Posted Wednesday, July 9 --- 6:00pm

"You go through almost like a mourning period," Deb Owen says.

Families forced to say goodbye to their homes face an uncertain future.

A row of homes sits almost deserted -- condemned by the City of Reedsburg after last month's flooding.

"We went to Wal-Mart," Owen says.

Daily life for Deb Owen these days is about getting back to basics.

"Had to get rugs, all new curtains ... rods... things like that."

The Owen family home of more than 20 years is empty ... slapped with a sticker that says condemned.

"You just feel like you're starting over."

Owen's ready to start a new life in a new place, unwilling to risk a return to Granite Avenue.

"You see how the River has changed. You're just fearful for when that will happen again."

As you can see, how people feel about the situation here on Granite Avenue is clear. In total, the city has condemned more than a dozen homes as well as two businesses.

"I think a lot of people are angry, but it's more fear... 'cause you just don't know what's going to happen," Owen says.

"We're just hauling junk is what we're doing," John Brylla says. Brylla is living with his brother while he tries to clean up the family's home since 1956. It's been condemned, but Brylla says he would rather remodel than relocate.

"One bedroom apartment, they want $500 for that," he says.

Owen also is waiting to learn how the process will affect her financially. The family's renting -- with some help through FEMA.

"We're hoping by the first of the year everything will be situated... we can possibly buy," she says.

But, in the meantime, Owen's just thankful to get back to basics, back to normal.

"God has really blessed us with this beautiful home ... wait and see," Owen says.

Reedsburg's building inspector says the city is applying for a hazard mitigation grant in hopes of buying out the homes. He says it would be difficult for owners to make repairs because a permit would require them to raise their homes and to ensure dry land access.