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Flood measures for Belle Haven area perplex left-out Huntington residents
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Nicolas and Henny Martinez were one of the many residents who experienced flooding in their house on Fenwick Drive just a few yards from this Potomac River tributary in the Huntington Neighborhood of Alexandria. – Andrew Harnik/Examiner
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - James Breedlove saw the first floor of his Arlington Terrace house washed out in June 2006, when a wave of rank floodwaters swelled up from Cameron Run.
The retired barber’s situation was typical of the more than 150 working-class Huntington homeowners in the aftermath of the storm: thousands of dollars of property damage dealt, with no flood insurance.
On Thursday, Breedlove questioned why the Army Corps of Engineers would find the area ineligible for millions of dollars worth of projects that could prevent another calamity, while at the same time finding a nearby community meets the same threshold.
Belle Haven, a generally upper-class area that was flooded by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, is vulnerable enough to qualify for a $13 million levee and flood wall, the corps said this week. In November, the agency found a $24 million dredging and flood wall in Huntington didn’t meet the same cost-benefit standard.
“Of course it hurts, we were hit a lot harder than they were,” Breedlove said. “We feel like if anything’s done, we should be one of the first in line, along with [Belle Haven] — I wouldn’t take nothing away from them ... we need something in Huntington.”
The two communities are little more than a mile away, but share little in common economically. Belle Haven, billed by one real estate agent as “upscale” and “prestigious,” is populated by large, elegant homes. By comparison, Huntington is far more modest.
“We have no millionaires,” said Henny Martinez, whose house sits a stone’s throw from Cameron Run on Fenwick Drive.
Martinez, who also had no flood insurance, lost her car and all the appliances in her basement during the 2006 storm. “I don’t understand why they cannot do it,” she said of the federal flood protections.
The reason comes down to math, said Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Chris Augsburger.
Belle Haven, according to the corps’ analysis, is likely to flood with greater frequency, and those floods have the potential to harm more structures of greater total value.
“We work diligently to ensure that the conclusions we draw are based on the best, most accurate information available,” Augsburger said. “With each project comes its own data, but the process we follow and the methods we use remain constant and equal.”
wflook@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:52 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 8, 2007 re: "Flooded Midwest, Plains Try Recover"
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5:34 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007
re: "Oil Plus Floods Turn Kansas Town Slimy"
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6:23 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 2, 2007
re: "Flooding Forces Kansas Town's Evacuation"
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11:33 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 2, 2007
re: "Hundreds Evacuate As Plains Rivers Bulge"
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10:47 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 2, 2007
re: "Hundreds Evacuate As Plains Rivers Bulge"
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Examiner Reader said:
Is there anywhere that I can search for information concerning two Rushford, MN relatives (Lyle & Gladys Meyers) who have not been heard from since the town was evacuated during the flooding? Appreciate your help. Denny Engle d-n-d-2@peoplepc.com
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Examiner Reader said:
is there anyone who is looking to locate to maine for a safe environment - l have a large home on the river and am looking for someone who is family oriented with children to share this magnificant home with me. please respond if yo are interested
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Examiner Reader said:
There aren't any ariel photos of the flooded towns in southeast Kansas. Photos would give everyone a better idea of how massive the flooding is.
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Mike H. said:
You have my sympathies Pearlie Mae Cain. I hope that your brother and sister are alright.
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Pearlie Mae Cain said:
I Pearlie Was Bron and rised in Coffeyville ; And it saded me Because it is one Town you could be happy it was a historyical ; And ever Four year's we would have Home coming I will miss going home God Bless every one there ; I have not heard from my Brother are sister ; Herman scott 409 east 4th street And Lydia that live in th third street apartments Love you
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