Life lession #...

slsh

member since 1999
Aw heck, I've lost count. I may be the last person on the planet to know this, but if you have a sump pump, you absolutely positively *must* have a generator. We've lived in IL for 10 years and have never lost power for more than a couple of hours. Until yesterday.

Let me tell you, I have never been as terrified as I was during the storms. Round 1 hit about 3:45, winds like I haven't seen in my 20 years in the Midwest. Because I had been working, it took me *completely* by surprise. I was too busy trying to move Boo to a safe part of the house and get the dumb dog in to really fully appreciate what was happening outside.

Round 2 hit around dusk. This one I watched roll in. Almost continuous lightening, and definitely continuous thunder to the point that I thought it was a tornado, just this neverending deep rumbling noise. Big, multilevel and multicolor (white to black and everything in between) clouds that seemed to reach all the way to the ground. So glad Boo was here to keep me calm, LOL. No, not really - I was calm and soothing for him, but on the inside I just was completely flipping. husband was of course in NM with- Diva and Wee, visiting his parents. Poor guy - he was so worried.

Anyway, sump pump died at about 3:47 with the power. Started leaking up into the basement just as round 2 hit, so it was a secondary concern quite frankly. By 12 hours later, we had 3 feet of water in the basement. I did have my wits enough to turn off the pilot light on the water heater right away(couldn't budge the gas line itself). But I lost virtually every picture of the kids since 1989. All of husband's Navy stuff, plaques and commendations, the picture of his reenlistment on the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the commemorative flag that they flew over the Memorial before they gave it to him. Plus of course, washer, dryer, brand new furnace, water heater.... I'm having all the service men out Monday to check them, plus an electrician. I'm sure we lost much more, as we just got power back about an hour ago, but ... given how certain I was that Boo and I were goners yesterday (neurotic much?), I can live with- the losses I think.

I had hit the hardware stores this morning but there's not a generator to be had in the metro Chicago area. I'm ordering one online. We haven't even begun slogging the stuff out but I know it's going to be one looong weekend. :wink: Oh, and just to keep the neighbors entertained, when the power came on, there was this extremely alarming clicking sound in the basement, from the vicinity of the circuit breaker. FREAK ME OUT! So I called the non emergency # of our village and asked if they could come out and check it out - we still had too much water to risk walking in the basement. One ambulance, 2 firetrucks, the fire chief, another emergency services vehicle, *plus* Diva's girl scout leader (her husband is a fireman, she heard our addy on the radio) later.... it was apparently the dryer timer clicking (wasn't running when storm hit), which is right under the circuit breaker. Color me embarrassed but very relieved!

thank you weathered the storm just fine. They didn't lose power and I'm not really sure he noticed it. Thank goodness!

So folks - generators are the lesson of the day. I'm going to drink a very *large* glass of wine and head to bed. :smile:
 

WhymeMom?

No real answers to life..
Yep, we learned this the hard way, but only flooded about 5inches in our basement. We have heard of generators that run on natural gas and kickon when regular power goes out. We do have a regular generator, but haven't started it in a while, so probably should.....we had some of the storms, but they were pretty mild compared to what you had.....scary stuff and I've seen some pretty bad storms......

Hope you can save some of your momentos--put in plastic containers that would float, or put in baggies that seal water out. Also its a good chance to get rid of junk....(maybe you don't have any, but I know I do).....
 

Marcie Mac

Just Plain Ole Tired
I would be way to freaked out to even turn on the lights for fear I electrocute myself LOL

Sorry about your memento's... SO and I were talking about moving to a house on the lake, maybe South Carolina, but with all of those storms back there and the damage, that idea went RIGHT out the window.

Marcie
 

timer lady

Queen of Hearts
Sue,

I've learned my lesson - husband is actually considering purchasing a generator. He's also looking at a chainsaw though I don't know why - we have no trees left. :rofl:

Glad to hear you have the power back on - stay dry. :flower:
 

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Oh Sue you must have been terrified. We were suppose to get those storms Thursday and Friday but for some reason they passed us by. But two weeks ago we had a storm like you described, with the deep longgggggggg rumbling thunder that never ended. We had several trees uprooted, one huge one ending up in our backyard. The rain seemed like it would never end and the lighting was out of this world. I've never seen a storm like it before.

Anyway, we have had a lot of flooding around here and so I know some of what you are going through. I've known many people who have lost everything in their basements and some houses even had to be condemned. I wish I knew something to make you feel better. And of course these things happen when husband is out of town.

Thank goodness you are all OK. You are an incredibly strong person and so I know you will do what you have to do, but I'm sending hugs. I hope they can salvage some of the appliances. Do you have flood insurance?

Nancy
 
F

flutterbee

Guest
I know they say that lessons build character, but don't you think that we have enough character already?
 

mrscatinthehat

Seussical
I am due west of you and I believe I know the storm you are talking of. We didn't get much trouble in our house thankfully. Sorry to hear you did.

Invest in some bleach & masks for the clean up. Hope it gets better.

Beth
 

Wiped Out

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Not a life lesson you needed! It must have been frightening and then losing so much! I'm sorry but glad you and yours are safe :flower:
 

Hound dog

Nana's are Beautiful
Well, gee....you taught me something. I'd never have figured it. :hammer: A good thing to know, too.

I'm sorry about your lost momentos. :sad: I think that part would've upset me the most.

But at least you all are safe and sound.

Hugs
 
Top