Update on Parent's House

[kaylashay81]

RIP The House, 1914-2010

*sigh*

The house will be a complete loss. However, they will be able to save a lot of the 'special' things including (but not limited to): family pictures of all shapes sizes (we are up to our ears in those), my dad's gun collection should be fine within his safes (many thousands of dollars there), the computer harddrive might survive, other little family things like a jewelry box my uncle gave me years ago and that uncle has since past away...

It looked like a yard sale as we were hauling stuff out of the house. The fear was that what happened to my great-uncle/aunt a few years back would happen here. The house burned but was still standing. They left everything inside and planned to start on it the next day. That night the fire reignited and the whole house went. So they got everything we could find that could be pulled out that was of importance (and a lot of stuff that wasn't) and got it out of the house. As of right now, the house is still standing.

I'm amazed at how well the floors held up in the place. We were able to walk upstairs and everything. And there's a lot of those weird things you see that just seemed out of place. Like this wicker thing my mom had hanging on a door in the kitchen. The kitchen was hit the hardest, but yet this wicker thing is just hanging on it's nails like it always has without a mark on it. The fridge even kept the contents well.

They at least have a place to stay for the immediate future with my aunt and uncle who is the only house next door (they live on farm land) or with my grandma in town who's house they actually own. They will likely look to maybe renting some place for a bit while they regroup and then set up a new house where the old one was. My dad's already spouting his plans for it and it's steel frame.

Something to note. Ants and brown recluses survive fires. *shudders*

One of the four cats made it. Cali, my mom's cat and Abu's brother survived. She was the smallest of the four. She's having a visit for the weekend with my dad's cousin who's a vet about 15-20 minutes away. He said she should be okay. Her lungs were smoke filled but he thinks she'll do okay. She's around 16-17 years old. She's a survivor.

I think I'm going to take a few days off of work to be hear with my parents and help sort and organize things as well as help track down everywhere they do bills and payments to, etc. Going to try to get them set up with a Verizon phone plan and switch their landline number to it tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed on that.

Several of you have mentioned wanting to help in any way and I as well as my parents are very grateful to you. I will post a paypal button down below. Please only click if you have the money to spare. I'm not asking... I just... Any little thing that can help take some small burdon off my parents would forever be appreciated. Fandom is awesome and I love everyone in it.

Also, here are some links to some initial pictures I took today. I'm linking since I'm not on a computer that has the right programs to resize them to a more user friendly method. So these are large files.

http://www.kaylashay.com/2010-08-21_TheHouse/DSC02387.JPG
http://www.kaylashay.com/2010-08-21_TheHouse/DSC02379.JPG
http://www.kaylashay.com/2010-08-21_TheHouse/DSC02380.JPG
http://www.kaylashay.com/2010-08-21_TheHouse/DSC02382.JPG
http://www.kaylashay.com/2010-08-21_TheHouse/DSC02384.JPG
http://www.kaylashay.com/2010-08-21_TheHouse/DSC02385.JPG
http://www.kaylashay.com/2010-08-21_TheHouse/DSC02386.JPG

Thank you all again and I will keep you posted. Oh, my aunt Cathy who came down from St. Louis to help said she found a buch of pictures that had Cali and Abu in them... :-)

Comments

[sinfulslasher]

Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry. The devastation is just... *has no words* The kitchen looks horrible, and then seeing the fridge in all this, barely singed...it's really weird.

I'm just so glad to hear you could get a lot of stuff out of the house! That's good!

What about Kitty? *crosses fingers*

[tinlizzie82.livejournal.com]

all I can say about the pictures is OMG! I never realized what an unholy mess a fire makes - somehow I just pictured charred remnants but it seems like as much damage was done by water and various melting substances as the actual flames.

Please tell your parent I am so sorry for their loss and I hope that your recovery eforts go as smoothly as possible.

And to think I used to like lightening storms ...

[gibbsgirlabby.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for the loss of the house and the kitties. Good luck to your folks.

[taylorgibbs.livejournal.com]

Many many many hugs! I'm so sorry for the losses of items and the precious cats.

It is a great idea to stay with your folks for a couple of days.

The pictures are chilling. I'm so glad your folks made it out!

[ferneberga.livejournal.com]

Just seeing these photos it's a miracle your parents came out unscathed. I hope they'll get some compensation from the insurance company to help get set up again. Hugs again to you all

[hilde.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for the loss you and your family have suffered. I'm so happy your folks made ot out of there in one piece. The pictures you posted are truly scary.

Many many hugs!

[smackalalala.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness. This whole thing is just awful. I'm so so sorry this happened to your family. This year has been awful for bad stuff happening, I swear. Next year better see tons of good stuff for everyone!! *hugs*

[hawk-soaring.livejournal.com]

Glad you were able to salvage some things. It's so awful to lose the house -- but that is replaceable (eventually). Many of the items you mentioned aren't. *hugs you*

[murgy31.livejournal.com]

I am sorry that your family is going through this... *hugs* I hope that the donation helps... If you need anything else, please let me know

[tucker-liz.livejournal.com]

My condolences on the loss, of both home and animals. Give my best to your parents. If there's anything else I can do to help, please feel free to drop me a line. {{{hugs}}}

[citymusings.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I'm glad they're able to salvage some things of importance and that they have a place to stay. ::hugs:: I hope the time you take off will be as enjoyable as possible and very productive.

[novalinx.livejournal.com]

I'm glad things are going as well as can be expected. It's good that your parents are planning what to do next.

Those pictures are very striking. It amused me to see that the Disney magnets survived.

Keep up the happy thoughts!

Tabee :)

[kaylashay.livejournal.com]

Thanks... I took a lot more pictures today I'll eventually link. And those magnets are far from the strangest of the surviving items. It's just amazing to see something in perfect condition next to something unrecognizable in a blackened blob.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your family's loss, but yeah, sounds like Cali's a real fighter.

Good luck to your folks.

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Oi, what a mess! Fires are always so unpredictable - the strangest things are left untouched. O.o I'm glad at least one of the cats survived (all of them surviving would have been preferable, though). Again - I'm glad that some things appear to be salvageable, and that the entire house wasn't reduced to ash. It's nice reading that your father already has plans for rebuilding. :-) *hugs*

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

*HUGS* I'm so sorry that happened to your family.