Connellsville Flood Victims Say They're Being Pressured To Move On
CONNELLSVILLE (KDKA) -- The flood waters in August rushed through the low-lying neighborhoods of Connellsville, knocking Janet Gasbaro's home off its foundation and filling her living room waste deep.
KDKA's Andy Sheehan: "You can't live in that house?"
Gasbaro: "No, you cannot. They said it's unfit for habitat."
Since then she, husband and two kids have lived in a trailer while they wait on an insurance check to rebuild or buy a new home. But, on Monday, the city code enforcement officer said he was evicting her.
"He told me I had 24 hours to vacate the premise," said Gasbaro.
The family has nowhere to go and no money for a motel, but City Clerk Vernon Ohler says they are in violation of several building codes.
"It's not hooked up to a sanitation system, inadequate water, extension cords running," Ohler said.
But Gasbaro is not the only one who's feeling pressure to move on. Tuesday was the deadline from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to accept a buyout for their property or try to rehab their homes to flood-resistant specifications.
"It is their choice," said Ohler.
Though retired Air Force veteran Russell Soisson wants to stay and fix up his house, he says he doesn't know if that's possible.
"You either have to raise the house up 10 feet, which is absolutely insane, especially a house that was built in 1900 that would fall apart like a card house, or do a buyout. They'll pay you for the property," said Soisson.
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Another neighbor, Eugene Bailey, says he believes FEMA and the city wants him out, but says he'll rebuild regardless.
"Last time I looked at the deed, Mr. Eugene Bailey was on there. Not the city of Connellsville, not FEMA, it was nobody else. It was Mr. Bailey. That's the way it's going to stay," Bailey said.
