WATCH West Island couple faces uncertain future after losing home in spring floods

Vasso Petrisi and her husband Sophocles Panagakos were planning on enjoying their retirement at their Pierrefonds/Roxboro home, seeing their grandkids play in the yard, with Panagakos gardening and Petrisi barbequing.

Now they face an uncertain future as they've received word from the borough and the Quebec government that their home is now a total loss and the land expropriated, handed over to the city with no construction allowed whatsoever.

Petrisi and her husband have been holed up in a motel for nearly eight months now and don't know what they'll do next.

Vasso Petrisi & Sophocles Panagakos have been in this motel since May when their Pierrefonds/Roxboro home was flooded. 1st told it was total loss; then told they could rebuild; now finally it'll be demolished,no construction at all. Everything they owned was in the house. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/Ml7S0FzoSA

— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) November 28, 2017

Retired Pierrefonds/Roxboro couple are stuck at a motel and have to find somewhere to go now that they've been told definitively after almost eight months their home is a complete loss and no rebuilding allowed. Irreplaceable belongings left and lost in the now moldy house. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/KW0FzLUOqQ

— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) November 28, 2017

Petrisi said they were told back in May their home would be demolished but then told two months later it could be repaired. They said they heard nothing from authorities until recently.

"They never give us a straight answer or they avoid us to know the truth," said Petrisi in an interview with CJAD 800 News.

"Very, very frustrating."

Pierrefonds/Roxboro flood victim Vasso Petrisi says the borough and the Quebec government have been giving them the runaround and little information they could go on to even begin rebuilding their lives. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/vuJ3mmg2og

— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) November 28, 2017

Petrisi said if they had known sooner, they could have planned a little better and even saved some of their belongings, some of them irreplaceable items such as family photos and mementos.

"Now we lost two floors, complete furnished home," said Petrisi.

"That hurts the most because this is what holds in life our memories, our loved ones, to see their faces everyday in the pictures."

Pierrefonds/Roxboro flood victim Vasso Petrisi says if they had been informed earlier about their home being demolished and no reconstruction, they could have saved some of their belongings. Now likely they won't even get much of the value of their house and land back. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/271CDY1vHY

— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) November 28, 2017

Petrisi said the city has ruled out rebuilding even though neighbours on either side of them were able to elevate their land and stay put.

Petrisi said even if they get the maximum $250,000 government compensation payout, they'd still have to deduct the mortgage owing which leaves little to start over.

"It felt very bad. It's like someone puts a hand and tears our heart from our body," said Petrisi.

CJAD 800 News is awaiting a response for comment from the borough and the government.
 

Pierrefonds/Roxboro flood victim Vasso Petrisi says she and her husband were planning on enjoying their retirement in their now-flooded out home. Now that the demolition order is set and no construction permit allowed, they don't know what they'll do. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/Ikp1upqL6b

— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) November 28, 2017