In early February, my mother left her home for the evening to go spend time with her mother for a few days. The temperatures that evening dipped below freezing, and a pipe in her ceiling froze and burst. The water that subsequently poured from her ceiling was not found until the next afternoon when my sister stopped by her house to check on a pet and found what was described as "waterfalls" pouring from vents onto cabinets, furniture, the floor...

In the following days, my mother reported the incident to her insurance company (Allied Nationwide) whom she has been a customer for over 20 years. They sent a contract crew to start mitigating the damage, and they acted quickly. Within two days all flooring was torn out, kitchen cabinets ripped out, bathroom vanities ripped out, toilets pulled out, drywall pulled down and insulation pulled out in most rooms of the house. They told her to pack up all her belongings so it could be taken to storage, and she should pack what she would need for the next six months because it would likely take that long (or longer) to repair her home.

This was all with assurances from her insurance that they would pay for repairs to her home, and a hotel and meals until they could find her a semi-permanent residence. 

Eleven days after she reported the incident, and many calls that sent her in circles to get information about what would happen next, an adjuster from the insurance came to assess the damage. This man, who lacked any shred of bedside manner, began his crass questioning of the details of the event. My mom told the truth. She left the house for the evening and a pipe burst and flooded her home. 

One week later, at the end of the Thursday business day, she was told that her claim was denied and that Allied Nationwide would only pay for her hotel until Sunday, and she needed to retrieve all of her belongings from storage by Sunday or they would have the contract company drop it off in her driveway.

They expected her to go back to her house that has no insulation, working electricity, or plumbing? To put her belongings back into a house that was just destroyed?

My mother has sought legal advice, and the case will likely not win without a large investment of money to fight such a large and wealthy company. The legal help advised that she save her resources and allocate them to rebuilding her home. A general contractor has assessed the damage and quoted that repairs will cost around $30,000.

Our goal now, moving forward, is to be better, not bitter. We aim to pull together help from all of our communities and assist my mother in rebuilding her home so she can move back in by June. 

Help can come in many packages. However you decide to deliver it, every bit counts, monetary or otherwise. All help is deeply valued and appreciated. 

Thank you for taking time to read this, and for any consideration you give it.

Photo caption: The kitchen wall that once had floor and ceiling attached cabinets, and a kitchen range.