Tonight I am considerably dryer than this time last friday night. Last friday night/saturday morning my house flooded!, was pissing with rain all day, torrential rain. A months rain fell in the north west in 24 hours. This time last week I was outside filling sand bags to try and fend off the fucking water. At 1.15 am the water was just on the pavement outside my house, high tide hit at 1.30am and the water came in, both doors, front and back, the sandbags held it off a bit.
When the water got in I just went to bed and left it, nothing else I could do. I got all the major stuff upstairs, started moving stuff at 6pm, finished just after 9, then it was a waiting game. I knew we were in trouble when I was coming home from the office and I passed the river on the bus and it was about 2 feet from the top of the wall. Didn't really sleep much that night, it's an odd feeling going to bed knowing that there is water leaking into your house. I gave in and got up at around 8am next morning and the water had gone but the carpets were squeltchy under foot. I texted my friend Sarah to giver her an update as she'd been ringing all night to see what was going on. My text woke her and mark up, she rang and I told her what had gone on, she said that she and mark would be down as soon as they could. They arrived about 10am.
When the water got in I just went to bed and left it, nothing else I could do. I got all the major stuff upstairs, started moving stuff at 6pm, finished just after 9, then it was a waiting game. I knew we were in trouble when I was coming home from the office and I passed the river on the bus and it was about 2 feet from the top of the wall. Didn't really sleep much that night, it's an odd feeling going to bed knowing that there is water leaking into your house. I gave in and got up at around 8am next morning and the water had gone but the carpets were squeltchy under foot. I texted my friend Sarah to giver her an update as she'd been ringing all night to see what was going on. My text woke her and mark up, she rang and I told her what had gone on, she said that she and mark would be down as soon as they could. They arrived about 10am.
Some friends brought a Vax water sucking hoover thing with them and a mop and bucket. A start was made on trying to dry out the carpet while I attacked the kitchen, giving that a good mopping out. I was wondering about the community centre across the road but hadn't been able to get there as castle walks where it is was still flooded, there was still water on the road outside. Eventually the water receded enough so I could get down castle walks and go and check on the computer suite and VIP's office, I didn't think that it would have flooded, I was very wrong! both rooms had flooded, they were a real mess. The computer comms cabinet was dead, the power extension was under water and still on!
The power to extension was killed as there was boiling water was pouring out of it. I rang the VIP staff and committee members, The ones who were home came to the Community centre to make a start on clearing out the VIP office.
The power to extension was killed as there was boiling water was pouring out of it. I rang the VIP staff and committee members, The ones who were home came to the Community centre to make a start on clearing out the VIP office.
By this time it was just gone 4 pm and we were knackered, Mark and Sarah went home but were coming back on sunday. I had a relaxed night, ready to start again on sunday. Sunday morning and Mark and Sarah are back and we made a start on our carpet again, water was still coming out, me and mark went back to the community centre to fix the comms cabinet. Got that sorted and then went home, when we got back all carpet work had stopped, turns out the underlay was soaking so it was decided to abandon it and phone the insurance company.
We rand the emergency line to be told that the people we need to speak to weren't in till monday but the woman on the phone looked at our policy and told us that she thought it would be ok to rip up the carpet as long as we documented it and to phone back on Monday morning to see what the relevant department had to say. So up that came. We had had a dehumidifier on all night so that went back on and we went back to the community centre to see John. Did a bit over there and then it was about 5pm again! Mark and Sarah wet again.
We rand the emergency line to be told that the people we need to speak to weren't in till monday but the woman on the phone looked at our policy and told us that she thought it would be ok to rip up the carpet as long as we documented it and to phone back on Monday morning to see what the relevant department had to say. So up that came. We had had a dehumidifier on all night so that went back on and we went back to the community centre to see John. Did a bit over there and then it was about 5pm again! Mark and Sarah wet again.
We phoned the insuance company on monday morning and told them about the previous day's conversation and they told us we had done the right thing and thats what they would have told us to do had they been open. They arranged for someone to come out on tuesday and have a look. Tuesday a man from Belfor came and went over everything that had been damaged, turns out we need a new carpet, all new cabinets in the living room and a new suite.
In the kitchen we need new lino, new cupboards, a new cooker, a new washing machine, a new fridge and a new freezer and also both rooms need redecorating. So a lot of stuff to do, On wednesday a loss adjuster came out and had a chat, took photos, took measurements and then went. Thursday Sarah came back as it was her day off from work and she cleaned everything, she was here for ages, then we went to the pub :-) also on thursday our loss adjuster phoned and said she was passing our claim on to a different department that deals with larger claims and that someone would contact us soon.
In the kitchen we need new lino, new cupboards, a new cooker, a new washing machine, a new fridge and a new freezer and also both rooms need redecorating. So a lot of stuff to do, On wednesday a loss adjuster came out and had a chat, took photos, took measurements and then went. Thursday Sarah came back as it was her day off from work and she cleaned everything, she was here for ages, then we went to the pub :-) also on thursday our loss adjuster phoned and said she was passing our claim on to a different department that deals with larger claims and that someone would contact us soon.
Also I've been going over to VIP every day and helping them out, on tuesday their carpets got ripped up, they have to move out of the office till it's all sorted out!
Thats about all we have done so far, we now just have to wait for people to do things to get the ball rolling. I`ll attach a few pics to this to show you whats happened, all the pics are named so you can see what they are supposed to be
