A New Furnace for my Grandkids
Donation protected
In May of 2014, my daughter’s family was greatly affected by heavy rain and flooding that hit parts of upstate NY.
On the morning of Friday, May 16, she looked out their back door at 7am and there was a little bit of water rising up from the creek, but nothing they hadn't seen before. About 30 minutes later, she looked again to find that the water had risen 12 inches and their yard was completely under water. Scared, she checked the basement and found that they had 3 feet of water in their basement. Not knowing what else to do, she called 911 and they came to shut off gas and electric to their home.
(7:30am - before Elizabeth left for work, 12" of water)
Throughout the rest of that day, the rain subsided and eventually cleared out of the basement too. However, in order for the gas and electric to be restored, they would need an electrician to come verify that it was all safe. Because it was a Friday, they could not find anyone to come until Monday - which in turn would leave them with no heat or electric for the weekend. With 2 small girls, Storm and Reagan, and the temperature outside still too cold for no heat, they turned to the Red Cross and were put up in a hotel for the weekend. It wasn't perfect, but they made the best of a tough situation by playing games with the girls and having "pizza parties" on the beds!
(the girls checking out their bed at the hotel)
(Reagan exploring the hotel amenities)
Monday came and finally they could have their gas and electric restored - but it was a long and very cold day as NYSEG didn't come until around 5 that evening (and they had to be out of the hotel by 11).
But their bad luck didn't end there...
After getting their utilities restored, they found out that their furnace hadn't survived the flood :( Fortunately, Jay and I had a space heater that we loaned them to try and keep as warm as they could (because it had been a cold week).
(the basement under 3 feet of water)
Eventually the weather warmed up and summer came...
Over the summer, they found that Canandaigua was offering an energy grant program and because of the flooding, it had been amended to include furnaces... YEAH, a bright spot of this whole mess, right?
Sort of... they worked with the company and submitted 50+ pages of information and applications, attended a workshop, had inspections and audits and estimates... finally, they found that in order to get their home up to code and heated, it would cost them $19,000!!!! The grant from Canandaigua will be matched with a NYSERDA grant to cover $10,000 of the repairs and a new furnace, but the other $9,000 would have to be financed....
They have worked so hard to get to where they are, working full time jobs, taking on second jobs, living paycheck to paycheck and budgeting their entire lives carefully so that they can give their girls the best life they can, a safe home and a good life... and then life throws this $9,000 curve ball at them...
They met with the company in charge of the grant again in November and found out that it is going to be at least December before they can even begin to schedule a date to get a new furnace and with the cold weather fast approaching, they are preparing for the worst! It has been a really long and rough road with many, many hiccups along the way and it's still not over...
Our wish and hope is to help them get a furnace sooner rather than later, have a safe and healthy home for their girls and to be able to start 2015 with this all behind them....
(Anthony, Elizabeth, Storm & Reagan)
With love and gratitude,
Debbie (Elizabeth’s Mom)
**Update: their hot water heater, which had miraculously survived the flood has now also stopped working properly (only working at half capacity and needs to be replaced) and the grant program is requiring a sump pump due to the risk of water in the future!
On the morning of Friday, May 16, she looked out their back door at 7am and there was a little bit of water rising up from the creek, but nothing they hadn't seen before. About 30 minutes later, she looked again to find that the water had risen 12 inches and their yard was completely under water. Scared, she checked the basement and found that they had 3 feet of water in their basement. Not knowing what else to do, she called 911 and they came to shut off gas and electric to their home.
(7:30am - before Elizabeth left for work, 12" of water)Throughout the rest of that day, the rain subsided and eventually cleared out of the basement too. However, in order for the gas and electric to be restored, they would need an electrician to come verify that it was all safe. Because it was a Friday, they could not find anyone to come until Monday - which in turn would leave them with no heat or electric for the weekend. With 2 small girls, Storm and Reagan, and the temperature outside still too cold for no heat, they turned to the Red Cross and were put up in a hotel for the weekend. It wasn't perfect, but they made the best of a tough situation by playing games with the girls and having "pizza parties" on the beds!
(the girls checking out their bed at the hotel)(Reagan exploring the hotel amenities)Monday came and finally they could have their gas and electric restored - but it was a long and very cold day as NYSEG didn't come until around 5 that evening (and they had to be out of the hotel by 11).
But their bad luck didn't end there...
After getting their utilities restored, they found out that their furnace hadn't survived the flood :( Fortunately, Jay and I had a space heater that we loaned them to try and keep as warm as they could (because it had been a cold week).
(the basement under 3 feet of water)Eventually the weather warmed up and summer came...
Over the summer, they found that Canandaigua was offering an energy grant program and because of the flooding, it had been amended to include furnaces... YEAH, a bright spot of this whole mess, right?
Sort of... they worked with the company and submitted 50+ pages of information and applications, attended a workshop, had inspections and audits and estimates... finally, they found that in order to get their home up to code and heated, it would cost them $19,000!!!! The grant from Canandaigua will be matched with a NYSERDA grant to cover $10,000 of the repairs and a new furnace, but the other $9,000 would have to be financed....
They have worked so hard to get to where they are, working full time jobs, taking on second jobs, living paycheck to paycheck and budgeting their entire lives carefully so that they can give their girls the best life they can, a safe home and a good life... and then life throws this $9,000 curve ball at them...
They met with the company in charge of the grant again in November and found out that it is going to be at least December before they can even begin to schedule a date to get a new furnace and with the cold weather fast approaching, they are preparing for the worst! It has been a really long and rough road with many, many hiccups along the way and it's still not over...
Our wish and hope is to help them get a furnace sooner rather than later, have a safe and healthy home for their girls and to be able to start 2015 with this all behind them....
(Anthony, Elizabeth, Storm & Reagan)With love and gratitude,
Debbie (Elizabeth’s Mom)
**Update: their hot water heater, which had miraculously survived the flood has now also stopped working properly (only working at half capacity and needs to be replaced) and the grant program is requiring a sump pump due to the risk of water in the future!
Organizer
Deborah D Ruggles
Organizer
Canandaigua, NY