Parent's House Burnt Down Today

[Joe_K]

My folks place burnt to the ground today in rural Ohio. No one was injured.
We, (myself, my siblings, and parents) built the house in 2002-2003. Everything is gone. Family Bible, Mom's wedding dress, photo albums, hard drives, documents, clothes, musical instruments, tools, firearms, books, the family cat. The fire started in the garage and took everything in less than 20 minutes. Multiple rural and township fire departments showed up. Thank God the only ones home was my Mom and youngest brother. Mom was doing yardwork outside and smelled smoke, she ran inside grabbed my brother, the dog, her purse, keys, and phone and got as far away as possible. Took first responders about 15 minutes to arrive on scene.

I would appreciate prayer for my folks, especially my Mom, she's been through quite a bit the last couple of years, and has had some serious health problems. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/927bb75269e9bacf37fa1df3e710bbb0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/f599152189705dfc0b2129e4d163fdfb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/19d99e7f55034788e9b903ec48fa6b4f.jpg

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[driver]

Prayers sent. What a terrible loss.

[Fentonite]

So sorry. Your mom sounds like a strong lady. Best thoughts to your family.

[encorehunter]

I can tell you from experience, most things can be replaced. The main thing is everyone is safe. We lost our house and just about every thing in the late 90s. Prayers sent.

[Bailey Guns]

Man, that's awful.

[hobowh]

prayers sent sorry to hear about the fire

[roberth]

Prayers up.

[kwando]

Sorry to hear about the tragedy. while most things can be replaced, going through the process must be emotionally and physically draining.

[DireWolf]

Prayers sent. that's horrible, but glad your Mom and Brother made it out ok.

Do/will you have a gofundme set up? Would like to do what I can to help...

[davsel]

In our prayers

[StagLefty]

Loss of a home by fire is terrible. Knee mail sent.

[Hummer]

Yes, what a terrible thing, I'm so sorry. Fortunately most of the family made it out unharmed.

While it's hard to look on the positive side, not everyone gets the chance to start over, to be born again. I hope the transition goes forward smoothly. Best wishes.

[Cman]

Prayers sent!

[ColoWyo]

Ah man, that's awful. I'm so sorry. Positive thoughts sent your family's way.

[opie011]

So sorry to hear about this. Your family will be in our prayers.

[SuperiorDG]

Man I'm really sorry and feel your loss. Realizing the only thing you have is the cloths on your back is really tough. My neighbor house burnt down a few years ago and she lost everything including her husband. She escaped with only her nightgown and her life. It really changed how I value things. Ever since when I here of a house fire it brings me back to that night and the lose felt by those close.

[JohnnyEgo]

Total loss fires are the worst. I am very sorry for your Mom's loss. Right now, I am sure your family is still in shock. The emotional toll won't reach it's peak until some months down the road, and it will be triggered unexpectedly by little things, like reaching for a stapler and suddenly remembering it was lost in the fire, along with a lifetime's worth of important things. It will take a long time to recover. I wouldn't presume to offer her advice, but I will offer you some, and maybe you can help guide her through what happens next.

In my experience, one of the worst things you can say to somebody who has just lost their house is 'It will be all right.' Nothing will ever make this event 'right', but time will make it better. Also know that the insurance process for this sort of loss is time-consuming and emotionally draining. She will most likely be set up in temporary housing until she rebuilds or relocates. One of the best things you can do to help in the process is to see that one of the first things she buys is a computer, and you get her internet connected quickly. The next thing you can do is ask family and friends to scan or share photographs that might have the house or it's contents in the background. The big ticket items will go quick. Most people can tell you roughly when they bought their dryer and what make it is. Not many can tell you how many forks they had in the silverware drawer.

When it comes to either buying new stuff, or rebuilding, you don't want to make major choices while still in a state of shock, and you want to take some time to think about what you would like to do next. So your Mom shouldn't feel rushed to replace everything. On the flip, once you are in a temp home and have some stability, it is easy to get bogged down by your sense of loss, and let the clock run without taking action to get to the next chapter in your life. The insurance adjuster will no doubt remind your Mom of these time limits and give her encouragement in the process. She will love them, she will hate them, she will love them again. They have a job to do, and a part of that job is also helping your family to move on with their lives. That won't always feel pleasant, but it is part of the process.

If you or your relatives have old family photos, now is also a great time to scan and copy them, then print them out into a photo book. Having something tangible to replace the old photos and will come as a considerable relief, and show care and affection in a way that just emailing scanned photos will not.

I've dealt with the aftermath of many total loss fires in my life, with a lot of them being the Black Forest and Waldo Canyon fires a few years back. So I know there is a long road ahead of your family, but I can assure you that it is possible to emerge stronger from these traumatic experiences. I wish you and yours the best on the long journey ahead of you.

[Joe_K]

Guys, thanks for all the encouragement, prayers, and helpful suggestions. Mom and my two younger brothers still living at home are staying with family nearby.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/3c2c095fde04f67bd9552c14a4e2d788.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/04c0c79c1c0d703ae1b8ce24a4069be3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/7d6d79286d0e5c7042b33cc6f30f5c0f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/b47fd998f1e3288f07b521f4b1ae5e98.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170712/b94d3379e17b502af1e4930df436175a.jpg

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[MrAK]

My condolences to your family

[Skip]

So sorry OP. I can't imagine what they're going through.

[Ah Pook]

Very sad. Glad everyone is safe.

[sellersm]

Praying for you all. Thank you Jesus that no one was hurt!


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[Mazin]

I'm so sorry for your family's loss, if there's anything I can do just hit me up. Prayers inbound

[glock74]

Prayers sent.

[sniper7]

Wow so sorry to hear this but glad everyone is safe

[rondog]

Oh wow, I'm so sorry to hear this! House fire is my biggest fear. I hope it all works out insurance-wise, and thank God nobody was hurt!

[vossman]

Wow, that's terrible. Glad everyone is safe.

[wctriumph]

As a survivors of an apartment fire where we lost a lot, you have our sympathies and our prayers for everyone. It is an horrible experience to go through.

[Gman]

Sad stuff. Prayers outbound.

[WETWRKS]

My thoughts and prayers with your family.

[Great-Kazoo]

Nothing to say, you & your family are in our prayers

[lex137]

Man I'm really sorry to hear and see this. Prayers for your family for sure!

[GilpinGuy]

Nothing to say, you & your family are in our prayers

Couldn't have said it better.

[pickenup]

So sorry to hear this terrible news. Best wishes headed that way.

[CS1983]

I feel like anything I could say would just feel trite. Very sorry about your family's loss. :(

[Honey Badger282.8]

Sorry to hear. I hope the process ahead of rebuilding goes as smoothly as possible for you and your family.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

:(

[TRnCO]

man that sucks. SO sorry for your families loss but the one thing to always remember, things can be replaced, life can't. Glad no one was hurt.

[alan0269]

Prayers sent. As others have said, at least everyone was safe.


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[TheGrey]

How terrifying and awful. I'm so glad no human lives were lost. I hope and pray the healing process is as painless as possible.