Flooded Foreclosures Cause for Concern

One metro county said Wednesday that it will go after owners of foreclosed and abandoned properties in the wake of recent flooding. Residents in some flood-ravaged neighborhoods complained that the empty homes have become more than just an eyesore.

Some residents worry that the properties are a health concern, while others say they can't make the necessary repairs to their homes, because no one's showing up to clean up the foreclosed properties.

Keely Ziegler's town home was stripped down to the frame after flood waters filled her Austell home last week. Ziegler said she was forced to put her renovations on hold, because the adjoining residence is in foreclosure.

"I have the funds in place. I want to get back to normal," said Ziegler.

"These houses could be covered in mold and have a lot of damage," said Cobb County spokesman Robert Quigley.

Quigley said local officials fielded complaints from people who live in communities with flood damaged foreclosed and abandoned properties.

"The county has got to go out and take a look at them and if the homes are in bad condition with a lot of mold and really dangerous uninhabitable, most likely the property owner or the bank is going to have to take action or the county is going to have to do something," said Quigley.

While a big clean-up operation was underway in Austell neighborhood, one foreclosed home sat vacant with no work being done.

"After the floods, you can see that there is insulation just hanging from the ceiling there's black mold there," said neighbor Jeremy Fryson.

Quigley said the county will give owners of foreclosed and vacant properties 30 days to make the necessary repairs, before taking action. "Ultimately if we can't get the foreclosed one corrected, we will have to go in at taxpayer expense and fix the property," he said.

Quigley said the county will put a lien on any property they are forced to step in and repair in order to recoup the funds once the house sells.