Dubuque Family's House on Shaky Ground

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Dubuque Family's House on Shaky Ground

Reporter - Katie Wiedemann, Photojournalist - Joe Willis

By Joe Willis

On a fall afternoon, the Kress family's attention is focused on re-building their tool shed, with memories of last spring, still fresh in their minds.

On April 25th it rained. It rained hard. Paulette Kress said, "It was pouring down rain, in sheets, what I call cats and dogs rain." That's when Paulette Kress looked out her back window and heard a rattling of the fence and then the wall went.

The wall collapsed into the yard below, taking with it, the shed and a huge section of their yard. The family says it could cost $100,000 to fix the wall.

The city of Dubuque says its doing what they can to help.
“We'll continue to investigate and pursue all avenues,” Says city engineer Bob Shiesl. “…to see if we can't assist some way shape or form , but right now it's not looking too good."

Right now, thousands of Iowans are receiving money from FEMA, the Kress’s say they are not eligible for federal funding because their damage happened in April, not the designated disaster time period in June.
"It's been very frustrating there are some days when I do cry," says Paulette. The family can't afford to fix the wall on their own. They're literally in between a rock and a hard place.
Paulette’s husband Cary is at wits end, "there is nothing we can do at this point, so we have to wait it out and just pray, and see what happens."
Waiting, praying, and working on the shed.
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Wednesday, Oct 8 at 10:04 AM Anonymous wrote ...

anyone know where in Dbq this is?

Wednesday, Oct 8 at 9:06 AM WHAT????? wrote ...

Where is the compassion? Some of you people need to get a life. My heart goes out to these people and those of the Flood of 2008. I hope your able to get some assistance with this problem. Don't be too proud to ask for help.Everyone at some point and time will need help from someone.There is no shame in asking for help.Good luck to you.

Wednesday, Oct 8 at 7:55 AM anon wrote ...

even if this happened during the flood it's not like fema would help anyway. they have not been fair to all who were effected by the flood & helped everyone out that needed it. you have hundreds soaking it all in & there are those of us who are fighting every day to even get a dollar.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 3:30 PM Ah hah wrote ...

Now that the officials have rang in GM. It still is you problem. Not the tax payers. So fix it. Ever heard of creep? Yes that is a movement of the earth that occurs due to natural reasons. So when you build on top of it, it naturally increases the movment even faster. Well at least you got to see it in action. Maybe you can sell tickets to the event. Not my problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 2:56 PM A homeowner wrote ...

Yep, some of us don't get this FEMA flood money or mortgage bailouts. Some of us have to work and deny ourselves things and try to fix whatever breaks in our homes.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 1:20 PM GM wrote ...

Home owners insurance does not cover earth movement. This home was obviously built along time ago, before the building codes of today. Go to Dubuque, there are hundreds homes on the cliffs, It was the only place to build homes then.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 12:32 PM Sound like you need to go wrote ...

back to the contractor that built you house of cards. Maybe the city needs to update the building codes there. It is not our problem it is yours.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 11:32 AM Hmmm wrote ...

dont you insurance cover it? If not why? Maybe the backs will bail you out now their money is all freed up by the bail out. Thats it go to the bank..... good luck

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 11:20 AM Sp1ke wrote ...

Sorry to hear about the frustrations. But I'm afraid to say that when the CR flood families see this story they're going to tear it apart... Best of luck to you!

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