Bill N
Well-known member
Our neighborhood suffered a EF-2 tornado on April 30th this year. We were among the lucky folks who suffered some moderate damage but nothing that required us to leave our home. The home across the street, one down two houses and two houses behind us were totally destroyed and all of the others in the immediate group of perhaps 20 homes had major damage requiring the residents to move out. Until yesterday we were the only people still living in our home. The local police force had a constant patrol of the neighborhood and even had a squad car sit in our cul-de-sac every night for over a month. I was told that was to prevent looting (and there was some minor thefts in other areas).
Well, this past Friday also marked the completion of our home repairs which included a new roof, 400 feet of new fencing, reinsulating the attic (wet stuff removed), ceiling and wall repairs caused by water from rain (it was raining heavily during the tornado), and window replacement (blown out by tornado). Apparently we have the best insurance company in the neighborhood as many of our other neighbors are in what seem to be constant fights with their companies or the contractors doing the repairs. USAA stepped in within hours of the tornado and had a general contractor at the house at 7am the next morning (storm was at 9 pm previous night). That contractor has taken care of everything and been very responsive to our whining.
Lesson learned - if you have even moderate damage during a severe storm that affects many others, expect repairs to take months as contractors and subcontractors will be lined up with business. Watch out for scammers - they show up at every disaster. If you intend to do your own contracting and are not experienced be forewarned that, in general, the lowest bidder does not always do the best work. Our next door neighbor can attest to that.
And finally, we have to make a decision as to whether it is even worth dewinterizing the coach this season (not done yet). I run it for 20-30 miles every two or three weeks but it is in covered storage and safe. Our small cul-de-sac is cluttered with contractor trucks every weekday (three other houses still under repair) and there just is no room to safely maneuver a 35 foot coach. I spend half my time asking guys to move out of my driveway so I can even get the car out.
After writing this I am tempted to bring out the coach next weekend (when the cul-de-sac is empty of trucks) and dewinterizing it for a local camping trip if nothing else. Also some medical conditions may dictate this as being the last few times we will have to use the coach. Wish me well.
Well, this past Friday also marked the completion of our home repairs which included a new roof, 400 feet of new fencing, reinsulating the attic (wet stuff removed), ceiling and wall repairs caused by water from rain (it was raining heavily during the tornado), and window replacement (blown out by tornado). Apparently we have the best insurance company in the neighborhood as many of our other neighbors are in what seem to be constant fights with their companies or the contractors doing the repairs. USAA stepped in within hours of the tornado and had a general contractor at the house at 7am the next morning (storm was at 9 pm previous night). That contractor has taken care of everything and been very responsive to our whining.
Lesson learned - if you have even moderate damage during a severe storm that affects many others, expect repairs to take months as contractors and subcontractors will be lined up with business. Watch out for scammers - they show up at every disaster. If you intend to do your own contracting and are not experienced be forewarned that, in general, the lowest bidder does not always do the best work. Our next door neighbor can attest to that.
And finally, we have to make a decision as to whether it is even worth dewinterizing the coach this season (not done yet). I run it for 20-30 miles every two or three weeks but it is in covered storage and safe. Our small cul-de-sac is cluttered with contractor trucks every weekday (three other houses still under repair) and there just is no room to safely maneuver a 35 foot coach. I spend half my time asking guys to move out of my driveway so I can even get the car out.
After writing this I am tempted to bring out the coach next weekend (when the cul-de-sac is empty of trucks) and dewinterizing it for a local camping trip if nothing else. Also some medical conditions may dictate this as being the last few times we will have to use the coach. Wish me well.
