mardigras

Thanks for all the well wishes and welcomes back folks, it is so good to see you again. Here's a few replies to comments and questions in the thread:

It's progressing a bit smoother than the rest of the neighborhood. When I heard we were cleared for power as soon as we had an inspection of all electrical that got wet I put everything else on hold and concentrated on replacing all the outlets in the place. As a result as of last night I am the only one on the street so far with power.

LOL, this storm attacked approximately 90,000 square miles, something beyond anyone's imagination... I had plenty of company.

That's all that matters. Although we had some close calls everyone in my family and all the pets made it. A friend's father-in-law is the only fatality I know. The main thing not replacable (and the hardest to lose) were my home movies

The freakiest thing in my 43 years... I can happily go at least another 43 without another one

The smell is horrid. I've aired out most of the place but as I'm clearing out the back rooms out I'm finding that anything that could float upright and capture some of the surge water did. It's like finding mini pockets of unflushed toilets. The city came through with the bug spraying truck night before last which was a tremendous relief from the swarms of flies all through the neighborhood (there's 2 weeks of garbage at everyone's house along with a huge pile of stuff that runs the length of everyone's property). The neighborhood looks like a landfill.
I can't leave home. Everyone most important to me is within a 10 mile radius. This will be a most beautiful place to live again. If everyone abandoned a town the first time there was a natural disaster there would be very few habitated places in the US. I'm not in an area that is pounded by hurricanes and there has never been water from one here in recorded history prior to this storm.

I think I'd give up the internet for a dozen weeks to not be dealing with the nasty mess I'm working on

They say if you get the fluids, battery and possibly starter changed before trying to start them there is a chance to salvage them. Too many people try to jump them off and that sends the salt water through the system and destroys it. 2 of my doors and the trunk are sealed shut. I'm not touching it until my brother (the family mechanic) gets a chance to come over and look at it.

The rabbit was bad enough... worse, 4 or 5 days ago a large section of wood fence loosened by the storm fell down at my neighbor's house and killed her 14 year old cocker spaniel. That was pretty much the emotional peak of the entire ordeal.

I can't imagine being stuck in another state with nobody I know as any sort of vacation. By striking early I got my power on and amazingly even though the insulation and controls of my hot water heater were totally submerged after drying out that sucker kicked in and after 2 weeks of "sponge baths" I took a warm shower at home this morning. Now that was a vacation

Thanks. I have some friends who are going to drag me away a few days after I clear the mess and see the insurance claim adjuster. 80% of us here that got flooded were not in flood zones so few had flood insurance. I'll be really OK if the personal contents part of my homeowner's insurance will cover my stuff. I don't know yet. They told me to take pictures and write down model and serial numbers of everything I drag out, so that sounds hopeful.

Bitch
I'm glad to hear he's alright too.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the well wishes man, all of you guys!

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