Pascagoula Residents Worry About Rebuilding Their Homes

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11/07/05

Pascagoula Residents Worry About Rebuilding Their Homes

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e Goad Reports On Concerns About Rebuilding In Pascagoula

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=4085445 & nav=6DJI

Since Hurricane Katrina, Jimmy McGrath spends his off time trying to

get his King Avenue home ready to repair.

" Tried to treat all of the wood, so any mold would be killed

instantly, " McGrath says, " Just trying to clean up. "

Repairing his home has been put on hold, though.

McGrath says getting a permit in the Chipley neighborhood is

virtually impossible.

" No one wants to fool with this area, " McGrath says, " It's like a

jaded area right here. "

Pascagoula city building inspector Steve says most of the

homes in Chipley are below the base flood elevation.

In order for residents to get a building permit, they either have to

raise their current home, relocate it to higher ground, or demolish

it and build a new home higher than the base flood elevation.

" No, it doesn't need to be demolished. There's no structural damage

in this house at all, " McGrath says.

What about raising it up?

" I'm not a millionaire. I can't afford to come in here and elevate

this entire neighborhood, " He adds.

McGrath says the rumor going around is the city has placed more

restrictions on homeowners in Chipley so they won't rebuild.

" I keep hearing that even if we do rebuild our house, it's subject

to being taken away from us, " McGrath says.

Steve says that's not true.

" Target this area? No we're not, " responds, " We have an area

on the other side of town that is essentially in the same

condition. "

The city, he says, is just following the rules.

" It's rules we have to follow to participate in the national flood

insurance program, " adds.

would like to see Chipley revitalized.

" We would love to see a private partnership between the homeowners

and different developers to try to accomplish the goals of the

charette, " says.

The city, says, isn't pushing for any one solution, but it

cannot let homeowners rebuild to the old standards.

By e Goad