Nobody in that tri-state region had flood insurance -- commercial insurance companies won't provide it. Much of the mid-west is considered a flood plane. I think you can buy it from the gov't, but I haven't heard of anyone that had it in many stories across Iowa, Indiana, Missouri... With that said, their specific local insurance company helped, not by contract/law, but out of the goodness of their heart. They gave their insurees $2,000. The larger commercial companies (State Farm, etc., did not give anything). My Dad's Union gave them a couple thousand, too. FEMA gave very little. I was shocked. Nobody had flood insurance. My parents got a little over a thousand from FEMA from losing half their house and their garage, I heard of folks that lost entire houses (condemned) and they just got a few thousand. Tough times. The $5,000 they got from multiple sources helped them replace much, but not quite all, of what they lost. They were fortunate. Imagine the folks that lost their houses, had to continue paying that mortgage, and find a way to re-build on a new loan...

Sorry to hear of your water damage. It is messy. I had some, myself. Couldn't complain, as it was about the time of the Iowa flooding. My upstairs condo neighbor's shower drain broke, damaging my ceiling quite a bit over my shower. My ins didn't cover because I have a $500 deductible and the repairs were $150. I paid for the ceiling because she is in her 20s and is struggling. I had her pay for the plumber to fix her drain, but I paid for the ceiling. When I told her the ceiling would be $150, she clutched her heart like I had said $1,000. If damaged my neighbor's ceiling, I would be happy to hear the total cost would be around $150. I too mercy on her and took care of the cost myself (told her if it was over $200, she'd pick up the difference). I found a young man just starting out in the business that gave me a good rate. Others quoted more like $300 to fix... He did a great job.

I can't beleive David and Paula are 16 and 11 and David is over 6 foot tall! Where has the time gone?

I don't know if the angels are smiling down on me for helping my neighbors. I think they are laughing. The two ladies are pretty demanding and crotchety. Imagine taking care of two "Maxines".

Hugs to your kitties!
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

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