SAND SPRINGS, Okla. -- Many living in the Town and Country neighborhood near Sand Springs are finding out the fate of their properties as they receive determination letters from county inspectors.
Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith says no one is really walking away with good answers.
"These are homes that have been flooded out and most people don’t have insurance," said Keith.
Tulsa County inspectors and volunteers performed assessments on each home. Thursday night, those living in the Town and Country area received letters essentially telling residents whether or not they can move forward and rebuild.
"They have enough damage to their home that they’re telling them to stop everything because they’re going to reassess whether their homes are built to the correct elevation, and if not then they’re going to have to raise their homes to become compliant." said Stephany Ward, who attended the meeting.
Stephany and James Ward, with flood water in their home for six days, were told they didn't have substantial damage and can start rebuilding.
"It is good news but still when you see your home like that, it feels extremely substantial to us," said Stephany Ward.
While they have about $100,000 estimated in repairs, they consider themselves lucky they can at least move forward.
"We’re lucky enough that we have flood insurance, our mortgage company insisted on it even though our home was in a 500 year flood plain," said James Ward.
Others are dealing with road blocks in their recovery from the flood.
"My wife has cancer so because of the debt we have incurred with that, they won’t loan us any money," said David Renfrow, who lives in the Town and Country area.
Renfrow and his wife, Lisa, had about four feet of water sit in their home for eight days. Their letter said they need to review the elevation of their home.
"We worked from our home, our business is gone, everything is gone right now," said Renfrow.
There is a FEMA recovery center set up at the Case Community Center in Sand Springs.
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