Disaster decree could get federal aid flowing

Regina Waltz and her daughter, Allyson, stand outside their home on Bramlett Road. The home they have lived in for the past 16 years is a total loss following the flooding last week. Staff/Ken Osburn e-mail this story

That means the Federal Emergency Management Agency will assess the flood damage, and perhaps recommend loans to help more than 150 families restore houses. The assessment could begin by the end of the week, Sanford said.

That's good news for people such as Regina Waltz, who was among dozens forced from their homes when a storm Thursday dumped nearly 6 inches of rain on western Greenville County and downtown Greenville.

The county estimates damage to roads, bridges and sewers at more than $5.8 million. FEMA also could recommend grants to help with those repairs.

Waltz and her family still are trying to clean up the mess that covered their yard and filled their house with 17 inches of water. "We were 100 percent destroyed," she said.

Waltz was pleased to hear that FEMA will be here soon. "After five days of mud up to our knees, this is good," she said.

However, FEMA won't automatically begin throwing money around, said Scot Wendelken, director of Greenville Emergency Management. FEMA will review county and city damage estimates and then do its own assessment, he said.

It also will determine whether houses qualify for repair loans through the federal Small Business Administration, Wendelken said.

FEMA won't assess an area without a governor's emergency declaration and an estimate of $4.5 million in damage, Wendelken said.

Waltz's gray, one-story home on Bramlett Road has been in her family for 37 years, she said. During that time, they had never seen nearby Long Branch Creek jump its banks.

But Thursday morning, they made a daring escape in the pouring rain as water burst into their house. Clinging to a neighbor's chain link fence they inched toward their truck parked above the water, carrying what few possessions they could.

They returned that afternoon to find the house destroyed. A six-foot wooden fence from across the street had sailed into the yard. It was resting on top of her daughter's aqua-colored Kia Sophia. The car was buried in water.

Despite the devastating losses, they did what hundreds of others have done. They started to clean up the mess.

They also did something most haven't. They went to the American Red Cross.

Twenty-seven families have sought aid from the agency, which provides assistance in emergencies, said Ashley Engler, spokeswoman.

"It's very frustrating to us because we can help people, but they aren't coming," she said.

Red Cross crews have provided food, clothes and temporary shelter, Engler said. They also have brought food and drinks to people cleaning up in the hard-hit Parker, Sans Souci, Berea and City View neighborhoods.

The Waltzes continued to clean up in the hot sun Tuesday. It's not a pleasant job. Much has been lost, including priceless baby pictures and photo albums.

"Things you can't replace," she said.

During the storm, a large metal dumpster crossed the road and docked in their back yard.

Waltz worried about what lurked among the debris that filled her yard.

"I don't want to touch it," she said.