Well, this stinks

[Richard]

I really wanted to say "*********" /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Have preliminary reports back on my wifes brothers (and family) house.

This is the bro in law/sis in law who have a daughter with spinal bifida and is who confined to a wheelchair.

They've spent 16 years (her age) getting the house conditioned for her access and her special situation.

They live near New Orleans. They live about an hour south of New Orleans in a small area called Buras. I've read in some places that Buras (and that parish) is where the hurricane came in first.

My brother in laws boss took a boat ride and went by their house. Says the house is 100% gone. He can see no signs of it although the area is still underwater so he's not positive on what's below the surface.

To add insult to injury, the BIL was up here the last week, precluding him from doing anything at home to prepare. His son was in town from college when they evacuated. He (dad) told the son to pack all his tools into his work van and drive the work van away from there.

The son, having been through these "false alarm" hurricanes before, CHOSE to instead drive out with Mom & sister and left everything there against dads wishes.

This poor family seems cursed. The reason the bro in law is even HERE in town was to buy at an auction, some kind of specialized step van with a man lift attached. He bought it, found out reverse gear didn't work.

Spent the next few days trying to get it fixed. One shop called him in the morning & said "if you can get it here TODAY, we can get it fixed". He dropped everything he was doing & got it to them. They didn't even get a chance to LOOK at it that day /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Had he not been here to buy the van, had reverse WORKED, had the repair shop not failed him, he would have / could have been at home and been able to help save more of their stuff.

He works out of these vans as he does some kind of industrial a/c work or something like that.

Oh, and to add icing to the insult that was added to the injury, before he left Buras, he had a large repair contract. He ordered (at his expense) all the stuff needed to fix this specific job. Seems he spent a couple thousand dollars.

Then this happened. So not only is he out the $$ to buy the parts needed to fix the job, the JOB ITSELF is probably gone so he's out the income he'd had if he could have finished it. Evidently he came up here during the time frame it was taking to receive the parts when the van transmission went bad.

I guess I know where my batwing mower money is going to go now.



/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Richard,

BIL sure has had a string of bad luck.

On the other hand, he and his family are alive. It could have been far worse. I'm glad the son decided to get out with his sis and mom otherwise I doubt they would be alive. Especially the sister.

I have seen what flooding can do. Its hard to comprehend unless one has seen it. The flooding I have seen is NOTHING compared to what I have been seeing in the reports today.

If this storm had happened 50-60 years ago we would be talking about tens of thousands of deaths. At least now people have warnings and they are heeding them and getting out while getting is good. I have a coworker from new Orleans. Most of her family is accounted for except for an uncle and cousin. From the sounds of it her grandma has lost everything. I'm sure her mother has as well.

Maybe it was good luck that van had a problem... Bottom line is that he and his family are alive. Its more than some people have right now.

I wish the best for all the people who have been effected by this storm. This is just bad and bad ain't bad enough a word to describe this disaster.

Later,
Dan

 

[Sigarms]

People are not "cursed" (sp?).

Things work out for ways that we will never understand.

We do however control in some aspect our "destiny".

 

[MossRoad]

I agree. That stinks. There aren't any words to describe all those circumstances coming together at the same time. However, like was mentioned, they are alive.

Richard, you are a good B.I.L.

 

[tracdoc]

Richard,

Your BIL and family will be in our family's prayers.

 

[Richard]

Thanks all.

We went out to dinner last night. They're going to be staying in an empty apartment here locally. The apt is one that my BIL's brother (my other BIL) has next to where he lives so they'll be able to stay there rent free.

Wife is going over there today to buy them some furniture and help clean this place up.

We saw some of the news shots at the restauraunt last night. Was the first time we'd seen any visuals of that entire area and like everyone, I guess we're floored at what we see. It's unreal what's happened there (the entire coast)

Their other son (17 years old) has been making comments about how all their stuff is ok, because the house was built up a bit and nothing in the basement mattered. All their belongings were upstairs. (he's in complete denial)

Get this... (did someone say cursed? lol)

The wife keeps some kind of bank account here locally in addition to what she had in Buras. She uses it as some kind of hidden savings account so she doesn't have easy access. About a week ago, she sent the bank a Postal Money order.

Because of needing $$, she went to take some out, and decided to close the account. When they gave her the balance she said "I sent you $900 the other day, don't you have it?"

yes, they had it but had to wait until the check cleared. She asked the girl, "you mean the check has to clear the post office of ORIGIN???"

The girl says yes

Donna pointed out that they were from Buras and THAT post office is either under water or gone.

The girl at the bank said well... I don't know what to tell you.

She asked to see the president of the bank...told he's in a meeting she said no problem...I"LL WAIT /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

He showed up soon, she explained all to him. He agreed that they had to wait for the POSTAL money order to clear /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif and since this was a 'unique situation' they didn't know what to do, so she should check back with him in a couple days.

I'm going to verify with post office today that these are considered "cash" and call bank myself. See if I can help them understand that.

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The whole family was smiling/laughing during dinner (which we had outside on the patio). Even to the point that when my wife said she was going to buy them a sleeper sofa... "we need to get a good one that you can keep when you get this fixed"... Donna made the quip about "hmm... I guess I won't have to worry about matching it to my decor will I" (was a funny moment in light of situation)

When we went back inside restauraunt to leave, we saw the news. We were ALL just stunned and stood there watching the pictures for 15 minutes. I think it was the first time they had a clue and it's just then, starting to sink into them whats happened.

Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers

 

[JimR]

My heart and prayers goes out to your family and all those folks down south that have basically lost the shirt off their backs. The destruction down there is just unbelievable.

 

[Moon]

Richard,
Our thoughts are prayers are with BIL's family.
What an ordeal. Good to see a bit of humor in the midst of this situation, that has to help.
The NBC nightly news showed so much devistation in the NO area on last nights news. The levys had broke and the water was still rising. I have to wonder if that city will ever recover.

 

[ByronBob]

I'm sure we'll hear stories like this from quite a few people. Your BIL has a good family and they're alive. If you put into perspective what the alternative might have been this isn't a big deal is it?

 

[HammerFour]

I agree with some of the above comments, stuff can be replaced, people can't. I know it's hard to start over and rebuild along with all the family heirlooms, pictures etc that are gone, but at least everyone is alive to do it together.