Flood Claimed Most of my Collection

[TEXASFETT]

Awe heck Anthony...... man sorry for your loss. Man send the rain this way.

[Hector]

So sorry, Anthony...I know you must feel devastated...I know I would.

Hey...you should seriously get a sump pump...and leave it on automatic permanently in your basement...it's really a life-saver.

My house is located on a hill...and it slopes...and when it really pours rain...water sometimes gets into the basement. I got really flooded a couple of times in the past...very frustrating...good thing there's a section of the basement where it's lower than the rest....so a lot of storage stuff was saved.

So I went ahead and got a sump pump...something like this...

Wayne Submersible Stainless Steel/Cast Iron Sump Pump CDU980 | Sump Pumps | Northern Tool + Equipment

It's set on automatic...so whenever there's water...this pump will suck the water like nobody's business...and you won't get flooded at all...trust me.

This is a fantastic and durable machine (had mine for years, and it's still working great)...I can't recommend it high enough.

[megocrazy]

I know how you feel. My issue was with soot from a backed up furnace that happened while we were in FL. I still haven't put my collection back out, though I did just buy a ton of sealed cases for them. I lost all of my repro packages. Over 200.

Note for you. If it's major damage and they say it's not covered you may want to consult with a lawyer. Insurance companies love to deny claims that are actually covered under the standard homeowners. Flood insurance is usually for people in high flood threat areas. Flooding from other sources are usually covered under a standard homeowners policy. I had a flood a few years ago. Over $50,000 in damages. Lost my entire cellar and contents. Black mold, a total horror show. The next year my insurance company rejected my policy renewal. I couldn't get any company to insure me. Ended up costing me double for 2 years before I could get back to my regular insurance fees.

This was the first claim I had ever placed in over 15 years of paying homeowners. Hopefully you don't experience the same issues but I just want you to be prepared because I had to hustle to find an insurer because it was a violation of my mortgage requirements. If they do major work make sure you rake them over the coals for every dime and upgrade. Make it look even better than it did before the damage. They will definitely burn you if they can. I ended up paying an extra $2500 in premiums, but got much more in improvements from my original basement over what it was because I pushed them to do it. Best of luck

[emeraldknight47]

Anthony, so sorry to hear about this, man. It sucks to put so much work (and money) into collecting stuff and *poof*---it's ruined in a heartbeat. Flooding is probably the worst thing that can happen, especially in a basement (just ask MIB41----he had the same sitch recently). But hopefully, you will be able to salvage some things. The plastic stuff should dry out okay, fabric can (ironically) be laundered to get out the "flood" smell. And although you think that your paper collectibles may be lost, there may be some hope for those, too, depending on how fragile they were. If you take the items in question and place them in a warm (not hot) oven (preferably electric) for about an hour, them sandwich them between two really heavy objects (like say two concrete paving stones with towels over them), the stuff could out. I've done it a couple of things I had that were paper and got soaked. There is the inevitable warping, but the combination of slow heat and weight helps to minimize it. Hint: you may have to heat it up a couple of times to get it all the way dry, but do it in stages, otherwise the warping will be REALLY bad or the stuff could get too dried out and just crumble. Hope this helps, dude!

[megojim]

Sorry to hear this.

[LonnieFisher]

That really sucks!

[SUP-Ronin]

Dang, Dude. I'm really sorry to read this, seriously. Stay strong.

[starsky]

good luck and hopefully some stuff can still be saved.

[alex]

Wow, I would just break down and cry, hope everything works out with insurance etc.

[clemso]

Every collectors nightmare, sorry to hear about this Anthony, hope all your possessions can be returned to a reasonable state.

[Brazoo]

Oh man - that's terrible! I'm so sorry to hear that!

[Riffster]

dude...I'm so sorry, let me know if i can help in some way..

[jimsmegos]

Super sad news. I hope the "silver lining" shows up soon.

[mego73]

Hope more than you suspect survives.

[Karen-bionic-fan]

Sorry i mean as a collector i can feel your pain i know its only stuff but its your stuff hope you can save loads of it best regards x