Then the stark reality hits, you have to go home. My first night back I was in bed at 7 and up at 3. I stumbled through day 1 in a state of exhaustion. On Day 2, I was tucked in bed at 8 and up at 4. I have a history of being a poor sleeper so waking frequently and up early was my norm. This was different, I just couldn't seem to shake that feeling of total body exhaustion. On Day 3, I learned something I didn't know. For every hour of time change you need a day to get over it. I love direction and deadlines, and I shouldn't expect myself to return to normal for 4 more days. Day 3 was the absolute worst. I was consuming incredibly large amount of coffee and food. All of a sudden, everyone around me seemed clueless and they were doing and saying annoying things. I knew I had long passed cranky and it was clear to me I shouldn't be near other human beings. This situation needed to turn itself around and I was going to have to give it 4 more days.
I am not a person who needs or gets much sleep, but I do need some. I didn't like the world I was introduced to, day after day of exhaustion. It is hard for me to imagine that people actually live like that. I am glad that the week of recovery is over and I am back.
I had a really big aftermath situation to take care of once I returned home. On May 4th, just 4 days before I left for my trip I had received water damage to my kitchen. The condo at the back of mine had the water hose that goes to the fridge come apart and pour water at full blast everywhere. No one knows what length of time the water was flooding their condo, leaking into mine and the condo next to them. As I walked on my floor, water oozed up around the vinyl planks. The cupboard framework was starting to swell as it sucked up the water.
Fortunately, a member of the emergency restoration team was at my neighbors the night of the damage and followed up to check on mine. Paul set up fans and a dehumidifier late that night. I can only describe the roar of the fans to be similar to what I think a grain dryer must sound like. I had to shout to have a conversation.
I felt that things would move forward the next day. I had emailed my insurance company the night it happened, but they didn't follow up, so I had to call them. She asked me if I wanted to make a claim, which I felt was necessary. And from that moment forward nothing happened as I thought it would.
An adjuster did call me from Winnipeg and requested I send him 3 documents from the condo management. That was his only concern, what the management company's responsibility would be in this situation. I was hopeful to move things forward before I left for my trip. When I pushed for answers, I was told by my adjuster that he had 24 hours to answer emails and that he couldn't possibly remember the details of my claim. He was working on 5 claims and mine wasn't one of them. And so, it began. No return phone calls, no email follow-up. It appeared to me that they were focused on who would pay, and until they had that in order, they couldn't help me. It was clear to me; my neighbor's insurance would be the one paying for my damage but that was never mentioned. The insurance's solution was for me to be patient. I had absolutely no trust in my adjuster that he was going to help me. I asked for another adjuster, and he said they were working hard and I had to be patient. I was a little confused as to what they were working hard on.
In the days that followed I was so grateful for Paul to come and monitor the drying. The sound of the fans was unreal and made me edgy. I left for Europe with nothing being done and no plans in place to start the process. What was to come next was in the hands of Paul.
I remained hopeful that the adjuster would come, the repairs would be started and hopefully complete while I was in Europe. Wrong again. You can imagine how I felt when I came back 12 days later and the only change was that the fans were turned off and they had successful dried the floor. But the smell indicated there was still some issues.
I decided the day after I got back to pay my insurance company a visit. I asked for the CEO, who was not available. The next person in line was also not available. The receptionist knew better than to return to me with no one, so she asked Kirby to deal with me. I had been back in Canada 24 hours; it was 1 PM and I had been up for 10 hours. As I was waiting, I could feel myself unravel. I was so frustrated and exhausted I could feel the tears start to form. So, when I got seated in the chair in Kirby's office, I lost control. This is not my style and fortunately I pulled myself together rather quickly. I presented my problem, copies of my emails and for the first time in 3 weeks, I felt heard. I left the office with hope. Kirby's said, "I will take care of this, and you will hear from me later today".
Within one hour, Paul was on his way to take the flooring up and dry the concrete. My adjuster had miraculously given the go ahead. After the flooring was taken up it would be disinfected, cleaned and dried. Vinyl planking is waterproof, but it does have to be taken up to make sure it is totally dry, and the area underneath is also dry. The roar of the dehumidifier was back for the weekend. Kirby did call and I told him I had pulled it together. He has been wonderful to check on me and the progress.
The flooring is back down. The frames from the cupboards need to be replaced at a later date, which I have faith will happen. An adjuster never did come, what Paul was suggesting was the information they used to suddenly give the go ahead. The same suggestions he had given 3 weeks previously.
How did this all go so badly? I found out that my insurance company contracts out adjusters, and they like to do their claims over the phone. When you live in a condo, the process is a bit more complicated, which was the main focus for my insurance adjuster. They appeared to have little concern about my needs, and I quickly got tired of being asked to be patient. I told them I had never asked for their patience when it was time to pay my premium. I just paid it so they would take care of me when I needed them. That did not seem to be happening.
I have learned big lessons from that night. If I ever have a situation like this again; when the emergency response person comes, I will sign the work order and let them rip up whatever they feel is necessary. Paul knew what needed to be done, he just needed someone to say, "do it". If there is another time that person will be me.
I have come to realize when things like this happen, you need good people in your corner. Paul is sainted in my mind. He never gave up and made calls and visits to the insurance company on my behalf. I hate to think you have to go to the top in any organization to get attention, but you do. I am not sure where I would be if I hadn't done that.
I know I will have a massive hydro bill. What an unnecessary expense on insurance, that could have been avoided if repairs had started sooner. I know insurance is abused and care needs to be taken so that is avoided. I also know people are unkind at times. As time went on that was me, becoming unkind.
This is certainly a first world problem. I am sure many people wish that they were only dealing with water damage. When something goes wrong, we have to depend on others to help us. That person needs to be the right person, someone that hears you. I have learned, in a time of need, keep asking until you find someone that is your person, don't accept anyone that isn't.
So sorry this happened to your home Faye.
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