Flooded Freeper Could Use Help

Freeper in Distress Bump | July 5, 2002 | Sockmonkey

[sockmonkey]

As many of you may already know, Fellow Freeper Texana_RED's home was washed away in the devastating floods that are hitting Texas right now. Some of you may have seen video of a house in Kerrville floating downstream, then hitting a tree, and disintegrating. That was Texana_RED's home. Some of you may have seen an interview showing a woman on televison pointing to her red pickup truck which was lodged in a tree. That was Texana_RED. She literally got out with her pajamas, with 2 of her dogs. She lost the rest of her pets, and all the contents of her house, and workshop.

Some of you may have met Texana marching around the Governor's mansion after the election, or at the Freeper Inaugural Ball.

With Jim Robinson's gracious permission, I am being allowed to bring this Freeper in Distress Call to your attention. If you would like to send a donation to help, please check the Texas Chapter Board, or Freepmail Sockmonkey or Anymouse.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Offering prayers for TexanaRed and all those effected in Kerrville.

[Aggie Mama]

I'm not sure whether or not anyone has mentioned this or not, but Walmart and Target offer gift cards that you can put in any amount. It's safer than cash, and you can get just about anything you need between those two stores.

[who knows what evil?]

Thanks, and for what it's worth, I don't think anyone should be afraid to use God's name on this website.

Not afraid, exactly...some reference the Almighty in such a fashion out of respect, indicating they are not worthy of writing or speaking His name. Simple as that.

[snowtigger]

BTTT

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks, I've gotten several pings about TexasRED and I'll do what I can to help.

What a terrible loss.....her home & dear pets. The Hill Country of Texas is so beautiful but 'Mother Nature' can be cruel when those torrental rains come!

Thanks be to God that she got out in time. Will keep her in my prayers.

[olliemb]

Thanks for the information. I will send a check to the Dyess adrress via Kerrville. I hope you raise lots of money for her. Take care.

[TexanaRED]

I am responding to your post specifically because you said sockmonkey had water. I didn't know that or if she told me I can't remember. My head ain't exactly been screwed on straight the last few days! But do wish I would have known and I definitely would have have over and helped to you clean up. So, when you get back from you trip, I will be more than happy to help you finish cleaning, repair anything that needs to be repaired that I am capable of fixing or help with anything you might need help with. Also, Terry told me last night that you are Roy's sister. Freaked me out! Roy and I graduated together.

I don't know if I will even be able to finish this post. Tears sometimes make it difficult to read and type. I am not crying for the loss of my stuff, but in gratitude and thankfulness that the Lord has blessed me so richly with so many friends - some of whom I don't even know their real names nor haveeven seen them in person. I am so overwheled at the outpouring of love I just don't have any words to convey my gratitude, appreciation and thanks.

I am fine and in good spirits. As I have walked around and talked to my neighbors, I more fully realize how fortunate I am. Just the next couple of streets over, there ware many homes with extensive damage. So many of those folks were low income families whose homes were not far waway from being tar paper shacks. Many elderly on fixed incomes - just so many people that were less fortunate than I before the flood. My heart breaks for them. I went through one of the houses today with a lady from the city and it just took my breath away. Mud up almost to the ceiling, entire walls gone , their beautiful antiques ruined. Over dozens of blocks there are huge piles of ruined carpet, furniture, vehicles. There were homes flooded that had NEVER even came close to having water in them before, homes not even close to being in the flood zone.

As I write this, there are thousands of homes, vehicles, and other lives being destroyed. The water is now taking out
Boerne, New Braunfels, everything belog Canyon Lake. They have been evacuating all day. Since my area was the first to be hit, we had absolutely no warning., but thankfully those folks have had time to pack up some of their stuff and get out.

We had no warning at all. My sister called a 7:30 AM to tell me they were flooded it and at that time the creek wasn't even overflowing. At about 9 I checked the water and it was several inches below the bottom of the bridge and I decided to move my car across the street to higher ground - that took maybe a minute - when I got home and checked the creek & the water was flowing over the bridge - not just the road, over the guardrails. The water still had 6 - 10 feet to rise before reaching my house - my house was elevated approximately 7 feet off the ground and been through numerous floods since it had been elevated after the 1978 flood and had never gotten water in it. So, I was feeling pretty safe. About 9:05 or so, my neighbor knocked and told me the water was coming up fast and did I need help - I looked out the back and the water had about a foot to go before it would be in the house. I still wasn't particularly bothered, but we started putting everything on closet shelves and I started trying to think of what I needed to take with me. While we were doing that, the water started flowing over my front porch. The house was hit by an uprooted tree and floated off the foundation less than 10 minutes after I got out. Had the tree not rammed into my back deck, my houoe would have probably made it thru.
So, I am very blessed with wonderful neighbors - had it not been for Danny and Charles carrying first the dogs out and across to higher ground and then getting me out, I would have been sitting in my recliner, drinking a coke, smoking a cig, and watching the coverage of the flooding in San Antonio when my house floated away. I really never even got concerned - knew I would have water in the house but didn't think it would be a big deal. So, I am very lucky to be alive.

My girlfriend told me today that she hoped that if I would have been in the house that I would have at least used my "beauty queen wave" and waved goodbye to everyone as I floated off. I nearly fell out of the chair laughing. When the water came up Sunday she called and told me to come to her house if I needed to and I told her I would rather float off down the river than have to deal with 4 TV's in the house blaring at full blast and three screaming kids (her grandkids are with here). She laughed and said I don'[t blame you. The day ofter my house met it's fate, she said something about me saying that, reached over and slapped me on the let and said "See what you get for being a b*^&h!" She and the friends I have been staying with have kept me in tears from laughing. So, between those two and know that so many people below me lost more than I and had no place to go, it's pretty hard for me to feel sorry for myself.

Several of you have asked about insurance. My truck had liability only - itwas 10 tr. old and had 115000+ miles on it and was just used for hauling rocks, dirt, the kayak and such My car was fully insured and I found out today that they may declare it a loss because it got about 10 inches or water in it and may have damaged the electrical system the operated the power seats, windows and top. Runs fine, but adjustor said he still wants to check it out and that if they don't total it and I have problems with it later, I will be covered for 5 years since I have filed a claim. I had full coverage on my house except flood insurance. Nobody has flood insurance around here - usually can't get it at all and those insurance companies that do offer flood insurance required your children in return. I did inquire about flood insurance and I could have gotten it - for about $500. a month over and above my regular premium. Since the house had been elevated after the 78 flood and had never gotten water in it after many floods in that 24 years, I figured I'd just have to take my chances .

I appreciate so much what ya'll are doing. I just can't believe I have so many people so willing to help me out and I just love you all so much. I just don't know what to say. Except please send up lots of prayers for those folks down river that are now facing the flood waters. Many, many of those people lost everything in the huge 1998 flood that missed us.

Everybody keeps asking how I can be so cheerful when I have just lost everything and have no insurance. I guess the answer to that would be that there are so many that had so much less than I before and now have less than nothing and also because in 1986 I lost my home and everything I owned to a fire . So, I have been there, done that - except I was insured then.

Thanks again so much everyone! May the Lord bless you richly in all your endevors.

[JudyB1938]

Sockmonkey, this thread is a wonderful thing you've done. TexannaRed is a good person. Horrible what happened to her, but I know her FR friends will definitely come through for her. I hate it that she lost her pictures - and her computer. Some FReeper will probably give her a computer, but those pictures can never be replaced. And it breaks my heart about her pets!!!!

As far as "government handouts", an SBA loan is NOT a handout. It is a loan at a small rate of interest. I wouldn't care if it were a loan though. AMERICANS deserve to benefit from all the taxes paid in, instead of sending that money to foreign dictators. I hope you can get that through her independent Texan head!

[TexanaRED]

I'm not with a department anymore because I now live in an area that is covered by the city department. I was with the Medina Vol. Dept. before I moved and now sell fire suppressant to VFD's.

Ray Crooks one of the Battilion Chief's with the KFD is a lifelong friend and he and April had brought me some necessities before the sun went down. I was at their house just a while ago and Ray had been showing the FEMA folks the devastation all day and he took them by my non-house. Told them I was dirt poor and didn't even have on shoes when I evacuated. I laughted and told him he shouldn't be lyin' to those guuys cause even though I did loose everything, I did have some shoes just never got around to putting them on and that I wasn't quite dirt poor - close but not quite there yet!
Said he just wanted to make sure they treated me right if I got on their list, which I did. I called this AM, BUT that doesn't mean I will ake anything they offer me. One minute I think Yes, I'll take it; then next minute I am saying NOPE, no handouts from the Feds. So, guess I will just decide when the time comes.

[ForGod'sSake]

Wonderful words from a real trooper.

The floods somehow seem a lot closer to these piney woods now. May God bless you and keep you in yet another time of trouble.

FGS

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"please send up lots of prayers for those folks down river that are now facing the flood waters"

offering prayers for them and you.
I am sorry that you are going thru this.

[Alamo-Girl]

Volley bttt!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you Bryan for the ping.Prayers for all our FReepers in this terrible flooding.

[Snow Bunny]

Prayer bump

[Snow Bunny]

Prayers continuing.Thank you my sweet friend.

[TexanaRED]

I can't reply to every post so I am just hitting the ones that bring up particular things, like the WalMart card.

The city gave WalMart cards to everyone and I went out yesterday and got a few things. The city is footing the bill and I have not idea how much money they have alloted to help people. There are just so many other people whose needs are more desperate than mine, I would not have felt right buying a ton of stuff - esp. things they told me I could buy and wouldn't even have a place for now.

I hate to cook, so didn't see any reason to run up a bill for pots, pans, plates, etc. Didn't have a house to clean so didn't need cleaning supplies. No bed, so didn't need a bedspread. Now, if they would replace my computer and kayak. I might have been seriously tempted!

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Wow. Good to hear from you, TexanaRed! So, a tree hit the back of your house? Eeek. It is amazing that you got out! Somebody was looking out for you .....

And, some more people here want to help - as you have seen. What a group! Our President keeps encouraging us to help our "neighbors". Even though you are over there in Texas - you are our neighbor! And our soul-sister!

So, as we heard and hoped for and have seen to be true since Nov 2000: Help Is On the WAY!!!!!

[kayak]

What a wonderful, heartwarming post, RED! May God bless you and see you through this nightmare!!!

A number of years ago, my then-fiance now-hubby and I were caught in a very minor flash flood .... were just driving down a street within sight of his parents' house when a 4-foot wall of water suddenly overtook the car. The seats in the car started floating with us sitting on them ..... yikes! We abandoned the car (obviously ... duh!) and managed to walk to his parents' house, which was high and dry.

The reason I'm telling you this has to do with the car. We were planning on being married in a few months and just knew that the car was ruined ...... we were both college students and didn't have spare nickels to buy him a new car. He took it to a mechanic who got gallons of water out of the engine ..... but, amazingly, the car was ok.

A big concern was the upholstery .... that it would mold and mildew and make the car unusable even if it was, miraculously, ok mechancically. Every day, hubby would take the seats out of the car and spray them down with a well-known aerosol product that claims to kill germs, mold, and mildew as well as be a room deodorizer .... I hate to provide a commercial for the product so won't name it .... but it begins with L ... *grins*

With that daily spraying of the seats and opening the car doors wide each day, hubby managed to air the car out enough that there was never the first bit of mold or mildew!!! The car worked just fine for nearly a year after that when we were married, he graduated from college and got a job, and we were able to buy another car.

One caveat ~~~ this was 35 years ago and cars did not have the sophisticated electrical systems that they do now .... heck, that car even had bench seats. [A lot of FReepers probably don't even know what those are .... LOL!]

But that aerosol product was a real blessing to us! The car never even had a trace of odor.

Bless you, RED!!!

[COB1]

Thanks, Texana, for the post.
I tried to call you, but I know how busy you must be.
My son said you probably worked for one of the volunteer fire departments in the area around Kerrville.
As you can guess, they're very busy right now.
Thank God you made it out safely, Texana.
You have a lot of support here.
We'll all be thinking of you and the others who have lived through this tragedy.