AUSTELL — Many of the nearly 100 residents that overflowed Austell’s City Council chambers Monday night asked what the city can do to prevent another flood disaster like last month’s, which damaged nearly 700 of the city’s roughly 2,500 homes.

“What can we do? Basically nothing,” Mayor Joe Jerkins said. “Number one, it’s your responsibility to get flood insurance. It’s not our fault it rained 21 inches. It’s your fault (for not getting insurance) and God’s fault.”

The mayor said Sweetwater Creek, which overflowed and damaged hundreds of homes in last month’s record flooding, drops 10 feet per mile until it gets to Austell, where it drops 1 foot per mile.

“The Army Corps of Engineers studied it,” Jerkins said. “When it gets here, it’s just slow going.”

The mayor did suggest boring down about 200 feet to 300 feet and building an estimated $100 million tunnel from Sweetwater Creek to the Chattahoochee to drain out excess floodwaters.

“That would work. That’s just something I’ve though up in the last few days,” Jerkins said.

Residents such as Mike Otten said the city shouldn’t have allowed developers to build in the areas that flooded. To which the mayor said the

city requires all homes built to be above the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 100-year floodplain mark. That way, everyone can get flood insurance, the mayor said, adding that the house he built for his mother, which was being lived in by his daughter, was lost in the flood and he did not have flood insurance.

City Councilwoman Beverly Boyd said, “We can control square footage, setbacks, lot sizes, but if you own a piece of property and you meet all the guidelines, we cannot tell you that you can’t develop your land. We can’t stop you as a citizen to develop your property. The only one is FEMA who says you can’t.”

Taking it further, Jerkins said, “What are you going to do when you own 10 acres of land that’s 20 feet above the floodplain. Then, we say you can’t build there. What are you going to do? We’ll get a lawsuit.”

The mayor said floodwaters rose 14 feet above the FEMA floodplain.

Boyd said the council petitioned FEMA after the flooding of 2005 to change the floodplains. She suggested that residents call their Cobb commissioner representing them, Woody Thompson, and their representatives in congress, such as David Scott, and tell them to put pressure on FEMA to change the floodplain.

Ann Turner, who lives near Sweetwater Creek, said she bought flood insurance, but is questioning whether to rebuild her house without knowing if the flood levels are going to be elevated.

The mayor, responding quite matter-of-factly throughout the entire meeting, said, “I don’t think I would build it back.”

Due to his quick responses, the mayor was accused of taking the situation too lightly. Another resident, addressing Boyd, accused the council of being “condescending.”

Many residents wanted to know if there will be a home buy-back plan implemented for homes that were flooded.

Jerkins said he has talked with Cobb Chairman Sam Olens and “we’re putting that in place to have FEMA buy back there. I don’t know how much money is available — it takes time on that.”

A resident asked how she would be notified of a buy-back program. Jerkins said he will put in on the city’s Web site, inform the media and possibly put notices in water bills.

Resident Brooks Moore asked what the city is going to do with abandoned homes that become full of mold and start stinking so badly he can smell it from inside his home.

Randy Brown, Austell’s water, sewer and mechanical director, said the city is beginning to get addresses of abandoned homes and asked the residents to report deserted houses as soon as possible.

Another resident asked if city officials would consider requiring all Austell’s homeowners get flood insurance.

Jerkins said he would consider it.

Following the rather heated discussion among council members and residents, James Siciliano, with Beck Disaster Recovery company, which received a 30-day contract to begin initial cleanup of the city, gave an update on the company’s work.

He said the company has already picked up 559 tons of debris. He said initial estimates show that the city should be eligible to receive $7.9 million in FEMA reimbursement for debris removal and infrastructure projects.

Meantime, officials are excepting proposals from individuals or firms for further cleanup of flood-ravaged Austell.

The deadline for proposals is Oct. 16 at 10 a.m.

Work will include emergency road clearance, debris removal from public and private property, abatement of hazardous waste and demolition of structures, among other tasks.

The City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 29 to get the cleanup started by approving the no-bid contract with Maitland, Fla.,-based BDR, which has worked on other major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.

“We signed a 30-day contract with a company that is now assisting in the cleanup,” Boyd said. “They will bid for the rest of the work that will take months and months to do. But any other company that wants to bid — we will look at all of them.”

BDR’s current services, as well as the future contractor, will be paid for by the city, which will hopefully be reimbursed by FEMA. The contractor will also keep records to report to FEMA for further reimbursement.

“The contractor will work closely with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, FEMA and other applicable state and federal agencies to ensure that eligible debris collection and data documenting appropriately address concerns of the likely reimbursement agencies,” according to the request for proposals.

The City Council will approve the most appropriate bid at its next regular meeting or at a special called meeting, Boyd said. It is being fast-tracked, she said.

“Under the circumstances, we are doing the best we can,” Boyd said. “We’re doing a great job. We’re taking every step we know to do.”