine struck Arlington in September are still in limbo while officials debate whether the North Texas city will buy the damaged homes.

Mayor Robert Cluck and other city leaders want a voluntary buyout for flood-prone properties located near a creek that overflowed when Hermine moved north Sept. 8. However, the city has yet to identify where the millions of dollars needed to buy them out will come from, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. A request for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grants isn't expected to be acted upon until at least July, the newspaper reported.

More than 200 homes and condominiums in Arlington were damaged during the storm. About half are located along Rush Creek, where flooding has worsened over the years because of development upstream.

Bob Lowry, the city's public works director, said 16 homes have been identified as most likely to be bought out. Eleven have been flooded twice and have received insurance payouts worth more than the homes themselves, he said.

City officials believe buying and tearing down all 57 flood-prone homes along the creek could cost as much as $18 million.

"It is an ugly situation," Lowry said. "There are a lot of people hung out, and there is not a whole lot we can do except wait."

Debbie Goulding and her husband are living with relatives in Cleburne while waiting for more than $100,000 in repairs on their home to be completed.

"It would be a wonderful Christmas present if we could sleep in our own home," she said.

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