HANNIBAL, MO. -- A number of Hannibal residents began seeing signs of relief after signing off on the 2008 flood residential buyouts.
This marks an end to almost three years of sifting through paperwork and simply waiting for it all to process.
City Manager Jeff LaGarce is expected to meet with more affected residents this week to finalize their buyouts.
"We're very appreciative of all the residents and their patience and understanding during this time, because when we were waiting all those years, there was nothing we could do except keep prodding FEMA," LaGarce said.
"We were flooded out in '08, had that bad storm and it's gotten in the yards over the years but never in the house," Greg Jones said.
Still, when the opportunity came along to sign up for a flood buyout, the Jones' family took it.
"Some of these property owners had to sandbag their properties, move all their belongings out and relocate their family and go through all that. If the water hits them, or the water begins to recede as it did in 2008 and missed some of these properties, that's even better. But they're just as much impacted as anybody else, because they go through all the same aggravated expenses, costs and relocations, and they've been going ," LaGarce said
"It was a big relief, because there was just so much we needed to do with the house. But now, it's like an elephant's been lifted off our chest," Barbara Jones said.
Barbara and her husband Greg signed the paperwork Tuesday morning, giving up their home to the city. The night before, they moved all of their possessions into a motel.
They expect their stay to last about a month. It may be cramped quarters, but Barbara and Greg consider themselves one of the lucky ones.
Happy today? "Oh yes! Can't you tell I'm all bubbly?" Barbara laughed.
In the coming month, the Jones will look for another home, further from the water.
"Everybody in Hannibal knows it will happen again, but that's one less challenge they'll have to deal with," LaGarce said.
Overall, the buyouts from the city totalled about $385,000 dollars.
KHQA asked LaGarce what the next steps will be once the properties are demolished. By law, they will have to be used for recreational activities.
"When we think recreation, we think jungle gyms and swings, but it doesn't have to be jungle gyms and swings. Some of the properties are going to lend themselves very well to expanding parks or to building ball fields. Other properties won't be as applicable for recreation because of where they're located, but you have to use them for recreation. So we're trying to find some good uses for them that will be an asset to the neighborhood," LaGarce said.
Jeff LaGarce says he's especially excited about turning one of the commercial buyouts into an outdoor sports recreation area.
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