COBB COUNTY - In response to a public outcry by frustrated flood victims, Cobb County government has begun posting online the status for rebuilding individual properties. Commissioners are also expected to approve waiving permit fees for flood-related rebuilding during their meeting Tuesday.

A list of all flood-damaged properties in unincorporated Cobb is online at www.cobbcounty.org/flood. About 400 homes were flooded after days of heavy rain on Sept. 21.

"There's still a lot of hurting people out there," said Woody Thompson, southwest Cobb commissioner. "And a lot of people have a lot of tough financial decisions to make. We're doing everything we can to help."

Thompson will conduct a town-hall meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Ron Anderson Building in Wild Horse Creek Park, 3820 Macedonia Road near Powder Springs.

East Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott, whose district also saw significant flooding, will host his own town hall at 7 p.m. Monday, at Fire Station 5, 4336 Paces Ferry Road in Vinings.

County officials expected to have nearly all assessments complete by last night, and have already posted release notices on hundreds of homes.

Owners whose property has been released can then call the Permitting Office at (770) 528-2060 to get a renovations permit that is valid for 180 days.

The fee for that permit is $4.50 per $1,000 of estimated cost of the work. That means a $40,000 estimate would generate a $180 permit fee.

At the county Commission meeting Tuesday night, commissioners are expected to approve waiving those fees through Dec. 31 for flood-related rebuilding. Flood victims who have already paid the fee would get a refund.

Last Wednesday night, hundreds of angry residents attended a South Cobb meeting on flood updates. Many said they were tired of repeated delays and confusing changes, though Thompson said about a third of those residents live in city of Austell and are thus governed by city ordinances.

For residents of unincorporated Cobb, county officials must first determine the level of damage on an individual property so they can inform owners what must be done in order to rebuild, spokesman Robert Quigley said. Under a county ordinance passed in 1977, properties damaged to 51 percent of their value must be raised three feet above the 100-year flood plain level.

Rebuilding efforts for residents of the cities of Austell and Powder Springs are handled through those cities.

The city of Austell was the hardest-hit by the floods, with about 700 homes severely damaged. The city is sending teams to inspect properties and evaluate damage. The city has completed assessments in at least 13 subdivisions, and updates are available online at www.austellga.gov.

Powder Springs is only requiring permits to rebuild. On-site permits by Safebuilt Inc. can be arranged by calling 678-216-0641. Residents may also get permits at the city's Permits & Licenses Division, 4488 Pineview Drive.