Tri-City Sun

After two dams failed in Midland County, more than 11,000 residents were evacuated from their homes due to massive flooding.

For Trudy Fernette and others in her neighborhood, flooding naturally created a huge problem – but the destruction left behind has become an even larger disaster. 

ABC12 recently reported the story of Fernette and the struggles of residents affected by the flooding.

Fernette had to throw away precious memories from her two sons who served in Iraq and Afghanistan – including letters they’d written and other personal items.

“We had just come to terms with what he had lost. We just kind of seen a little bit of light, and then we get the notice saying basically we’re going to lose the house and we need to move,” she said.

Fernette and her neighbors received a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency two weeks after Michigan’s catastrophic flooding. The FEMA letter said that Fernette would have to follow multiple rules to qualify for the federal insurance needed to repair her damaged home.

Midland residents are required to take measures such as filling in basements to provide structure to keep houses from collapsing. They will also have to raise their homes at least one foot above the floor plain level. 

That may sound straightforward, but for Fernette, her home's structure makes that practically impossible. And she’s not the only resident of Midland struggling to meet the regulations to received the needed financial assistance to keep their homes.

But there is another possibility for Fernette and other Midland residents. ABC12 reported that the City of Midland may apply for a grant that would have the federal government pay 75 percent of the costs, with the city paying the remaining 25 percent. 

That coverage, however, may still not be enough financial relief many Midland homeowners need to meet FEMA requirements.