Residents ask Longview council for buyouts after repeated flooding on Camden Court

Residents of Camden Court told the Longview City Council on July 24 they are seeking a municipal buyout after repeated flooding left some houses uninsurable and structurally damaged.

“I mean, black mold is evident,” resident Steven Thacker said during the public comment period. Thacker told the council water from “blocked up pipes, drains, and so forth” has flooded his home and neighboring units to the point they are “really shouldn't be lived in.” He asked council to act before the budget is finalized so the city could fund buyouts this fiscal year rather than next: “Please do what's right and buy our homes so we can move on,” he said.

Thacker described ongoing damage to floors and walls and said temporary barriers installed nearby were only partially successful. He said homeowners are not seeking “to get rich” but want compensation that will “make us whole again so we can move on and find another house.”

Councilmembers and staff did not take an immediate vote during the meeting. The mayor thanked Thacker and noted staff have been working with affected residents; council members discussed budgeting timing later in the meeting while considering other citywide budget pressures. No formal direction, referral or buyout motion was recorded in the meeting minutes or in the discussion on July 24.

Residents and the council will need to follow up with staff for specifics on potential programs, eligibility and timing; the transcript records a plea for early action so buyout funding could be considered in the 2025–26 budget process.