FEMA Leaves Spruces Residents Up In The AirBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
10:49PM / Monday, September 12, 2011 | |
 The Leavens were the first tenants of the Spruces Mobile Home Park to be allowed to move back into the park. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — FEMA may leave many residents of the Spruces Mobile Home Park up in the air — 12 feet in the air. That's about the height of a basketball backboard.
The federal agency is tying emergency aid to compliance with current building codes that could require the mobile homes be lifted 2 feet above flood level.
Town Manager Peter Fohlin on Monday night pointed to a 5-year-old study of flood levels at the park that showed it flooding 6 to 8 feet, with some locations up to 10 feet.
He said homes that were damaged more than 50 percent of their worth or residents who accept certain grant offers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fix their homes will need to comply with state building codes. Those include raising the floor of the homes 2 feet above flood levels
That means some residents will have to decide whether to "lift" or "leave." FEMA will be available for assistance with either.
Town officials are stressing that residents contact FEMA by stopping at the Disaster Relief Center at 430 Main St. to at least find out what type of assistance they qualify. Multiple officials said they have heard some homeowners have already received assistance checks. FEMA could provide up to $30,000 for repairs.
Residents will fall under the old building codes if their homes don't meet the 50 precent damage threshold or if they reject assistance.
Spruces resident Helen Leavens, whose home only suffered minimal damage, was back in her home on Friday after making the necessary repairs.
"They did what they had to do and we now know we have a safe home," Leavens said of the multiple inspections the homes must go through in order to be reoccupied. "It was a process, but it was a safe process."
While the flood was a tragedy, Leavens said the bright side is that she knows that her home is safe when she moved back on Friday after spending nearly 10 days in Easthampton with her son and commuting every day.
"Now we're going up the street and asking if we can help. We're just going around and seeing if we can help the neighbors," Leavens said and added that those first nights in an empty park were "eerie."
Leavens owns one of the many homes that suffered minimal damage. According to Cynthia Clermont-Rebello, president of the tenants association, there are about 40 to 50 homes with minimal damage and their owners could return to the park soon.
Leavens' home was one of two that have passed all inspections so far. Rebello had her gas and electric turned on Monday but needs final approval from the town's building inspectors.
"By tonight, there will be a few of us and tomorrow a few more," Clermont-Rebello said. "We're just waiting for inspectors."
Fohlin said three homes were inspected by gas and electric and only Rebello's passed that point. The other two homes failed pressure tests by the gas company. David Rebello, co-president of the association, said waiting on the inspections has been frustrating. There are many residents waiting on the gas and electric tests that need to be done before the building inspector gives final approval.
"We want things done and we want things done now," Rebello said. "We're all in this together. We're going to help each other ... I'm not turning my back on these people until everybody is back in."
However, Fohlin said things are going slower because residents are calling for inspections before doing the required work, so inspectors are failing homes.
"They have to start fixing what they have. People need to need to start taking care of themselves," David Rebello said in agreement but added he is helping provide guidance. "People are confused about what they need to do to fix it up. ... We're here to help you."
The first thing homeowners have to do is fix the items listed on the colored inspection tags. Residents are on their own for those repairs, although FEMA money could be available. The biggest problem is the piers the mobile homes are mounted on, Rebello said, and the association is searching for a contractor who could work on multiple homes for a reduced rate.
After the repairs are made, residents can contact the tenants association to have the gas and electrical inspected, and then the town's building inspector for final approval. That final approval will be quick and easy if the qualified contractors have connected the utilities, Fohlin said.
While the town has waived all new permit fees, residents will have to pay for the electrical and gas inspections. Rebello said the association has secured reduced inspection rates and it will chip in and help pay for the inspections if needed. Rebello said the association, operating on donations, has even gone so far as to rent a storage spot for one resident.
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