Habitat for Humanity equipment stolen at flooded home site - WSMV Channel 4
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A couple who lost their home in the May 2010 flood were thrilled when they found out Habitat for Humanity would help them build a new one.
But between the building permits and resistance from Metro, getting back on their street has been a two-and-a-half year ordeal.
Emerson Eubank's flooded home on Pennington Bend Road had been in his wife's family for more than 50 years, but getting the permits and designs approved to rebuild in the flood zone took nearly two years.
"I don't think there would be any way we could have been able to do this without Habitat. We wouldn't have been able to afford it," Eubank said.
Habitat for Humanity chose the Eubanks as their ninth and final family to receive rebuilding assistance, and construction began in April. But an unforeseen obstacle last week delayed their plans again.
"I showed up to the site, opened up the container and everything was gone," Eubank said.
Someone broke into the storage shed holding Habitat's tools and stole nearly $11,000 worth of equipment being used in construction at the Eubanks' home and several others.
"It's kind of a kick in the gut, so to speak. It just hurts to believe someone would do something like that," said Ralph Knauss, with Habitat for Humanity.
Theft is common along Pennington Bend Road after the flood, as the abandoned homes are constantly looted. In fact, Eubank said this is the 12th or 13th time his property has been burglarized.
"As great as this stuff was, it's still not going to stop things," Eubank said.
Habitat volunteers have been hard at work to make sure the workdays lost from the theft don't delay their construction deadlines.
And despite the financial loss, Habitat leaders said they are hoping to have the Eubanks back in their old way of life on the river by autumn.
The equipment stolen from the work site include a generator, several saws, compressors, hand tools and drills.
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