Gyroscopic Investing

How are you guys making out with Hurricane Sandy?

Reub wrote: How are you guys making out with Hurricane Sandy?

Sitting at my kitchen counter eating clam chowder. Watching the rain and hoping the power doesn't go out. Even if it does, we've got a generator just in case. (I'm about 45 min southwest of Philly)

I'm in an evacuation zone, Rockaway, NY. This morning's high tide got fairly close, then receded. Sand bags around the home's weak spots. Not looking forward to this evening. Hoping that it was over.  

You both sound well-prepared.  You gentlemen please stay safe!  I'm hoping that the lights stay on for you.

Oop, I posted another thread before I saw this....

Reub, hope you're doing OK - I heard JFK airport is underwater.  Give us a yell when you get power back.  You weren't in Zone A were you?

I'm on high ground in Manhattan and still have power, which makes me fairly lucky so far.  The noise out there sounds like a horror movie though.

If you're in the hurricane area and haven't done this yet:

Crack open the windows.
Fill the tub and large pots with water.
Keep the cell phone charged and a flashlight with you.
Stay indoors.

OK Ethel. I know I promised to mow the law... but it's just gonna have to wait.

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Lesson on why geographic diversification is important: learned.

I was in zone A but I stayed because I didn't want to move my very frail 100 year old dad. Its one of the worst experiences of my life. Water surged like a freight train rising out of my basement almost to the second level before finally receding. Now we have no heat as the furnace is in the basement no power and no clean water and my 3 cars (all older models) were destroyed. My dad slept through the whole thing but I relocated to a hotel the next day  because the conditions are too difficult for him. It looks like someone dropped a bomb on the neighborhood. Now the question is what to do next.

Reub wrote: I was in zone A but I stayed because I didn't want to move my very frail 100 year old dad. Its one of the worst experiences of my life. Water surged like a freight train rising out of my basement almost to the second level before finally receding. Now we have no heat as the furnace us on the basement no power and no clean water and my 3 cars (all older models) were destroyed. My dad slept through the whole thing but I relocated to a hotel the next day  because the conditions are too difficult for him. It looks like someone dropped a bomb on the neighborhood. Now the question is what to do next.

My condolences Reub, I'm very sorry for your loss. Hopefully your father is managing well and that you'll get back up to speed soon.

Reub wrote: I was in zone A but I stayed because I didn't want to move my very frail 100 year old dad. Its one of the worst experiences of my life. Water surged like a freight train rising out of my basement almost to the second level before finally receding. Now we have no heat as the furnace us on the basement no power and no clean water and my 3 cars (all older models) were destroyed. My dad slept through the whole thing but I relocated to a hotel the next day  because the conditions are too difficult for him. It looks like someone dropped a bomb on the neighborhood. Now the question is what to do next.

OMG.

Call 311 and see what the city can do for you.  I looked on nyc.gov but there were no instructions.  However, I found this on the FEMA website:

If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).

For those who have longer-term housing needs, FEMA offers several types of assistance, including services and grants to help people repair their homes and find replacement housing. Apply for assistance or search for information about housing rental resources:

http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

I'm so sorry, Reub. That sounds terrible.

Reub,

I'm really sorry to hear about all of that.

At least the damage was just to property. 

Good luck in working through everything that will be involved in getting compensated for your losses and rebuilding.

Sounds bad Reub, but I'm sure you'll cope.
I hope you're able to get things back together quickly.

Reub, I'm so sorry to hear about all of that damage, brother.  But I'm glad that you and your dad are safe -- please stay that way!

Reub
I thank God you and your family were not hurt. Things can be replaced, people can't.

Very sorry to hear that Reub. Our thoughts are with you and you family.

Very sorry to hear that, Reub.  My experience with a fire in our apartment building last year taught me that your insurance should pay for the hotel bill until you can get repairs made to your house.  Good luck and stay safe!

Reub,

So sorry for your loss.  My prayers go out for you and your Dad. 

... Mountaineer

Thanks to all.

I'm a little late to the party, but hang in there Reub!  Your dad is amazing to be 100 and notching up another unforgettable memory.

Here we are 2 weeks after Sandy and I am still living in a hotel. My dad became ill shortly after the evacuation and is now hospitalized, but doing better. One of his doctors wanted to discharge him and I raised hell that he wasn't ready to be released and they relented. The neighborhood still looks like a war zone but you can see some progress. LIPA says that power may be restored soon and I am desperately trying to find a licensed electrician to repair and certify my home and allow the furnace repairs to proceed, providing that I can get my heating contractor to comply. I have already been ripped off by water and mold removal contractors who gouged me and left damage to my electric wiring. Once I can get heat and power I can think about getting dad home, instead of institutionalizing him. My safe deposit box was in a bank that was severely damaged by the storm and they still haven't told me what happened to my box. Luckily when I acquired the box the bank offered me one at the bottom level but I held out for the highest level, which was probably 7 or 8 feet high and might have been above the storm surge. I have inquired about my box but have not received an answer. How do gold coins do in salt water?

Reub
I am sorry to hear of your continuing problems. This will probably last for weeks if not months on some level. Bank vaults are usually pretty safe. Unless someone left the door open I would be extremely surprised if much water got in. Gold is impervious to most of the things we worry about anyway. Salt water would have no effect on gold.

Prayers for you and yours.

Reub,

So sorry to hear about your ordeal. Hopefully you have insurance and they cover your expenses. If not, don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family (and us). I've seen friends successfully using CrowdTilt.com to crowd-fund their own recovery.

For instance...

https://www.crowdtilt.com/campaigns/hur ... -help-fund

CrowdTilt is pretty great because nobody's card gets charged unless your campaign hits a "tilt" point (pre-determined by you). And CrowdTilt is currently waiving fees for those who were hit by the hurricane (when you use promo code “sandyrecovery”? on your campaign).

http://blog.crowdtilt.com/post/34776275 ... ef-efforts

Whatever you decide, good luck!

Reub, thank goodness you and your dad got through that uninjured. It sounds horrific. May the force be with you with getting your house habitable again.