"Disaster" Closer to Home

This is what's left of the tree in my front yard.

The tree just split in two -- fortunately, it fell away from the house
(although it completely blocked the street).

We've had more than a foot of rain over the last few weeks, weakening the hold the roots have on the ground. When 80-mile-an-hour winds came through, the tree just came out of the ground. This is the view of my backyard from my neighbor's driveway.

Just yesterday, I talked with my insurance agent after receiving my business insurance renewal policy. I wanted to make sure that my coverage was still adequate, since it had been a couple of years since I'd looked at it.

Good thing. A huge, fast-moving storm moved through today, packing 80- to 100-mile-per hour straight-line winds. We lost two of our mature trees in our yard (see photos), although it could have been much worse. Neither tree hit the house -- although the way the wind was blowing in (straight from the west), the one in the back yard should have crashed into the house. Instead, it fell to the south, taking out the fence, but sparing the house.

As I told my husband MANY times today ... it could have been a lot worse.

The damage wasn't significant enough to require a claim, but I've got my updated home inventory ready anyway. When disaster strikes close to home, make sure you're a good example for the public about being prepared.

Flooding is Latest Threat to Homeowners

Wildfires in California. Hurricanes on the gulf coast. Tornadoes in the Midwest ... and now severe flooding.

From USA Today:

Cities and towns from Missouri to Ohio suffered similar fates this week, as record flooding inundated entire towns and killed at least 15 people.

The massive flooding was compounded by a report from the National Weather Service on Thursday that predicted above-average flooding for the entire region.

From Louisiana to Nebraska and from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, the weather service anticipates regular flooding for areas that sit along the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers.

The report upset people already facing a historic start to the flood season. Flood conditions have affected 250 communities this week.

Denial about Mother Nature's capabilities means many of these homeowners and businessowners likely haven't prepared a home inventory.

"They need to keep that kind of news to themselves," said Kim Wilson, 50, who was evacuated from his home in Poplar Bluff, Mo., but was spared when the water stopped a couple of inches from his doorstep. "I'm going to pray this is the worst of it."

Robyn Bowling could see the James River roiling from the front door of her one-story ranch. Her family bought the four-bedroom house in Galena, Mo., four years ago in part because it sits on the scenic banks of the river.

She and her husband, Richard, took their five children to the homes of friends who lived farther away, but the couple returned to the house.

By early Wednesday, the river's dark, murky water rose through the floorboards under Robyn Bowling's feet. It poured in over the front porch and under the door, as the flood swept furniture, lumber and trash past their house.

"I don't think any of us believed it would come up," says Bowling, 36, a homemaker.

The couple made a hasty retreat through their backdoor. On Thursday, they went back to assess the damage and found every room in the house covered in slime and mud left by the receding waters. All of their furniture, their beds, appliances and at least one computer were destroyed.