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On Tuesday, May 19, with one hour’s notice, my amazing cousins the Bischer family had to pack up and leave their home in Homer Township in Midland, MI, as four dams above them failed and threatened their home.
They returned to find utter devastation. Even though the flooding was due to dam failure, home insurance is denying coverage despite living well above the flood plain. As you can see in the photos below, that was not the case.
Their basement was destroyed when the north and east walls collapsed, leaving a gaping hole to the outside. The water flooded up so high in the basement that the first floor carpets soaked through as well. Because the walls collapsed, they don't even know when they'll be allowed to reenter their home to collect personal effects or begin clean up. The utter devastation to their home‘s very foundation means a long and uncertain recovery. Every bit is going to help as they try and recover from this “500-year flood.”
These funds will go to cover the cost of:
-Cleanup
-Construction and rehabilitation
-A new hot water heater, furnace, air conditioner, and more
They have lived in this same house since the day they got married 24 years ago. They raised their two sons here. One is just 13 years old and is in 7th grade, and the other son started college this year. The effects are devastating for the whole family.
It is heartening to see the love as the community comes together to rebuild. The support has really uplifted the Bischer's spirits during this difficult time. Thank you for being a part of that, and helping them recover. It means a lot!
Thank you for your contribution!
View coming into the basement.
View of the basement. You can see the bricks of the north wall collapse at the far back.
Extensive damage.
From the outside looking in. You can see part of the cement basement wall now on the ground.
To learn more about the dam failures, click here (CNN) or here (Midland Daily News.) To see aerial images of the damage, click here and for video of the Edenville breach as it happened, click here .
They returned to find utter devastation. Even though the flooding was due to dam failure, home insurance is denying coverage despite living well above the flood plain. As you can see in the photos below, that was not the case.
Their basement was destroyed when the north and east walls collapsed, leaving a gaping hole to the outside. The water flooded up so high in the basement that the first floor carpets soaked through as well. Because the walls collapsed, they don't even know when they'll be allowed to reenter their home to collect personal effects or begin clean up. The utter devastation to their home‘s very foundation means a long and uncertain recovery. Every bit is going to help as they try and recover from this “500-year flood.”
These funds will go to cover the cost of:
-Cleanup
-Construction and rehabilitation
-A new hot water heater, furnace, air conditioner, and more
They have lived in this same house since the day they got married 24 years ago. They raised their two sons here. One is just 13 years old and is in 7th grade, and the other son started college this year. The effects are devastating for the whole family.
It is heartening to see the love as the community comes together to rebuild. The support has really uplifted the Bischer's spirits during this difficult time. Thank you for being a part of that, and helping them recover. It means a lot!
Thank you for your contribution!
View coming into the basement.View of the basement. You can see the bricks of the north wall collapse at the far back.Extensive damage.From the outside looking in. You can see part of the cement basement wall now on the ground.To learn more about the dam failures, click here (CNN) or here (Midland Daily News.) To see aerial images of the damage, click here and for video of the Edenville breach as it happened, click here .
Organizer and beneficiary
Jill Bischer
Beneficiary