We’re having a bit of a crisis here. We had about 8" of rain in 3 hours last Wednesday causing flash flooding. The creek behind our house came over it’s banks at about 9pm and muddy rain water was in the house by 10:30pm.
We finally left for higher ground when the water started coming in both the front and back doors. We started to move the furniture to the middle of the rooms but couldn’t keep up with it. Water/mud ended up covering every square inch of our house.
Lightning stuck a huge tree in the creek and it fell on our garden shed. The water line on the shed is about 4’ high. Luckily, it was only about 18" up on the house but we still had water throughout the entire house. We’ve had to have all of the carpets pulled and have a thin layer of mud in it’s place.
We’ve moved to a hotel for now that had the best weekly rates we could find. BUT, they have a no-pets policy so we’re having to sneak our Yorkie in and out. What a royal pain in the behind! We bought one of those pet carriers that look like a purse but so
far, he won’t have a thing to do with it. <sigh>
We THINK the flood insurance will cover the structure (walls, carpet, etc) but we have no insurance on our personal property. PLUS, we’ll be out of our house for several weeks.
We finally chainsawed the tree back enough to get to the shed yesterday and found a huge mess. The water had totally submerged our riding lawn mower and the John Deere snowblower. Everything in the shed is destroyed that was on the bottom 4’. There was mold growing on everything. Y-U-C-K!
And to top it all off, Mr. Ruby was diagnosed with diabetes last Thursday. He’s not one bit happy about that little news, either. He’s a real putz when it comes to diet and exercise and both will help diabetes. He hasn’t been fit to talk to!
Aaaaaaacckkkkk! I’ve had about all the fun I can stand.
Oh, Ruby! My heart soooo goes out to you. I know how you feel right about now, being the recipient of two houses that caught fire.
This really shouldn’t be in MPSIMS. I know you didn’t pitch a fit or raise hell, but believe me, this is definite Pit material. Being homeless, broke, and with a hubby that won’t mind (snicker) is no picnic.
If you need a shoulder to cry on, my email’s available. I really do feel the pain that you’re feeling right now. I can say, however, it will end up ok. Really.
Get ready for lots of tough, dirty work and a scrip for valium or xanax. It’s not going to be easy or fun with that mess. You’re going to need to be Wonder Woman with a capital W.
Which you already are.
[sub]But the valiums really will help, I assure ya… [/sub]
Try to reserve a industral heater NOW. If the water is still there no one will be renting them yet. But after the water falls back all water removal items will be rented out.
You can put your salvage items in the garage or some other place, crank the heater, put a handful of fans about the room to dry them out.
I had a flood one time and this is how I managed to salvage the few items I did.
You’re right about the tough, dirty work. The mud is the worst part of the clean-up. We bought an industrial mop and bucket and went to work. After three moppings and one bleach rinse, it’s better but still not clean.
I wasn’t able to get an industrial heater but I did get my hands on a large dehumidifier. I have fans running and the temp down to 60 to continue to try to dry out. All of the local stores are out of fans, sump pumps, and the like.
Now, the supply of valium is a whole 'nuther story. a better life through drugs!
All things considered, we could have had even more of a mess. A couple that is staying at the same hotel had waist-high water in their house with no insurance to help them out.
So, now we wait for contractors and insurance people to tell us what it’ll take to put us back together again.
PLUS, we’ll be out of our house for several weeks.
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