Severe Weather Expenses

Winter weather... or "The Winter Storm of 2011" as they will call it... is going to leave many people without power, transportation and access to cash.  I have seen cars broken down in the middle of the road from cracked lines, broken belts, and busted parts these past 2 days.  I have experienced water not turning on in the bathroom sink and bathtubs not draining from frozen p-traps. What will happen when it starts to get warm?  Thankfully we have home owners insurance for the worst of it, if necessary. Otherwise we need to dip into our emergency fund of $1,000 (auto/home insurance deductible).

As bad as this will be for many people across the US, I can't help but reflect back on the worst weather experience we have ever had... oh what a story it is...

2005 Hurricane Katerina was making headlines for months.  Katerina had hit south florida and we were out of power for 5 days. Hot and sticky but manageable. It was Wilma that came in with vengeance a few weeks later.  I had just made my first very own car purchase. A 2003 BMW 300 series, 2 door coupe. Leather interior and tinted windows that would surely get me pulled over. Oh it smelled SOOOO amazing! 7 days after I signed my financial freedom away, I was at the gym and when I came out I noticed someone had keyed my car. It was keyed on the hood, trunk, sides... someone purposely destroyed my paint job.  Obviously I was livid! But there is not one thing I could but other than pay the deductible and have someone redo the paint job.

I took it to some mechanic shop that was going to "give me a deal" (my first mistake). I said good-bye and picked up my crappy rental car.  A hurricane was blowing into town over the next week or so and I was relieved to have my car safely stowed away in someone's garage instead of out there in the elements. Sure enough it was the worst hurricane we had been through.  After hours of being pummeled we came out of our houses and decided to take a tour to access the damage. No one had power or radio.

The city looked like a war zone. Seriously. Giant sky scrapers made with all windows looked like a bomb had gone off. Million dollar condos lining the city were left with only braces and beams. No street signs or light. Trees lying across the roads, along with glass and yard furniture. There was a curfew of 6pm.  If you were out past 6 you would be pulled over and ticketed.

2am: less than 24 hours after the storm. A knock on the door wakes us up. We couldn't turn on a light to see who it was... and that in itself was terrifying. It was the police. 2 teens had broken into the garage where my car was stored and stolen it. They were picked up about 45 minutes across the county and we were to go and identify the car.... in the middle of the night... with no street lights, signs or stop lights. That 45 minute drive was horrific... giant trees blocking the roads, debris everywhere.

We made it finally and I saw my car... bashed and beaten. I started crying.  The police officer said. "Don't cry, it's only an object ma'am." I replied with a teary: "It's my first and only object in my name!" (now-a-days I realize it was in the banks name). It was drivable with major outer damage but nothing a good mechanic couldn't fix. It was 3 months before I got my car back.  I had already made 2 car payments on it and had only driven it for 7 days. We were out of power for 21 days in the hot, sticky, horrible heat in South Florida.

So for everyone that will have to deal with "The Winter Storm of 2011," my heart goes out to you. Been there, done that. Good luck and be safe.