CEDAR RAPIDS - The money is finally available for Cedar Rapids to start buying out some of the flooded homes. But the key word there is "some."

Demolition crews could get really busy in the next few months. That's because the city says they are ready to start the actual process of buying out 117 homes sitting in what will soon be the wet side of a flood levy.

After months of pre-work, the city is ready to start making final steps to buy the homes.

"Had city staff not done all that stuff they did, now when it's approved, we'd have a six month wait, six of seven months, not four months," said Cedar Rapids City Councilman Chuck Wieneke.

Back when the flood waters were still surrounding these homes, FEMA said it would take until now.

"FEMA was able to predict it because this is how long it takes other communities, so we know we're on the right track, doing the right thing. The money is available, so I think it's a positive," said Cedar Rapids Development Coordinator Jennifer Pratt

The FEMA money will cover 117 homes, but there are 50 more homes that FEMA won't cover because they are technically in the 500-year flood plain.

"I think it's really important, those 50 not eligible for FEMA, by not being eligible for FEMA, they are eligible for CDBG, and that process is seamless," said Pratt.

The biggest hurdle for moving forward is making sure flood victims don't double dip and get duplicate benefits from the Federal Government.

So, the state will follow what flood victims do with their FEMA money for the next two months.

Also Thursday, the state sent in it's final application for CDBG money and they expect to hear back in a matter of weeks.

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