SHELBY COUNTY - In Bernadette Ball's seven years of residence along the Flat Rock River, she has learned the question is never whether the river will flood, but when.
"When the water is up it comes straight at my house," Ball said. "2008 was a huge wake-up call."
The river flooded so much, in fact, that nearby Willow Park was declared a natural disaster that June.
"It was over my head," said Ball, "12 feet."
That was when Ball and her neighbors decided that it was time to go and they were relieved to find that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was willing to pay them to do it.
"It was all a voluntary buy-out," Ball said, "but we filled out a paper that we were interested."
Residents of the affected area filled out this paperwork three years ago but have yet to see a dime.
"In the meantime, I've had two floods since then," said Ball.
Robert Purdue was one of the residents who signed up to move out. He has since purchased a new home but is still waiting on funds from FEMA to come through. In the meantime, he is left paying taxes and insurance on a home where he no longer resides.
"I'll knock it down for free if they'll pay me," Purdue said, "and I'll have it done by dark today."
Indiana's Department of Homeland Security is charged with passing out the FEMA money. Early last year, the Federal Government put a lid on the distribution of disaster money during budget negotiations.
Good news for Shelby County residents is that the wait may soon be over. The Department of Homeland Security says offers could be made to these homeowners within the next 30 days. Until they receive these offers; though, Ball and Purdue aren't holding their breath.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Ball said.
Until then, Ball is keeping her eyes to the river as more rain lingers in the forecast.
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