Louisville homeowners forbidden from repairing flooded homes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Gerald and Nancy Barton are in a fix. After an April 3 storm flooded their Louisville home, they had to tear out the floorboards and the bottom half of the wallboards.

But The Courier-Journal reports (http://cjky.it/1Pbwmi1) they can’t get the permits they need to repair the damage. That’s because of a Metro ordinance designed to prevent rebuilding in areas that suffer from repeated flooding.

So people like the Bartons can’t repair or sell. And they can’t afford to move.

The crisis has prompted Mayor Greg Fischer to form a special work group tasked with developing a plan within 30 days. Officials said the group will discuss both short- and long-term options, including a buyout fund.

___

Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

©2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.