CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Five homeowners will soon receive buyout offers from county officials after Mecklenburg was awarded a $576,000 federal grant to purchase flood-prone properties.
The homes, in the Shannon Park neighborhood near Milton Road and The Plaza, were badly damaged in August 2008 when10 inches of rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay sent a small creek well above its banks and into living rooms.
Water was coming in my house so fast it was like somebody was filling up a pool, said Dana McDaniel, whose Galway Drive home suffered thousands of dollars in damage.
McDaniel, who purchased his home six years ago and has lived in the neighborhood for more than a decade, said he was aware the house was in a flood plain but was not told of previous problems with rising water.
Never had anything, no flooding, no nothing, he told NewsChannel 36.
Mecklenburg has purchased more than 200 homes and businesses in recent years through the buyout program, which is also funded through county storm water fees.
About 4,000 structures remain in flood plains, according to county officials, constructed before the late-1970's when new restrictions changed where homes and businesses could be built.
After receiving a notice about the buyout program in early 2008, McDaniel said he purchased flood insurance. The policy had become active less than a month before his home flooded with more than three feet of water.
His wife, Tajuana McDaniel, said she was thankful the county will be making an offer to buy her home.
As long as it s enough to get out I m going to be fine, she said. Because every time it downpours I am a wreck.
