Flood Recovery
Hello. My name is Jeremy Gemus, I am a resident of suburban Detroit, Michigan. On the evening of August 11, 2014 I arrived to my home to find nearly three feet of water filling the basement in which I live.
Nearly every material possession I had accrued was destroyed , as well as many irreplaceable sentimental items. I'm sorry if I sound cold, I just want to present accurate factual data, while I'm asking for help, I have no desire to sadden anyone who is taking the time to view this fundraiser.
The destroyed items include my bed, couch, three armchairs - two of which were heirlooms - dozens of college textbooks, many more novels, every electronic device you would expect to find in the living space of a college-age person - TV, video game consoles, DVD player, camera, two computers, 2 laptops, and all the accessories, disks, games, movies, etc. that go along with them - bathroom sink, many cabinets full of personal belongings, a majority of my clothing, personal journals and sketchbooks, art supplies, canvases, we have even removed the paneling and dry wall from the walls to prevent mold buildup. We have spent so much time and money doing everything we can to reverse the damages caused by flash-flood level rainfall that lasted nearly 10 hours.
Here is a video documenting the wreckage after pumping the sewage out of the basement for nearly 12 hours: (The video contains swearing, it was only originally recorded to show my close friends, I apologize if I offend anyone, and I feel foolish because I'm not wearing a shirt in this video, I would have, but I literally did not have one to wear that wasn't coated in sewage at that time)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152608471146469&l=7013672481842352299
We have insurance, however all that they will cover is damage from fire, damage to carpet/flooring, foundation damage, and if the house was literally swept away. Personal belongings, and other damaged items are not covered.
My friends and family have worked so hard to help me clean up and respond to a situation which I was in no way prepared to handle, but there are some things that they can't help with.
I have been making music as a hobby, a means of stress relief, and a form of self made therapy for 10 years. Every musical instrument I have bought, traded for, repaired, refurbished, improved, inherited, and otherwise obtained in those years has been destroyed, along with every accessory used in playing them.
Only three days has passed since losing them, and I have already begun to feel a void that playing music used to fill. I lost most of everything I had, and I don't miss most of it enough to spend a single word mourning the loss.
I have tried to solve my own problems to the best of my ability, and I struggle immensely to ask for help from anyone if I don't absolutely need it, but I don't have the means to help myself right now, and I need to make music like I need air and water. I long for it, and I can't keep a level head when I think about living without it.
Please help me bring this small comfort back into my life.
The exact amount I am striving for is $1208.72 which would provide me with a modest rig including a mid-range electric guitar, amplifier loud enough to perform with, accessories as needed to use them, and Michigan state sales tax.
I have very little which I can offer in return, however if my goal is met, I will write a song about how the kindness of strangers has changed my life, and thank you all by name in a video which will be left on every social media network.
There are many pictures and nearly an hour of video documenting the damages my family has suffered. GoFundMe only provides so much space where I can display things, but if you are interested in viewing any of this, contact me and I will provide 100% transparency.
Thank you all so much for taking the time out of your day to read this, and if you choose to donate anything, I would like to speak to you and express my graditude in whichever way you prefer. Phone call, text, facebook, tumblr, email, skype, we can even meet up if you're near me.
-Jeremy
