Raven, this is just awful! I cannot even imagine how distraught you and your husband must be. Tired and saddened and frustrated from all the flood damage and then this. It's just so much to take in at one time. My sincerest condolences to you and the family. Hugs, too.

Raven I cannot imagine how you and your husband are coping with so much hardship all at once. You are in my thoughts and wishes for you both to find the strength to get through it all. My heartfelt sympathy to you and the family.

Nobody says it better than Ole Joyful, thank you for that, we all can gain from your advice.

Raven, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband during this difficult time.... God bless both of you and give you strength in abundance.

Raven, I am so sorry to read this latest turn of events. My heartfelt sympathies to your husband and you.

I am keeping you, your husband and his family in my prayers. You have taken blow after blow. Please try to take care of yourself and your hubby.

Today is the hardest for me so far. They are destroying my home. The crew comes in and everything is in turmoil. I may never be able to find stuff. I finally just said I don't care. I was trying to go through stuff to salvage but I was coughing and choking so bad I couldn't stand it. I am back in the rv. I was crying but that doesn't solve anything. My husband is hurting so bad but just won't stop. I can't worry about the stuff anymore I can barely take care of us.

There was a bright spot this morning when the fema adjuster came to look at the house. He was very nice and sympathetic to our unique situation. He approved an immediate advanced payment so we can get started and assured us we will be taken care of. I hope that is the case.

Thanks again

I am so sorry for that you and your husband have to endure.Please know that there are a lot of prayers and caring thoughts sent to you and that you are not alone.

raven - I wish I had the words to make you feel better, but I don't. All I can say is if you need to cry, then it's ok to cry and if your husband can't stop working then that's ok as well. At this point in your situation I don't think there is a manual or an expectation of what's ok and not ok to do or feel. You're in uncharted territory and will be for a long time.

Just try to take care of yourself and your husband in whatever way works a day or even an hour at a time.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know how you're doing. I'm not even sure I could do that.

I'm sorry to hear this, my thoughts and prayers for you and DH and family and friends. Hugs to you both

So sorry things are so difficult right now. Things can only get better from here. I wish I lived close enough to help you. It's scary how things can change so much just like that.

Can you schedule some 'breaks' away from the house? You wrote that you did that recently. Plan these. Shift the focus away from all this noise in your heads. You've sustained two tragic losses in the blink of an eye. The house repairs will take as long as they take. Pushing, pushing, pushing is going to result in a larger problem. How you handle this is something you CAN control, unlike the weather or a tragic death.

ravencajun, I'm very sorry to hear that the clean-up and cleaning out is going to be so difficult for you and your husband. I wish I had some words of wisdom, but I think joyfulguy said everything I would have said anyway. I'll add a prayer of my own for you.

(((Raven and RavenDH)))

I am so sorry for everything you and your husband are going through. I wish I lived near you so I could help also like Lisa said. Please don't push too hard either of you. The house will come together. It is always a mess at the start. I will be thinking of you both.

Raven, I am glad to hear that FEMA has been out and the meeting was positive. I know this is a difficult time and much more than most of us have to endure. A close friend experienced Hurricane Sandy. She advises that you to document every item lost and try to have receipts and such. She made spreadsheets and had photos. Apply for every low interest loan and grant. There will be a lot of paperwork but it will pay off. I feel for you and your husband the events of the last few days are overwhelming but tother you can surmount them.

Sending warmth and condolences.

Just now reading this, keeping you and DH in thoughts and prayers.

raven, I don't post too often, but I'm familiar with the names of those who do, and I am so sorry to hear what you've been through, recently. Some of us are sending prayers, that God will give you and your DH, faith, strength and comfort, at this time of crisis and sorrow in your lives. Some of us are not religious, but our heartfelt hope is that you will find in your friends, family and each other, the love and support needed, to weather this difficult time. You both are equally in all of our thoughts.

Thank you all for your time and comments I am reading each one and taking them to heart. I am listening! I am trying to get my mind on other things too. Today I have been calling repair companies, and others that we will require, I can do that from the rv and still feel productive. My wonderful neighbor, who has beenbeen through this before but didn't flood this time, has been a godsend. She cooked dinner for us and had us over last night, a welcome break. She is coming over every day and sitting with me which is so helpful.

I don't want to go back in the house because there's already signs of mold growth, amazing how fast it happens. It sent me into a bad asthma attack. Now that the walls are all opened up it's drying out good. They will be spraying for the mold soon.

I have finally been able to just release every thing, I saved a big bin of pictures and I have lots on memory cards and flash drives I have all of those here with me. I lost a couple of computers but they can be replaced. Most of it was backed up anyway. Things are things, they can be replaced. One thing I really hate is my answering machine got friedfried from the lightening strike we took and on it I had several messages from my mother I have been saving, those of course are not replaceable. I know that I should have copied them to flash drive I am sure sorry I didn't. I am keeping the machine in case there's some way to access the messages on it.

I set up records and file folders for this event, every single cent is being documented. I do have lots of receipts for my big items in the house. I put all that file cabinet contents in a Rubbermaid bin up on top of a table where it's safesafe, same with our medical records.

The rv developed a leak in the strong wind driven rain in my closet. TodayToday a mobile rv repair company is coming to fix that since we are expecting serious rain again. It's still under factory warranty. II know what the saying "bleeding money" means! It's leaving at a high rate. Many many people here that were flooded have set up go fund meme accounts and they are quickly making the goal. I hope some of the money people have graciously donated to the affected areas actually gets to us.

I feel so bad for you, Raven, and admire your courage and fortitude. I'd be in a fetal postion by now. So glad you have the RV to escape to. Is it true, you will be getting more rain? And up here , we're begging for some rain. Not fair at all for you down there, but then again, life isn't fair. Stay strong.

((((RavenCajon))))

Hang in there and heal. The skies, physically and emotionally, will eventually clear.

been without a computer so just hearing the tragic news...a house can be rebuilt, but a life and heroic act that will be cherished by your dh when he's ready...if anything keep listening, till he's ready to grieve...perhaps when the time is right gather family photos, and give him a memory book?

haven't heard from dh's xsil...so assuming they're ok....(in woodlands) you were so kind to let me know the last year...this will be the year of rebuilding in the physical and mental...

Mostly the woodlands was not affected by the flood. I live very near there but I am right on a creek which is what caused our area to flood so much. I hope your family is doing well. Thanks so much everyone.

You are a true helpmate. Imagine the poor man with a Betty Boop wife! She's still running up and down the road like a chicken with its head cut off. You have the great neighbors you deserve for having been a good neighbor yourself.

Some good things today. I got a repair person to come over and tell me if my big beautiful fridge was totally dead or could it be revived. It Lives! He came with in an hour after I explained our situation. He also waived the $100 fee for travel! The parts were not cheap by far but cheaper than a new fridge. I called a mobile rv repair guy about the leak. He was over here in about an hour and was able to do our repairs under our warranty and filed a warranty claim for us on a broken light fixture. It cost us zero! He was awesome and will be our go to guy same with the fridge people. And last night a friend of mine sent over a friend of his that is an electrician. He for free, helped my husband connect to the electric panel a new special power outlet for the rv. Now we have enough power to run both ac units in the rv and everything else. Before we were throwing breakers. So now we are set for good with the rv in the driveway. I am so glad because it's getting hot here. That was good progress for one day.

I'm so glad you're seeing some light at the end of the tunnel! I've been humbled and inspired. Thank you for sharing.

Good news- it helps to have a secure roof over your head. Sounds like you hooked up with some kind people today. Each day will get better.

God is answering our prayers for you. And we will all continue to send our prayers and thoughts your way.

Ditto to tami_ohio.

Add my prayers to the list of those praying! God bless you.

We made it through the severe storms last night. We are very tired and hurting from the hard work and packing. Making progress.

I'm so sorry you're tired and hurting...but...so glad to see you're both OK.

You've been in my thoughts and prayers for days. It's time for Mother Nature to get over her temper tantrum and return to agreeable weather.

Please take care of yourselves.

Sending prayers your way, I have just seen my local forecast and it calls for heavy rain and thunderstorms starting tomorrow and going into next week. Hoping that the same is not forecast for you.

Rain is definitely dotting our forecast too unfortunately. I am taking a lunch break right now. I am so tired but I know my husband is worn out, he just keeps going like the energizer bunny. He is still washing load after load of wet laundry. The demo crew ran a wheelbarrow into a giant window at the front of the house and shattered it yesterday. I think they are going to start the demo on my kitchen today. It's very difficult to walk through the house and see through from room to room because all that's left is studs. My entire back wall of the house will have to be replaced it was damaged so badly. You can see daylight through the wall. We may have been better off to tear it down and start over. I wish there was a way to lift the house up about a foot or two. We will probably go to Oklahoma Saturday, the funeral is Monday morning. His company where he was killed is paying for the funeral as they should. We are trying to find someone around there to take his dog. He is so lonely and whines all the time. Our niece lives near by and has been taking care of him but she can't keep doing that she is pregnant and has 4 children to take care of. It's a hard situation.

Poor puppy. Grieving like everyone else.

It sounds like progress is being made on the house repairs and that's a good thing. My thoughts continue to be with you and your husband.

Praying a good person can give the dog a new home. Drive carefully on Saturday.

After Hurricane Sandy, many people had their houses jacked up. Some used helical piles.

Oh dear God, I can't imagine what you're going through. I have to say you have wonderful people there for you when you need it, that's such a blessing. I'll keep the prayers going for sure.

More prayers and caring thoughts are offered for you and your husband.

How heartbreaking to see beautiful furniture destroyed like that, but I know they are just "things". I'm just thankful that you and your husband are alive and thankful for all the help you are getting.

I keep having to say it to myself over and over Let It Go! I don't care about the stuff. I was upset today when a large picture of me at my first communion done by my neighbor who was a professional photographer used me as her model. I have had it since I was a child and it was totally destroyed. Some of my other signed art work was destroyed. Some stuff hurts. We are trying to get as much done as possible before we have to leave Saturday.

My heart goes out to you.

I keep you and your husband in my prayers.

My condolences too. There's something wrong when the good die so young and so many crooks and (ahem) "others" go on for long long lives.

Raven - I also lost the voice mail recording of my dad and that was heart-wrenching! What I realized was that 14 years later I still carry that message in my head. The msg was a funny one and still makes me chuckle out loud. I'm so glad I can remember it. Hope the same for you!

It's very hard to look at your photos without the throat going tight! I'm so sorry for all that you're going through and the things you have lost!

I'm so sorry Raven. Hugs.

My belated sympathies. It's amazing, and uplifting, when you realize there are others who are helping lift both of you up! And remember: You are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem (OK, I swiped that from A.A. Milne -- the Winnie-the-Pooh author ...)

RavenCajun, my belated syjmpathies to you and your DH on the passing of his brother. That is such a tragic loss to both of you. I'm also sorry your house was flooded. That storm was just incredible. My whole household was awake at 4AM that Monday due to the intensity of the wind, thunder and lightening. Our corner flooded the worst I've ever seen it. Blessings and hugs.