Flood Claimed Most of my Collection

[Adam West]

Hate to hear that. I had my basement flood years ago due to a bad storm and a sump pump that died. My heart sank. Thankfully, most of my really good stuff was up high and in Rubbermaid bins but it was painful and I feel your pain. Hope it all works out.

[Adam West]

[QUOTE=Hector;791891]

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

QUOTE]

Hector,

I read your response regarding the sump pump and they are great. When mine bit the dust; I went out and bought one of the best models available so this wouldn't happen again.....but, then my brother, an electrician made a really good point. He asked "What are you going to do if a really bad storm comes through and knocks out your electricity?" He said if I wanted to go all out; I should have bought a double sump pump (one kicks in if the other goes out) and a generator that would kick in if the electricity kicked off. I suddenly lost that comfort level

[MIB41]

I am so sorry to hear that Anthony. Yeah, I got water in my basement this past spring when my sump pump and backup both failed. But I was lucky. I was in the middle of moving all of my stuff out of the basement, so my losses were pretty minimal and reduced to some magazines and some books. I truly lucked out. But this I will tell you. If you have any finished areas in that basement, meaning any drywall or paneling, it must ALL go. That stuff sucks up water and will convert to mold and fungus. I know because I'm having to replace all of it. THAT sucks. And it's hard work if you do it yourself. Make sure you have some good friends to help you and make sure you use mold killing spray and bleach to clean everything thoroughly. The important thing is to get everything wet out of there and repair the source of that flood. I am truly sorry though. I don't think anything sucks worse than having to clean up a flooded basement. Be thorough, but be safe. And be mindful of what you have plugged while your cleaning.

[pmwasson]

I so sorry to hear about this Anthony. Let me know if I can do anything to help.

[Wee67]

Wow, just read this and I'm so sorry to hear. We did some serious downpours here in NYC. Glad to hear your boxes were up and hopefully you can salvage some of your great collection.

[thunderbolt]

That sucks man, hope you can salvage some of it.

[kingdom warrior]

Wow that's rough sorry to hear this hopefully you'll be able to salvage some stuff....

[Nostalgiabuff]

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

I have to refute that statement. I am an insurance adjuster and we most certainly do not seek to deny claims, the coverage is what it is. Ground/surface water and water coming through the foundation or backing up from drains is NOT covered. sucks when it happens to you but the insurance company is not the bad guy. those exclusions were there long before someone has a loss.

again, anthony, I am really sorry to hear about this

[trekman101]

That sucks Anthony.......PM sent

[AJ Collector]

That sucks Anthony.......PM sent

Thanks again for the kind words folks, and thanks Anthony!

[UnderdogDJLSW]

If you have any finished areas in that basement, meaning any drywall or paneling, it must ALL go. That stuff sucks up water and will convert to mold and fungus. I know because I'm having to replace all of it. THAT sucks. And it's hard work if you do it yourself. Make sure you have some good friends to help you and make sure you use mold killing spray and bleach to clean everything thoroughly. The important thing is to get everything wet out of there and repair the source of that flood. I am truly sorry though. I don't think anything sucks worse than having to clean up a flooded basement. Be thorough, but be safe. And be mindful of what you have plugged while your cleaning.

^My words, too. I haven't had to deal with flooding, but mold has been a problem in my house. Molds can really affect some folks, too, in weird ways. Sorry about your stuff, but make sure you and your house are good for the long run.

[torgospizza]

Sorry to hear that. That's horrible!

[megocrazy]

Ground/surface water and water coming through the foundation or backing up from drains is NOT covered. sucks when it happens to you but the insurance company is not the bad guy.

Actually my flood was caused by a backed up main drain. It was caused by a tree root that had grown through a very small hole in the main pipe and then expanded. Neither my insurance company nor my city, (it was their tree) wanted to pay the damage until they found out I sought legal counsel.

My insurance company ended up paying the entire bill. I actually thought they should have gone after the city because I had a letter from them stating the tree was theirs. I had previously wanted to cut it down when I first bought the property and was told I could not touch it because it was city property. When I told them the tree had caused me an issue, they pulled the it's your tree not ours route. Fortunately I had the letter from 10 years earlier and they eventually cut it down. The insurance company wouldn't OK the rebuild until the tree was removed.

Didn't mean to hit a nerve, but the insurance company said it wasn't covered until my lawyer stepped in and then they ended up footing the entire bill. I'm sure if it wasn't covered by my policy, as they originally stated, they would have taken it to court rather than pay a bill of that size. My story may not be the standard but it happened.

[megoscott]

To indulge in a little gallows humor, but I hope this doesn't mean we've got a Collector of the Month curse going like the Sports Illustrated cover. It's especially heartbreaking to think you had just taken it out to photograph for us.

[AJ Collector]

To indulge in a little gallows humor, but I hope this doesn't mean we've got a Collector of the Month curse going like the Sports Illustrated cover. It's especially heartbreaking to think you had just taken it out to photograph for us.

Not at all.....Most of my mego figures, boxed sets, carded figures, etc... were out of harms way, a few loose figures Batgirl, WW to name a few were not as lucky but are being tended to in a MASH unit as we speak, the out come looks good..... My cards were not as lucky as well as my comics, trades, hardcovers, framed posters, original art, statues, mini busts etc.....

My collection of comics took the hardest hit, I am talking full runs of most DC titles, and some pretty costly Batman issues......I wince as I throw them in the backyard to dry so I can trash them. I would say about 30 long boxes and about 40 xerox boxes so far, the worst part is as you lift to move them, they fall apart exposing thier innards! ugh....

But things could always be worse, I am blessed and thankful for my family and friends.....material things could always be replaced over time if one decides......I do not! lol