Residents To Return To Flood Damaged Homes

Tuesday, July 10th 2007, 9:37 pm

By: News On 6

Coffeyville, Kansas flood victims will be allowed back into their neighborhoods on Wednesday. The official announcement was made during a town meeting in Coffeyville Tuesday evening. The News On 6â€™s Chris Wright reports residents will be able to inspect their homes at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Unfortunately, many of those homes have already been condemned.

The reentry plan was discussed during a town meeting Tuesday night. City officials urged everyone to be careful when heading back. They also explained the placards that have been placed on each home. Green means the house can still be lived in; red or yellow mean itâ€™s condemned.

Officials are advising people to immediately document the condition of their home, then get in touch with their insurance agent. They say they understand victims' frustrations, and were glad to finally provide them with some concrete information.

"As I've gone around the community and talked with people, the majority of people are simply looking for information, if we can provide more information so they're safe to go into their homes, then I think we've done well this evening," Dr. Howard Rodenderg of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said.

There will be a curfew in place in the flooded neighborhoods for the next two days from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday the EPA also struck a deal with the Coffeyville refinery that flooded. The company has agreed to assess areas affected by the oil spill, then develop a cleanup strategy. It has also agreed to take steps to ensure that no oil reaches Lake Oologah in Oklahoma.

Watch the video: Coffeyville Residents Allowed Back In Their Homes

The city of Coffeyville has set up a special web site with flood related information.

For more flooding information, check out our STORM ZONE web page.