Comments on: Homeowners File Class Action Suit Laying Flood Damage Blame On International Paper

By: Former Bristol Park Res

Former Bristol Park Res — Thu, 15 May 2014 16:33:58 +0000

I am a former resident of Bristol Park. In 1998 a portion of the neighborhood flooded, affecting around 20 homes. It was not as bad as the recent flood, but we lost most of our furniture, carpet, anything that was less than 12 inches off the floor. It cost us thousands to renovate and replace everything. After that event, we got flood insurance. We moved in 2000 and we were required to disclose the flood damage and repair details in the sale of our home. So the residents of Bristol Park had every opportunity to know about this event and could have bought flood insurance.

By: John

John — Thu, 15 May 2014 14:01:04 +0000

If you get assistance from FEMA you will be required to get flood insurance and keep it. If you don’t renew flood insurance and get flooded again FEMA will not help you. That is explained to you by FEMA you just have to read all documents that you sign. 85% of individuals who purchase flood insurance after a disaster like this don’t renew. This whole event was an act of GOD and if I were on the jury I would not hold IP responsible. Attorneys going for the big pocket so they will get a fat pay check. This will go on for years in the court system.

By: rob

rob — Thu, 15 May 2014 12:28:44 +0000

If only they had built that thing to withstand 27″ of rain, this would not have happened!

There were failures of retention ponds, bridges, roads, etc all over town. This was a freak weather event. You can’t sue mother nature for throwing a wild card in there, so you have to blame someone for not thinking that far outside the norm.

By: bartender

bartender — Thu, 15 May 2014 08:56:21 +0000

I don’t understand why people would buy a house in a low lying area anyway and why would a contractor build in an old swamp area. this is mother nature and ip is not at fault. they aren’t the only ones that got flooded.look around every where was flooded. whos gona sue the state for roads caving in. flood ins.is not as high as property ins. so why not carry it especially in a low lying area.so sorry for your loss but Bristol park youre not the only ones that got flooded.

By: DAW2

DAW2 — Thu, 15 May 2014 05:16:29 +0000

I worked for FDOT during Hurricane Georges in 1998, I was also a volunteer with Cantonment VFD. The homes in Bristal Park flooded just as bad then as it did last month. Jetskis were used to rescue residents from there homes then too. This was a rain event like no other, the developers will build any and every where. Every new development causes the watershed to change, the more building in this area will cause the flooding to continue to get worse. It should be mandatory that anyone that gets help from FEMA be required to purchase flood insurance, it only cost pennies on the dollar.

By: Ben Thar

Ben Thar — Thu, 15 May 2014 03:12:49 +0000

Gatorboy hurt my head with math.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 15 May 2014 01:37:47 +0000

sad to see so many lives changes in one night. I have a creek by my house that will go from 2ft to 20feet deep in these rain events. it comes in 3’s 1st ice storm, 2nd floods 3rd????

By: Tystal

Tystal — Thu, 15 May 2014 01:19:29 +0000

@ Koot… I agree with you! People need to get their facts straight first! They wasn’t the only people and places that flooded! Just sayin… Smh!

By: JS

JS — Thu, 15 May 2014 00:44:28 +0000

The paper company may have abandoned the holding ponds, but they had a responsibility to ensure they did not pose a hazard. I remember the flood of 1998. After that, there was a significant rain event and a person from the paper mill came to Bristol Park and asked how we faired? H e said they were cautious and released, whatever they, released in eleven mile creek at the time in smaller amounts over a longer period of time to help reduce the chances of a flood in Bristol Park.

By: Nancy Perry

Nancy Perry — Wed, 14 May 2014 23:37:40 +0000

If Bristol park was the only place that breached or failed I would say go got it ….but they are not. Everywhere I go you can see huge 20 ft + places where the water just carved right through the ground, road, bridges, highways…etc… So no way will I ever believe this was preventable.