MERRIMACK, N.H. (AP) _ The federal government has decided not to buy a handful of flood-prone homes in Merrimack, New Hampshire.

In December, ten homeowners and the town applied for a federal buyout program where the government buys hard-to-sell properties.

The homeowners want to move to higher ground after their houses were damaged in 2007 when the Souhegan River crashed over its banks.

Richard Verville, at the state's homeland security bureau, says the town can reapply for the program.

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