Good news. Talked to Step-Mom. She got in the house and the damage isn't as bad as they thought. From the outside it looked very high, but on the inside it completely filled the basement (8 or 9 feet worth of water to the tippy top) but just stopped at the first landing at the top of their basement stairs into the kitchen. Another inch or two and the upstairs would have flooded, but it is dry. They don't know yet how the structure is (floor collapse or something because wet underneath), but at this point, it looks like the basement is a total loss (spare bedroom, family room, washer, dryer, hot water heater, freezer, a lot of storage items, etc...) but the upstairs is spared. Thank goodness! The FEMA guy slipped going down the basement stairs because of all the mud on the stairs and didn't go down -- took her word for what the contents of the basement were... They also lost a car outside and the contents of their garage... But, the upstairs, main living area, is intact. They probably won't be able to live there for quite a while, the water tank is broken (well water) and structure, gas and electric inspections still have to take place. She said it didn't smell as bad inside as she thought it might. Not nice, but not too bad. She opened windows and is airing it out. Can't stay there, tho. Was just able to go for a preliminary look and basic items to take back to the hotel for now. She said between local family and friends, they should be able to clean the basement up quickly and will hopefully be able to live in the upstairs once gas, electric, and water are back...
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

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