September 24, 2014 - Skyline Newspaper

By Skyline Newspaper September 24, 2014 11 years 527 words

South Haven Families Still Awaiting Repairs After Late August Flood

After an August 21 storm caused the worst flooding South Haven, Illinois has seen since 1991, a number of homes in the area were significantly damaged. But while more than three …


After an August 21 storm caused the worst flooding South Haven, Illinois has seen since 1991, a number of homes in the area were significantly damaged. But while more than three weeks have passed since the initial flood, area residents say they have not received any state or federal aid to make necessary repairs. As a result, at least two houses are currently uninhabitable and others have incurred serious damage. At least one family is staying in their home despite the problems because they have nowhere to go.The August 21 storm wasn’t the first flood South Haven area had seen over the course of the summer, as heavy rains and floods had also occurred on Mother’s Day. However, it did cause the most problems, resulting in so much water that minivans were submerged and the South Haven Volunteer Fire Department had to rescue people by boat. But despite the damage, local officials say that the costs aren’t high enough to qualify for repair assistance, even when combined with those in nearby Portage. Many town residents are organizing, reaching out to government agencies and working to prevent further flooding, but for the moment, this lack of aid is leaving some people in the lurch. Several houses have experienced typical flood problems: many crawl spaces are filled with mold and sewage, while appliances, furnishings and carpeting were ruined and now fill two construction-sized trash containers. In the cases where the homes are uninhabitable, residents are typically staying with family members and friends while they try to handle flood-related matters. But there doesn’t seem to be an easy way out for anyone: some people have reported that they did not qualify for flood insurance because their homes were not located in a flood plain, and others have been denied coverage because their plans did not include sewage back-ups. As a result, many have now way to pay for repairs or replacements. Unfortunately, this gap between insurance coverage and repairs is a problem across the United States, as many homeowners often can’t afford the additional cost of repairs in addition to the general payments associated with owning a house. As a result, a number of people across the country have commented on the hidden costs of housing and the challenges they pose to a high number of Americans. The South Haven area has formed a committee to address the flooding and work with local government, such as the Twin Peaks Conservancy District.The district has already spent $2 million on building retention ponds on the west side of the town, but says that Porter County will need to focus on diverting the storm water away from Governor Road, the site of some of the worst destruction. A plan commissioned by the county in 2012 reports that it could cost $16 million to fix South Haven’s flood problems. Residents of South Haven have set up two fundraising accounts to raise money for necessary repairs: www.gofundme.com/dfv1b4 and www.gofundme.com/dlj86c. A Facebook page titled South Haven Families of Flood has also been created for anyone who wishes to make a charitable donation or offer additional help.

entrance and staircase of the House invaded by mud 1

After an August 21 storm caused the worst flooding South Haven, Illinois has seen since 1991, a number of homes in the area were significantly damaged. But while more than three weeks have passed since the initial flood, area residents say they have not received any state or federal aid to make necessary repairs. As a result, at least two houses are currently uninhabitable and others have incurred serious damage. At least one family is staying in their home despite the problems because they have nowhere to go.The August 21 storm wasn’t the first flood South Haven area had seen over the course of the summer, as heavy rains and floods had also occurred on Mother’s Day. However, it did cause the most problems, resulting in so much water that minivans were submerged and the South Haven Volunteer Fire Department had to rescue people by boat. But despite the damage, local officials say that the costs aren’t high enough to qualify for repair assistance, even when combined with those in nearby Portage. Many town residents are organizing, reaching out to government agencies and working to prevent further flooding, but for the moment, this lack of aid is leaving some people in the lurch.

Several houses have experienced typical flood problems: many crawl spaces are filled with mold and sewage, while appliances, furnishings and carpeting were ruined and now fill two construction-sized trash containers. In the cases where the homes are uninhabitable, residents are typically staying with family members and friends while they try to handle flood-related matters. But there doesn’t seem to be an easy way out for anyone: some people have reported that they did not qualify for flood insurance because their homes were not located in a flood plain, and others have been denied coverage because their plans did not include sewage back-ups. As a result, many have now way to pay for repairs or replacements.

Unfortunately, this gap between insurance coverage and repairs is a problem across the United States, as many homeowners often can’t afford the additional cost of repairs in addition to the general payments associated with owning a house. As a result, a number of people across the country have commented on the hidden costs of housing and the challenges they pose to a high number of Americans.

The South Haven area has formed a committee to address the flooding and work with local government, such as the Twin Peaks Conservancy District.The district has already spent $2 million on building retention ponds on the west side of the town, but says that Porter County will need to focus on diverting the storm water away from Governor Road, the site of some of the worst destruction. A plan commissioned by the county in 2012 reports that it could cost $16 million to fix South Haven’s flood problems.

Residents of South Haven have set up two fundraising accounts to raise money for necessary repairs: www.gofundme.com/dfv1b4 and www.gofundme.com/dlj86c. A Facebook page titled South Haven Families of Flood has also been created for anyone who wishes to make a charitable donation or offer additional help.

By Skyline Newspaper September 24, 2014 11 years 362 words

House in South Bend Poses Possible Lead Violation

A homeowner in South Bend, Indiana has issued numerous complaints to code enforcement officials in her area about a problem house in her neighborhood over the course of a year. But …


A homeowner in South Bend, Indiana has issued numerous complaints to code enforcement officials in her area about a problem house in her neighborhood over the course of a year. But while city representatives report they are unable to intervene unless the structure poses an imminent danger, the woman reports a number of problems that could threaten local residents. The case illustrates a common problem with urban and suburban living in the United States: as areas decline, residents increasingly find their standards and even safety threatened by the choices of those around them.Susan Moore has witnessed code enforcement officials writing tickets and issuing warnings to her neighbor for the past 14 months, only to give the homeowner numerous extensions. In response, Moore decided to bring the case to the city council meeting on Monday, September 8, in the hopes that the South Bend city council would intervene.The property’s problems are numerous: Moore claims that the home’s residents use the house’s bathroom even though the water has been disconnected, that it attracts rodents, and that there is litter and contaminated water in the yard. Once, she even had the state health department test for lead, only to find that the result was a concentration of 2,740 micrograms per deciliter. The legal reporting limit is 60. Moore has lived next to the problem home for 11 years. Since the problems began, she has resorted to lining her property with moth balls to discourage rodents and animals from the neighboring property from visiting her land. Finally tired of watching her neighbor making quick, insubstantial repairs, she has delivered photographs taken over a course of three months to the South Bend legal department and code enforcement offices. While unfortunately not common due to a high rate of urban and suburban decline in the United States, property owners across the U.S. are nonetheless shocked by the reported conditions at the South Bend property. Currently, South Bend code enforcement officials have scheduled a hearing for the problematic homeowner on September 25. Moore has stated that she is hopeful the upcoming city council meeting and hearing will cause the city to do more than issue the homeowner another fine.

A homeowner in South Bend, Indiana has issued numerous complaints to code enforcement officials in her area about a problem house in her neighborhood over the course of a year. But while city representatives report they are unable to intervene unless the structure poses an imminent danger, the woman reports a number of problems that could threaten local residents. The case illustrates a common problem with urban and suburban living in the United States: as areas decline, residents increasingly find their standards and even safety threatened by the choices of those around them.Susan Moore has witnessed code enforcement officials writing tickets and issuing warnings to her neighbor for the past 14 months, only to give the homeowner numerous extensions. In response, Moore decided to bring the case to the city council meeting on Monday, September 8, in the hopes that the South Bend city council would intervene.The property’s problems are numerous: Moore claims that the home’s residents use the house’s bathroom even though the water has been disconnected, that it attracts rodents, and that there is litter and contaminated water in the yard. Once, she even had the state health department test for lead, only to find that the result was a concentration of 2,740 micrograms per deciliter. The legal reporting limit is 60.

Moore has lived next to the problem home for 11 years. Since the problems began, she has resorted to lining her property with moth balls to discourage rodents and animals from the neighboring property from visiting her land. Finally tired of watching her neighbor making quick, insubstantial repairs, she has delivered photographs taken over a course of three months to the South Bend legal department and code enforcement offices.

While unfortunately not common due to a high rate of urban and suburban decline in the United States, property owners across the U.S. are nonetheless shocked by the reported conditions at the South Bend property.

Currently, South Bend code enforcement officials have scheduled a hearing for the problematic homeowner on September 25. Moore has stated that she is hopeful the upcoming city council meeting and hearing will cause the city to do more than issue the homeowner another fine.