I spent last week helping a young mother clear out her house after it was inundated by four feet of muck in Gulfport, Florida after Hurricane Helene. We had to haul out everything and pile it on the curb right next to all of her neighbor’s belongings and her neighbor’s belongings and so on up and down the street.
Blocks and blocks of households in piles on the curb.
The hardest part for me was clearing out the kid’s rooms. Legos and cars and racetracks can be washed in bleach in a tub but their art work? Stuffies? Dolls? The most treasured things in a child’s life all had to be trashed. No amount of insurance can erase that kind of trauma.
When I evacuated for Milton on Monday I felt lucky to be well insured against the disaster that might be descending but I also knew that I didn’t have anything nearly as valuable as those stuffies.
Thanks, LIsa. I just saw this. Gulfport is a special place. I'll be interested in knowing if your insurance claims will be processed to your satisfaction. Good luck. Let me know?
Very creative rabbit painting. I was awwwing. Glad it was retrieved. So sorry for your family. After I saw that question of what possession would you grab, I'm still contemplating. When I was a child in tornado prone Minnesota (not nearly so tornado prone as today's Des Moines, Ia. however), I had a little stash of things I dragged to the basement with me. I was scared to death of tornados and I have to say, I still am. Plus, they have been much, much closer to me this summer and more frequently than ever before. I thought my stomach was never going to be settled again during the worst of it.
Also I am sorry about the insurance. Going through something similar on a claim for my own home (not water damage but insurance just refusing to pay a clearly covered claim). I'm $60k in the hole and just lucky I could borrow half from my folks because I did not have $60k. They tell me they'll make a decision this week; they've said that before. I am lucky to have a friend who's a local litigator and who will sue on my behalf without charging me. That's a godsend.
A few years ago I used a different company and had a substantial claim paid promptly and fairly. But then they jacked my rates through the roof and I had to switch companies.
As I've been talking about my issue, which started around Memorial Day, people keep telling me about their own insurance problems. So yeah - I would say so!
Our daughter, SIL and their son were planning on.flying. to Orlando yest for his 10th bd. Grateful they didn't go; my.heart is grieving already for Helene/future victims.
Julie - we are sorry for all the losses you and your family face and yet happy the rabbit is safe. Thank you for the excellent column. FYI, I have an attorney friend who represents some of the largest corporations in the US in their fight to collect from insurance companies. She says "having insurance doesn't give you the right to collect. It just gives you the right to sue the insurance company." I am sorry you are finding this to be true.
SMH, Michelle. I'm thinking these days, insurance companies are on my crooks list. They seem to have no intention of paying. Having to sue to get paid what you paid insurance payments for forever is unforgivable.
Milton is churning in the Gulf of Mexico. Not the Atlantic. Former Des Moines native, living in Sarasota, FL 41 years, and now, part time in Johnston. I’m done with the tropics. Pray for my husband, daughter, and property.
The game plan of what valuables to take is not a new thought for me. When I was a child our grandparents farm and home were flooded by the Big Sioux River several times. Once TZ and Ma (my grandparents) had to be boated out so clothing was their only "carry on." In reality the possession they cared about was the farm. Each flood devastated their buildings and machinery as well as killed Black Angus and scads of chickens. My grandparents were gritty and regrouped after the devastation of each flood. Their home never lost a musty smell and had sparse furnishing and amenities. Thinking about their minimalist ways reminds me that stuff is stuff. They were always just content to be back at the farm looking east at the loess hills, living their way on a dusty back road (now called Shamrock Avenue), and having crops grow. Nature is the ultimate teacher. Today and the past week I have remembered my grandparents as I read and see news reports of so many impacted by nature. The best thought is to pray and hope that people have strength and grit to regroup and move forward.
Hooray for the rabbit rescue. Heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. Thankyou for sharing this very personal story while catastrophe is closing fast.
I spent 30 years in the insurance business. When customers had a claim it was our opportunity to keep the promises we made when they bought their policy. For my former employer, that remains the philosophy. The companies engaging in this reprehensible conduct in Florida deserve to be exposed and punished. A few prison terms might jolt some CEO’s and CFO’s into embracing business practices based on honesty and fairness. I hope that reckoning happens soon.
I’m living across the street from Greenwood School. Fun to see that the rabbit picture is safe for now.
I spent last week helping a young mother clear out her house after it was inundated by four feet of muck in Gulfport, Florida after Hurricane Helene. We had to haul out everything and pile it on the curb right next to all of her neighbor’s belongings and her neighbor’s belongings and so on up and down the street.
Blocks and blocks of households in piles on the curb.
The hardest part for me was clearing out the kid’s rooms. Legos and cars and racetracks can be washed in bleach in a tub but their art work? Stuffies? Dolls? The most treasured things in a child’s life all had to be trashed. No amount of insurance can erase that kind of trauma.
When I evacuated for Milton on Monday I felt lucky to be well insured against the disaster that might be descending but I also knew that I didn’t have anything nearly as valuable as those stuffies.
Thanks, LIsa. I just saw this. Gulfport is a special place. I'll be interested in knowing if your insurance claims will be processed to your satisfaction. Good luck. Let me know?
Very creative rabbit painting. I was awwwing. Glad it was retrieved. So sorry for your family. After I saw that question of what possession would you grab, I'm still contemplating. When I was a child in tornado prone Minnesota (not nearly so tornado prone as today's Des Moines, Ia. however), I had a little stash of things I dragged to the basement with me. I was scared to death of tornados and I have to say, I still am. Plus, they have been much, much closer to me this summer and more frequently than ever before. I thought my stomach was never going to be settled again during the worst of it.
Love the rabbit painting, so glad it was retrieved. Your family is so very talented.
Also I am sorry about the insurance. Going through something similar on a claim for my own home (not water damage but insurance just refusing to pay a clearly covered claim). I'm $60k in the hole and just lucky I could borrow half from my folks because I did not have $60k. They tell me they'll make a decision this week; they've said that before. I am lucky to have a friend who's a local litigator and who will sue on my behalf without charging me. That's a godsend.
A few years ago I used a different company and had a substantial claim paid promptly and fairly. But then they jacked my rates through the roof and I had to switch companies.
I’ll bet there are a lot of these stories
As I've been talking about my issue, which started around Memorial Day, people keep telling me about their own insurance problems. So yeah - I would say so!
I have a few things I'd take with me in a car but really there's nothing I couldn't do without. There are people I'd sure hate to do without.
Our daughter, SIL and their son were planning on.flying. to Orlando yest for his 10th bd. Grateful they didn't go; my.heart is grieving already for Helene/future victims.
Julie - we are sorry for all the losses you and your family face and yet happy the rabbit is safe. Thank you for the excellent column. FYI, I have an attorney friend who represents some of the largest corporations in the US in their fight to collect from insurance companies. She says "having insurance doesn't give you the right to collect. It just gives you the right to sue the insurance company." I am sorry you are finding this to be true.
SMH, Michelle. I'm thinking these days, insurance companies are on my crooks list. They seem to have no intention of paying. Having to sue to get paid what you paid insurance payments for forever is unforgivable.
We might need her name. I can’t believe they would want this to go to a jury trial!
Vive le lapin!
Milton is churning in the Gulf of Mexico. Not the Atlantic. Former Des Moines native, living in Sarasota, FL 41 years, and now, part time in Johnston. I’m done with the tropics. Pray for my husband, daughter, and property.
Are they there now?
Yes, but Milton is considered one of the five strongest in the Atlantic area.
The game plan of what valuables to take is not a new thought for me. When I was a child our grandparents farm and home were flooded by the Big Sioux River several times. Once TZ and Ma (my grandparents) had to be boated out so clothing was their only "carry on." In reality the possession they cared about was the farm. Each flood devastated their buildings and machinery as well as killed Black Angus and scads of chickens. My grandparents were gritty and regrouped after the devastation of each flood. Their home never lost a musty smell and had sparse furnishing and amenities. Thinking about their minimalist ways reminds me that stuff is stuff. They were always just content to be back at the farm looking east at the loess hills, living their way on a dusty back road (now called Shamrock Avenue), and having crops grow. Nature is the ultimate teacher. Today and the past week I have remembered my grandparents as I read and see news reports of so many impacted by nature. The best thought is to pray and hope that people have strength and grit to regroup and move forward.
Lovely
Hooray for the rabbit rescue. Heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. Thankyou for sharing this very personal story while catastrophe is closing fast.
Thanks so much!
Terrific column! And prayers for the safety of the Florida Gammacks.
Thanks, Chuck!
I spent 30 years in the insurance business. When customers had a claim it was our opportunity to keep the promises we made when they bought their policy. For my former employer, that remains the philosophy. The companies engaging in this reprehensible conduct in Florida deserve to be exposed and punished. A few prison terms might jolt some CEO’s and CFO’s into embracing business practices based on honesty and fairness. I hope that reckoning happens soon.
Amen, Cyrus.
Another very talented Gammack! I am glad the painting has been rescued. It definitely falls into the category of “irreplaceable”.
Be safe Tom and Robbie.