May 13, 2008 10:52 pm
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By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — Members of the Lead-Impacted Communities Relocation Assistance Trust told a large group of Picher residents Tuesday night that the trust would continue to buy properties no matter the amount of damage from Saturday’s deadly tornado.
“We will continue to make offers regardless of the damage,” said Mark Osborn, vice chairman of the trust. “We’re going to offer buyout assistance regardless of the damage to homes.”
About 150 people packed the Civic Center in Miami for an update on the relocation program and the tornado’s impact on the program.
Osborn said residents in Picher who have refused offers made by the trust can be re-evaluated, and another offer will be made.
Residents with homeowners insurance are expected to forward the insurance money to the trust, and the trust will issue a buyout payment, he said.
Osborn said the trust will make a higher offer than what insurance companies will be willing to pay.
“We don’t want people to get double value for their homes,” he said.
The committee provided forms for homeowners whose houses were destroyed by the tornado but have not been appraised by the trust.
Cinnabar, the company the trust hired to do the appraisals, will be assigning more personnel for appraisals in Picher in an effort to speed up the work, Osborn said.
A total of 300 residents have accepted the trust’s offers for relocation assistance, and 11 have declined offers.
Saturday’s tornado damage dominated the meeting as state officials provided information for residents.
Linda Soos-Davis, Human Services Division chief with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, said a request was filed Tuesday for a federal declaration to designate the area a disaster zone.
“We anticipate a quick response,” she said.
If the declaration is made, residents will be eligible for federal assistance.
The American Red Cross is providing housing vouchers, and the Tzu Chi Foundation will be at Picher City Hall beginning today to distribute cash vouchers, Soos-Davis said.
Soos-Davis said pets that were found after the storm were taken to the animal shelter in Commerce.
Monty Elder of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality said the community can be reimbursed for debris removal, but, she warned, residents who are cleaning up at properties should wear masks when removing debris.
“We’re not sure how much lead from the chat piles migrated,” Elder said. “And there may be loose asbestos in houses, and mold also can be an issue.”
Tarps will be available to residents who need to cover roofs.
A boil order for water has been issued, but preliminary tests have shown no contamination, she said. If final results are negative, the voluntary boil order will be lifted, she said.
300 water customers
Picher Mayor Sam Freeman said the town has about 300 residential and commercial water customers remaining since the buyout program began.
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