My Flooding Update (long)

9 years ago

Things are moving along after the flooding we had from torrential rains August 30. I lost my washer, dryer, freezer, rented hot water tank and furnace in the flood. I called my insurance company to see if I was still covered for flood insurance because a week or 2 earlier my broker called and said because the new company that took over my insurance might get rid of my flood insurance if I didn't have a back up valve in my basement. I said I had one but it was an older model from when the house was built in 1948. So when I called to see if I was still covered I was told I was but if I submitted a claim and because this would be my 3rd since 2005 or 2007 most likely my insurance would be cancelled. I still have an open claim to have my ceilings replaced from the water damage from last years torrential rain.

Once I found out my furnace was toast I called to put in a claim anyway. If they cancel my insurance so be it, since I live in a flood prone area I was going to end up not having flood insurance anyway. So I submitted the claim and the adjuster called me back a few days later saying she didn't need any receipts or pictures and waived my deductible and said she was just going to cut me the $10,000 cheque because I did have that amount of flood insurance and my claim was just a drop in the bucket from what others were claiming.

My cousin is one of the owners of a heating and cooling company and messaged me to cancel where I rented my hot water tank from and he would give me the same quarterly payments, install the water tank the next day or I would have had to wait longer for the other company and give me 3 months free rental plus a $200 gift card. I went with that. He also gave me a discounted price for a new Armstrong furnace that was installed 2 days later. I was lucky to get such fast service because over 6000 homes flooded and all workers and trades people are busy.

In all the times my basement has flooded I have never seen this much water so my appliances never had water damage because they are up on the top of the sloped floor of my basement. This time my washing machine floated the water level was so high. So I decided I was going to put a full size stack able washer and dryer set in my kitchen where my computer table is next to the fridge. It will fit perfect because the plumbing would be right below. So my cousin and I went to look at washers and dryers. I settled on an LG set-5.2 cubic foot front loader washer and 7.4 cubic foot dryer but because everything is back ordered because of the flooding and not a lot of stock out there I have to wait until October 20 to have it delivered. I still have to have someone come in to put plumbing in and put in a 240v plug. So I am hand washing the clothes I need right now.

13 percent tax on everything sure does eat up the money when buying large items but that is what the insurance money is for. I am not going to replace the freezer because I wasn't using it because there was no grounded outlet down the basement to plug it into.

So my friend Ken was going to disinfect my basement but then he got swamped with people wanting to get things fixed so the day Ken stopped by I wasn't home. I thought I would be able to just bleach the floors myself like I used to do but because I injured my back I tried to do it but gave up. The house just got worse smelling and I was getting a scratchy throat and any fruit I left out on the counter started to get mould on it almost right away so I had to do something to get the clean up underway. I called Good Samaritans Purse that I knew was in Windsor to help flood victims and they were still here. 2 days after I called volunteers were here to power wash my basement. I was sitting on the porch talking to them after they were done and they asked if they could pray for me. I hesitantly said sure and when they started I just started to cry - I do that if I go to church too. I don't know why I get so emotional but I did. Later on in the afternoon 2 people from Billy Graham's ministry showed up at my door to talk to me. One was a chaplain. I listened to them but when they wanted me to read a passage of prayer out loud. I felt uncomfortable about doing that and said I would read it silently. I was just uncomfortable about them being here but if they were helping me with my basement I would at least listen to them.

Then I got a call yesterday from one of the supervisors for a follow up and he said one of the workers noticed there was a door to another room in my basement and when he opened it he encountered lots of spider webs and mouldy wood and he asked if they could come and clean it out. I realized he was talking about the coal bin under the front porch. I don't ever open that door, I had a traumatic experience of being locked in there by my brother when I was a child and when I came out I was covered in spiders and webs and my older brother had to use a stick to get them off of me. Many people have come into this house and wanted to open that door and I would never let them. I really didn't know what was in there but my brother said when we got rid of the coal stoker in 1964 my Dad took out some of the kitchen cupboards to have the kitchen fixed up and he put them in that room and never put them back up in the kitchen. So 4 guys came today to clean out the room. I just asked them to make sure none of the 8 legged creatures got out into the rest of the basement. He assured my he would get them all into the shop vac. After they were done one of the guys showed me a before and after picture and wanted to know if I wanted the door taken off because it might make me more comfortable about that room now that it was cleaned out. haha I was terrified of that room or having anyone open that door in my presence. They decided to keep the door on to keep out any cold air that might come in through the coal bin outside metal door.

I am so grateful for this group and their volunteers and I told the guys that. One guy said we aren't done with you yet. They are going to come back and spray the basement with disinfectant. I am going to have a nice clean un scary basement now and I won't have any reason to go down there once my washer and dryer are installed in the kitchen. I just hope I made the right decision of having them in the kitchen. With the left over money I have enough to buy a smaller drop leaf kitchen table that will fit better than my huge round cherry wood table that is in my kitchen now.

There are a lot of good caring helpful people in this world.

Featured Answer

marilyn_c

9 years ago

Cherry Fizz, you are correct....so many, helpful, caring people in this world. I am so glad you got the help you needed. As a flood victim also, I can sure relate to what you are going through. I don't exactly know what lies ahead for me, but I am anxious to get started.

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Comments (19)

Cherryfizz
Original Author
9 years ago
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.
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Anne....Our furnace in town was under (well not clear under) but it sat in a lot of water several times...one time the water was over the fourth step coming up the stairs. So I know the fan and moter were wet. That happened more than once. And yet 27 years later when we sold the house the same furnace was still in there and still worked. The people who bought the house put in a new high efficiency furnace. Hope yours works too...but if it doesn't I hope you have enough insurance money to cover it...a new one will cost less to run. That amout they were talking about should cover most everything...that is a lot of money...but then I'm thinking for do it yourselfers....we always have done it ourselves. Good luck...and big Hugs...I'm so sorry there is so many miles between friends on cyberspace. I would loved to have helped you.....lol...I'm a basment cleaner upper pro. patti
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Elmer J Fudd
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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.
User
9 years ago
I'm glad your getting the help you need. Such a relief your insurance company stepped up to the plate! Good for you!!!!!!!!!!
lindaohnowga
9 years ago
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.
Cherryfizz
Original Author
9 years ago
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.
Cherryfizz
Original Author
9 years ago
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
pudgeder
9 years ago
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.
Elmer J Fudd
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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.
User
9 years ago
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.
mamapinky0
9 years 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?
greenshoekitty
9 years ago
I am happy things are looking up for you , and I also think a bit smaller washer set may be better for your needs.
Cherryfizz
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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.
Cherryfizz
Original Author
9 years ago
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.
Cherryfizz
Original Author
9 years ago
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.
OklaMoni
9 years ago
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
Pam
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Cherry is there a decent laundromat that you could go to once you have a load? Washing certain things by hand is difficult.
sherwoodva
9 years ago
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?
Cherryfizz
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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

My Flooding Update (long)

marilyn_c

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