Update from Gloria and David

Hey Everyone! I wish I could give you all a great big hug. David and I are so touched by all your kindness and concern. This is some roller coaster. Thank you all for the positivity. It really does help to know we have so many people and such support behind us. Every morning is a march up hill, every evening is a tired retreat into welcome sleep ...with a hopeful feeling of little accomplishments achieved.

We have a contractor here today to give us an estimate of the damages and rebuild. We need to understand the dollar figures, even though, we will likely be doing all the work ourselves.
We have a roofer coming as well, to give us an estimate and verify what damage may be caused by rain (and not flood) that may be covered by our homeowners insurance.
We have the insurance adjuster here right now, at the same time, to walk through the house to see what may be covered and hear first hand from the roofer.

Gwinnett has been included in the FEMA relief. The FEMA app has been filed. I followed up this morning with a phone call. Our app is filed correctly and we are on a line for a FEMA adjuster to come out. When? We have no idea.
In conjunction with FEMA relief we may qualify for a disaster relief loan through the SBA. This app is partially filed and saved. As you can imagine the house is upside down and I need to find tax records and credit card balances and stuff. I should have it completed in the next several days.
There is no indication whatsoever, at this time, what kinds of relief will come, what we may qualify for, grants, loans. etc This will be a process, with appeals processes available.

The demolition is 98% complete. We have all kinds of trash pick ups scheduled for today. Half of our household belongings are out on the curb as I write. The stove and kitchen appliances are dead.
We are keeping the fans and the dehumidifiers for several more days to make sure the drying process is complete. Our understanding, is that this will take several weeks, before a rebuild is even a possibility~ not to mention... we have no idea where the money is coming from for the rebuild! :)
The spraying of the antimicrobial, MICROBAN is on going and I have just purchased buy 4 more gallons. This prohibits the growth of mold and protects the structure from any further mold spore damage. This is a critical step.

The Red Cross was here yesterday and were very helpful, with advice on how to deal with FEMA, with love and hugs, water bottles and recommendations for further services.

David has been back to work for several short days. I have not been back to work as of yet. Tomorrow, David's very helpful brother Park, leaves town, back to MN. I will return to the Mercantile after taking Park to the airport. Going to work may be the break I need at this point.

Thanks to our Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro family, our Mercantile family, our St. Matthew's Episcopal Church family, our Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity family, our neighbors here in Connemara and all our family and friends long distance that have called, texted, e-mailed and sent love, hugs, prayers, advice, and assistance. We appreciate you all more than we can express with words.

Please continue to pray for us.
Love and light,
Gloria and David