Family waits in cold for needed home repairs

VERNONIA, Ore. – It was so cold inside a Vernonia house Monday night the homeowners said they could warm up by opening their refrigerator.

It has been an ongoing saga for the Halvorson family for two years. When Vernonia flooded in 2007 the Halvorsons’ home was ground zero. Flood waters were more than three feet deep inside their home and the National Guard had to rescue the Halvorsons and their three children.

Now they wait for a contractor to finish a repair project so they can turn the heat back on.

It was three degrees Fahrenheit in Vernonia Monday morning and inside the Halvorsons’ house it was 37 degrees.

“I had to put the dog’s water dish in the microwave to thaw it out,” said John Halvorson.

The problem stems from a project to lift the house that was supposed to be completed in June. Until the project’s completed, the home’s $14,000 heating unit can’t be hooked up.

The Halvorsons said they have been fighting their contractor for two years.

“He’ll say, ‘I will be out there next week, and we’ll have the foundation poured …,’” said Halvorson. “And the next week comes and goes, or the month comes and goes, and you call him and he doesn’t return your phone calls.”

A new extension gives contractor Grippin Construction until Dec. 31 to finish the job.

“We’re hoping to get it done a hell of a lot sooner,” Jim Grippin said by phone Tuesday.

Grippin, whose company has completed other homes in Vernonia, said he’s doing his best to get the job done but said money from FEMA is not coming in fast enough to pay his subcontractors.

But after two years the Halvorsons said they just want results.

“What would lift the spirits a lot would be to see some work being done, to see some progress,” said Halvorson. “I don’t know how much they can do in these temperatures but some sort of commitment.”

A spokesperson with Columbia County flood relief said Grippin received payment for work already completed and will get more money when he does more work.

The Halvorsons said if they have to find a new contractor their home might not be completed until spring.