Lives on hold: Gatineau flood victims await OK to rebuild

Six weeks after the churning river outside their front doorsburst its banks and flooded their homes, some Gatineau residents remain in limbo, waiting for compensation from the province so they can begin to rebuild their lives.

Their basements are gutted. Anything that touched contaminated water had to go. They've dried out and cleaned up, but the progress stops there.

Many are now simply waiting for the go-ahead to begin reconstruction, and say they haveno idea when itmay come.

Officials from the city and the province held meetings Wednesday night to update residents on the help that isavailable.

But home owners like Anny Coensare looking for specifics abouthow much money they'll get, and when.

Coensis dealing withan estimated$43,000 worth of damage to the rental unit in her basement on RueCartier.

She's worried that since the damaged unitisn't her primary living space, the province won't cover all her costs.

"I'm [eligible] to get something," said Coens. "But I don't know how much."

The basement is sealedoff with plastic sheeting so the humidity won't rise upstairs.

Like many flood victims, Coenshas already spent the first cheque from the provinceto hire crews to mop up her home and rip out sodden drywall and flooring.

A provincialinspector came by to takeinventory, but the waiting game continues.

"We can't do anything," said Coens.

Thomas Little, another Rue Cartierresident, owes a restoration company$11,000 for cleaning up his home.

Little lostmajor appliances and a lot of furniture in the flood.

He grew so tiredof living out of a hotel room, he moved back into his guttedbasement unit and set up a temporary bed.

"My life is on hold," said Little. "I'm just sitting around waiting."

Little wants to start rebuilding and can do most of the work himself. But he's hesitant to start until he gets the OK from the province.

Like Coens, Little got a visit from an inspector. Like his neighbour, he's still waiting to hear back.

"I don't know what I'm doing from one day to the next. I have to sit and wait," Little said.

"This is a beautiful house, but it's not functional."