Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
And another.
Hurricane Ian headed toward the West Coast of Florida
- Thread starter dseag2
- Start date
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
Last one.
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
The weird part was that out of the 300+ homes in the park, only 2 were destroyed and 27 were damaged. The remaining homes either suffered very little damage or no damage. Some of the residents actually stayed and rode out the storm. One lady told me that she hid under the bed when the winds started shaking her home.
Last edited:
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
The Florida Governor suspended collecting the gas tax, so I was able to purchase gas at $2.98 gallon. He also suspended tolls on all Florida state toll roads. Jimmy applied for a low cost loan from the SBA through FEMA to help him purchase a replacement home. He will receive a grant to also help pay for a replacement home.
Neighbors are out and about trying to repair what they can because getting a contractor to do any work right now is difficult. It did my heart good seeing neighbors helping neighbors. I helped with as much as I could. I didn't think seeing 75-85 year old people climbing ladders was safe, so I felt it necessary to try to chip in and help out.
Neighbors are out and about trying to repair what they can because getting a contractor to do any work right now is difficult. It did my heart good seeing neighbors helping neighbors. I helped with as much as I could. I didn't think seeing 75-85 year old people climbing ladders was safe, so I felt it necessary to try to chip in and help out.
Jules
SF VIP
Thanks for being a great friend, @Been There Will Jimmy be able to have his new home placed on the same lot. Is it a rented or owned pad within the park?
Alligatorob
SF VIP
You’re doing a good thing, good for you.
The only reaction button I can figure out how to use on my phone is like, just wanted to let you know I don’t like what I saw in the pictures but I appreciate your posting well.
Do you think it could’ve been a tornado, they do damage very similar to what you described and are common in hurricanes. Anyway both your friend and the other folks there are lucky to have you. I know what cleaning up after a hurricane can feel like. Having helps great!
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
Great question. I went with him to the office to get further information regarding how to pay HOA fees, etc.. This is when I learned that his park was a co-op, meaning he was a shareholder. His HOA fee is a very low $140 per month, which includes trash pickup and water. When he left the military, he took his money that he had put aside, plus his retirement and bought a share in the park, which was $35,000. His home was used, but updated and was another $40,000. Not bad for a 1390 sq. ft. home. After he bought that, paid his support and legal fees, he was broke, except for a few thousand bucks.
The home he is looking at, or any other used home cannot be moved. They don’t move used mobile homes in most parks. He wants to stay in the park and there are a few homes for sale now, so if he decides on one of those, the home will stay put and he will just need to put his personal belongings in it and his kitchen utensils and other things for going back into home ownership like we all had to at one time, except as it stands now, he has nothing. No clothes, TV, not even a toothbrush. This is where the grant from FEMA will help him and then Florida’s Governor and state congress set up a Florida Disaster Fund, which he will also be eligible for.
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
We were told that it was the wind gusts that caused the damage. Tornadoes were mentioned, but not confirmed.
As I walked through the park, I saw one elderly gentleman climbing a ladder with a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench in his back pockets. I thought “What in the world?” I walked over and asked him what was he planning on doing. He said there was a large section of his roof broken off and hitting against the top of his coach making noise and he can’t sleep. So I asked him how about letting me give it a go. I told him I was bored and needed a job, so he backed off the ladder and told me to go ahead. I was able to take care of the problem and when I came down off the ladder, he was handing me money. I was almost insulted. Why do people think everyone that does a nice thing for them wants paid? I refused the money and he thanked me and I left. His neighbor told me that the man was 82 years old. I found plenty to do and helped those that I could, but now am leaving later tonight. Tommy is all set, so I can go home. I am no different than most of us. We see a neighbor needing help, we try to help them.
One lady asked me if I can fix her awning that hung over the front of her home. I took a look at it and saw that the wind must have grabbed the awning and tried to rip it off because some of the screws were pulled out. I asked her if she had any screws and of course, she didn’t. Lowes is about 7-8 miles away, so I told her I would be back. As I was leaving the park, there was a man on top of a roof starting a repair job. His truck read “Anderson’s Sheet Metal.” I stopped and told him what I was trying to do and if he had a few screws I could buy. He handed me a handful of screws and said “You’re welcome.” I said thanks and went back to where I was working and fixed the awning. Again, here comes the money. I looked at her and smiled and told her to have a nice day.
Right now, it’s difficult to find repair people. It was nice to see neighbors helping each other.
Called Babcock Ranch ... they are inland about 30 miles for Ft. Myers, but didn't have any damage and never lost power.
In 2018, Wilkerson became one of the first 100 residents of Babcock Ranch — an innovative community north of Fort Myers where homes are built to withstand the worst that Mother Nature can throw at them without being flooded out or losing electricity, water or the internet.
The community is located 30 miles inland to avoid coastal storm surges. Power lines to homes are all run underground, where they are shielded from high winds. Giant retaining ponds surround the development to protect houses from flooding. As a backup, streets are designed to absorb floodwaters and spare the houses.
more in the link below ........
https://www.iowapublicradio.org/new...-hurricanes-endured-ian-with-barely-a-scratch
Last edited:
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
I don’t know if this is true or just what is or isn’t so. As I was helping put a tarp on a roof of my friend’s neighbor’s home, a cop came through and stopped at the front of the home. He asked whose vehicle this was. I told him it was mine. What have I done. He said nothing, but I saw your license plate frame and thought I would just say ‘hi’ to a fellow Marine. That started about a 45 minute conversation.
Fast forward, I told him about my friend’s house and no insurance and he told me that only about 25% Florida homeowners have insurance and that those with flood insurance were even less. I will have to research this to find out because I find it hard to imagine that his information can be correct. He also told us that some insurance companies are already complaining that they may run out of money. To me, this just doesn’t add up.
If this is true, I would think there will be some good deals on homes in the area shortly.
Jimmy called me just awhile ago and said that hotel rooms in Florida are at a premium right now. Very scarce to find. There are a lot of out of state contractors (supposedly) in the area of the hurricane’s path. How many are legit, your guess is as good as mine. My friend told me he likes where FEMA put him up and he was going to look at the 4 homes in the park that are up for sale. He said 2 of the 4 have no damage, 1 has very minimal damage and 1 is a forget it.
Fast forward, I told him about my friend’s house and no insurance and he told me that only about 25% Florida homeowners have insurance and that those with flood insurance were even less. I will have to research this to find out because I find it hard to imagine that his information can be correct. He also told us that some insurance companies are already complaining that they may run out of money. To me, this just doesn’t add up.
If this is true, I would think there will be some good deals on homes in the area shortly.
Jimmy called me just awhile ago and said that hotel rooms in Florida are at a premium right now. Very scarce to find. There are a lot of out of state contractors (supposedly) in the area of the hurricane’s path. How many are legit, your guess is as good as mine. My friend told me he likes where FEMA put him up and he was going to look at the 4 homes in the park that are up for sale. He said 2 of the 4 have no damage, 1 has very minimal damage and 1 is a forget it.
????
Question for you @Been There ... or anyone in Florida
... how can it be that people in Florida (and probably other states too) do not have to buy homeowners insurance? Is it not mandatory there?
... And then not also have flood insurance in areas that flood...
Doesn't the state and/or mortgage companies require it?
In Texas, if you own a house free and clear, if you want to drop homeowners insurance I guess that's your right to gamble with ...
but the state requires Flood insurance on every home in a flood plan. No getting out of that.
Last edited:
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
I agree with you, but I’m not familiar with those laws. I would think if you have a mortgage, insurance would be required.
squatting dog
We don't have as far to go, as we've already been
- Location
- Arkansas, and also Florida
If you have a mortgage, flood insurance it isn't mandatory unless the lender demands it. (Usually in extreme risk zones) Flood insurance was already expensive, but, since the re-drawing of the flood zone maps, (starting back around 2000) it has gone through the roof. It was sad in a way, because the drainage ditches and retention ponds have now became designated flood zones. Sad, because when people were buying houses, those houses near a retention pond cost more because they were protected by said pond.
This site explains a lot of the variations.
https://www.valuepenguin.com/flood-insurance/florida
jujube
SF VIP
Bless you, Been There. You are a good friend to your pal.
Alligatorob
SF VIP
I think you are different from all too many people. Not just helping your buddy, but helping strangers is a really good thing.
I may have told part of our hurricane story before, but after Dennis in 2005 we had lots of damage. The entire downstairs, where we mostly lived had been washed through with ~4 ft of sea water. All doors and windows were gone, as were a lot of our possessions, we lost a couch never to be seen again. The house was filled with sand and mud, up to a foot deep. For the first month we could only get to the house by boat so there was little we could do other than try to find a few valuables. When the road was finally restored the mud had putrefied in the heat and humidity. The smell was awful.
When the road was first open we had only water, no power. We started trying to clean up, and did get help from a lot of friends and relatives. One stood out though, we called a woman who had cleaned house for us, she and her daughter showed up right away. Over the next several days they worked in the heat, stench and bugs helping find things and dunging out the house. We had water, not drinkable, but no power so cleaning was possible, but not great.
At the end of the week I went to pay them and she was insulted, She said what you said that this wasn't something to pay people for. I knew this lady and her family, they needed the money a lot more than we did, and I know she had taken time off from other work to do it. I was finally able to convince her that I would be reimbursed by insurance and she took some money. It was a humbling experience.
We were ultimately able to rebuild, thanks to lots of help. The downstairs was concrete floor and most walls were concrete block, so it was more salvageable than a frame house would have been. Will never forget that lady and her daughter, they were the brightest part of the experience.
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
When you live in a senior mobile home park in Florida, I learned that some people are well off and living on nice pensions along with their SS, but don’t take that to mean everyone is doing financially well. I heard some pretty sorry stories from a few of the residents. One lady told me that she was thankful that I repaired her awning and didn’t expect to be paid. She said that up until her husband died a few years back, they were doing well, but when he died, his $3500 pension check stopped because according to her husband’s pension plan rules, the couple needed to be married for 10 years before she would be eligible to receive his pension and they had only been married 7 years. As such, she now only receives his SS payment. Another lady told me that if her cable bill goes up even $1 more dollar, she will have to cut the chord.
Alligatorob
SF VIP
So far as I know no insurance is required by law. However to get a mortgage lenders usually require it. And to get a federally backed loan of any kind you are required to have flood insurance, if the house is in the 100 year flood zone. Many homeowners go without insurance, some rich enough to accept the risk, and some too poor to afford it. This is particularly true of Flood insurance, its capped at $250k, so of less value to the rich, and for older homes in flood zones can be very expensive.
Lots of things are not covered by flood insurance, such as anything outside (septic tanks, sheds, decks, landscaping, etc) or the first floor of some buildings.
jujube
SF VIP
I received this from a friend who lives on the West coast of Florida. It's amazing how we can laugh in the face of disaster:
"Well, everything's cleaned up here, the water has mostly gone back down and rebuilding has started. Here's things that Hurricane Ian has taught us:"
1. An oak tree on the ground looks four times bigger than it did standing up.
2. Even after all these years, it is still nice to spend time with Col. Mustard in the ballroom with the lead pipe.
3. When house hunting, look for closets with lots of leg room.
4. Water from the shower is much colder than water from the kitchen sink and tastes just as bad.
5. AA, C, and D are the only letters of the alphabet we really need.
6. The four-way stop is still an ingenious reflection of civility.
7. Radio can be the best way to watch television.
8. Chainsaw-wielding men are nothing to be afraid of.
9. SUV's are the best makeshift tent on the market.
10. You can use your washing machine as a cooler.
11. It's your God-given right to sit on your back porch and eat Chinese takeout by candlelight in your underwear.
12. We shouldn't complain about "useless" tools in the garage. We actually DO need a generator.
13. You can't spell "priceless" without I-C-E.
14. Downed power lines make excellent security systems.
15. Lakes can generate waves.
16. Gasoline is a value at any price.
17. Cell Phones: breaking up isn't hard to do.
18. The lifeblood of any disaster recovery is COFFEE.
19. The need for your dog to go out and take care of business is inversely proportional to the severity of the storm.
20. Candlelight is better than Botox. It takes years off your face.
21. Air conditioning: BEST.INVENTION.EVER.
22. Water is a comfort food. So are stale Cheetos.
23. Shadow animals on the wall: still fun.
24. No matter how hard the wind blows, roadside campaign signs will survive.
25. It's extremely poor taste to admit your have power at your house in the presence of friends and neighbors who do not.
26. There's a plus to having nothing in your refrigerator.
27. Getting through the day should be an Olympic event.
28. The movie theater can be a most pleasant place, even if the feature is a George Clooney movie.
29. Somebody's got it worse.
30. Somebody's got it better. Obviously, they're getting preferential treatment.
"Well, everything's cleaned up here, the water has mostly gone back down and rebuilding has started. Here's things that Hurricane Ian has taught us:"
1. An oak tree on the ground looks four times bigger than it did standing up.
2. Even after all these years, it is still nice to spend time with Col. Mustard in the ballroom with the lead pipe.
3. When house hunting, look for closets with lots of leg room.
4. Water from the shower is much colder than water from the kitchen sink and tastes just as bad.
5. AA, C, and D are the only letters of the alphabet we really need.
6. The four-way stop is still an ingenious reflection of civility.
7. Radio can be the best way to watch television.
8. Chainsaw-wielding men are nothing to be afraid of.
9. SUV's are the best makeshift tent on the market.
10. You can use your washing machine as a cooler.
11. It's your God-given right to sit on your back porch and eat Chinese takeout by candlelight in your underwear.
12. We shouldn't complain about "useless" tools in the garage. We actually DO need a generator.
13. You can't spell "priceless" without I-C-E.
14. Downed power lines make excellent security systems.
15. Lakes can generate waves.
16. Gasoline is a value at any price.
17. Cell Phones: breaking up isn't hard to do.
18. The lifeblood of any disaster recovery is COFFEE.
19. The need for your dog to go out and take care of business is inversely proportional to the severity of the storm.
20. Candlelight is better than Botox. It takes years off your face.
21. Air conditioning: BEST.INVENTION.EVER.
22. Water is a comfort food. So are stale Cheetos.
23. Shadow animals on the wall: still fun.
24. No matter how hard the wind blows, roadside campaign signs will survive.
25. It's extremely poor taste to admit your have power at your house in the presence of friends and neighbors who do not.
26. There's a plus to having nothing in your refrigerator.
27. Getting through the day should be an Olympic event.
28. The movie theater can be a most pleasant place, even if the feature is a George Clooney movie.
29. Somebody's got it worse.
30. Somebody's got it better. Obviously, they're getting preferential treatment.
We lived in Treasure Island for 13 years, very pleasant town. Our street was said to be 5' above sea level. We never had a hurricane, but even a small tornado can ruin your whole day.
Ormond is right above Daytona Beach.