Life After Fire
April 1, 2020 10:25 AM Subscribe
Last night, the house we were staying at burned down. My husband woke up, thank god, yelled fire and we got out with our baby, phone, car keys, wallet. Now what?
This wasn't our house but one a family friend was letting us stay in. We lost everything we brought but not that much of value, mostly clothes, shoes, toiletries, things like that.
I'm looking for advice on what to do now. Open to any advice, but extra interested in anything around:
- logistics
- emotional processing
- coronavirus era considerations
After the fire was put out, we drove back to our apartment which has some stuff but we'll also need to repurchase a lot and somewhat urgently (diapers, underwear, all food, things like that).
This wasn't our house but one a family friend was letting us stay in. We lost everything we brought but not that much of value, mostly clothes, shoes, toiletries, things like that.
I'm looking for advice on what to do now. Open to any advice, but extra interested in anything around:
- logistics
- emotional processing
- coronavirus era considerations
After the fire was put out, we drove back to our apartment which has some stuff but we'll also need to repurchase a lot and somewhat urgently (diapers, underwear, all food, things like that).
If you are in the US, you likely have a local 211.org, and you can also contact your local Red Cross chapter. Also in the US, there is also the 24/7 Disaster Distress Helpline, for crisis and emotional distress support.
via the MeFi Wiki Disaster Planning and Recovery page
posted by katra at 10:38 AM on April 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
via the MeFi Wiki Disaster Planning and Recovery page
posted by katra at 10:38 AM on April 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you are in the US, the family friend will hopefully have a homeowners insurance policy on the house and contents. Once they sort our their insurance coverage and speak to their agent, depending on their coverage, they may be able to reimburse you for your loss.
posted by MelissaSimon at 10:55 AM on April 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by MelissaSimon at 10:55 AM on April 1, 2020 [5 favorites]
That sounds terrible. I am glad you’re all safe and only lost some of your things.
What was the arrangement with the family friend? Once insurance adjusters start to get involved relationships can suffer. Your description makes me think it may be an informal arrangement, perhaps no tenancy agreement and perhaps your friend does not hold insurance policies that would allow them to have 3rd parties live in the house without them also living there?
Things like that put a lot of strain on relationships. So once you have diapers and food and know how your immediate needs can be met I’d spend a bit of time researching what your rights and obligations may be given your arrangement. You may want to make insurance claims. Your friend will definitely want to make insurance claims. You will be asked for information from various parties and nobody will have your interests at heart and every insurance will try to pay as little as possible to all of you. So being clear on where you stand will help you be more comfortable in your dealings with these parties, including when you should tell them to go away.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:10 AM on April 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
What was the arrangement with the family friend? Once insurance adjusters start to get involved relationships can suffer. Your description makes me think it may be an informal arrangement, perhaps no tenancy agreement and perhaps your friend does not hold insurance policies that would allow them to have 3rd parties live in the house without them also living there?
Things like that put a lot of strain on relationships. So once you have diapers and food and know how your immediate needs can be met I’d spend a bit of time researching what your rights and obligations may be given your arrangement. You may want to make insurance claims. Your friend will definitely want to make insurance claims. You will be asked for information from various parties and nobody will have your interests at heart and every insurance will try to pay as little as possible to all of you. So being clear on where you stand will help you be more comfortable in your dealings with these parties, including when you should tell them to go away.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:10 AM on April 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
The Red Cross can often give you some immediate money for buying essentials like diapers etc. This is true in some places in the US anyway; I don't know how much it varies. But if money is at all an issue, I'd be sure to check in with them, their process for getting a little cash may be faster than other avenues.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:32 AM on April 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:32 AM on April 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Do you have homeowners/renters insurance on your apartment? Mine covers my belongings even if I'm staying somewhere else and has coverage for hotel rooms and other expenses when disaster strikes.
posted by Mitheral at 12:29 PM on April 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 12:29 PM on April 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
If you and/or your spouse are working you might check to see if your benefits include any kind of employee assistance program. We have one at our work that allows employees to reach out for immediate emotional support, help finding resources, etc.
posted by brookeb at 1:17 PM on April 1, 2020
posted by brookeb at 1:17 PM on April 1, 2020
Very sorry to hear about this. My family and I lost our home to a fire in 2017, so I have a great deal of knowledge on the subject of your question and would be happy to help.
I'm somewhat busy at the moment, though, so I can't write much now. But please feel free to MeMail me and perhaps we can set up a way for me to suggest some specific courses of action you might take.
posted by Dr. Wu at 2:31 PM on April 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'm somewhat busy at the moment, though, so I can't write much now. But please feel free to MeMail me and perhaps we can set up a way for me to suggest some specific courses of action you might take.
posted by Dr. Wu at 2:31 PM on April 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you don't already use Evernote, OneNote, some kind of thing on your phone that lets you easily scan with your phone camera and search later, get that right now. Photograph every receipt, every form you fill out, make a note about every phone call you make related to the situation (and always get the name of who you speak to). You'll probably qualify for some kinds of assistance, but that assistance has tax implications, so capture everything.
For right this minute, get yourself supplied for a week. Don't buy a month's worth of food or entire new wardrobes just yet; it's easy to mis-prioritize spending in the panic and insecurity of having lost so much.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:32 AM on April 1, 2020 [7 favorites]