A New Beginning After a Flood

Tuesday, June 29, 2004

In June 2003, flooding hit the Kanawha County area of West Virginia the hardest. About 1-½ inches of rain fell in the Charleston area during a two-hour period. The resulting flood destroyed or damaged nearly 650 homes and 50 businesses. The Clendenin area of northern Kanawha County was no exception.

[Photo: Kevin and Nancy Miller standing in front of their home]
Kevin and Nancy Miller's house was destroyed in this flood. The Miller's home did not qualify for FEMA's flood insurance, and they were faced with a possible foreclosure. They explored their options, and found HUD's Single Family Disaster Relief Program.

Under this program, HUD allows persons and families whose homes are destroyed as a result of a Presidentially Declared Disaster, to move into a HUD-owned property under a rental agreement for a period of up to 6 months. At the end of the 6-month period, the disaster victims are given first option to purchase the property at the appraised value.

The Miller family decided to take this option to rent a HUD-owned home, and then bought the home earlier this year. This program is just one way HUD is making continued homeownership a reality for many disaster victims. For more information on the HUD's Real Estate Owned (REO) Properties available to Disaster Victims, please visit our website at www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/reodisas.cfm.

 
Content Archived: September 09, 2009