BobT-47P15 are you OK

[mackster]

sorry to hear of your troubles, but im glad to hear you are ok. hang in there buddy! im glad you and your family are ok. everything else can be replaced.

[BobT-47P15]

Well, another day of looking for "stuff" around the house and yard.

The charcoal grill was under some tree limbs and siding - not badly

hurt and probably still usable. Found the cover for it later, still in

one piece. I need to take a picture of the two wheeled garden

cart in it's new home -- in the middle of some tree limbs, about 20

feet above the neighbor's yard.

To me, anyway, a fellow doing some cleanup in our yard finding

the n o s 1939 Dodge rear wheel brake cylinders I had been

saving was the "Discovery of the day." My car is a 47 model but

has an older rear end under it which uses those pre war (more

expensive, harder to find) cylinders.

Going to try and get a little earlier start tomorrow (Sat).

When we find everything we think we can or want, then either

a contractor or FEMA will come in with the dozer.

We appreciate everyone's care and concern. Thanks.

[RobertKB]

Bob, glad to hear you are able to find a few things and make some progress. It must be hard looking through a life time of "things" in all the debris. Wishing you well and all the best in the future. It is really nice that you can occasionally update us and let the rest of the forum know how things are progressing for you. There are a lot of people on the forum pulling for you!

[BobT-47P15]

Much appreciated, gentlemen (and ladies).:):):)

I don't know how to send any pictures since I'm using my

sister in law's Apple computer. After things slow down, I'll

try to set up my computer.

[P-12 Tommy]

I'm just curious.....how far are you from the "Bonnie and Clyde hideout" on 34th and Oak Ridge?

Tom

[48Dodger]

Incredible Bob.....I'm glad you're able to go through your home and nieghborhood and find some hope. You have my famiy's thoughts and prayers....

48D

[BobT-47P15]

I'm just curious.....how far are you from the "Bonnie and Clyde hideout" on 34th and Oak Ridge?

Tom

Hi Tom. That's in the general southwest area of town, and we are sort

of southeast.........so probably 5 miles or so.

[BobT-47P15]

Another busy day of looking for and picking up some still usable things.

The State Farm auto adjusters came by this afternoon and declared

both the Caravan and the P T Cruiser total losses. No surprise there.

Fortunately we had car rental coverage on each one, so now we're

driving a Kia Sorrento suv type vehicle and a Toyota Corolla.

Once they pay us for the cars, we will have to look for replacements.

Have no idea what we'll end up with.

They are going to call me tomorrow to go look at the Plymouth,

since it's in a friend's garage in Webb City......a town that adjoins

Joplin to the north. Will be interesting to see how they handle

that. Of course, the damage is fairly simple, but they won't

probably know the cost of a replacement top. Guess I need to

do a little research for them.

Thanks to all who have sent letters and assistance....much appreciated.

It's amazing to see the outpouring of help from all types of businesses

and groups from all over the area, the state and nation. A church group

from Mt Vernon, MO, about 35 miles from here, came walking by today

and ended up cutting down a tree in the front yard, helped pick up

car parts from the neighbor's yard, and other items of assistance.

The county health agency was driving around giving free tetanus shots

to anyone wanting one, since it's easy to step on a rusty nail while

wading thru the debris. I finally stepped on one, not very serious.

Mary Ann and I, plus our kids and our bro in law all got a shot. Better

safe than sorry.....

Tomorrow, President Obama will be here for a while, and our church

is giving us two tickets to the event, to be held in the field house of

the college.

Kinda tired now, so that's it for today.

Have a great weekend everyone.

[John Mulders]

Hi Bob,

just returning from a vacation, did see the news on the storms in the US but only until I read this thread I realized you live in Joplin.

Glad to hear you and Mary Ann are fine, hope you will be able to get things going for the better soon.

John

[BobT-47P15]

Hi all. Big news of the day here was a visit from President Obama, who

spoke at a memorial service for those dead and some still missing.

Prior to that he went to view some of the damage done.

Mary Ann and a friend of ours went to the event with tickets presented

by our pastor. I could have gone, but didn't especially want to. Our friend

enjoyed it more than I would have. In fact, I couldn't even get across

town and back to the sister in law's home where we're staying due to

security and many streets blocked off. I ended up in the middle of the

downtown area, on a parking lot, and watched the motorcade pass by

on it's return trip. Once that happened, it allowed the officers to

re-open the street. Finally got back to the house, just in time to watch

the event on t v.

This morning (Sun) the adjusters looked over the Plymouth and

calculated an estimate of a little over $5,000 for parts and labor.

Of course, the problem for them is......they don't deal with many

old cars, and have to manually enter their info into their computer.

The adjuster did say he had been in the body shop business and had

worked on older cars in the past.......so he at least had some

background, which hopefully is good.

Otherwise, still trying to save as much still usable stuff as possible.

Got a lot of car parts stacked in a couple places that need loading

and transporting....just takes time. It's about 15 miles one way

to either mini storage I'm renting.......

Well, will do more tomorrow. Appreciate all your support!!!:)

Bob

[knighthawk]

thanks , Bob, for the pictures and the posts... it brings it closer or more realistic for the rest of us. I don't suppose the Fema guys bring the trailers in where you guys what restrictions do they have on the rebuilding process ? ( or any victums ) live , but instead, create a 'trailer park ' somewhere 'out of town'.....what restrictions do they have on the rebuilding process ? Can anybody who 'claims' to be a contractor come in ? My brother does 'claims' in Minneapolis Mn. area, told me , they don't care who rebuilds the house, as long as home owner accepts the check, the case is closed. If it's built poorly, you just wouldn't get a claim on it the next time. ( but the comp giving the ''new'' coverage will insp it before they cover it ! ) Also sometimes they pay ahead of time , other times they wait till it's done, or some cases. a partial payment or advance ahead of time. It depends on the Ins company, and / or the policy . Some the rest of us should maybe look in to ....... Are you allowed to bring in a camper or motorhome to live in while you rebuild ? .....then, what about temporay toilets ?? Us with 'weak' bladders would be in trouble .

[Captain Neon]

Bob, I am curious if you still have real estate in Nashville.

[Don Coatney]

Bob, I am curious if you still have real estate in Nashville.

I believe he sold it.

[BobT-47P15]

Hi guys.

Ben, we sold the Nashville condo.....finally. Nice place, but the ongoing

costs were no fun since we weren't living in it.

Knighthawk....I don't know the rules about such stuff, but there are no

mobile homes allowed in the city, at least not on single lots. But, I

suppose they could invent a park outside the limits. Several apartment

complexes and probably many rental properties were lost in the tornado,

so housing is in short supply for now. Be interesting to see where it all

goes.

Otherwise, a rather warm day with more of same.....but we're getting

closer to having our stuff (that we now want to keep) picked up. Still

need to get the car stuff that's just lying around. Hopefully that may be

tomorrow. Several members of our Sunday School class at church

came over today and did a bunch of cleanup and pickup. Very helpful.

Thanks again for all your support!!!!!!

Bob

[47droptop]

Bob, we're praying for you and you're family up here in Canada too. I'm so glad to here you have so much support from your church family and all the members on this forum. Thanks for keeping us posted and may Christ guide you and support you through all of this.

[moparbenny]

Glad to hear your O.K....cars can be fixed...thoughts are with you and yours.Benny:)

[Young Ed]

I would hope that the rule makers have enough sense to temporarily suspend that rule and allow the trailers in until peoples houses can be rebuilt.

[BobT-47P15]

In regard to rebuilding the house, at the moment we think we will just

rebuild where we are. Some neighbors say they'll stay, others say

they won't.

Regarding a contractor - when the storm hit, we were in the process of

remodeling our kitchen and adding a room onto the rear of the house.

That room was framed in and the roofer was scheduled to come on the

Monday (after the storm). The roof went away, but walls are still

standing.

The person doing the work is a builder we've known for many years, so

no problem with that aspect. He had left a Bobcat with a bucket on the

front in our yard, plus there was a large dumpster sitting in the driveway,

about half full of debris from their work. He has used the Bobcat to

move some debris and we finished filling the dumpster with stuff. We're

first on his list for a house rebuild.

We've been staying with our sister in law (widow of Mary Ann's brother),

who lives about 10 miles from our house. I feel sorry for others who

have no place to go.

The house is a total loss, even though the walls are standing, the roof

is gone in many places and the rains have soaked most things.....not a

piece of the furniture is usable. Wet insulation lying on wood damages

it very quickly, so we've discovered. Even though some ceilings were

left, they've all fallen due to rain.

As these tornadoes often do, some things are totally blown away and

won't be found. At the same time, other items may have blown from a

shelf to the floor not far from where they sat. Found the spare set of

Plymouth keys and some other things in the garage, and am still

sifting thru debris on the floor and in corners, etc for anything else

important I've forgotten. Remembering everything is a problem, so I

sometimes get a pleasant surprise when something appears.

I hope none of you have to go thru one of these storms, and appreciate

your thoughts and prayers.

Bob (& Mary Ann)

[PatS....]

I would hope that the rule makers have enough sense to temporarily suspend that rule and allow the trailers in until peoples houses can be rebuilt.

I agree, it would only make sense and could be done with no govt involvement in building a trailer park that would only be empty once the homes were rebuilt.

We had a friend who lost her home to fire and she fought quite hard to be able to put a mobile on her lot until the house was rebuilt. She won and it was allowed, but for that there should not be a fight...it's her lot and it's only temporary.

I would hope the powers that be in Joplin will make things easy and not more difficult for these folks.

It's not like the neighbors are going to have to look at a mobile home in the other neighbors front yard

All the best to you and yours right now, Bob...if I was closer, I'd be there to help you hunt for stuff and buy you a beer.

[Captain Neon]

I would hope that the rule makers have enough sense to temporarily suspend that rule and allow the trailers in until peoples houses can be rebuilt.

I'll reference my usu. refrain about politicians and bureaucrats, and then state trailers will only be allowed in Joplin if one of the rule makers needs to make use of a temporary trailer. Otherwise, I again reference my usu. refrain about politicians and bureaucrats.

[Young Ed]

I'll reference my usu. refrain about politicians and bureaucrats, and then state trailers will only be allowed in Joplin if one of the rule makers needs to make use of a temporary trailer. Otherwise, I again reference my usu. refrain about politicians and bureaucrats.

And thats why if I was there I'd just do it and deal with possible consequences later. Sometimes thats the only way to make them see they are being ridiculous.

[P-12 Tommy]

And thats why if I was there I'd just do it and deal with possible consequences later. Sometimes thats the only way to make them see they are being ridiculous.

That's the way I feel! People come first!

Tom

[hkestes41]

My concern is that SOOOOOOO many homes will have to be repaired / rebuilt that the "contractors" will be coming out of the woodwork. Unfortunately many people will find months later that they were dealing with less than upstanding people who have left them with subpar work and problems that will just have to be dealt with all over again.

[Dennis Hemingway]

Bob, Sorry to hear of the loss of your home, but glade to here that you and Mary Ann are safe.

Dennis:(

[P-12 Tommy]

How's everything the last day or two?

Tom