Here Comes the Flood - Univited Guest Ida

UPDATE:  Thank you SO MUCH for the incredible support in the first day of my fundraiser.  I've nearly met my initial goal and as my estimate of losses continues to rise as I go through the wreckage, I've humbly raised my goal a bit, in case there are more folks who are able to contribute.  Every penny will go to recovering lost possessions and if I exceed my goal that extra will be applied to refurbishing, storage costs, mold removal, whatever comes up, so many things I haven't even thought of yet that will be ongoing.  But I'm so grateful for what we've accomplished already.  THANK YOU!!!

Hi Friends,

 

I consider myself fundamentally a lucky person. It isn't that I've not had challenges in life. I have. But I have a career that I love and people who care about me and support me. I have my health and I don't want for the basic necessities. So many folks around the world don't have those things. So this is not meant to be a sob story...

 

At around 9 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 1st, my basement apartment in Jackson Heights, Queens, got flooded as a result of the torrential rain brought by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. From the moment I heard that telltale gurgling sound coming from the bathroom sink, tub and toilet, I knew that I might have to deal with some water getting into my apartment (as had happened on a couple occasions in the 8 1/2 years I've lived here). This time was different. Within less than 15 minutes there was 10-12 inches of water in every part of my apartment. Bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, closets. Since I don't have a cat or dog, (much as I'd like to), the first thing I grabbed was my laptop and hard drive with years of work on my next album on it (yes I have back-up drives). Then I grabbed my beloved electric and acoustic guitars and was able to get them out and upstairs to my friend Winnie's empty apartment above me. She and her husband bought a house in Long Island this summer but haven't fully moved out yet, and I (thank goodness) had the key as I've been bringing in mail, etc. So I furiously grabbed whatever valuable things I could and brought them upstairs, did my best to move things from lower shelves, like some of my very precious LP collection and books, to higher ground. I also have own a beautiful German upright piano, but obviously I couldn't bring that with me. So with my contact lens case and toothbrush in hand, I vacated my waterlogged apartment while trying to keep more water from pouring in from the hall. I was barefoot during all this by the way.

 

Well, you get the idea. The video will show you the morning after.

 

My neighbors have been very kind and helpful in sorting through the wreckage and helping me identify losses, salvage things that were only damp, and generally offering moral support and solace. I've also had wonderful messages and words of support from my friends and colleagues. I feel like I've been calling on them a lot lately since my mom passed away 8 weeks ago. Obviously her passing and the flood aren't connected, but since I was already in a delicate emotional state, this has been difficult to process and deal with on top of everything else.

 

Here's the good news: I have my friend's apartment I can stay in for the time being. I'm alive and have my health and all limbs attached. Most of the things I consider of real value were rescued or survived. The piano seems to be ok. The building is looking into repairing the damage, renovating a few areas, and possibly even sprucing up a few things that were overdue for a facelift.

 

Here's the bad news: I will have to be out of my place for several weeks AT LEAST - possibly month(s) - that is assuming they can get an available team in and make the place ship shape and not just habitable but also SAFE and SANITARY. We are running dehumidifiers night and day, but there is a <lot> of concern about mold and mildew forming. A certain amount of the water in my apartment had a sewage component, plus some of the garbage from the hallway got into my place, and well, right now it doesn't feel like a healthy living environment. But let's see what they are able to do.

 

A question many folks have asked me is if I had renter's insurance. The short answer is 'no', but the longer answer is that flood damage is apparently generally not covered unless one has added that to the policy. Because I live in a flood-prone area and a basement apartment, I can only imagine that having comprehensive coverage would have been very pricey and outside the budget of a freelance artist for much of the time I've lived here. It is somewhat moot now, but of course if I stay here I would seriously look into flood protection.

 

More bad news: My very unscientific tally so far has brought me to well over $7000 in total losses. There are some things that got wet that may be ok, but it is difficult to know right now. And it wasn't just wet, but nasty wet. If you add in the loss of clothes, shoes, books, odds and ends...well, the cost of replacing everything is probably more like $10,000. I don't know yet. Also, they have told me in order to repair and sanitize my apartment, I will need to move everything out. So that means potentially hiring movers and renting a storage space nearby. Or putting stuff in various places around the building. Whatever it is will involve labor and help and cost.

 

I don't want anyone to think that I'm going to be destitute or that I'm anywhere near not being able to pay for food and basic necessities or that my friends and family are going to let me flap in the wind. As I mentioned before, several people have asked what they can do to help and GoFundMe was suggested as a way to reach out to those who might be prepared to chip in a bit to help offset my losses. Not for nothing, I haven't worked in 18 months because of Covid, and the lifeline of unemployment insurance has just ended. So it isn't an ideal moment to have to take on the unexpected expense of reclaiming my living space and belongings. I try to roll with the punches best I can but I could use some support, I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit.

 

Here are the 'things we lost in the flood' so far, including stuff that may or may not be salvageable.

 

Audio Technica LP 120 record player - $300

Ortofon (red) LP cartridge - $129

Presonus powered speakers (2 pairs) $135 each

Polk Audio Subwoofer - $150

Rode K2 tube mic - $699

Hand vacuum - approx $60

Upright vacuum - approx $200

2 nylon guitar bags - $60 each

2 hardshell guitar cases - $100 (?) each

Books - (counting new books only) at least $250

3 large rugs - replacement value approx 2 @ $500 each and 1 @ $400

Clothes, shoes, towels, linens - hard to say but maybe $500

Fender twin guitar amp $699

Sofa - $400

2 Ikea Standing lamps - $35 each

Macbook replacement charger - $78

Printer/scanner - $100

Guitar pedals - cry baby wah pedal $90, volume pedal $108, stomp box $100, 3 keyboard sustain pedals, $25/each = $373

2 backpacks - $50 each

1 dresser - $129

1 bookcase - $150

fitbit scale - $50

A ton of CD's and DVD's got soaked, not clear if they will play but dozens needed to be thrown out ($500?)

Yamaha keyboard - Got wet, haven't tried it yet. $1200 to replace.

2 midi keyboards - $150 each

Fender Strat electric guitar (not my main axe but a treasured guitar from 1984). Case held pretty firm but a bit of water got in and the body got damp. Hopefully its ok but will need to be seen by a guitar tech. Cost ---?

Piano will also need to be inspected for damage and mold. Cost---?

70 new vinyl records get wet, the LP's themselves seem ok and I've cleaned them. But the jackets and inner sleeves had to be trashed. I've ordered replacement "generic" sleeves and inserts. About $100 so far.

 

 

If you've made it this far, thank you for sticking with me. If anyone feels they can pitch in, anything would be great, $5, $10, $20, whatever, whatever you might offer to buy me a drink or a belated birthday gift. I'd be very grateful. I'm not one to seek handouts, but I'm overwhelmed and every little bit of help, moral, financial or otherwise, could make this more bearable.

 

As per GoFundMe transparency guidelines, here are the answers to their required questions:

 

1. Who you are - Jason Hart, musician, music director and arranger

2. Where you're from - From Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City

3. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for - self.

4. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible), and who is responsible for withdrawing and using the funds. - The funds will be spent to replace the items listed above as well as pay for potential moving costs, storage space, protection from future flooding, repairing flood and personal damage, etc. I will be the only party to access the funds. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions about how any funds raised will be used.

 

thank you,

 

Jason