A New Beginning After a Flood

The Millers are pleased with their new home

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.

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.