WFAA-TV

Eugenia Dean shows the debris that remains on her property.

HALTOM CITY — Flooding took their homes and almost took their lives last June. Now some Haltom City residents say a scam has taken what was left.

The rising waters made Eugenia Dean's home unliveable. But the real damage was done later, when she tried to get it cleaned up.

It's been more than six months since the creek flooded, pouring into homes at Skyline Mobile Home Estates.

"The flood almost took my daughter, and now Haltom City's taking the rest from me," said homeowner Eugenia Dean.

It started with a check for $1,500, paid in October to a man recommended by Dean's condo association. "He was supposed to remove all of this," she said, pointing to the debris.

Instead, she says, the man ripped apart the home—picking through it for valuable metals.

"I gave him $1,500, and now I don't have any more money to pay anybody else to come in here and do this," Dean said.

Skyline's board president said he knows of at least three residents who contracted with the same man. Piles of rubble are a constant reminder of the rip-off.

Now, Skyline residents are out the money and out of time.

"I don't know what to do, and the city is threatening me with this letter," Dean said, holding up a document ordering the flood-ravaged properties to be demolished and cleaned up by Jan. 17.

"I don't think it's fair the city could impose fines and put liens on my property," Dean said.

Assistant City Manager Chuck Barnett explains, however, that the deadline has to stand because the debris-filled lots pose a safety risk and could cause further flooding. "We hate that it did happen," Barnett said. "It's unfortunate people were taken advantage of."

He added that the circumstances do not affect the responsibility of the property owner.

The homeowners can go after the man who they say is responsible in civil court—if they can find him.

The man has moved; his telephone is disconnected; and no one we talked to admits to knowing where he is.

E-mail chawes@wfaa.com