Six months after Florence: ‘We don’t want to go through this again’

March 09-- Mar. 9--MAXTON -- Tim Locklear II had to rebuild his flooded home on Old Landing Road in the months following Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Nearly two years later, it happened again during Hurricane Florence.

"I like it here,? he said of his place in rural Robeson County, "but the river likes me too much.?

Construction on Locklear's gutted home, which is no more than 100 feet from a bend in the Lumber River, has stalled. He is waiting on word of a federal hazard mitigation grant, which could provide a buyout or raising the home's elevation.

But the 44-year-old who runs a jewelry business in Pembroke doesn't know what he's going to do. He ponders the possibility of putting the house on the market as-is.

The family, he figured, will probably relocate after this latest hurricane disaster.

His wife, Cecelia, has let him know that she doesn't want to go through the rebuilding process a second time. She fears yet another hurricane in the future.

"I don't want to put her through it again,? Locklear said. "My name's still in the bucket for Matthew (assistance). The house was flooded again. We don't want to go through this again. We were just trying to get in the house after rebuilding from Matthew."

Their family had been back in the house for about eight months when Florence hit.

"We didn't get to light up the fireplace," Locklear said with a laugh.

Since Florence, the couple has been staying in a rented singlewide mobile home behind his parents' house, about 12 miles away. Their three teenage sons are living with his parents for now.

Florence was particularly devastating for Robeson County, where 1,800 people sought emergency shelter immediately after the flood. From there, 639 families were accepted for temporary shelter assistance, county spokeswoman Emily Jones said.

As of March 1, about 54 families with nowhere else to go continue to receive temporary shelter assistance in Robeson.

Those services are expected to end Tuesday, Jone said, attributing the information to FEMA. The agency is working to get people still in temporary housing into permanent housing. The county has emergency funding to help with first and second months of rent. They can also get help with utility hookup fees and some utility bills, as long as they maintain a sustainable income, she said.

After Matthew, the Locklears had to spend about $150,000 on building materials, including $60,000 on cabinetry. Another $30,000 went to household items and furniture.

"We had flood insurance," he said.

Still, the couple spent about $49,000 of their own money to rebuild after Matthew. That was from floodwaters reaching 15 inches inside their house.

During Florence, the water rose to 36 inches.

"Florence was way worse for us,? he said.

This time, he said, FEMA helped them gut the house. The family also received $20,000 from the agency to disinfect and to cover duct work. Their son, 19-year-old Trey, suffers from asthma, and they weren't about to let him be exposed to black mold.

Robeson County already has approved the property for elevation, Locklear said, but he now is pursuing a change in hazard mitigation status to acquisition buyout. "My main issue right now is being confirmed with the buyout," he said. "We're going to need that money for a new start out of a flood zone."

Locklear and his wife raised their family by the river. He's from Union Chapel, about 12 miles from Maxton. In 1994, they bought the spread by the Lumber River and starting remodeling the existing home. That included the addition of two wings.

"That's what drew me over here. I love the river,? he said. "The river was our outlet. It's just right here, like you're on vacation every day. My sons and me would fish. We'd go swimming in the river. It's just a part of my life.

"None of our family blamed God for the flood for the second time,? he added. "The memories will always be there, but I think it's time for a new start."

Staff writer Michael Futch can be reached at mfutch@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3529.

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