BobT-47P15 Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Hi gentlemen. Looks like the forum is still going strong. As an update, we have now rented a house in the town of Anderson, MO, about 35 miles from Joplin. It belongs to the mother of a friend....the mom is in a nursing home and the house was sitting vacant, with all furnishings, as if she had just left for a trip to the grocery store. It's a little unhandy, but we figured we had stayed with our sister in law long enough. From there, we plan to take some exploratory trips around the area. So it's kind of like an adventure. The highway to that town is four lane all the way, making the trip go faster. While driving down a street not far from the house yesterday, I spotted a 46-7 or 8 Mercury coupe in a carport. Looked pretty nice. Guess I may go knock on their door and see about looking at the car, just for fun. Have now replaced both our cars.....I went back one year, but Mary Ann found one 5 years newer. So we've got wheels again. Next we have to finish cleaning up the yard, putting everything we can out by the street, and the huge trucks with the big claw will carry it off for free. They already took the first batch of tree limbs and other stuff. Once we get to a certain point, our contractor will have his associate knock down and haul off the remains of the house. Then, the fun of rebuilding will eventually begin. Have to decide on a house plan first, of course. Contractor says he will make a walk-in closet as a safe room. So, we're doing OK and things are progressing about as good as they can. Son in law Dale took the Plymouth back home with him to Kansas City and has begun working on repairs. We certainly do appreciate the support and kindnesses from you forum members. A really big THANKS!! Bob & Mary Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Glad you are making progress toward being normal again. Reestablishing your ability to get out and about, and getting you home replaced. Are all your neighbors going to rebuild or are some throwing in the towel and relocating? Have you recovered all of your stuff that you could? What didja get for wheels?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin (UK) Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob, Great to hear that all is moving on OK. Good luck with everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mulders Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob, good to hear things are going for the better. So now you can finally get that 4 space garage and scoop up some more classic cars John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1940plymouth Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob, Glad to hear that you and your wife are doing ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted June 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Glad you are making progress toward being normal again. Reestablishing your ability to get out and about, and getting you home replaced. Are all your neighbors going to rebuild or are some throwing in the towel and relocating? Have you recovered all of your stuff that you could? What didja get for wheels?? Greg.....some residents of the subdivision are going to rebuild, others are outta there. It's going to be rather bare regarding trees as the winds stripped the leaves, many branches, and even the bark off most of the large, old trees. Most trees are being taken out, so the four or five we had will all be gone. Concerns have been expressed about what type of houses will be built as to size and quality, plus some people could now buy lots and erect duplexes or other rental property. The city says they should be able to control things.....so we will eventually see. We plan to rebuild. Am just about done shuffling thru what was the garage. Have been finding some small things among the rubble on the floor. Found old car parts mainly in the back yard of the next door neighbor. His land is now cleaned up, so anything that was hidden and that I missed is gone. Of course, the problem is recalling every item that was in my new storage building (Plymouth Parts Central). Even heavier things like bell housings and flywheels went flying next door. I could only find the north end of that building, it was fairly intact......the rest and numerous contents I could not locate. They say the wind speed was up to 200 mph and that the tornado was traveling slowly, It had a leading edge, the eye, and the back edge. So it was rather like putting things in a large blender.....it chewed them up. Some things were carried for several miles....maybe farther. A friend at church, who lives about 3 miles east of us, brought us a cancelled check from several years ago that landed in his yard. The pictures on the newscasts give an idea of the devastation, but they can't really do it justice. Driving around town, you see areas of nothing but piles of splintered homes and buildings......you have trouble telling exactly where you are sometimes as street signs and landmarks are gone. Cleanup is progressing as fast as they can, but there is still a tremendous amount of debris remaining.....as the damage is in an area half a mile wide and 6 or more miles long......a huge stripe clear across town. Vehicle wise, I ended up with an 05 Grand Caravan to replace the short wheelbase 06 Caravan I had. Mary Ann wanted something "cute, with a sunroof" to replace her 01 P T Cruiser which she loved. So, she found in Arkansas, a 06 Infiniti G35 sedan. We ended up buying from small lots rather than the large dealerships. Time will tell how good these vehicles really are, but seem OK for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted June 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob,good to hear things are going for the better. So now you can finally get that 4 space garage and scoop up some more classic cars John John......our contractor has proposed building me a detached two car garage with storage space....for the Plymouth and related stuff. Don't think I'll get the lift however. Doubt I'll get to increase the fleet of antique vehicles, but you never know. Will see how far we can make the insurance money go on the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob can you score a neighboring lot for a bigger garage? Glad to hear your life is returning to some sort of normalcy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted June 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 I still don't have internet service. Need to see about getting a connection at the rented house in Anderson. My current provider does not extend to where we are......two counties away. So will ultimately have to change to the local service there. I have a laptop, but it's sort of a nuisance having to look for places providing wi-fi in a small town. Have finally discovered a couple locations, but have trouble getting time to go hang out there. Writing this from the home of our sister in law, where we first stayed. We will still stay here from time to time when coming to town to play my music gig and for other reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted June 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob can you score a neighboring lot for a bigger garage? Glad to hear your life is returning to some sort of normalcy. Not sure which neighbors are rebuilding.....far as I know the one to the east will. The one behind us I don't know about. There are only two actual adjoining neighbors as we have a corner lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55 Fargo Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Glad to hear things are slowly returning to normal Bob. I hope you folks hvae a speedy rebuild, and the house rebuild process goes as well as can be. I would suggest some type of cyclone cellar, and nothing less, when rebuilding your new home. Or whatever is deemed the maximum protection against a Twister..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hkestes41 Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob, Glad to hear that things have started down the path to returning to normal. I will be making the trip again in August for the HAMB Drags, so if there is anything I can do to help out or anything you need when I am in town let me know. Although, I am starting to think the trip to Joplin is cursed. First trip had an alternator bracket break just East of Vanita, then had the wheel bearing issue on the way home last year, finally on the way home from Ryno's last a few weeks ago I killed the 218. Maybe I should just drive my wife's car from now on. Do you think Dale will have the vert back in time for the drags, and how about the coupe? It would be good to have 3 P15's in one place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-12 Tommy Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 I'm so glad to hear your lives are kinda back to normal. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertKB Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob, glad to see things are progressing for you. I admire your "this bad thing happened but I am moving forward" attitude. Glad to hear your convertible is in your son-in-law's capable hands. Sounds like your insurance companies are not giving you any grief either. All the best in the next little while with the house rebuild and I hope your lives gets back to normal as quickly as possible. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mulders Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Bob, I hope you will have no problems with insurance, I have just finalized my fight with them. They first wanted not to pay as there was no storm over the island (it was the rain from hurricane Tomas that passed our island). They got a lot of flag for that standpoint and I commented that there is no mentioning in the policy that the storm has to be over the island anyway. Got some money but it is still a loss in the end. Good to hear you are fine and picking up the pieces. I am sure you get everything fixed and then can look back at it with a smile. My car is still not running, parts ordered were not shipped as my creditcard failed. Called the bank and they said that is was blocked. So I asked why I wasn't informed and then she asked "didn't they call you?" .... uhmm no , otherwise I wouldn't ask. Got it sorted, expect the parts to arrive in a week or so. Cheers John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Martin Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Hope you can make springfield swap meet this year. Maybe you can restock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Tank Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 good to hear you are doing ok Bob. every day things will get a little better. good luck to you and the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Saraceno Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm glad to hear things are working out. You have a lot of work ahead. Just take one day at a time and you'll get through all this. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatS.... Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 My relatives in Kurrimine Beach in Australia lost their home in the 2005 cyclone that hit them. They rebuilt to cyclone building codes and even a bit better in some areas. This year, when Yasi came ashore almost on top of them, their house was unscathed...not even a broken window. The only damage was the vegetation and a shed had it's door ripped off. Rebuilding to hurricane building code standards would be worth looking into. Hope all goes well on the rebuild for you Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Saraceno Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Rebuilding to hurricane building code standards would be worth looking into. We don't get hurricanes in the Midwest here and if I remember correctly, Joplin was hit with and F5 tornado which means winds were 261-318 mph. I'm not sure hurricane specs would have done much good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg F Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Flew over Joplin yesterday. Unbelieveable that you can see a brown streak across the southern side of the city from 34000 ft. Glad things are slowly getting back to normal for you and your family... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
49 Dodge Dude Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Just glad you're OK. Material things can be replaced, but not people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TodFitch Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 We don't get hurricanes in the Midwest here and if I remember correctly, Joplin was hit with and F5 tornado which means winds were 261-318 mph.I'm not sure hurricane specs would have done much good. The Joplin event is listed on the Wikipedia page for F5 tornados. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_F5_and_EF5_tornadoes It also had this interesting quote: Since structures are completely destroyed in both cases, the identification and assignment of scale between an EF4 tornado and an EF5 is often very difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 The Joplin event is listed on the Wikipedia page for F5 tornados. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_F5_and_EF5_tornadoesIt also had this interesting quote: Do insurance companies pay more or less based on the "F" rating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveplym Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Glad things are getting back to normal for you Bob. Wondered if the ladies that worked at your office made it okay? I remember meeting one or two of them a few years back when I came out to get that fender. Good luck in the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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