One down, 2 to go...we had to take the chrome wheels off of the car because the salt water ate away at the finish and all 4 tires went flat. On went the original tires that we finally found as they floated out of our back yard, through the gate the wind blew open by ripping the lock apart, and the tires drifted into the neighborhood. We originally found 3 and days later an unnamed neighbor dropped the other one off in front of the house with a note saying..."Look what I caught fishing in my front yard!" Good thing we had the other 3 leaning up against the garage door. :laugh:
So is there any normalcy getting back to your life yet?
Sort of Steve. We have good days and bad...it's a crap shoot. Just when you get on a good roll, something screws it up. The insurance companies are low balling everyone on everything. Our car values, home contents values, whether items are covered under the 'Flood' provision of your policy or not, what deductible values are based on a 'natural disaster' or some other
claim name and how they are applied....the list goes on & on. Just getting an adjuster to the house to look over the car & house damage is taking so long but is to be expected during times like these. But when you factor in the time taken for them to first get there to survey everything, file their report, send it over to their Total Loss Department, then they send you over their paperwork for you to sign, then to
negotiate with them to a closer fair value after they lowball you, then they have to resubmit all the paperwork back at the higher number, send the amended numbers back to us for a signature, and then the time frame in processing a check to START the repairs or to go out and buy a new car....it's mentally exhausting. I just got done doing this for my car and I'm finally FedExing the paperwork back to them TODAY...almost a month after the storm.
Prices of new & used cars are through the roof as the dealers and private sellers are taking advantage of the situation....the building and repair contractors too. Can't say as I blame them as both industries have been in the toilet for the last 4-5 years....but the obvious gougers are the ones to watch out for. Out of state building contractors are everywhere and have no issues doubling or tripling their quotes to us locals...and with so few contractors still around due to the economy, these scammers are making out. Some have been caught and fined by the State but return under another company name they had already in case this sort of thing happened....which I'm sure it did when they were at another part of the country during those disasters.
Then when you get through all that, there is still what is all around us. Piles of debris the size of mountains in large parking lots and vacant building lots around each town....dump trucks by the hundreds speeding around all over, smashed boats in the boat yards...the wreckers towing cars that look brand new on the roads in everyone's neighborhood you visit...endless piles of debris in front of most people's house as the rip outs continue...these sights are a constant reminder of the lack of normalcy....but they are also a sign of progress! They're talking about having the Seaside Heights boardwalk partially ready for Memorial Day weekend which I think is a stretch when you see it.
This was the widest part of the boardwalk that had park benches lining it with railing and stairs leading down to the sand.
The roller coaster that you see on TV is on the other side of this pier.
The water was higher than the doors as you can see the discoloration on them
This is the Life Guard shack...can't believe it made it through the storm!
This is Rt. 35 on the barrier island right after Seaside Heights headed towards Ortley Beach...they left about a foot of sand on the road because there are sink holes developing. They're in the process of digging the sand out of each hole and filling them with blue stone once they they are located. The National Guard is standing watch on the island with duce and a halfs all over the place with warming tents, porta potties, and temporary barrack tents set up on side streets in front of destroyed homes.
BUT, we had a great Thanksgiving filled with good food, drinks, family, friends, and cigars! That day was truly a blessing and reminded all of us just how much we have to be thankful for. :thumbs: