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Iowa Cities Consider Moving Flood-Damaged Homes

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Sep 15, 2009 at 11:19 AM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 15, 2009 at 11:19 AM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) - Several Iowa cities are considering the option of moving homes damaged in last summer's flood to higher ground instead of demolishing them.

Officials say homes can be relocated, under some circumstances, but a lot of questions remain.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Elkader and Mason City are among those considering the idea.

Iowa Homeland Security spokesman Bret Voorhees says it's possible to relocate some homes bought with Federal Emergency Management Agency money, but it's rarely done because those homes are more than 50 percent damaged.

Another possibility is to use federal block grants to acquire the properties not eligible for FEMA buyouts. Officials say homes still owned by pre-flood owners could be relocated. Also under considering is whether investors could get the rights to a home and move it and sell it.

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