"After Ike" Day 6

[TxCloverAngel]

Yesterday was a busy day.

--Went searching for a new fuel pump for my Suburban. (no luck yet)
--Burnt up our water well pump.
--Thought I was gonna get thrown in the poky cause I was burning a pile of yard debris. (didn't know they issued a 90 day burn ban..oops!)
--Was told by FEMA that we DO NOT qualify for disaster assistance (whatever that means!)
--And... drum-roll please.. WE GOT ICE!!!

When I went through the line for ice, they also threw a box of MRE's into the back of the truck.
The boys were so excited because they are VERY super-cool ya know!
They ate them for dinner.
They were... um.... well...
Lets just say that I have a brand new respect for our men & women in the service who have to live on these suckers!
I am not complaining... but WOW... have you ever known a 4 yr old who refused to finish more than one bite of a double fudge chocolate brownie? The boys called them camel turds.

For some reason FEMA has decided that we do NOT qualify for disaster assistance. I am confused as to why. But thank goodness we didn't count on them. Sure would be nice tho.. but there are a lot of people who need help more than we do.

The Man-of-My-dreams has to go back to work on Monday... That should be interesting.

We have decided that at no time will we leave the farm un-attended.
People are stealing generators left and right.. some are stolen while they were running!
Our little fire station had two generators running so they can help those who need it the most and some jerk stole them both!

I am learning that in a disaster like this, there are two extreemes.
It can bring out the best in a person...
Or the worst...
I am just hoping that our family will remain positive and hopeful as the time wears on.
So far, so good.... but it's only been 6 days....
There is a looooong way to go.
It's kinda getting old now.

Yesterday was the first time I kinda broke down.
When the water well froze up I had a little bit of a melt-down.
But hey... I'm a girl.. we can cry.... and it made me feel better, I guess.

I have decided that today is gonna be a better day.. Period.
Why?
Cause I said so!
Thats why.

[GrannyG]

Sending you big hugs and prayers your way....Don't you just admire those pioneer women and the Spirit of life they possessed ? I remember when we had the tornado here, we cooked on the grill,drew water from the well, and the neighbors went one block to eat at the center they set up, they could not understand us ! These disasters really teach us lessons in life, and help us become more prepared for what may be ahead....just go one day at a time, we never get it all done....

[Kathleen in WI]

Oh my goodness Dana. I can't believe you don't qualify for assistance! I wonder how you qualify? I wonder if those fools stealing generators qualify? The scumminess of people never ceases to amaze me. I'm just so glad you're all safe--and have ice!

It is too bad than your husband can't be allowed more time off to help get everything together. But you are strong. I know you will be okay. And you can cry any time you want. I think it helps you to be stronger. It allows you to release the stress and then move forward.

Keep us posted. We are all keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

[Watcher48]

When will the book come out ???? Ya know it in ya!!

[jlxian]

What the heck is the burn ban about? Aren't things kind of soaked through and through? I would think it would be relatively safe to burn, but maybe there is some other reason?

This is the first of your "Days after Ike" threads I've read. Now i'm going to go back and read the others. Thanks for your information about how things are going.

And hang in there!

[Sparticle]

My family's day 6. Dad is still trapped in the river house down to 2 gallons of water as of yesterday, neighbor behind him gave him 5 gallons of gas so he can keep the fridge running a few hours here and there till he can get out (though someone will have to get him since his truck was under water). Though getting out means going to the store and coming back, he's not leaving. Mom is at her wits end since she is taking care of my elderly grandparents (one of them is sick) and emotionally ill aunt on her own since my dad is trapped and can't get there to help her. A cousin was able to bring her a few gallons of gas to keep their generator going for the fridge and hopefully today she'll be able to get gas. She called the other night really late (odd for her) and I asked how it was going. She broke down in tears and said "i'm hiding in a dark bathroom and calling you just to get 5 minutes of peace."

Since my parents house is on an island and at the end of the line, they said it could be 4-6 weeks before they get power and my father said even when he can get out, he's not going to my grandparents. he'd rather be without power and eat MREs, that's how crazy it is at my grandparent's house with my aunt there.

I think it's going to get better for them soon since gas stations and grocery stores should be opening up as the power comes on.

[Ashtina98]

I cannot believe FEMA said you don't qualify for assistance. When we got hit with a tornado back in May FEMA kept stopping by, leaving us notes, brochures and we ignored them because we had great insurance that took care of us really quick. Well a few weeks after the tornado we happened to be home when the FEMA folks were driving around and they stopped by again and had us fill out the paperwork "just in case you can get some assistance" we ended up being reimbursed for a new chain saw we bought. I ended up writing FEMA a letter letting them know that I felt that the time and effort and little bit of money they spent on us could have gone to better use, there were people out there asking for help they didn't need to keep after us, we had a house that we could still live in and we were fine. FEMA is a mess!

I'm glad to hear that you finally got ice, I hope things get better for you all soon.

[Jan Doling]

I didn't qualify for FEMA after any of the multiple hurricanes we had here in 2004...the insurance company appraised the damage at just a few bucks below the deductible (10% of the house value) and FEMA wouldn't even give me a loan because I had too many debts already due to medical bills. So I managed my own repairs over a period of time.

That insurance company cancelled me and now I have a better one (even higher deductible, though). And I don't have to pay FEMA back so I guess it worked out. But people in Miami that were not even effected by Charlie or the other storms collected a fortune from FEMA for fraudulent claims. Go figure!

[tiffnzacsmom]

Friends of mine got nada from FEMA or the state after their home flooded in the big flood the other summer. They lost their furnace and everything in the basement, water was coming up to the first floor and they got nothing. Most of our town couldn't even qualify for loans but there was so much water the street buckled in places.

[PETSNEGGS]

sent you a pm... Oh have you called the red cross? I know they were helping out alot of people even when FEMA wasn't.

[Topaz Farm]

Originally Posted by Jan Doling

I didn't qualify for FEMA after any of the multiple hurricanes we had here in 2004...the insurance company appraised the damage at just a few bucks below the deductible (10% of the house value) and FEMA wouldn't even give me a loan because I had too many debts already due to medical bills. So I managed my own repairs over a period of time.

That insurance company cancelled me and now I have a better one (even higher deductible, though). And I don't have to pay FEMA back so I guess it worked out. But people in Miami that were not even effected by Charlie or the other storms collected a fortune from FEMA for fraudulent claims. Go figure!

I didn't know you had to pay FEMA back.

[Danaus29]

Topaz Farm, sometimes you do have to pay FEMA back. We did when our area was saturated with 12 inches of rain in 1 hour. Part of what we got had to be paid back, part of it was a grant and didn't have to be paid back.

Gee, I wonder when FEMA will come through here. I could use a new chainsaw. JK

I think burning bans are in place because of looters, vacant homes, vandalism, general mayhem, etc. It's not to keep you from cleaning up, it's more to protect homes from being vandalized and burned while the owners are absent. But with no electricity, how would you ever hear an announcement?

[manygoatsnmore]

And with a burn ban, can you still cook in a fire pit without the powers that be coming by with a fire hose to put it out?

Thank you for keeping us posted on how you are all doing through this...you are an inspiration! And I mean that, tears and all. I think it would be unhealthy of you to keep all your emotions bottled up. You've been through, and continue to go through, a crisis in your life. No matter how well you prep for such an event, you are STILL outside your comfort zone, and that is stressful. Add in a couple extra problems - the well and fuel pumps - and I'm amazed that you're not curled up in a fetal position under a table somewhere, sucking your thumb and babbling imcoherently, lol!

You and the others in the "Ike zone" have been in my thoughts often over the last days. Praying you continue to hold up and that the water situation improves ASAP.

[trappmountain]

Dana you are too tough not to make it! Us girls can cry a little and still be tough. The family will work together and everything will work out. Besides you have a lot of support.

If you need anything, even if it is just to scream, complain or cry pm me. I'm a good listener

[tamilee]

Hi Dana;
I'm gald you got ice. It's such a luxury during the aftermath of a hurricane.
I think you are very wise and prudent to make sure the farm is not left unattended. I can tell from your post that you are staying upbeat. That's great because kids can handle hardships well as long as Mom isn't devastated by it.
I went through the same thing with FEMA and the Red Cross after Hurricane Hugo. After Hurricane Charley, we had 14 oak trees downed that completly surrounded our house. DH had to literally cut the trees away from the door and wheelchair ramp for us to get out. NOT ONE agency would help. My dh was 60 and cutting that number of trees is young man's work. Those trees had been there since dh was a child, he grew up on the property as did his father and grandfather before him. People criticize and ask why someone "chooses" to live in a hurricane prone area. Well, when the family has lived on a tract of land for GENERATIONS and all the extended family lives on the surrounding land what is one to do? Pull up stakes, sell off the family land, abandon family and friends just to avoid a storm?
Anyway, I didn't mean to take from your post. I'm just lending my support in a been there done that way. I wish you best and stay strong. Keep us posted.
tamilee

[SageLady]

Dana, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[nduetime]

Thinking about all you folks that got hit, Dana.
Prayers for good health, safety, and comfort to all.

[shellyr44]

I'm praying for you Dana. You are tough. At least you can get to the internet and post. We'll be there if you need us, all of us at HT. Keep in touch.