LANCASTER — It's no wonder what attracts people to Ten Mile Creek — a place that's often peaceful, but lately has become a monster.

"If it rains a couple of hours, then the creek fills up and the water overflows into the yards," said homeowner Earnest Manning.

That's what happened on Tuesday. But Manning can't forget 2004, when Ten Mile Creek washed out of its banks and sent five feet of water into his home and 100 others.

His home is now uninhabitable. He can't sell it, but still must pay the $1,100 monthly mortgage.

You'll understand his frustration when Manning discovered that the City of Lancaster sent out a letter offering residents a "possible acquisition" — a buyout.

But that letter went out to just 13 of the 100 creekside homeowners, and Manning wasn't one of them.

"That's awful for us that's not getting anything," he said. "The only thing I'm receiving is citations."

Manning said he has received citations after every flood. But the city says it can't afford to buy out all of the low-lying properties — just a few, carefully selected — and that depends on a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"If other grant opportunities become available that have criteria that those homes quality for, the city will certainly look at making application for those grants as well," said Assistant City Manager Opal Mauldin-Robertson.

Manning would welcome news of a buyout that's fair and inclusive; one that would get everyone off the creek before it floods again.

The city said a consultant helped it select the 13 most badly damaged homes out of the 100 along the creek to qualify for the buyout. Those residents will find out in August whether the grant has been approved by FEMA and the city can turn the land into green space.

In the meantime, dozens of property owners like Earnest Manning remain saddled with homes that they can't use — homes that nobody else wants.

E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com