My house was flooded

[douglisa]

It just seems to keep getting worse. Raining again today. We can't even get to any of the towns accross the river to help.

Hope everyone is safe.

The tornado sirens today were a bit unerving huh? I heard of another levee breaking in Oaksville or something like that. Emediatly I looked at a map to make sure it would not be heading toward my home.
Several say that it brings back memories for them. These things are something that you could never really forget. I keep replaying the water coming over and over in my head. And seeing all the footage of what others are going through makes me ill sometimes. We had already been flooded and we had standing water for the last 2 weeks in the areas that act as a buffer for flooding. The water had nowhere to go I guess.
We are lucky that the water moved on, others are not. Dh says in the low laying areas it is still there, I guess it looks like something of a river flowing where fields were. I just keep counting my blessings. This is most definitly something it will take a while for everyone involved to get through.
Earlier they were showing a map of all the counties that were declared disasters. All the counties next to ours was on it. We are one of the few in the disaster area that has not yet been declared. I guess FEMA is still working on declaring others counties, please pray that they declare Dubuque county. There are many farmers who have lost their crops and peoples homes destroyed. If we are not declared part of it there will be many people facing some really hard times. Especially people that were out of the flood plane that might not of had flood insurance. Our town had no warning when the flash flood came, there was a rumor that another levee had broken but acording to dh he has heared nothing more of it.

 

[arminnie]

Out of no where came a beautiful person, she paid the $1.19 and then gave me a $10! I about lost it and started blubbering like a fool. She hugged me and said "Thank you for letting me help you."

There are angels where you least expect them to be. Your story about the woman buying your DS shorts and then giving you $10 gave me goosebumps.

You may find yourself amazed by the kindness of strangers.

During Katrina we had someone from New Orleans stay with us in Little Rock for two months. She got a job within about 48 hours of evacuating.

One day a man came into the store and said "Are you the girl from New Orleans?" He then shoved an envelope into her hands and walked out the door. It contained 19 one hundred dollar bills. She did not want to keep all of it but the store owner made her keep it.

I was fortunate to be in the part of New Orleans that did not flood. I had very minor wind damage - although my church across the street from me is still being rebuilt almost 3 years later.

But I know so many people who experienced the flooding and the loss of literally everything. I must know at least 50 people who stayed during Katrina - ranging from a 99 year old woman to young children.

I'm glad that you have power back. That was one of the worst things in New Orleans - no power for weeks and months. Plus no one was allowed back in for so long. I've never seen so many abandoned refrigerators in my life. Do you have water and sewage service? It is incredible how thankful one can be for water and electricity.

The Red Cross was probably the first to help in New Orleans.

Take a deep breath. You will get through this.

 

[Kimmielee]

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Jodi, your families and all those touched by the floods. As other posters have stated Lisa... you have such a great attitude! I don't know what I would be doing in the same situation.

God Bless the woman in the store that bought the shorts and gave you the money. There are many, many good people in this world. I'm glad you encountered one of them in your time of need.

 

[douglisa]

You may find yourself amazed by the kindness of strangers.

During Katrina we had someone from New Orleans stay with us in Little Rock for two months. She got a job within about 48 hours of evacuating.

One day a man came into the store and said "Are you the girl from New Orleans?" He then shoved an envelope into her hands and walked out the door. It contained 19 one hundred dollar bills. She did not want to keep all of it but the store owner made her keep it.

I was fortunate to be in the part of New Orleans that did not flood. I had very minor wind damage - although my church across the street from me is still being rebuilt almost 3 years later.

But I know so many people who experienced the flooding and the loss of literally everything. I must know at least 50 people who stayed during Katrina - ranging from a 99 year old woman to young children.

I'm glad that you have power back. That was one of the worst things in New Orleans - no power for weeks and months. Plus no one was allowed back in for so long. I've never seen so many abandoned refrigerators in my life. Do you have water and sewage service? It is incredible how thankful one can be for water and electricity.

The Red Cross was probably the first to help in New Orleans.

Take a deep breath. You will get through this.

Thank you, ours was a flash flood. Because we had standing water,from the flood two weeks ago, in the areas that normally catch it the water had no where to go. Most of the water is only ankle deep in the streets now. There is water,sewage, and electricity because after it came through it found it's way to the corn fields after about 6 hours, dh says it looks like a fast moving river still. We think a levee broke and when it came with no warning it came with such force some of our roads were washed away. There are some areas that do not have utilities I guess. They were harder hit then us because our nieghbor hood is on a bit of a hill. I never would have guessed at what would have happened that day. We had actually had alomost 2 days without rain.

 

[douglisa]

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Jodi, your families and all those touched by the floods. As other posters have stated Lisa... you have such a great attitude! I don't know what I would be doing in the same situation.

God Bless the woman in the store that bought the shorts and gave you the money. There are many, many good people in this world. I'm glad you encounter one of them in your time of need.

My attitude is Celexa induced.
I almost lost my pops a few years ago and went into deep depression, my doc gave me Celexa and I stayed on it. I think it helps that I can not get back home. I do not see it now, I am only hearing things from my friends and dh. I suppose if I had to be there I would not be on the boards I would have bigger fish to fry. That kinda just put things into perspective for me!! Here I have been upset because I can not be there, now I see maybe it is for the best.
Besides, I see so much worse here in Iowa City and it helps me see how lucky we actually are. There is hardly any bread on the shelves at Hy Vee, one of the clerks said that they had sold a lot of water too. I see people riding around on bikes that obviously are displaced, what with all the things they are carrying. There are vehicles driving around packed with belongings. I have a safe clean dry place to stay, mom and dads. I do not have to sleep on a cott. No matter how bad things get it can always be worse I guess.

 

[pixie dust 112]

 

[lulu71]

Gosh, I am so sorry. I know exactly that feeling you are describing, half of you saying condemn the house, the other half wanting to return. I felt the exact way after Katrina. Time will give you clarity and help you make decisions.

Please know that you are in my thoughts. It's a terrible thing to go through, you have all my sympathies.

 

[kaseyC]

Lisa, my family's thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

I know what you are going through, we dealt with horrific flooding caused by Hurricane Floyd when we lived in Rocky Mount, NC in 1999. I think for me personally, the uncertainty was the toughest thing to deal with. Not knowing when the waters would recede and not knowing what the final damage would be.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I'm glad you are all safe. Prayers to your family, and others in your area.

 

[PrincessPAC]

Sorry you are going through this. I will pray for you & your family.

 

[*Flower*]

You're in my thoughts and prayers.....

 

[douglisa]

I have been getting offers from a few Disers for money,clothes, toys.
It really warms my heart. I have declined though because dh told me tonight that the insurance adjuster is coming tommorow to look at the house and is going to give us $1,000 to help us get by till we get an actual estimate. Dh is planning on wiring me enough money to get by till I can go home.
There are so many in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area that could use it more. Unlike me they are sleeping on cotts and some do not even have vehicles to get around in. I know that in the area of Cedar Rapids that was hardest hit there were many low income families, many who were renting.
In the morning I will find out where to send money to the victims so your donations will be more helpful. I will put the info on this thread and will create a new one. I would be most thankful if it could be made a sticky, not sure how to do that though. Any advice on that one?

Thank you all SO MUCH! You all have been helping me through a really hard time in my life.

 

[Planogirl]

I have been getting offers from a few Disers for money,clothes, toys.
It really warms my heart. I have declined though because dh told me tonight that the insurance adjuster is coming tommorow to look at the house and is going to give us $1,000 to help us get by till we get an actual estimate. Dh is planning on wiring me enough money to get by till I can go home.
There are so many in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area that could use it more. Unlike me they are sleeping on cotts and some do not even have vehicles to get around in. I know that in the area of Cedar Rapids that was hardest hit there were many low income families, many who were renting.
In the morning I will find out where to send money to the victims so your donations will be more helpful. I will put the info on this thread and will create a new one. I would be most thankful if it could be made a sticky, not sure how to do that though. Any advice on that one?

Thank you all SO MUCH! You all have been helping me through a really hard time in my life.

I just read through this and it's unbelievable. I feel so sad for you and all people suffering through this mess.

Please keep us posted.

 

[kimmikayb]

Tornadoes this afternoon. I'm not sure when this will ever end. We got almost 1/2 inch of rain within 15 minutes.

I can't stop watching the coverage of places that are like my own home and everything gone. Oddly (or maybe not so odd since I am big in community theatre) the footage of the damange to the theatre in Cedar Rapids made me cry. They lost their entire costume library.

And all the homes and buildings at the university. It never ends.

For those who have offered to donate, that is SO nice!!! Might I suggest the Red Cross? They are pulling double duty in all the towns and really helping.

 

[LoraJ]

I am so sorry

 

[goldcupmom]

Prayers for all of you in Iowa! I'm originally from Burlington and DH relatives in Oakville have water to the rooftops right now. Fortunately, his Aunt/Uncle in their 90s had children living nearby to help them evacuate. All of them have basically lost their homes. They did have time to remove the farm equipment and some household items in anticipation of possible problems.

My brother & his family still live in Burlington, but high on the bluff. We lived in CR for awhile & I went to school in Ia. City, DH in Ames. It is soooooo Sad!!!

 

[douglisa]

I CAN NOT STAND MY INLAWS ANYMORE!!!!!
Sorry for yelling, needed to let it go.
I talked to Steamatic and they said before they come clean we need to get all the stuff we do not want out.
I told dh and he said, well I am leaving in an hour to go to my brothers bbq.
Today is the only day he has to do it because he has to go back to work.
He brushed me off and I said, "Doug, I can not go back home because of my asthma untill the house is cleaned." Again he sounded like he was not going to bother. So I suggested that he ask his family to help after the bbq.
Again he sounded unconvinced. Dh is a major procrastinator, if I am not there to direct things then they just do not get done.
So I called his mom on the down low and she told me that today would just not work for them. Then she said that his brother can not do it because he will have guests.
Here is the thing, my parents who are much older than his, in their late and mid 70's, would go out of their way to make it work. If my family were having a bbq they would ask all the guests if they would be willing to help afterwards. I just do not undersatnd this.
So now I am thinking about driving there to do it myself. In order to do that I would have to drive over 300 miles with all the detours. After this whenever his family asks for help I will say no. In fact I would be happy if I never had to see them again. They are so selfish. Dh needed to borrow a digital camera from them to take pics of the damage, they would not bring it to him. Dh had to write a check he knew would bounce to go get it. I am just so angry right now!

 

[RUDisney]

With the flooding happening in Douglisa's area so fast, what do the insurance companies cover?

I have a friend who was flooded in 1972 during Hurricane Agnes. She lost everything. She told me during the last flood threats to the Susquehanna River that if she didn't move everything of value from her basement and first floor that the insurance company wouldn't cover it because you would be able, with warning, to evacuate your things. OK, PITB, but I can see that.

But, in many situations, flash flood occur and you have little to no warning. What does the insurance cover then?

I'm not trying to make you worry more, Lisa. I'm just asking so you can be prepared for the adjuster's comments.

 

[RUDisney]

I CAN NOT STAND MY INLAWS ANYMORE!!!!!
Sorry for yelling, needed to let it go.
I talked to Steamatic and they said before they come clean we need to get all the stuff we do not want out.
I told dh and he said, well I am leaving in an hour to go to my brothers bbq.
Today is the only day he has to do it because he has to go back to work.
He brushed me off and I said, "Doug, I can not go back home because of my asthma untill the house is cleaned." Again he sounded like he was not going to bother. So I suggested that he ask his family to help after the bbq.
Again he sounded unconvinced. Dh is a major procrastinator, if I am not there to direct things then they just do not get done.
So I called his mom on the down low and she told me that today would just not work for them. Then she said that his brother can not do it because he will have guests.
Here is the thing, my parents who are much older than his, in their late and mid 70's, would go out of their way to make it work. If my family were having a bbq they would ask all the guests if they would be willing to help afterwards. I just do not undersatnd this.
So now I am thinking about driving there to do it myself. In order to do that I would have to drive over 300 miles with all the detours. After this whenever his family asks for help I will say no. In fact I would be happy if I never had to see them again. They are so selfish. Dh needed to borrow a digital camera from them to take pics of the damage, they would not bring it to him. Dh had to write a check he knew would bounce to go get it. I am just so angry right now!

Here's another .

Isn't it funny that strangers are willing to step right up to help and family won't? It's amazing and sad at the same time.

Your DH sounds like my Dad. Nothing gets done unless Mom is directing his actions and even then he wanders off to take breaks.

 

[douglisa]

If anyone would like to help the flood victims here is how.
Address:

American Red Cross
Grant Wood Area Chapter
6300 Rockwell Dr NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
E-mail: grantwood@grantwood-redcross.org

Phone: 319-393-3500

Fax: 319-393-1841

Web site: http://www.grantwood-redcross.org

To view volunteer opportunities in this area visit http://redcross.volunteermatch.org.