posted on September 22, 2003 09:37:53 AM new
This was my home. The insurance inspector & tree removal service said in all their years of experience they have never seen anything this bad. A gigantic tree came down bringing another tree with it. The house is a total loss, only two rooms were left intact. The hardest thing to figure is why we were not killed. All 7 of my cats & 2 dogs also survived. We didn't know this until the next day. We had to climb over & under tree branches in the pitch dark, pouring rain & 50 MPH winds, checked into the Ramada, me in my nightgown, Rob was dressed, dirty & soaking wet.
We called our son & some friends to let them know where we were. The next morning they called & said they found all the cats & dogs nervous, but fine. I was so happy to hear that all I could do was cry.
We are now living in the Homewood Suites Hilton in Wilmington DE until our new home can be built. I was able to bring my computer, which was in one of the intact rooms & have asked all my winning bidders to be patient. Had about 92 auctions running.
We have more than enough room on our property to put a trailor & the insurance will provide one if that is what we want to do. We probably will so we can keep all our pets together.
posted on September 22, 2003 09:44:29 AM new
Wow mcjane! ... thank God you are all ok ... what a terrible upheaval of your routine this must be! ... take good care ...
posted on September 22, 2003 09:52:57 AM new
Wow! and we were told down here via television reports that Pa. did not get anything too serious. but, then I thought I heard a report say the Governor of Pa. is asking for emergency monies. I believe I am correct and you live in Pennsylvania. I am relieved you, your husband, and pets are ok,. this has got to be so devastating and overwhelming for you.
reenie
I don't get even....I get even better Jimmy Hoffa
[ edited by lattefor2 on Sep 22, 2003 10:02 AM ]
posted on September 22, 2003 09:41:52 PM new
McJane...I'm terribly sorry to hear this happened to you. We had a flood in our home in May (faulty valve) which caused a major upheaval for 6 weeks until all the carpet was replaced. Nothing compared to what you are going through. One word of advice: get some professional movers in to pack and store all the furniture and personal possessions that wern't destroyed. You won't have the time or energy to do it yourself, and the insurance company will cover it under the "preventing further loss or damage" clause. Get your adjustor's cell phone number and keep in touch with him. Don't be afraid to ask questions, they get paid to answer them. Above all else, relax and keep your head up. You and hubby and the cats and dogs are safe. Money, for the most part, can replace anything else that was lost. And there's a possibility that you can get your deductible refunded by FEMA.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on September 22, 2003 11:00:54 PM new
Sending good thoughts your way.
I lived in Japan, through several severe typhoons and I don't care what they say, when that wind picks up, it's just as scary at 50 as it is at 120.
Yeesh.
Glad all is okay.
J
~~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~~
All the monkeys aren't in the zoo,
Every day you meet quite a few,
So you see it's all up to you.
You can be better than you are,
You could be swingin' on a star
posted on September 22, 2003 11:09:50 PM new
McJane, be careful now. I learned the hard way from the 89 quake in san francisco. Take fotos of everything. Whether it seems important now or not. Believe me, take fotos and document everything you lost. Keep all of your receipts. ALL OF them!! Whether or not you think they are important. Just get a huge evelope or box and put every receipt in it that you have from the storm until this is over. You won't regret it.
I was by myself and very uninformed. Didnt know what I was doing and was taken advantage of.
Hugs to you and yours. I am sure glad all of your pets are ok.
posted on September 22, 2003 11:15:28 PM new
I Thank God that you and your family (pets included)are still alive....Homes and Collectibles can be replaced but family can not.Keep your spirits up...just think a new home....it's a terrible way to get it but gives you a chance to make it better than before.
posted on September 23, 2003 02:30:37 PM new
our prayers are with you.........
you might want to also consider contacting an independent appraiser, rather than just using your "friendly" insurance agent. Your insurance agent is not your best friend, they are in the business of saving their company money and will not be on YOUR side.
you will do much better in the long run if you have an independent appraiser.
I learned this the hard way after Opal. It wasn't until later that the mold developed in my house and we now use it as a storage house. I'm afraid to even rent it out even though I don't live there. By the time the mold developed it was after the insurance company had "covered" all the damages so I was SOL.
My husband's brother owns a motel on the beach. He called in an independent appraiser rather than trusting what his insurance company covered and he got a bigger settlement than what his insurance company allowed by their appraisal.
posted on September 23, 2003 03:57:27 PM new
mcjane, I am so sorry about your loss. I was in a hurricane in New Jersey when I was 5 years old and I can still remember the devastation to our home and those around it...
I am thankful that god watched over you and all of your family, including the animals. everything else is just "stuff" in the scheme of things.
posted on September 23, 2003 04:28:10 PM new
mcjane
I was the one who called the huricane "overrated"... Well maybe it was overrated to me but now it's clear that it has really changed, and in some cases, ruined some people's lives. I take back what I said and I sure hope you and your loved ones and pets come through this stronger than you went into it.
May 31 1998 an F3 Tornado (very rare in upstate NY) passed within 150 feet of our house. I was stopped in my tracks by the F3 in my Toyota pickup with my lab mix Jake. I did a K-turn in the middle of a small country road when I spotted the funnel about 200 yard from us and closing in quick. I made it. The barn where I did the K did not and made the front page of the newspaper the next day....I am to this day TERRIFIED of even the common "severe thunderstorm watch" We have no basement, just a crawl space. So now when the warnings come up I am in my truck heading to my parents house where there is a big cozy basement.....I did not try to minimize this latest storm. Maybe I so consumed with Thunder/lightning/Tornados that I forgot to respect the Hurricane.
