Good luck - Hurricane Harvey

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

51 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Is it necessarily mandatory to tear out windowsills, baseboards, et al. to prevent mold/mildew/stink from rainwater infiltration?

Replace affected sections of carpet?  Wood flooring underneath?

 

Strong breeze has dried out most of our current casa's lawn.

Need to blow off steam, so will go out to mow.

Warm, but low humidity outside.

Lawn (in all but a couple of spots) actually drier than times when I've mowed it before.

Watch evening news for reports of "compulsive mow-lawner completely eaten by fire ants."

1

my uncle had a river flood his daylight basement.  There was no hardwood floor but the plaster walls and insulation all had to go.  You dont want to cut corners on that.   Not sure why the article below says the carpets can be cleaned with all that nasty gunk in the water.

 

https://www.houselogic.com/finances-taxes/home-insurance/what-do-first-24-hours-after-flood/

Mitigate Mold Damage

Mold can develop within 24 to 48 hours of a flood, says Ashley Small of FEMA, so remove wet contents, including carpeting and bedding, as soon as possible. If an item has been wet for less than 48 hours, it may be salvageable. However, you’ll need to decide whether it holds enough monetary or sentimental value to try to do so. And notify your insurance company before removing items to ensure that you’re not affecting coverage. Always photograph the flood-soaked items.

Rugs, for example, may be dried and then cleaned professionally, which could cost $100 to $500 or more, depending on the size and number. Large pieces of furniture that are saturated will likely be difficult to dry effectively, and should often be discarded. 

Mold growth can be controlled on surfaces by cleaning with a non-ammonia detergent or pine oil cleaner and disinfecting with a 10% bleach solution. (Caution: Never mix ammonia and bleach products, as the resulting fumes can be highly toxic.) Always test this solution on a small area of the item or area you’re cleaning to be sure it doesn’t cause staining or fading. 

Take photographs before removing wet wallboards and baseboards because insurers will want to see the height of any water damage to walls.  Carefully poke holes at floor level in the drywall to allow water trapped behind it to escape. 

You may also wish to hire a flood restoration service—you can find pros under “Flood” or “Disaster recovery” in your local phone book, or check with the Better Business Bureau, local Chamber of Commerce, or contractor recommendation sites, such as Angieslist.com or MerchantCircle.com. Look for those with Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification.

 

[IAMX 3,055]

1 hour ago, TBoneTX said:

Tried to get to rental casa (the r-casa).

First way barricaded; reversed course.

Back way flooded far beforehand; reversed course.

Last potential way flooded far beforehand; returned to regular casa, sigh man.

 

Talked to former neighbor just now.

Husband parked as close as he could and bicycled to their old casa, contiguous to our r-casa.

In front, water made it only about halfway up the yard and is now back down to sidewalk, good news man.

However, a little made it in (almost certainly from initial rain) from the back, laminate flooring man.

 

Our r-casa always had some drainage toward the casa in back, poor design man.

French drain is back there (just one).

However, outlet (by sidewalk) was probably under water the whole time.

Whole r-casa is newly carpeted, sigh man.

Protip for other ADD/ADHD people, don't start reading at "Husband".

[OriZ 3,157]

I haven't been here much in the last few days...but I hope ya'll are doing alright!

[OriZ 3,157]

21 hours ago, IAMX said:

tbh if I lived near any hurricane prone place, I'd keep an emergency fund set aside and when seeing a hurricane this size I just pack our stuff up and drive away for several days until the chaos subsides. 

 

Earthquakes don't yet have any prediction factor, you don't know you're in any worthwhile one until a few seconds after it starts. I like the prediction factor of hurricanes.. I just hate the day-by-day weather of the areas that have them. 

 

That being said, a friend of mine during the 1989 Loma Prieta was shopping in the Salinas Northridge Mall, he was walking between the huge glass walls to/from the mall that day, and I wouldn't be surprised with glass walls that size someone pissing themselves with how horrifically they swayed.

Earthquakes don't bother me...we get them in Israel and I've been through several six point something quakes...was actually quite fun. Probably wouldn't wanna go through one 7 or higher on the scale though.

 

21 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

You can say the same thing about volcanos, and how many people live in close proximity to an active one somewhere around the world.  

They are fun to climb! Next year we actually plan to climb Sierra Negra, the second largest active volcano caldera in the world.

[TBoneTX 45,075]

4 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

"compulsive mow-lawner, with best-looking lawn in town, completely eaten by fire ants mosquitoes," itch man.

News report above, itch man.

[TBoneTX 45,075]

It's already been longer than 48 hours since the r-casa was presumably soaked, so the damage might be done.

However, if it's like the neighbor's damage, it will be rainwater, not floodwater.

Not sure how big, if any, a difference that makes.

Hope I can get over there tomorrow.

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

38 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

It's already been longer than 48 hours since the r-casa was presumably soaked, so the damage might be done.

However, if it's like the neighbor's damage, it will be rainwater, not floodwater.

Not sure how big, if any, a difference that makes.

Hope I can get over there tomorrow.

Get going on the FEMA paperwork ASAP...even if you dont qualify or are covered by insurance.  They will have folks out with waders soon 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Definitely replace damaged items you mentioned or you will ed up with nasty mold.

[TBoneTX 45,075]

Need to get into the casa first.

City Public Works Dept. (answering calls) just told me that they're pumping 24/7 and might have the area accessible tomorrow.

Of course, the County Judge plans to release levees around the overcresting river that feeds a nearby tributary.

This means that the rental casa, and Mama T-B.'s casa, might be inaccessible for 72 to 90 hours -- and actually flood.

There might be a very tight window to try to rescue the renters' cat, which they left in the garage "with an open bag of food."

And the Animal Control Dept. here is the most useless agency that any city could possibly have.

If we don't have the key for the deadbolted front door, I'll have to break it down.

Depending on how much drinkable water our brilliant renters left the cat, the situation might be futile.

I just chewed their butts via e-mail.

[TBoneTX 45,075]

In broader news, the chemical plant in Crosby (east side of Houston) is in dire straits.

Refrigeration units & backup generators flooded with 6 feet of water.

Organic chemicals will explode within 6 days unless they can be cooled to 50 degr. F.

High temps tomorrow are supposed to return to around 90 F.

A news conference is scheduled for 9a Thursday.

Edited August 31, 2017 by TBoneTX

[TBoneTX 45,075]

Corpulent, purring feline is now dozing in my lap.

I'd no more consider abandoning her than I'd consider abandoning Mini-Bone.

What is wrong with some people's heads?

[yuna628 9,665]

Hey I haven't been around much lately (so very busy and stuff) but I hope everyone in Texas is okay. My husband's uncle's family immigrated to US and has been in the Houston area for a long time now. We have not heard from him and we are trying to get in touch with his mom.

[CaliCat 3,957]

9 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Corpulent, purring feline is now dozing in my lap.

I'd no more consider abandoning her than I'd consider abandoning Mini-Bone.

What is wrong with some people's heads?

 

And you just grew a couple of wings! :-)

 

Edited August 31, 2017 by CaliCat

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

13 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Corpulent, purring feline is now dozing in my lap.

I'd no more consider abandoning her than I'd consider abandoning Mini-Bone.

What is wrong with some people's heads?

Were you able to squeeze through the narrow window (providing you didn't eat too many Triscuits) or did you get through the door ?
Any water at all for the cat or flooded garage ?
Glad you got her out of there.

[TBoneTX 45,075]

Actually, that was our OWN (existing, resident) cat-in-lap being referred to, sorry man.

 

However, as of today, good news:

-- Renter's cat is rescued.  Young city Animal Control officer hopped on things right away.  Met us at edge of flooded area, several blocks from rental casa.  Tried to walk it; couldn't.  Didn't want to take his truck in; smart.  Called for Public Works utility truck; high-clearance.  Rescued highly vocal cat (out of food & water, but didn't pipi or pupu outside litterbox).  Whole thing took about 4 hours from initial call to completion.

 

-- AC dude performed reconnaissance on r-casa for us.  Water line in front indeed only halfway up driveway.  No water line on back fence or back of casa.  Inside, air conditioning & electricity both on.  Only damp (not wet) area = about 6" of carpet just inside sliding patio doors; rainwater, not floodwater.

 

Dodged a double bullet, si man.  Will contact AC dude's superior to commend performance, si man.

Edited August 31, 2017 by TBoneTX