What is your weather like ... today

[fishin4cars]

No luck yet on finding Buffy, We are heading out shortly with the Bobcat to try and clear some of the debris. I ask them if Buffy had a microchip and she doesn't, but that was a good idea and thanks for mentioning. Cindy got a call from the INS. company a few minutes ago, they are coming by here this afternoon and said they would give them a check on the spot to assist until all the estimates are in and processed. The Ins. Company has already been to the site this morning and have all the pictures and video, they gave us the ok to start removing debris and clean-up. They also told us I could bill them for the clean-up and they had a rate that they would run if we wanted to go that route. It would take about 3 weeks for me to get paid and we have to make sure there is $500 allotted for haul off which is the max they pay. I was going to help do this anyway so hopefully it will be a little more we can apply to help them rebuild.
I don't know what Kevin has for guns in that safe but that thing is HEAVY, tried to get it out of the truck with just the two of us last night and it wasn't going to happen, fact is, even the tractor had a time getting it out. Thing must way a half a ton! All is going well considering, All kinds of support coming in from monetary, to food, to great assistance from FEMA and the RedCross, even down to the Ins. company. Kevin, Cindy, and Roland wanted me to pass on the everyone, Thank you for the thoughts, prayers, and nice comments. They have really been surprised by all the things people have done to help that they didn't even know. They wanted me to tell everyone how much they appreciated them.
I'll keep everyone posted, Thanks for the support again my friends here on GPF! Your the best!

 

[fishin4cars]

Where have I been! I somehow missed the news cause I was busy working and stuff. Very sorry to here about the big tornatos that hit down there Larkin, you must have been very stressed out, tornatos would scare the heck out of me. It is good to here you and your friends are OK, too bad about your friends house. Hopefully they will find the poor little kitty!

LOL, I had to start laughing, Tornados do scare the mess out of me, Tomatoes on the other hand don't scare me, they just make me hungry! Tornatos, Is that a tomatoe that spins frantically around the house hitting everything in sight? LOL

My boy Bear is not afraid of the storms, or anything! But little Poppy just hates guns and thunderstorms. When there is a big storm in the middle of the night, Poppy wakes me to tell me the sky is falling! Then I must comfort and shelter the Poppy till the danger is past. Sometimes we hide on the bed under a blanket, makes her feel better.

Have you tried a Thundershirt? I believe in them, they have worked great for Endy and she stays far calmer during a storm when she has one on, with her epilepsy we try o calm her as much as possible during storms so it doesn't trigger one.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Never heard of a thunder shirt before, and yes tornatos are about all we get around here, torn tomatoes after a big storm! Ha ha ha

 

[j.w]

Yep they even were using those thunder shirts on that tv show Pit Bulls and Parolee's when they were getting thunder storms there the other night I watched it. Keeps the dogs calmer so they don't freak out so bad. Guess it's like a baby wrapped in swaddling sack, makes them feel like getting a big nice hug!

 

[fishin4cars]

Yep they even were using those thunder shirts on that tv show Pit Bulls and Parolee's when they were getting thunder storms there the other night I watched it. Keeps the dogs calmer so they don't freak out so bad. Guess it's like a baby wrapped in swaddling sack, makes them feel like getting a big nice hug!

Great way to described it! that's exactly what it does, and it works! Unlike the 9,999 other things my wife tries off of TV! LOL

 

[sissy]

Shame they dropped the ball in NJ as people are still trying to get repairs and money and food and still some without electric .My son filled out all the papers and jumped through hoops for fema but nothing .Insurance only one small check of 500 dollars so far .

 

[CountryEscape]

That's the difference in insurance companies, Sissy. Many years ago (in 1989, to be exact, May 25!) we had an awful hail storm. I lived in a log home at the time, my daughter and I went to the basement, and it literally sounded like a giant was outside beating on our house with a huge baseball bat! Well, when the hail ended, we took pics of the baseball sized hail on the front porch. We had State Farm. They were out the next day, handed us a check for $7,500 for roof, window (no glass broke, just the framed plastic pieces) and so forth, and we would have gotten another $5,000 or so had we actually replaced the shingles and gutters (they were dented, but worked just fine) and everything else. I think the only thing we actually replaced were the skylights in the barn, which had holes in them. The house was only 8 years old, and we had used 30 year shingles, so no need to replace them. That's service, if you ask me! Other people at the time were complaining they needed new roof, windows broken out, no money to board them up until replacements could be ordered and installed. It was the difference in the insurance companies. I continue to have State Farm for car, house, horse trailer, etc. They have never let me down. Other companies we had through the years all were let downs, argued with you instead of providing the service we paid for!

 

[Mmathis]

No luck yet on finding Buffy, We are heading out shortly with the Bobcat to try and clear some of the debris. I ask them if Buffy had a microchip and she doesn't, but that was a good idea and thanks for mentioning.

Would it help Roland if he had a stuffed friend? My son, 17, has a bedroom full of stuffed critters that I (notice, Mom, not son ) can't get rid of. But wouldn't mind at all if I knew were going to a good home. If that sounds OK, PM me with a mailing address and a couple of animal-type preferences (we even have a stuffed frog, Mr. Spots). I would be glad to next-day something for him.

 

[sissy]

my son had allstate and n his house in VA that burned down they had state farm and fought tooth and nail to get them to settle also thats why he did not get state farm up there .The house in VA burned while they were up in NJ and it was caused by a defective electric meter that was put in by the co-op electric company .

 

[CountryEscape]

Oh my goodness, Sissy!!! Sounds like State Farm will be fighting the electric company about the faulty meter! BUT, they should pay their customer for their loss, THEN go after the other real bad guys. Geesh! Yep, you get kicked out of one company sometimes when you have a large claim, then other companies see that on your "record" and it can be hard to get insurance. How awful for him, strike one and two, I sure hope he stays away from strike three! Yikes. I'll be thinking of him and his family, and praying things start going better for him. I cannot imagine being in that predicament.....

 

[fishin4cars]

Would it help Roland if he had a stuffed friend? My son, 17, has a bedroom full of stuffed critters that I (notice, Mom, not son ) can't get rid of. But wouldn't mind at all if I knew were going to a good home. If that sounds OK, PM me with a mailing address and a couple of animal-type preferences (we even have a stuffed frog, Mr. Spots). I would be glad to next-day something for him.

TM, we had some stuffed animals as well, he's really not paying much attention to them. Pulled out some toy cars and even found some transformers. He messed with them for a few minutes and off into something else. Cindy and Suzanne took him today and they went and got a few things, my son brought over a playstation 1 and hooked it up and he's sitting here playing with it. Actually Roland is doing great. He's back to himself and going strong! Forgot what it was like to have a 3 year old around ALL the time. LOL He's a handful but a good kid.
Kevin and I found Buffy, She didn't make it. We buried her in the back and Kevin and Cindy have decided to just kind of let it be and not tell Roland exactly what happened. They have been telling him that she must have gotten blown to a new home. I'll let them handle as they see fit. It's sad, but I don't want to get in the mix of how they teach and deal with a tragedy like this. I would have done differently but that's not my call. We got most of the debris piled up and even had enough time to run the bobcat up and down two blocks and pile up three REALLY big piles the county is suppose to come pick up as soon as they can get in there. Found several more things today some things Cindy was really happy to see again. Also the Ins. fellow came by and as they said they cut them a check for $7500 for living expenses and another $2500 for car rental. I may have to swap my INS. all to progressive, I was really impressed what all they have done, Sure didn't haven't gotten that kind of response or help from Liberty Mutual or State Farm. So for now we are done going back and forth to Hattisburg. A neighbor that lives right down the block is going to keep a eye on what is left that we kept in the back yard, not much there but he said he would keep an eye on things and give us a call if anything came up. When we left we drove up through where the path took, The college dorms are destroyed, several businesses were completely destroyed, some can be repaired, saw a house that was cut right in half, and a car up in a tree. we probably followed the path for about five miles then it went through the woods so we turned around and headed back here. Time for a hot dinner and a hot shower.

 

[brandonsdad02]

That's sad about Buffy. Hopefully it was quick and painless for her. I've been thru 2 tornadoes, not much damage each time. I'm hoping to get close to one this summer so I can get some good pictures. I would to be on the tv show storm chasers and be in the armored car and drive into one. What a rush. It's great that Kevin and Cindy have a friend like you and you are able to help them like this. When I worked at Vermeer, they would send out clean up crews to areas hard hit by twisters and help in cleaning up the town with there wood chippers, giant tub grinders and skid loaders.

 

[j.w]

Awwww no that is too bad about Buffy. Hope Roland doesn't feel too bad about not seeing his kitty again. Lots of kitties out there to get when they get all settled again. That's pretty darn good how they are getting treated so well by their insurance company tho. I don't have any idea what it's like to actually be in a disaster area like that. We don't have anything like that around here unless someday we get the big earthquake they are always saying we will get. Hope it never happens.

 

[addy1]

We have progressive car and our home here in maryland is with a progressive company. They do treat you well.
We are using their snapshot program, so far have saved 30% on our car insurance. The van in florida dropped by 300 bucks a year, since it showed we don't drive it often. My car in maryland dropped by 20% our truck by 30% which all based on driving.
We have snow coming tonight, then 50 degrees tomorrow...........

 

[CountryEscape]

Sad to hear about Buffy, but I'll just bet when/if they are ready for a new cat or kitten, there will be many at their local animal shelter that were misplaced by the tornado and up for adoption! Glad they have friends like you and your family, Larkin, to help get them through the worst part up front. Now they wait ....