Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 11, 1995 TAG: 9507110058
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAURICE A. WILLIAMS III STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Road crews limited traffic on a section of Garden City Boulevard to a single lane Monday as they repaired damage from the recent flood, but that didn't prevent residents of the Roanoke neighborhood from meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to determine how much disaster aid they could receive.
Neither did the starting time. The agency set up a one-day disaster center at Garden City Elementary School that started at 10 a.m., yet some residents were there by 8 a.m.
D'Arcy Charney, a FEMA information officer, said the agency didn't mind the early arrivals. ``We're facilitators,'' he said. ``When people are here, we're here to help them.''
FEMA representatives interviewed more than 70 residents to determine the extent of their damages. After the interviews, residents met with representatives of other government agencies, including the Small Business Administration and the Virginia Employment Commission, for specific assistance.
Glenna Nesbit, the center manager, said the center is set up for the flood victims' convenience.
``This is like a one-stop shopping center,'' Nesbit said. ``Like in a grocery store, they can go to the various sections.''
Residents agreed the process was simple and efficient.
``I think it's great the way they're coming in here so quick and taking care of things,'' Cindy Webb said.
Webb and her husband, Randy, own a plumbing business they operate from their home. In addition to destroying their home and business, the flood also cut short the family's vacation.
``We happened to call back, and they told us we needed to come home,'' Webb said. ``The rest of our vacation was spent cleaning up.''
Webb said the flood left their swimming pool full of mud. It took five hours to clean and 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of water to fill. The flood also lifted and cracked their whirlpool. She said she will seek all the assistance she can.
``It's going to be a lot of paperwork," Webb said. ``I'm trying for business and personal - everything's combined.''
Across Virginia, there were 1,548 applications for disaster aid through Monday. Once applications are completed, they are faxed to the agency's computer center to be processed. An inspector is sent to the site in about two to four days. A week after inspection, residents receive a letter telling them how much and what kinds of aid they qualify for.
``Those that were filled out on the third and fourth of July have already been inspected,'' Nesbit said.
Another agency represented at the center was the Internal Revenue Service. It determined whether flood victims could receive tax benefits.
Mike Spears, a taxpayer service specialist for the IRS, said it is not easy to qualify for benefits.
``Personal losses have to be significant in order to get a tax benefit,'' Spears said. He said the losses must exceed 10 percent of one's income and not be covered by insurance. The deductions must be itemized.
Spears had worked at the Rockbridge County disaster center, where 20 percent to 30 percent of the residents were eligible for benefits. Garden City residents, he found, were in a familiar position.
``Of the six people I've seen so far, it looks like three of them are going to get some tax relief. That's a pretty high total,'' Spears said. ``The damage is pretty severe individually.''
Spears said residents have the option of claiming losses on their 1994 or 1995 tax returns and that disaster victims' forms are processed quicker than normal.
Roanoke officials announced Monday that city crews have begun to clear large items from creek beds to reduce flooding. Crews will get permission from property owners before removing debris.
The rains washed out Bob Odasz's driveway, knocked down a retaining wall and sent 3 inches of water into his basement that he said probably got into his furnace.
``I'm so disgusted, I haven't even gone down there,'' Odasz said. He said he planned to clean his basement after he met with disaster center representatives.
``It's been going pretty smoothly,'' he said. ``I'm glad I got here early.''
Odasz said he hopes he can rebuild so that his home will withstand future floods. ``I don't know what can be done differently. If I knew what to do, I sure would.''
by CNB