Mississippi News
Pascagoula housing market devastated by FEMA
Pascagoula leaders say FEMA rules are killing housing market: ‘It’s literally making people homeless’
PASCAGOULA — Josh Church is usually just the messenger, but that doesn’t make him any more popular among city homeowners.
Church is a building official. And in post-Katrina Pascagoula that has meant years of informing homeowners federal rules meant to protect them won’t allow them to spend the needed funds to repair their homes or keep them up to code.
The city cannot grant the needed building permits if a home or building’s repairs cost more than 50% of what the property is worth. But property values in Pascagoula have plummeted, city officials say, meaning that “50% rule” doesn’t stretch far. Many homes in Pascagoula, built in the 1940s and 50s, are now valued below $100,000.
“It’s literally making people homeless,” Church told Mississippi Today.
Pascagoula has a growing number of deteriorating homes that wind up condemned, according to city leaders. So on Tuesday, Pascagoula’s mayor, economic development director and other city stakeholders launched a coalition demanding congress change the rules set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency they say have devastated Pascagoula’s housing market.
“We have to get some relief,” Pascagoula Mayor Jay Willis said during the Tuesday press conference. “They’re slowly killing neighborhoods in Pascagoula.”
In 2009, in response to Hurricane Katrina, FEMA put 90% of Pascagoula into expanded flood zones. Pascagoula leaders say before that shift only about 20% of the city was in flood zones. As a result, in the last 17 years the bulk of Pascagoula home values have dropped dramatically.
“It’s not easy to tell someone that has lived in their house for 30 years that after a small fire, it’s going to cost 60% of their house value for repairs, so we can’t let them fix it,” Church said.
The FEMA rules are intended to protect people from investing in properties that are likely to flood again. City leaders say that in Pascagoula, homes aren’t in a high-degree of danger.
“These neighborhoods have only flooded one time in history and that was during Katrina,” Willis said.
The coalition has support from state leaders – Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, former Gov. Haley Barbour and Rep. Steven Palazzo – and some of Mississippi’s largest businesses.
Alan Sudduth, a corporate affairs manager for Chevron, took to the podium Tuesday to give the company’s support but also to point out his workers cannot find homes in Pascagoula. The same sentiments have been echoed by Mississippi Power. It’s common for Ingalls shipbuilders to live out-of-state.
“Prior to Katrina, we had a healthy percentage of employees who lived in Pascagoula,” Sudduth said. “Since the application of these rules, it’s been a sharp decline.”
Church said realtors are fielding calls regularly from people who want to live in Pascagoula, which has invested recently in building up its downtown.
“But we don’t have many for sale because we cannot fix them,” Church said.
The “50% rule” covers a 10-year span. In the case of a $100,000-valued home, the city cannot permit more than $50,000 in repairs over a decade – that includes everything from roofs, electrical issues to plumbing.
The coalition calls its campaign “S.O.S Pascagoula” with the slogan: “Don’t leave our neighborhoods behind.”
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Cloudy and humid weekend – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: In Columbus, Mississippi, humid and cloudy weather is expected, with temperatures remaining above average in the lower 80s for the upcoming week. Rain is forecasted for Election Day on Tuesday, continuing into the week with isolated showers likely. This Saturday will see patchy fog in the morning, clearing by midday, with a high around 80 degrees. Sunday will bring similar humidity, with a high in the lower 80s and mild overnight lows in the mid-60s. Throughout the week, expect persistent clouds and humidity alongside mild temperatures.
The post Cloudy and humid weekend – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Sports Zone Saturday: A must-win weekend for Mississippi's college football teams
SUMMARY: College football is back in Mississippi for the 2024 season, with a lineup of exciting games this Saturday. The Sports Zone team will provide special coverage from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on WJTV 12 News. Notable matchups include No. 19 Ole Miss visiting Arkansas at 11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN, while Mississippi State celebrates Homecoming against UMass at 3:15 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. Jackson State hosts UAPB for their Homecoming game at 2:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+, and Alcorn State travels to face Alabama State at 4:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Southern Miss has a bye week.
The post Sports Zone Saturday: A must-win weekend for Mississippi's college football teams appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success
SUMMARY: Danver’s restaurant in Tupelo, Mississippi, recently celebrated its 47th anniversary, maintaining a loyal customer base since its opening in 1977. General Manager Larry Wade, who started as a cook, emphasized the restaurant’s focus on consistency, quality, and customer service. Despite economic challenges, Danver’s has thrived due to its enduring values and community connections, which patrons appreciate. Regular customers, like Tom Robinson, value the reasonable prices and consistent quality. The restaurant aims to continue this legacy, looking forward to its 50th anniversary in three years as it remains a cherished community staple.
The post Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success appeared first on www.wcbi.com
-
Kaiser Health News4 days ago
Vance Wrongly Blames Rural Hospital Closures on Immigrants in the Country Illegally
-
SuperTalk FM5 days ago
Tupelo teen Leigh Occhi declared dead after going missing 32 years ago
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed4 days ago
Co-defendant takes plea deal in YSL RICO trial | FOX 5 News
-
Mississippi News Video4 days ago
Free Clinic of Meridian Celebrates 10 Years
-
Our Mississippi Home6 days ago
Nothing Is More Southern Than Black Eyed Peas
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
Wake County father killed in motorcycle crash
-
News from the South - Missouri News Feed6 days ago
Page warns seniors about property tax freeze sign-up events
-
News from the South - Texas News Feed7 days ago
NASA astronaut who was hospitalized after returning from space has been released