It remains to be seen if the state will offer more people in flood-prone areas of the state buyouts for their homes following the major flooding caused by Ida.

A couple from South Bound Brook says that they wish that they accepted the previous buyouts when they had the chance.

Marie and Ned Scannel spent the day bagging up the soggy contents of their flooded home on Barber Boulevard, adding to the piles of trash that have been pulled out of other flooded homes.

“The level of silt on the picture window, follow it around and it was close to where we are right now,” says Ned.

For the Scannels, the pain and confusion following the Ida flood are compounded by waves of regret. Their home has flooded several times since they bought it in the 1970s. There was Floyd, Irene and now Ida.

“I blame ourselves for staying,” says Marie.

After Superstorm Sandy, the Scannels were one of three homes on the block eligible for a buyout from the state’s Blue Acres program. The program buys properties in flood-prone areas and makes them into green space.

The neighbors on either side of the Scannels took the deal and their homes were leveled. The lots are now vacant. But the Scannels turned down the offer.

“We were made an offer too, but the money they were offering, we can’t buy something similar,” says Ned.

The house was also their home – the place where they raised four children and fished and hiked along the Delaware and Raritan Canal that runs behind the home.

Now in their 80s and flooded out again, the Scannels say that the canal has now become the thing they want to get away from. They have no idea if they are still eligible for that buyout, but say that they will take it this time if they are. The water has finally won.

The Blue Acres buyout program was expanded after Superstorm Sandy. But there is no word on if more will be offered in the wake of Ida.