Hannibal - While the 2008 flood waters have long receded, most folks in its wake are still struggling to pick up the pieces of what was left behind.
Many have their lives on standby as they wait for word on buyouts from the state and federal governments.
Bubba's Restaurant owner Larry Markley says folks used to drive for miles around to taste his fried green tomatoes. After last year's flood, that seems like a distant memory.
What's happened a year later?
Markley said, "Nothing. We're still in limbo. Waiting for the government to make a decision so we can go on with our lives."
Markley isn't alone. Bubba's is just one of 26 commercial properties in Hannibal waiting for buyouts. There are 7 in LaGrange.
Of the 26 properties in Hannibal eligible for buyouts, 12 are business and 14 are vacant properties. Bubba's is the only one on the Mississippi River. The rest are in the flood prone Bear Creek Area. Hannibal City Manager Jeff LaGarce says the city has $2.5 million dollars worth of earmarked funds approved through the Missouri Department of Economic Development for the buyouts of commercial property here. But before businesses will see any of it the city has to complete a lengthy environmental impact study as well as an appraisal and appraisal review. Only then will the state decide how much they'll offer to each business for the buyout.
Last year Markley was told it would take six months to two years to see the buyout. Now it looks like it will be the latter of the two.
A long time for business owners like Markley, who still is paying out expenses like insurance for a property he can't even use. He used to think he'd reopen somewhere else, now as time goes by he's not so sure.
Markley said, "It all depends on what they're willing to offer us. I can't make that decision and that's one of the most frustrating thing about this You can't determine what you're going to do with your life until you see what someone else is going to do. All my life I've made my own decisions and I can't do that now. The restaurant in is limbo; my life is in limbo; my family is in limbo; everyone is in limbo."
Also in limbo, thirteen employees, only two of which who have found another job since the flood closed down the restaurant a year ago.
Hannibal City Manager Jeff LaGarce says this is his top priority of his office...and he is working carefully and methodically to make sure everything for the flood buyouts is done correctly.
By the way, after the buyouts, the city of Hannibal will own all of the property. It will be used as outdoor recreational areas.
LaGarce says so far FEMA has not approved any buyouts of *residential* properties within the Hannibal city limits.
We also checked with other river communities to find out the status of other flood buyouts.
We learned that all buy out requests in Des Moines and Louisa Counties in Iowa were denied by FEMA.
In Clarksville, Mayor JoAnn Smiley says since the city saved its buildings, no business really qualified for a buyout.
In Canton no buyouts were requested.
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