Oct 11, 2008 8:05 pm US/Central
Hotel Stays End for Flood Victims
LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (Post-Tribune) ―
Checkout time is nearing for some 250 people who have been housed at area hotels after flooding forced them from their homes last month.
As of Friday, state and federal relief agencies have contacted all but 50 of those people to help them find long-term housing before state-issued hotel vouchers expire Monday, said John Erickson, spokesman for the state Department of Homeland Security.
"We don't want one family to be left without a place to stay on Monday," he said.
Residents in flood-damaged areas were moved to hotels Sept. 26, when area shelters closed. Since then, many displaced residents seem to have made the transition to new apartments, said Gene Romano, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Local relief agencies may provide assistance for residents who need money for groceries, lease deposits and other forms of aid, Erickson said, but the hotel voucher program will not be extended.
Lake Station resident William Conklin said FEMA has been helpful, but said some flood victims still will be homeless when they are forced to leave the Majestic Star Casino Hotel on Monday.
"Not everyone here will have a place to stay," said Conklin, who was forced out of his home following the rains.
Conklin found an apartment from a list provided by FEMA but there is a tenant living there who won't move out until after Monday. Until then, Conklin plans to bunk with another evacuee who found an apartment.
"I found a place, but they're still kicking us all out of here," he said, "and not everybody is as lucky as I am."
Countywide, 12,009 residents have applied for FEMA assistance, officials say, and 2,050 have received some $7 million in federal aid for temporary housing costs, home repair and other needs.
FEMA has identified more than 1,000 available rental housing units and has set up a call center to connect residents with local aid agencies, officials said. FEMA also will assign a caseworker to follow up with residents still facing flood-related challenges.
Anyone in hotels with questions or concerns about housing after Monday may dial 211 locally to be linked to those who can help. If that line is busy, people can call (800) 826-7871 and ask for "Information."
(CBS 2 and the Post-Tribune are news partners covering stories in the communities of northwest Indiana. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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