Marilyn, I can't even begin to imagine the kind of flooding you experienced. Lives don't get lost in our floods due to rainfall and only the basements of our homes flood although many people live in or rent out their lower levels. Even though this was a disaster in our community we can't compare it to Houston like our Mayor wanted to do after calls for a State of Emergency. He said no, we aren't Houston as 6000 homes in his city were flooded with 3 feet or more of water. I don't envy your clean up and I hope you get lots of help. I am sure Good Samaritan's Purse is in Texas too helping out if you need to call them for some help. Just make sure you wear a mask when cleaning out your home because of the mould.

I'm glad things are on the mend for you and that you were able to get work done that it sounds like would have otherwise been difficult or unaffordable for you on your own.

I looked it up and Samaritan's Purse is affiliated with the Billy Graham organization, his son is the president of both. You get help from where you can, I understand that, but for the bigger picture, I think there's something very wrong when overly-religious people like Christian evangelicals pounce on disaster victims as vulnerable targets for proselytizing. It's very wrong, in my opinion.

I'm glad your getting the help you need. Such a relief your insurance company stepped up to the plate! Good for you!!!!!!!!!!

You were lucky to get the help you needed so quickly and I'm glad the insurance came through for you too. Now we pray for no more flooding problems for you or anyone else.

The city asked them to come in to help the people who couldn't afford it or didn't get much insurance coverage for the clean up. I was grateful for the help, they helped me last year too but nobody came around to pray or whatever. I find it hard to be preached to but I had no problem telling them I had my own church which I didn't attend any longer and I wasn't changing that. There are a few big evangelical churches in Windsor. I was christened as a baby, I really don't need to be "born again" into another. My Grandmother loved listening to Billy Graham speak, she belonged to the Salvation Army church though. I only listened because of my memory of her. She would even let Jehovah's Witness women come in to sit with her and talk about the Bible. That is something I would not do. I have had a difficult few years so if someone wants to say a prayer for me even though I find it uncomfortable I will accept it as long as no one tries to force me to change my beliefs. If they come again to preach I won't be opening my door. I will send a donation to them instead.

I am also going to take advantage of the city's basement flood relief programme where they will now pay for the work to install a sump pump and back flow valve up to $2800 even though in the last 2 floods neither of them helped stop basement flooding. There is a long waiting list for an inspector to come out to inspect before they approve

Cherryfizz, I'm so thankful you reached out to Samaritan's purse. It looks like things are going better!

Many compassionate & caring people volunteer for this organization, and while it helps others, I don't think they're "pouncing" on disaster victims. The organization helps whether the victims want religion or not.

So if you think the unrequested and unannounced arrival of a chaplain for a prayer service at a disaster victim's home isn't creepy, we can leave it at that. That's what unwanted proselytizing is all about.

They were preying on her, not praying for her.

Cherryfizz, I'm glad you got the help you needed.

We are here in Houston. We aren't religious either. The churches here were set up to help victims and so that is where a lot of volunteers went to help regardless of religious beliefs. My oldest son and a few of his high school buddies volunteered. They were discussing that none of them were religious when I drove them all home one day. They all wanted to help so they went to where they could help. Churches are organized to do that. A lot of the flood victims have pointed out that it is the churches who have helped around here. FEMA and the Red Cross haven't provided the needed services. I think Red Cross just got their web page back up a couple of days ago.

Cherry ...things are falling in place for you also...good. I've wondered how you were getting along.

I do want to talk about your new washer...lol....that's a huge washer..5.2 cf....how many are in your family? I have a 4.5 cf for 5 of us and often find it to big. This is the deal..that big washer needs a full load otherwise it will probably have balancing issues..now if your like me you sort....so unless you plan not to sort your laundry (not recommended) or unless you have a large family I would reconsider the size. Front loaders are great but spin can be a real pain with small loads. Also did you research this machine and read the reviews? In todays washing machine market I would never buy without first doing some extensive research...does yours have a heater? I'm not trying to rain on your parade just trying to save you a huge headache if you planned to wash a load of whites for two people once a week in this big washer and you find hours later its still *sensing* because it can't balance it in order to spin....is this your first front loader?

I am happy things are looking up for you , and I also think a bit smaller washer set may be better for your needs.

Mamapinky, I did do the research by reading all the reviews online and talking to friends and family who have the LG machines I ordered. The washing machine I had before the flood was an HE top loader Maytag Brava 5.2 cf. I am alone but I wanted a machine that would wash my Queen size comforter and duvet and pillows. I tend to do laundry only when I have a full load plus my clothes are plus size so they do make for a larger load. I rarely ever do a small load and the smallest load I would do would be kitchen towels, apron and tablecloth. Most of my towels are bath sheets except for hand towels. The front loader will be a learning experience for sure but everyone is giving me advice what to do. The only thing I forgot to check was to see if these were Energy Star machines. I wish they would be delivered sooner because right now I am hand washing my clothes every night before I go to bed. The machine is sure going to be busy because I had a huge load to do that I was planning to do the day of the flood. Thank you for the advice though.

Elmer I was surprised those 2 people showed up after. because they hadn't last year. I think maybe the reason they showed up was they may have been told by the other group of workers I may need some help because I started to cry when the worker asked if she could say a prayer for me. We had been talking about my sisters passing away and the suicide of my good friend and I haven't grieved yet for my sister who passed away in December. I cried because these things make me emotional. I get teary when I go to church and hear church music or just from listening to the Priest, they may have thought it was because of the things we talked about. I don't know the reason but I did feel uncomfortable and wished they hadn't showed up. My friend's daughter also had them come to her house and they did say a prayer with her and left her a Bible. Just because they helped her she let them pray for her even though she has no interest in religion at all. She thought just let them do it and they will go away. When they came into the city they asked for volunteers to help join in helping out because they were spread thin with all the disasters happening so I am assuming not all volunteers with them were religious. As I said I would rather give a donation for their help than have a conversation about Jesus and his good works. I will do a follow up over the phone but I won't be answering my door for more prayers or whatever. I got the help I needed to clean my basement plus more work than was requested for the price of a prayer. They didn't cause me any harm except for me feeling uncomfortable.

Samaritans Purse workers came to spray the basement with disinfectant. They did leave me with a beautiful bible. One of the workers knew my older brother, used to go to my brother's hockey games. He is also a retired teacher from our neighbourhood Catholic high school and knows a lot of my friends as well. I might have to go sit on the porch for a while, my eyes are burning from the spray. I feel very relieved now that the basement was treated.

Cherry, I am glad you got the help you needed. I hope, your eyes are better by now. If possible, air your house out.

Moni

Cherry is there a decent laundromat that you could go to once you have a load? Washing certain things by hand is difficult.

Cherry, after everything that has happened, it seems things are starting to go your way. I am glad that your cousin was so helpful, the insurance company didn't give you a hassle, and the volunteers cleaned your basement.

We have a sump pump with a battery back up. DH replaces the sump pump every five years so that it never has a chance to "die." I am puzzled that you said the cost would be over $2k. Maybe your cousin can help with this?

Sherwood, I think that cost is because you have to hire a plumber, get a building permit, etc. Here is the municipal subsidy programme. they will cover the cost up to $2800

http://www.citywindsor.ca/residents/maintenanceandfieldservices/Sewers-/Pages/Basement-Flooding-Protection-Subsidy-Program-(BFP).aspx