Christmas in September

Bye bye old tree, ornaments and everything else with it.

Overall we lost 3 Christmas trees and countless of ornaments.

Except for one ornament we saved, some significant meaning, our little ornament of Elvis and his hound dog. We saved the King (hahaha bad joke).

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The girls and I ventured into the fabric store to seek out a few essentials.

Pattern for a Christmas tree skirt and potential fabrics.

Our last and only tree skirt was a handmade gift from the girls' aunt. Time has been kind to the simple decoration, but the flood washed it to a different scent.

This new pattern consists of 8 panels. According to the current plan of distribution from the girls, each member of this household will be represented by a panel, leaving a single panel as an overall "family" panel.

I wonder how much excitement this will bring.
Can't beat mom's best gift to the girls last year, toilet paper.

FEMA was here

The dogs went into attack mode, breaking the serene late morning filled with chirping birds and Disney Channel.

"Yes, can I help you," I tried to bellow through a tiny crack of the front door, with a chorus of barks.

"I am **** from FEMA," he said.
"Let's see your ID please," I replied.

He held up his badge hanging from his neck.
The dogs headed out to the backyard.
2 steps across the threshold, he was stopped and I snapped a picture of Mr FEMA. My reason for the picture identification was explained to him; the insurance adjuster took 11 days while Mr FEMA appeared on-site within 48 hours of registration. Of course my over-cautious compulsion is reasonable.

Next on the agenda is paperwork, fortunately all necessary documents were prepared in a manila folder, alongside another marked "photographs". Mr. FEMA came across skeptical of my claim after his visual inspection of the first floor of the house. This is not the furnishing of a home in need of Federal assistance, may have been his thoughts.

The official tour of exhibit carnage. His presumption of the house based on above ground observations quickly changed. Evident from his astonished look, he is taken aback at the scene spread before him. Debris may have been removed, what remained obviously still carries the evidence. Judging from his expression, mutterings and ajar mouth, Mr FEMA is stunned.

"The hydrostatic pressure on this wall must have been horrific," he finally chirped.

All in all, this inspection was educational and complete.

Next, fill out all the paperwork in the mailbox.

I am suspicious

With this ordeal of cleaning out a house for no reason, besides a disaster, we have to deal with the human disappointments. The insurance company with their irrational communication took 11 days to respond.

Now the next agency we were referred to contact...... FEMA.

This time, they took... err let me see, registered on Saturday, showing up on Wednesday, Monday was a holiday, well TWO days. Yes we have a winner!!

Of Course I am skeptical. (The government is efficient?)
Of Course I will ask for 2 forms of ID. (Cannot be too sure, the first one may be fake.)
Of Course I am nervous. (Federal agents here, may have been a spy in the last month.)
Of Course I will sweep the carpets. (A lot of doggie hair and I think some cookie crumbs.)

We'll see who gets eaten first, probably the mosquitoes will emerge the winner here.
Those little blood suckers are EVERYWHERE!

Almost time for FEMA dude to show up. Let the games begin.

I forgot my camera

Usually I am too eager to snap a picture or two, however this photo opportunity registered after the fact. Wrecked with blisters, pain and out of ideas, I asked the local United Way for help with debris removal.

Behold after 3 days, the phone rings and within minutes, 3 volunteers showed up. 4 pairs of hands shattered and shoveled countless floor tiles into trash bags. We also dismantled a huge entertainment center and other tasks. With the process, we exchanged some formalities. Then the wise crack lines began concocting.

"With a principal and 2 teachers here, I have the smartest house on the block.
"This is one way to get ahead in class."
"I did not learn this in school."

The level of education accumulated really did not contribute to the solution, rather the extra pairs of hands mattered the most.

To Principal Mike Wallace and his 2 accomplices, hat tip.

Junk or treasure?

Now that Mr Insurance man has reviewed the scene of carnage, the stinky soggy pile began its transition to the curb. Fortunately there is some room.

This was taken at 12 Pm on September 1, 2007

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Unfortunately there are some who consider this misfortune as a shopping trip. They even stop to pose for me!

At around 2 am, this couple decided to stop for some chairs. I went out to greet them.
"Do you understand that these are contaminated?" I asked the lady.
"But you have nice stuff." She said.
"Thank you, but do you understand that these have been sitting in sewer water?" I asked again.
No answer from her.
"You mean you got flooded here too?" said her companion.
"Yes, and that is why we have to throw these out." I said.
They got into their truck and drove off. I think I embarrassed them.

Once again, do they realize the reason why these are on the curb?

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Half of this pile were taken by the men in the van.

By mid afternoon, another session of afternoon sale. This time, 4 men in a white Econo Van and a flat bed trailer pulled up. They tried to pull the cords off the appliances.

"Just yank the cords off the monitor, we can use them for something."said the elder man to a teenager.
"Here is an ironing board, a chair, a nice dresser too," said the teenager. "We can use a chair for the garage."
They loaded the trailer with what they can "use".
Once again, do they realize the reason why these are on the curb?
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Fifteen minutes later, a pair of ladies pull up in a maroon Chrysler Concorde. Out came a girl no older than 12 perhaps, she heaved a BROKEN chair into the trunk and another into the back seat. Instructions flew from the car, "take that thing on the ground too." Referring to a rocker foot stool that was immersed in 18 inches of contaminants.
"But it smells funny,"said the girl.
"Just take it," roared the lady in the passenger seat.
The little figure strained to lift the still dripping stool into the back seat. The problem arose, the back seat is full, obviously this is not their first stop. Shouts and screams, the little girl curl herself and closed the door.


Once again, do they realize the reason why these are on the curb?
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Maybe I should have a "Donation" box outside. Hang on, the donation box may get taken too.




Business is good.... I think.

My thoughts: there are some in the world who have less than what I throw out, to call as their personal possessions.

Finally. The Men from Allstate

2 gentlemen walked up to the front door a little after 8:40am. One introduced himself as the insurance adjuster and the other as Field Manager. Both hail from Texas, although they do not have a twang.

The first ten minutes were spent exchanging excuses and reasons, their excuses for this extreme delay and my reasons for being speechless.

Next to the business at hand, the damage. Tweedie-dooo, tweedie-dee, he examines the carnage in the basement and the remaining appliances. Little doubt on the damage, hardly any questions on the cause. The adjuster measured and probbed, while the field manager was trying to get a feel for our level of cannibalism. Subtly I had mentally prepared my battle strategy, ready to pounce and debate on any queries, armoured with defense systems comprising of Powerpoint Presentations and Excel Spreadsheet. NONE. A week's mental anguish and multi-scenerio preparation were untapped. Such a disappointment.

Overall the adjuster rated the basement a disaster, we exceeded the deductible and allowable coverage just on the floor tiles and wall panels. Here I was ready to fight tooth and nail over the breadmaker, which is sitting by the curb.

End Of week Update

As of this morning, my notes read "No messages from insurance."
Had enough of this waiting, I retrieved the number to National Catastrophic Team, called and asked for an update.
For some reason they are unable to explain why I have been left behind. Fantastically the trash I have left on the curbside has been picked up, while the heap of contaiminated belongings continue to sit on the driveway.

By 4 Pm this evening, I suddenly received a barage of phonecalls from the insurance company, ah-huh the consumer complaint is effective. Apologies will not alleviate my disappointment, however they eagerness to show up tomorrow at 8:30AM seem reasonable.

Thus we can only they have some sense of compassion tomorrow. We'll see.

Just in ...

For those who are out of town, this is an indication of the severity of the situation.

Findlay school year delayed
The start of the school year for Findlay City Schools is being delayed until Sept. 10, because of flood damage to schools.
The Findlay school board approved the delay at its regular meeting Monday night. The delay was recommended to the board by Findlay Superintendent Dean Wittwer.

Great news to the kids, but I have second thoughts.

Unbeknownst to the kids, the cost of repair to the schools stretch beyond the million dollar mark. Education just increased in value here.

I wonder if Big Ben will return to help the kids??

Getting the Run Around

From the local newspaper:

"Flood victims needing Red Cross assistance can visit a "service center" which has opened at Owens Community College in Findlay.
Red Cross case workers will be available there from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
The center will stay open "until we start to see we're not getting a lot of people coming in," national Red Cross spokesperson Lynn Cook said Sunday."
Everybody is eligible for assistance and we encourage people to come in as soon as they can if they need it," Cook said.
Red Cross assistance "helps people get clothing, food, medications filled and things like that to help get them through the next several days" after a disaster strikes, aid Cook.
According to individual needs, the organization "may give debit cards" to people as financial assistance until personal monetary issues like insurance compensation can be ironed out."

.....

So we took a drive out there. The lady took a look at me and my daughter,

"You have clean clothes, you don't look like you need food or water. We cannot help you."
*blink *blink.

Slowly her words registered through the stressed neurons. Err, what in the world? I should have showed up barefeet and in torn clothes, even to have a sentence heard. This is the Red Cross?

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Monday, August 27, 2007, still no signs of interests from the insurance company.

Took a break

You may have notice the lack of post yesterday, August 25, 2007.



We had enough from the week, cleaning, cleaning, and breaking tiles.

That is correct, breaking floor tiles. Havent quite figured out how to remove them. By the way my dear insurance dude hasnt made contact yet.

Instead we took a trip north east to the Sandusky Fair, to pay our annual homage to fair foods, games and old pal Buffo. That was a much needed change of scenery from the flood ravage town to some normalcy.

Guess who is sillier?

Let's moove it!

Fortunately none of these are my kids.

Taking a bow.

At 10PM, we came home to the smelly basement.

My article in the local newspaper

This is my contribution to the local newspaper. I am sorry for those who have lost all of their homes, but I had to voice out here too.

3 am Tuesday, a few inches of water appeared on the basement floor.
Apparently both the sump pumps cannot keep up with the rate of discharge from
the drainage tiles. By 4am, there is a foot of water in the basement and there
was a louder splashing of water, almost like a fountain. Brown and black water
was spurting from the washer discharge and basement sink. The stench of sewer
reminds me of my past visits to Hong Kong or Thailand, ewww. By 5am, the water
has passed the first step, my laundry basket was floating around me. What else
can I do, but start bringing what I can to the garage. By 7am, fatigue took
over, just as the rain stopped and the sun rose to the dawn. At 9am, the
basement floor emerged, leaving a muddy gunk on everything.

Damages from this water range from Christmas collectibles generations
long, all major appliances (we still have no central air or washer use), to doll
houses.

By Friday, my basement smells and still damp. upon closer observation,
there is water under the floor tiles that have loosen. The insurance adjuster
has not showed up, the garage is stinking like old socks, and I am tired. For
hours, the floor tiles were removed and piled to a wall. Fans blast from all
corners,the stench finally alleviates. Previous tenants that lined the garage
were moved to the driveway. Guess what appeared within hours but RAIN. The quick
cover with tarps and silent prayers, and pleading.

I know I am somewhat fortunate,nevertheless I have losses. Having lived
through Hurricane Bob in 1991, I chose not to live by the coast. Learning about
the Michael Chertoff's visit cemented that I am once again in a disaster area.
Some time from now, we will tell stories. The week when Findlay Ohio ruled the
global news world (my mother saw Findlay Ohio featured on CNN International
while on vacation in China). Stories will be of the Flood of 2007 at
Sunday lunches without tears welling in our eye, only then we have healed and
moved on and dried out.

Kia Su in Ohio

Kia Su = translated from Hokkien as "afriad of losing".

I made the sobering trip to the Red Cross today, I am running out mops.

These are 2 gallons size bleach, I just hope I have enough.

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The sight at the Red Cross was disheartening, there were cots and clothes on tables for those who need clean clothes. I took the last "Flood Bucket" and mop. The volunteers mentionened the scene this morning where supplies were unloaded by the trailers directly to the victims, all gone with the hour.

I am still waiting on the insurance adjustor, so I can begin on the final stretch of cleanup, discarding all the soaked to the curb for trash pick-up.

Any other Singaporeans with the same experience or am I the first?

State of Emergency Cleanup

The wind has picked up outside, from the rustling of the tree, sounds like it is going to rain, again.



The mayor finally lifted the state of emergency from this town, but the minds and hearts here have sunk a few notches beyond resuscitation. Pleading with the weather to show mercy to an already ravaged situation. I am preparing to fight tooth and nail with the insurance adjustor. Even making a powerpoint on the pictures of the damages.





Damages.



We may be fortunate with the "limited" damages, as compared to those who were evacuated. What I see on my garage floor are our belongings damaged, ruined, destroyed by the elements. We may be fortunate that nothing "important" compared to others was in the pile, but they are still my personal belongings. Can it be devalued? They be be replaceable, but our grieve is still as painful as anyone else. Cleaning up from this state of emergency will take a while, a long while.


The water level was above the first step.

Prayers for all, wet or dry.

Still drying out

2 days later, we are still drying out.
There is a stench in the air outside, mixed of damp grass and sewer. Unfortunately that reminds me of visits to Hong Kong and Thailand.

According to the press release late this afternoon,
National Guard troops should be responding to Findlay in the next couple of days, according to Mayor Tony Iriti. He intends to request troops to help clean up the mess left in the wake of the flooding and military police to patrol damaged neighborhoods."In case anybody is even thinking about causing problems like looting and what not, it will be deterred," Iriti said during an emergency City Council meeting Thursday afternoon.

Looks like we turned into a min-New Orleans. This move is necessary, in my opinion, because the hard hit part of the city is Main Street, filled with banks, appliance, jewelry, electronic and clothing stores. School is not in session yet, and the kids may be restless and have itchy fingers.

This afternoon there was an unmarked black chopper hovering above the city. Yesterday, there was another navy blue chopper across the city with FEMA on the side. What does this mean? FEMA is coming to town. In addition, the head of Homeland Security was in town too. Yes, Secretary Michael Chertoff was in town to see the flood of the century. The impact of this visit hopefully will yield some good.

In the meantime, I have 3 gallons of bleach ready to tackle the basement. There is a funny must smell. There are fans and heaters running, mops and buckets standy on duty all the time.

Right now I am waiting on the insurance adjustor to show up. Let's see what kind of battle I have to fight. The attention will be on the major appliances that I have no heart to explore. Somehow, dismantling the washer seems like a really task, I know it is just psychological, sometime the mountain of laundry will conquer the mental anguish.

What is the economic damage? I do not know.

Singapore is too crowded for me, I survived Hurricane Bob in 1991, thus I decided against living by the coast. But this is not supposed to happen in the middle of Ohio. How can a city smacked in the middle of farmland bury in flood waters mirroring those of a coastal town?

As the FEMA chopper flew overhead, I muttered,
"This is not suppose to happen in Findlay Ohio."

Back to Normal after disaster

At about 10am this morning, the Level 3 Road Emergency has been lifted. The message reads "you can resume your normal activity."

Normal activity for some families here means cleaning up the gunky mud left from the waters of devastation.

On our list of things to accomplish today:
* purchase fans - required for keeping everyone cool and drying the basement
* need more bottles of bleach
* new filter for the furnace
*take the long route to the othe walmart that is not flooded
*more clean up

This will keep us busy for now.

At least the National Guard are not here, yet.

Another lock down

I am here checking the websites for all the latest development around our tiny city.

My latest reports:

1. The walmart nearby is closed due to flooding.
2. A camero may have an engine, but it is still susceptible to elements of mother nature. I saw one floating peacefully.
3. We are still on a Level 3 Road Emergency, meaning lock down, no cars on the road.
4. It is really miserable with this heat, humidity and no central air.
5. The Red Cross is handing out cleanup kits, but we are at level 3road emergency.
6. The Red Cross is handing out water, you can walk to pick it up, but there is a heat advisory at the moment. D'oh!
7. Findlay Ohio is on all the news channels, we are almost famous.
8.So far, my kids are still unfazed at the latest events. Phew!
9. I really miss my washer.
10. Stupid solicitors still call.
11. If I really wonder about our friends, it really doesnt hurt to call.
12.I think I need to take the 3rd shower for the day.


Okay, I am stinking up this chair. More to come. Stay cool and dry.

Drying up

Finally this little town recieves global coverage, even on CNN international!

Unfortunately the levels of damage rose during the day, there are homes submerged under feet of water. The region is holding our breaths that the weather will hold off anymore rain and humidity falls to a more bearable level.

All the past christmas collection are ruin.

This was swimming in the water mixed with sewer back up.

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We are sweltering at home, the motor to the air-conditioner/ central air was buried in the water. Currently the electrical core is drying out so the damage can be accessed.

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Notice the colour of the water. No clean laundry for a while.

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See the water line?

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At least we are still home and dry. Some of the families have more to clean up.

Cleaning from a Flood

"It can be replaced," someone tried to comfort me as I sobbed over the destruction. Beautiful Christmas reminders, Christmas trees, things that have been put aside for special reasons. All wet and sloppy. This has been a long night, the sun will shine soon, but that is not a comfort when wading in knee high water in your own house.

Within 2 hours, enough rain had fallen to saturate this basement, exceeding the operation tolerance of 2 sump pumps. The rate of water filling the sump well is faster than the rate of water pumped out, thus overflowing the well. A quickie here, a sump well is the containment for the water that flows around the house. Adding to the liquid fury, there was sewer backup from the basement sink and the washer discharge, meaning the public sewer transportation system hit a overload.

At 4:30 am, the water has risen above the first step of the stairs, approximately 8 inches, while the rain continues to pound ferociously. "I am going to Walmart for another sump pump," I declared. The normal 5 minute drive became a 30 minute obstacle course, filled with flooded junctions with 2 feet high water, water shooting vertically from man hole covers. A scene taken from Die Hard perhaps, cars were drifting in the murky waters, I saw a camero floating between 2 gas stations. I splashed through the puddles in 4 wheel drive, in my dear Jeep with the higher clearance. Walmart was out of sump pumps or shop vacs, surprised. Adopting the flight paths of airlines, I went north to head south, go east to reach west, painstakingly I was home empty handed.

So the recovery process begins, anything that is floating receives priority lift to higher ground. Yes, FLOAT. Laundry baskets, toys, basketball, Christmas decorations, etc. All the fatigue masked the anger. Everything in the basement is wet, if not destroyed. Appliances are not meant for submersion, washer, dryer, furnace, water heater, freezer, treadmill. You just have to hope the electricity continues to run the sump-pumps, for the next hours to come.

Hours of recovery later, the floor emerged and the rain also stopped. Efforts turn to cleanup, backup of the sewer system means contamination and the use of a lot of bleach. The floors, walls and anything standing did not escape the cleaning power of chlorine. We have run out of drying room, anything that can be salvage was spread out to dry. Appliances have been unplugged and opened up.

What else can be done now, besides wait, drying and healing time.

As I begin to post this, the authorities are mulling shutting off the main water supply due to rising waters in the proximity of the water plant.

The reality in the new century, sometimes the disasters on the tv can really happen to you too.