I took a drive . . . Update

TW · Postby TW » February 10th, 2008, 1:44 pm

Yesterday, I drove up to ImaPK's place. They weren't home when I got there. Mike's truck was gone, so I figure that they probably had gone to town to get supplies. I can tell you, from what I saw the damage is extensive. The house is damaged, but I don't know how severely, a number of trees were up-rooted or snapped off, the big barn is gone completely and the smaller barns have severe damage. Mike, when I talked with him on the phone, had said that all three of their vehicles had some damage as well as one of their tractors. There is debris (roofing tin, etc.) high up in the remaining trees. There is a motor home parked in their front yard with a line running out to the power pole in front of their house so I would imagine this is where they are living for now. I can't see them leaving the property because they still have to care for the horses. There was a sign out by the road for a construction company, so I'm assuming that they have contracted the repair work on the house. I left a message on their voice mail to contact me. As I get information I will pass it on. Keep them in your prayers, they need them badly.

TW

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » February 10th, 2008, 1:55 pm

prayers continue...

Sherry · Postby **Sherry** » February 10th, 2008, 2:44 pm

My heart breaks hearing this, I can't imagine losing so much. Please tell him they are in my thoughts and prayers when you speak to him next. Thanks. :wink:

TW · Postby TW » February 12th, 2008, 2:25 pm

I talked with ImaPK this afternoon. Here's the update - - -

The house was not condemned. However, the roof will have to be replaced. The interior will have to be completely gutted, floors, walls, ceilings, in other words everything will need to be replaced. The house is structurally sound, other than for some damage to one corner of the porch. The furniture that was salvageable is now packed in a POD in their front yard. They are living in the motorhome that I saw.

On top of this Mike is fighting an eye infection that he got from getting some debris in his eye. He said that he hopes to be able to return to work tomorrow. They want to thank everyone that has been in prayer for them.

TW

Preaching-Mason · Postby **Preaching-Mason** » February 12th, 2008, 4:39 pm

TW wrote:I talked with ImaPK this afternoon. Here's the update - - -

The house was not condemned. However, the roof will have to be replaced. The interior will have to be completely gutted, floors, walls, ceilings, in other words everything will need to be replaced. The house is structurally sound, other than for some damage to one corner of the porch. The furniture that was salvageable is now packed in a POD in their front yard. They are living in the motorhome that I saw.

On top of this Mike is fighting an eye infection that he got from getting some debris in his eye. He said that he hopes to be able to return to work tomorrow. They want to thank everyone that has been in prayer for them.

TW

This is nearly impossible. I hope I am wrong but, doubt very seriously that I am. I think , if this goes through as just a remodel, or face lift, Mike will be very disappointed in the long run.....with little to no recourse.

LIKE I SAID I HOPE NOT.......BUT I DONT THINK I AM WRONG HERE !!!!

Poimen · Postby **Poimen** » February 12th, 2008, 5:15 pm

I am so sorry to hear about this.

Please let Mike, and Sis White, know that I'm praying for them.
Is there anything at this point we can do to help them? Anything they need?

doris · Postby **doris** » February 12th, 2008, 5:58 pm

TW, what about the animals. Were they in the barn when the storm hit, or had Mike and wife already taken them out?

TW · Postby TW » February 12th, 2008, 8:01 pm

OK, to answer some questions.

Preaching Mason wrote:

This is nearly impossible. I hope I am wrong but, doubt very seriously that I am. I think , if this goes through as just a remodel, or face lift, Mike will be very disappointed in the long run.....with little to no recourse.

Actually, I think that the house might very well be structurally sound. The house was still firmly on it's foundation, the exterior walls were intact, and other than a window blown out appeared to have no major damage. The roof had lost all of it shingles and some of the sheathing, but the rafters (not trusses) were in place and unbroken. The house is an old farm house, build back when things were built to last, not built for maximum profit. It's a small house, so there should be no unusually long spans in the interior that could be compromised by the loss of an interior wall. As long as the framing of any load bearing interior walls maintains it's integrity there should be little to worry about. My main concern would be to make sure that the column on the corner of the porch was properly reattached so it could bear it's portion of the roof load.

doris wrote:

TW, what about the animals. Were they in the barn when the storm hit, or had Mike and wife already taken them out?

doris,
The dogs were in the house with Mike and Joy, and the horses were in the barn. All of them are fine. Mike credits the gelding with saving the other horses. Mike said that the gelding chased all the other horses out of the barn before it was destroyed, and then herded them to a safe corner of the pasture and kept them there until Mike and Joy could find them.

Poimen wrote:

I am so sorry to hear about this.

Please let Mike, and Sis White, know that I'm praying for them.
Is there anything at this point we can do to help them? Anything they need?

They appreciate all the prayers that have been made for them. At this point I really don't know what we can realistically do for them, other than to pray that God would bless them during this time. Insurance is providing some, to cover their immediate needs. Hopefully I will know more tomorrow after I can sit down and talk to Mike, face to face.

TW

Preaching-Mason · Postby **Preaching-Mason** » February 13th, 2008, 6:19 pm

TW wrote:OK, to answer some questions.

Preaching Mason wrote:
This is nearly impossible. I hope I am wrong but, doubt very seriously that I am. I think , if this goes through as just a remodel, or face lift, Mike will be very disappointed in the long run.....with little to no recourse.

Actually, I think that the house might very well be structurally sound. The house was still firmly on it's foundation, the exterior walls were intact, and other than a window blown out appeared to have no major damage. The roof had lost all of it shingles and some of the sheathing, but the rafters (not trusses) were in place and unbroken. The house is an old farm house, build back when things were built to last, not built for maximum profit. It's a small house, so there should be no unusually long spans in the interior that could be compromised by the loss of an interior wall. As long as the framing of any load bearing interior walls maintains it's integrity there should be little to worry about. My main concern would be to make sure that the column on the corner of the porch was properly reattached so it could bear it's portion of the roof load.

Like I said I think there will be problems.....but I have always liked Mike and really hope and pray I am wrong.

Tell him I said Hi and I am praying for him.

TW · Postby TW » February 13th, 2008, 10:14 pm

Just so y'all know, he's alive and well . . .

Although I think the stress is showing on him.

If you just look at the house it doesn't look that bad. The interior damage was done by the water that got in after they lost their shingles

The front . . .

The back . . .

But when you look around the property . . .

A large barn stood here . . .

The damage seems to be everywhere . . .

When I told Mike that several people had ask if there was a need for financial assistance it brought tears to his eyes. He said that he wasn't asking for money, but if a person felt lead to give, he wouldn't turn it down. If you would like to get in touch with him, PM me and I can give you his address.

TW

Jude 2