My House burned... lost everything whats next

[prospectmom]

Hi all,

It has been awhile I have been so busy with work and 2 grandpas living with us and our garden that I haven't written in awhile. Last Sunday my house burned down and luckily all made it out safely. My ward and community have been awesome I will write a blog about it. My question is has any of you faced family disaster and how did you cope and recover.? Mabey there are some good suggestions out there to help me and my family.

I am so blessed with a great family and I was so lucky my son was on leave from Iraq. Anyway I look forward to hearing from you all.

Edited November 2, 2009 by prospectmom
still learning to spell :}

[mnn727]

Sorry to hear that, thankfully everyone made it out - thats the really important thing.

on the lighter side - now is the time you decide what 'stuff' you really need. I certainly know we could get rid of at least 1/2 of our stuff and be just as happy and the house would be a whole lot neater loking.

[Vort]

I'm so sorry to hear it, prospectmom. I have not experienced anything similar, so I can only sympathize from a distance. I hope you are insured; pictures and memories are not easily replaceable, but at least the insurance keeps you from suffering a crippling financial blow (hopefully).

Not trying to be flip, but I wonder if such a thing might not be a blessing in disguise, especially if you are insured. I have sometimes thought that a fire might be the solution to much of our household disorganization. Though the years, I have accumulated so much stuff that just ends up as clutter or packed away in storage, never to be seen, that an enforced getting-rid-of episode might just free me up.

[havejoy]

When my oldest son was 18 months old our home burned to the ground. We lost everything. My hubby and I and the little one got out with only what we were wearing. We stayed with friends for a few months while we got back on our feet (not members at the time, I learned about the church after my divorce).

I'm not sure really what we went through though because I kept waiting for the "terrible reality" to set in like everyone told me it would but it never did. Whenever I thought about the fire I could never get past the idea that it could have been so much worse. I've always just been grateful for our lives.

[prospectmom]

no insurance sadly my hubby has been laid off for most of this year ... Yes it is a major force to downsize.... and mabey not aquire so much stuff. I feel so lucky we have been treated so wonderfully by our community and church and the military. If I kept all that was offered I could open a clothing and furniture store... :}

[prospectmom]

oh yes I forgot you can seee a story at the medford mail tribune web site.. It has a picture too.

[Vort]

Is this it?

[skippy740]

Like many others, we're facing "financial" disaster. Our family is coming closer together and really determining what we really value.

The biggest thing about these situations is being ready and able to accept service and help. That's a hard thing for me because I take pride in being self-reliant. If I need help, I would do it myself or hire help. "When life hands you lemons... make lemonade. But without some sugar and water, your lemonade is gonna suck."

Based on how I'm reading your posts, it sounds like you've got a great attitude about this.

I wouldn't worry about the insurance. At least it wasn't YOUR house (if the article link was you - and I think it is). You just have to think about your "stuff".

[WmLee]

I've never personally experienced this, but have helped two that have. It is a blessing that you are all okay and were out of the house, or got out in time. The material you lost was just 'stuff" and can be replaced. The photo's the memorabilia, the personal "things' that can never be replaced, yes there is a great emotional loss here. But what will you take with you when you leave this phase of your eternal life . . . each other and the memories you have made.

I am so sorry about what your family has been through. What a blessing everyone is safe.

[prospectmom]

Yes that is the article. My landloard is awesome and is fine insurance wise. My plants I spent so much time propagating , loving and growing will take time to replace, my books I will really miss and the most is of corse the pic's , scrapbooks etc. We are so blessed that all will work out I KNOW IT.

[prospectmom]

Skippy your right my Husband is having a hard time with all the Help , he is shy and hates the limelight. We all are dealing in different ways. I am all organization, lists and paperwork. right now I have no ID no proof of my existance and DMV isn't the friendliest here in Oregon so will drive just knowing my ODL # and hoping the Police are more understanding.,

[pam]

So sorry pmom to hear of your tragedy but sounds like you have a wonderful attitude about it. I haven't been in your situation but I have a friend that has.

In regards to missing photos etc...we gave them as an office a bunch of frames and photo albums with a new digital camera to allow them to start making new memories.

Keep up the spirit..sounds like you are doing great with that.

[Elphaba]

PM! It's so good to hear from you, even in such a difficult time. I'm so glad you posted about this.

I read the article about the fire, and saw your picture. it's great to put a face to your screen name, since you and I have talked a bit.

It sounds like Prospect is a great place to live with the community support you've been given. I envy you that.

The fact that you are so involved in your community does not surprise me at all, given what little I knew about you.

I hope things continue to go well and that you are soon situated comfortably and happily. My thoughts are with you.

Love,

Elph

[Moksha]

Gos bless you during this hurtful time Prospectmom.

[beefche]

I'm sorry to hear that, prospect. I am very happy that no one was injured.

[Iggy]

Prospectmom, my house didn't burn, but it was hit by a twister in a doozy of a rain storm.

Back in 1981- in Nov on the 14th (around 2am'ish) our roof was ripped off and dumped across the street in the neighbors yard.

The wind sucked anything that wasn't nailed down out and distributed it all over the coast of Waldport and Seal Rock OR. We lost everything. Yes our house was insured, and we got the cost of repair for the house. Meaning walls, carpet, paint, roof, ceiling. BUT the contents were replacement cost minus depreciation. Our bed was 8 years old, so they depreciated 8 years worth off of it. Our living room furniture was 12 years old- we got zero for it. Furniture has a life span of years.

It took me 10 years to get over that storm and the losses. THE only good thing that came of that storm is IRS was auditing us (we owned a Tavern at that time), all of the books were in the house- all strung out in the extra bedroom, because I was working on them getting them all in order for IRS. The storm sucked out 1/3 of them and drenched the rest.

I was in shock for nearly two weeks- so it was volunteers (I was not active in church at that time, so the volunteers came from our tavern clients) and they bagged everything in black heavy duty trash bags. EVERYTHING. Papers, plants, clothes.

By the time I was capable of going through all of these bags, they were fermented messes. Yes I lost nearly all of my clothes. Believe me, I tried to launder them. Some I just had to trash.

The paperwork for IRS was a gloppy, gluey mess. They would not believe me when I told them, so I hauled the two, very big trash bags all the way to Salem and personally delivered them to the bitter, bad-tempered IRS Auditor.

They forgave the audit, and estimated from the years they had and reduced all of it by 20% because we were hit with such a calamity.

Our Tavern, by the way, suffered no damage at all. Even though it was a drafty, old place. The huge front door did warp and was a real pain to get opened. Once of our clients, a master wood maker, worked on it and it looked better and worked better once he did. It was an old, old barn door. Well, half of the barn door. Only one side.

Anyway. I have gone through the loss. At that time of my life I didn't have any pictures, and the only thing I really regretted losing was all of the letters I kept from my best girl friend. 12 years worth.

After we were moved back into the house, I made my mother and my sisters take pictures of their homes, of every item in it, and I mean EVERY ITEM, place the pictures in an album (actually two or three albums), give one to your insurance agent, place on in the safe deposit box and keep one.

Now days, take digital pics, put it all on disc's and give one to your agent, and upload to a safe site if you can, keep one disc in a safe deposit box.

Update every year. I did it for Mom every Dec. My sisters and now my brothers do it the first week of Jan. I haven't done it since I remarried(shame on me)

I also did it when I was renting- even though I didn't have renters insurance. I did it because my area was getting hit by home burglaries!

Renters insurance really isn't all that expensive. Think of it as an additional tithe!

[prospectmom]

Thanks for all the comments .. I can only check in on the site from time to time and am greatful for all your comments. Renters insurance would have feally helped us and I am for sure getting it. I have been so busy still trying to work a.. i sub at our school. and go through donations and get our new place ready. I will be online mabey one more time before the weekend then not till tuesday. I have lots to tell but for now thank you all for your support. Terry

[pam]

Hang in there Terry. We're thinking of ya.

[Guest]

Before I was born, our house burned down. My mom had just enough time to grab my 2 brothers out of the house before the gas tank blew (in the Philippines we have cooking ranges that work off a gas tank). Needless to say, she was left with just the kids and the pajamas on their backs. My dad was traveling. She learned one thing out of that fire though - she learned you can rub a tomato on a burn as a first-aid treatment.

When I was 2-years-old, I climbed the stove and grabbed a big boiling pot of porridge and ended up pouring the whole boiling mess over me. We had a mini-store in our front porch where my mom sold tomatoes. She was able to rub an entire basket of tomatoes all over me while enroute to the hospital and I didn't even have to stay in the hospital at all! I have no scars from the incident.

So yeah, my mother tells me all the time, when you think all is lost, that's when you find out you are doubly blessed.

[bcguy]

To many homes that are vacant are often vandalized because thay are vacant. If there are a number of vacant foreclosed homes in your area, ask the bank if you could live in one and keep it well maintained untill its time for it to sell? Might be a good way to build up your savings to buy or rent another place while keeping the foreclosed home in good repair.

[prospectmom]

Well it is two weeks and 5 days since our house burned. We still are not in our new home ( new to us)As much as we would like things do not always move swiftly. We should be in by Sunday. I was able to go to church on Sunday and it was wonderful. I only stayed for sacrement as I had to get more supplies up to the workers. My leg started hurting at the knee and swelled from my groin to my ankle so ended up to the Dr then to the hospital. They thought I had a blood clot but luckily not. I have a nerve/ arthritis thing going on and my stress and over doing it came out on my leg so today I am subbing in V-tel with my leg up on a pillow. I will update more soon. Terry

[bcguy]

Were are you staying at? what is the root cause of the fire?

[StallionMcBeastly]

So sorry to hear about your situation. I'll pray for you guys.

[Hemidakota]

How are you doing?