City effort to rebuild flooded homes now complete
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

A grant-funded city effort to rebuild nine flood ravaged homes is finally complete - three years after more than 30 percent of El Campo went under water.

The city of El Campo was awarded a $500,000 Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs HOME program grant in late 2005 to fund the replacement homes.

The grant allowed for three twobedroom homes and six three-bedroom homes. The two-bedroom models are 888 square feet while the three-bedrooms are 1,012 square feet.

Work started on the project March 6, 2007 with J.W. Turner Construction of Tomball getting the bid.

An estimated 30 percent of El Campo went under water during the November 2004 flood which dropped 22 to 28 inches in the area in roughly 24 hours.

Hardest hit during that flood were some of the poorest areas of El Campo where some homeowners fell between the cracks of not having flood insurance and not having a big enough income to qualify for loans.

When the grant became available, 35 residents applied for new homes despite knowing they would have to vacate their current dwelling for at least six months.

The new homes were built on the same sites as the old ones, but raised to meet flood specifications.

"The home disaster program is finished. We have nine units completed and nine families back in them," City Manager John Steelman told Council during its last session.

Although Turner's bid was actually $550,500 for the project, an additional $45,000 in grant funding was later realized.

With city crews pitching in on de- molition work, El Campo was able to provide the nine homes for less than $5,000 out of the budget.

The homes are of a superior quality too.

"The construction is excellent. The quality is what you would expect in a higher priced home," Building Official Andy Waligura said as the first four homes were being inspected in June.