Clarksville homeowners waiting to see if they will get federal relief

People living in Clarksville who dealt with flooding back in September are still trying to figure out their next steps.

The Shell Rock River crested at over 21 feet, flooding 150 homes and several downtown businesses.

Dana Stock got more than 8 feet of flood waters into his home. He had to completely gut out his place.

"Everything had to go, he says. Sheet rock, installation, wiring has got to be re-done, furnaces, all new appliances. We got to get everything new."

He has been staying with his girlfriend, and waiting to see if he will get any federal dollars. But he says that's hard because Clarksville is not designated as a federal flood plain.

He says, "We're in a no flood zone, so it's hard to get flood insurance. We tried."

Clarksville Mayor Val Swinton says President Obama's disaster declaration for 19 Iowa counties won't help Stock, and other homeowners.

"It only affects municipalities, Swinton says. So we will get repaid for our expenses and the damage to the city itself. But as far as individual homeowners, that declaration isn't gonna help them at all.”

Swinton met with the Iowa Northern Railway, and Butler County Emergency Management last week to see what they can do to prevent future disasters. He says they did not come up with a full prevention plan, but he wants to visit to Hawkeye Country next.

He says, "The Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa has remapped the entire state. And this new map might be able to help us decide how to prevent this from happening again. We haven't seen that map yet, so we are not sure how effective it's going to be for us.

The Army Corps of Engineers plans to come to a future Clarksville city council meeting to discuss flood relief.