...and now what do we do?
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
United States
October 23, 2011 8:47pm CST
So those who know me know we where flooded in the beginning of September. We lost our entire basement and first floor to mud, water and mold. We had to rip out everything right down to the bare studs. There were cracks in the foundation and damage to the ceilings (items floated up and pushed and scraped holes in it) all of the heating ducts had to go as well as the electric wiring and boxes. We lost everything but Mine and my husbands few items that had been moved to our room upstairs and the kids school computers as they too where on second floor. We cleaned out everything, had a FEMA inspection. We where given monies from FEMA. Not enough to hire anyone to fix it all but just enough if we go cheap to do it all ourselves. We had the county inspector out to make sure the house's foundation was safe enough to start rebuilding and it was. That was over two weeks ago. We specifically asked if it was ok to begin rebuilding and the inspector said it was. Then Friday we got a letter in the mail. It said because of the amount of damage done to the home we need to either lift or remove the house from the property!
Couldn't the inspector have said something about this before we dumped $13,000 dollars into electric, furnace, heating ducts and so much more. We have done so much work in two weeks and now we have to stop. We cannot afford the tens of thousands of dollars to lift the house. We did not need flood insurance and where not in a flood zone. We could not have even purchased it if we wanted to because of this. Home owners will not cover this. We have no way of rebuilding if we tear it down. Hubby hasn't had steady work since April our savings are null and we are paying both our mortgage and rent at the moment. 
I just don't know where or what to do... I was so hoping to be home for the holidays in December and this was just such a blow to my hopes and spirit. I just feel so..so..misrable. I know I will fight tomorrow with the inspection office, the township and whoever else it is I must fight to save my home but I am having a problem getting into it..just so discouraged..
Couldn't the inspector have said something about this before we dumped $13,000 dollars into electric, furnace, heating ducts and so much more. We have done so much work in two weeks and now we have to stop. We cannot afford the tens of thousands of dollars to lift the house. We did not need flood insurance and where not in a flood zone. We could not have even purchased it if we wanted to because of this. Home owners will not cover this. We have no way of rebuilding if we tear it down. Hubby hasn't had steady work since April our savings are null and we are paying both our mortgage and rent at the moment. I just don't know where or what to do... I was so hoping to be home for the holidays in December and this was just such a blow to my hopes and spirit. I just feel so..so..misrable. I know I will fight tomorrow with the inspection office, the township and whoever else it is I must fight to save my home but I am having a problem getting into it..just so discouraged..4 people like this
7 responses
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Oct 11
I can certainly understand you feeling discouraged. I would get on that county inspector who told you it was okay to build and sue for the amount you put into it before you got word that you needed to lift the house. This must be horrible for you to go through. I can't even imagine.
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Oct 11
Funny how they are never around. Certainly hope you are able to get something going.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
25 Oct 11
Set the lawyers on them today will see what the outcome is in the AM. I cannot sleep for the life of me..
1 person likes this
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
24 Oct 11
We tried Friday but of coarse by the time we had the letter he was no longer talking to folks as his secretary put it. He knows we called and we will wait until lunch time for a phone call then I will be ringing their office until they answer us. I called our lawyer but we need more info before they can do anything. The letter was very vague so we need more info to go on...
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Oct 11
hi opinionatedLady You are iN penn. write or better yet call your local congressperson and tell them all the problems you are having and how you cannot afford to move the house and how you had already put money into repairs. he or she may be able to cut through red tape and contact those people like the inspection office or whoever you need to go to. I have known a lot of people who got real help from contacting their congress person so give it a try. hope it works I will keep sending some prayers that things will get straightened out for you before Christmas.hugs from hatley
1 person likes this
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
24 Oct 11
Thank you
! I already got up a list of the congress, senate and governor offices. The letter came too late for me to do much more then that of Friday. I am hoping to fight this and be able to get back to work on the house but I have a feeling this is just another thing that will take much longer then is good for us. 
. I hope they can help because it is not only us who is dealing with this but others on our block as well.
! I already got up a list of the congress, senate and governor offices. The letter came too late for me to do much more then that of Friday. I am hoping to fight this and be able to get back to work on the house but I have a feeling this is just another thing that will take much longer then is good for us. . I hope they can help because it is not only us who is dealing with this but others on our block as well.1 person likes this
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
24 Oct 11
Thanks Ambie any and cannot hurt and in truth it's just nice to know there is someone out there who just cares...
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
24 Oct 11
we had to deal with fema when we were running from hurrican ike. they did nothing to help us but give us food stamps and put us up in a fancy hotel for two weeks. it was cool, my family had a blast. fortunately, there was not much damage done to our apartment, but we spent a whole lot of money evacuating for nothing and had to come back. our windows were left open, so rain what got in. they said it was up to the apartment complex to do something about it. i guess our case was not that bad, but what i did learn about from the experience is tha fema is reluctant to give aid like they did with katrina. this is because some ppl really dogged that resource out.not everybody, but enough to put the funds on lock down for ppl who do need it. hopefully, it won't be another katrina before fema remembers what they supposed to be good for again. good luck and blessing to you and your family.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
24 Oct 11
We have money from FEMA they where here with us in Day and very helpful. It is the county and township that is our problem. FEMA gave us the most they can give to one family as our damage was that bad. This situation happened over a month after the disaster when the county decided to make changes.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Oct 11
Bless your heart, this is terrible news for y'all.give the inspecttion office a good fight tomorrow. Hope u get things going your way. I think u are past due for some good news. GOOD LUCK!!!
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
25 Oct 11
Thank you! I am hoping our fight works in our favor
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
24 Oct 11
Hearing this just makes me sick. We are facing a similar problem with a building inspector with one of our rental units. The inspectors and building departments don't seem to see people and their problems and needs. They only see their rule book, and they seem to feel free to change the rules or how they apply them wihout any thought for how it will affect people's lives and finances. You will be in my prayers. This is injustice. It ought not to be, but it is happening everywhere. I hear it's because the lack of construction is not giving these bureaucrats enough to do so they want to make sure they keep their inspectors busy.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
24 Oct 11
Here they want revenue.. the flooding depleted their funds and FEMA and The other Federal offices have not jumped up to help as much as they would like. Actually FEMA was here and they have done what is within their power but that is all. No other Government help, no news ,no celebrities, none. We are rural and our people have behaved appropriately there fore there is no news to put on TV we are not ignorant enough to hurt our own people therefore our sorrows do not count. 65,000 families affected all over PA, and no one cares. I hope you all are able to get by in your own troubles. It is something else to be told what you can and cannot do to your own property.
