I’ve gotten some email asking if I’m doing ok since I haven’t posted a flood update in a while. I’m ok. Somewhat overwhelmed at times, tired more often than not, but ok.

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I have finally set up the Internet in the place we are staying at while our house is being worked on so I am now able to give an update.

Wow.  Where to begin?  It has now been two weeks since our house was flooded.  The flooding came up about six inches inside our home, so just about everything is ruined.  It might not have been so bad but the water was contaminated with sewage waste, so most things need to be thrown away.

As of today we are almost ready to have the drywall removed.  We would have done it sooner but we have so much friggen’ stuff that we had to move everything away from the walls so the drywall can be removed.  This has meant boxing up just about everything that wasn’t damaged and either placing it in the middle of each room or putting it in storage.

Tomorrow my brother-in-law and I will cover each pile with visqueen (I don’t know how to spell it but that is how it sounds), which is a plastic tarp, and tape them down so dust doesn’t get on our stuff.  I’ve been told the drywall process is VERY dusty.

After that the drywall can be removed.  We will remove the drywall 40″ from the ground up.  All the cabinets will also be removed, in the kitchen and bathrooms.  Then the insulation will need to be removed from the walls and the inside of the walls need to be dried.  This will take a few days.

After the walls are thoroughly dried they will be sprayed with a product that will kill any mold and prevent mold from growing.  Then we will have someone come in to certify that our house is free of mold and contaminates.

When the walls are dried and free of mold we will have new insulation put in and new drywall put in.  Then we can paint, put in new carpet and tiles, have new cabinets installed in the kitchen and bathrooms, and get the major appliances replaced.

Piece of cake, right?

I am so tired.  And a bit blue.  To top it off, my youngest daughter has developed bronchitis, which means I am not able to work at the house as much as I would if she were well.  This whole process has been overwhelming and exhausting.  It is hard to constantly stay positive.  But I am doing my best.  I sincerely appreciate all the words of encouragement I’ve gotten here.

I have tons of pictures and will upload some soon and post them.  The one thing each person has said who has been in our house since this happened is, “I kept trying to picture it but I can’t.” 

Lastly, I’m amazed to say we didn’t see a single snake.  I didn’t expect to see any alligators (which we didn’t) but I really thought we would see a single snake. 

LOTS of frogs, toads, lizards, and spiders, though.

Until next time,

Rochelle

I believe it was Hartlenn’s idea to have people drop tips into my tip jar, and Mark at The Niche Store Builder took that idea and blogged about it.  I am sincerely touched by all the support and donations that have been so kindly given.

About three weeks ago I started a new job and am not currently able to work, nor do I know how long I will be away from it.  Of course, this also means I am not able to spend any time on my niche stores.  The donations that you are giving will definitely be put to good use.

I am not able to personally thank each of you who have given donations but please know that I appreciate every one of them.

With gratitude,

Rochelle

We are back home after the third day of cleanup.  Day one was getting contaminated carpet and carpet padding out and sucking up water with the Shop Vac after getting it up.  We didn’t finish this on Day One, so Day Two was a continuation of the same job.

Day Three was focusing on the garage, which is practically toxic (my husband’s job) and beginning the process of inventorying damaged items for our insurance (my job).

The Red Cross was on our street this morning.  I never knew exactly what the Red Cross does in a crisis, but now I know one aspect of their help.  They were giving away breakfasts of biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs, as well as bottled water.  It was such a great way to start today’s work to have a hot breakfast.

The Red Cross also handed out buckets with cleaning supplies in it.  The contents are great (various sized scrub brushes, a collapsable mop, a collapsable broom, work gloves, rubber gloves, sponge, bleach, and a few other cleaning supplies).  I thank them.

A garbage truck also came by our neighborhood today.  It was a truck from Cocoa, which is a city about 20 minutes away.  The drivers were collecting the carpet and matting, as well as any other garbage, from my neighborhood’s flooded homes.  Several neighbors, and the two truck drivers, kindly helped me take all the waste from our porch to the truck.

The smell is disgusting.  I can tell what got wet just by smelling it.  And to think I let my children play in this water before I knew better.

I actually got several infections on my feet from the contaminated water.  Fortunately I have prescription strength Neosporin and I have been using that.  I have also been much more careful to keep any open wounds dry and away from the water.

I am deeply saddened to say that my brand new Sanyo camcorder did not survive Fay.  Of all the things I have lost that is the one that is really pissing me off.  Yes, it will be covered by insurance, but it means I can no longer video what has been going on.  It died on Wednesday, so I have videos up to some time Wednesday.  After that it is just photos.

This is very taxing.  This is the most physical labor I’ve ever done.  I’ve made the decision that I will not become a physical laborer!  It hurts to simply roll over when I’m in bed.

But the worst aspect is that I’m not sleeping.  I am going to bed more tired than I think I’ve ever been but I CAN’T SLEEP!  If I have gotten four hours of sleep each night the past few nights then that is a lot.  My sister-in-law, who is a nurse, said I am running on adrenaline.  I had no idea adrenaline can last for days.  What I wouldn’t give for just a good night’s sleep.

Tomorrow my dad is flying in to help us out.  My mom will arrive later in the week.  I have assured them both that there will be plenty for both to do.

Rochelle