Iolans still awaiting FEMA funds

It’s been nearly three years since Rose Phipps and Donna Goodner were chased from their homes by the 2007 flood.
Yet, Phipps and Goodner are among the few residents still awaiting the final step to their recovery — relocation funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Phipps spoke about her frustrations Tuesday at the Iola City Commission meeting. Goodner, meanwhile, has been in contact with the Register on a number of occasions in the past month inquiring about a number of rumors related to the flood funds.
The first rumor, that any FEMA monies not spent by end of the week must be returned to the federal government, is not true, Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Bauer said.
The June 1 deadline was a self-imposed deadline set by Micky Davis, hired by the city to facilitate Iola’s voluntary buyout program.
Phipps and Goodner sold their flood-ravaged homes to the city, but still are due an undetermined amount of relocation funds.
Goodner said her greatest frustration was the difficulty in reaching Davis to inquire about the funds.
“He doesn’t return calls,” Phipps said.
“It’s frustrating because we aren’t told anything,” Goodner told the Register in a telephone interview. “We’re not looking for a handout. We just want closure.”
The relocation funds were added to the buyout monies so that residents could set up new residences elsewhere.
Goodner noted that she had to take out a loan in order to do a number of repairs to her new home.
“The blower doesn’t work on my heating stove,” Goodner said. “I’d like to know by the time it gets cold again if I’ll have any money to fix it.”
Phipps said she was still deciding whether to skip a trip to Iowa over the Memorial Day weekend in order to decorate graves.
“I don’t want to miss any phone calls I might get, and then be out of any money,” she said.
Bauer assured Phipps that the money would not be held back because of a missed phone call.
Mayor Bill Maness said he understood Phipps’ and others’ frustration.
“It seems like everyone has hit a brick wall,” Maness said.
In other flood-related news, Bauer said the state has applied for an extension to ensure FEMA funds related to the 2007 flood recovery remain in place until all of those eligible for relocation funds are paid.