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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Couple Who Sacrificed Home May Get Reward Left With $66,000 Mortgage After City Tore Down Their House

From Staff And Wire Reports

A couple who sacrificed their home to help save the city of Orofino finally may get a little reward for their loss.

It appears the city could get federal funds to buy out the Wilson family. That’s the first firm sign of relief for the Wilsons, who were left with a $66,000 mortgage and no home after the February floods.

The city tore down the home and a nearby church, fearing both buildings would collapse into Orofino Creek and either take out bridges, or create dams that would push more flood waters into town. The Wilsons’ bank told them they didn’t need flood insurance so they didn’t spend the extra money for it when they purchased the home - their first - less than a year ago.

Federal officials and the bank that holds the mortgage both told the Wilsons they were out of luck. The Small Business Administration offered a low-interest loan but the Wilsons couldn’t handle payments on that and their old mortgage.

Finally, Sen. Larry Craig asked Henry Cisneros, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, for help.

Hal DeCell III, assistant secretary of the department, said the Wilsons could be eligible for help under FEMA’s hazard mitigation program.

As a result, the city has submitted a preliminary application to buy out the Wilsons and four other homes, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s hazard mitigation program, Orofino City Manager Rick Lamm said.

The property along Orofino Creek would revert to the city, and never could be built upon again, Lamm said.

Final applications are due May 30 for FEMA funding, after property appraisals are complete, he said.

Lamm said the city is trying to get the rest of the money for the property owners through the Community Development Block Grant program.

“Our objective is to try to make them whole again,” he said. “We are positive and optimistic that relief isn’t too far off.

The Wilsons, meanwhile, are living in a rented mobile home with rent assistance from FEMA. But they have to move by June 10 - when the people who own the mobile home plan to move in.

Cindy Wilson, a high school teacher, and her logger husband “are scurrying around to find someplace else to get into,” she said.

, DataTimes