Are You Covered? Sure About That?

If you’re a DIYer, Memorial Day weekend is generally the equivalent of a religious holiday to all things home-related. So, I’m pretty sure you have a healthy to-do list all written up.

But, while you’ve got this extra time, I’m going to recommend that you move something up to the top of that list: Read Homeowner’s Insurance policy. I’m recommending this for a few reasons. First, with our homeowner’s renewal check going out this week, I became aware of something on my policy that I didn’t know. Second, rates are in rapid rise mode so it might not be a bad idea to comparison shop if you’re renewing soon. Third, recent violent weather – some of which came within three blocks of us.

1. 80 percent coverage. Say what?! If This D*mn House burned to the ground, in order to rebuild it, I’d automatically be $25,000 to $35,000 in debt – beyond insurance’s share, for a property that is PAID FOR. That’s because I didn’t know that we didn’t have 100 percent coverage. Apparently, 80 percent is a minimum and what most mortgage lenders require you (or used to) to carry on your home. Apparently, that’s what we had. A revised policy was sent to us, upping the premium by less than $100. So, which sounds better: Less than $100 now … or up to $35,000 later?

2. Dramatic increases. Our rates went up about 7 percent this year. Not outrageous and not surprising considering the number of claims that they’re no doubt paying thanks to Mother Nature and her endless tirade. But that wasn’t the part of our recent renewal that got me. It was buried on Page 2 in the form of a $1,000 deductible – or DOUBLE our current $500 deductible. OR 10 TIMES the $100 deductible we had prior to July 2006. That is a 500 PERCENT INCREASE in under five years! And the deductible level in mandatory. It used to be that you could pay a bit more in premium to have a smaller deductible. That is no longer the case.

3. Violent weather. It seems almost nowhere is immune to Mother Nature’s wrath this year. And you just never know if it will be your town, your block, or just your house that she’ll choose to level next. If we’ve learned nothing this spring storm season, we’ve learned just how indiscriminate the damage can be. How many times have we seen one or two homes completely obliterated, only to see neighboring homes suffer infinitely less damage? The only thing that would be worse than losing everything or losing loved ones in one of these disasters would be to fall victim to a financial tornado in the aftermath of such tragedy. What about flood insurance? If you live fairly near water, you definitely need to check into it. Homeowners' alone won't cover flood damage.

So, if you haven’t looked at your homeowner’s policy in a while, please do. Use some of this extended weekend to make sure that you’re covered or to pull a list of questions together for your agent if you find out that you’re not.

I think it will be well worth your time.

Hey, Look! They’re Back!

Sort of. The river has given them back! The Mississippi is receding – and quite quickly I might add.

On the way home last night, I noticed that William Clark was making a triumphant return from the muddy depths. All I could see of him then was just about to his waist. And Lewis? All that was to be seen of him was barely the top of his hat! And the poor dog? Gone.

That was just last night, so you can see how much water left between 5:30 p.m. yesterday and about 11:30 a.m. today. It was fun to be able to catch a glimpse of them again as I walked down.

It’s hard to believe that it was just Thursday that the river looked like this. Lewis and Clark were nowhere to be found.

Well, it’s clearly a whole ‘nother story today. Not only could I walk all the way down Washington (and right past that previously submerged stop sign), I could cross Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd.! But, the fact that the statue is still submerged is an indication that the river remains high. Ideally, you can walk right up to it. (Probably still not a good idea to try that today.)
There was a British couple visiting the riverfront and we chatted briefly. They both shook their heads when I told them how high the water was just the other day. They looked at me in disbelief when I told them it had been just about the same way a few months ago.

I just hope this is it for the year!

No Sign of Lewis & Clark

They've totally disappeared. Swallowed whole by the Mississippi. They should be down there by the dark stone pillar on the left, (on the other side of it though, where you can't get to) where the metal arch of the historic Eads Bridge begins. You see, where that water starts is usually approaching a major intersection. Where you can drive a car or walk. No boat required.

But they're not. And apparently, I wasn't the only one lookin' for them. (see the guy in the right-hand corner?) Here's another look at where I normally walk down (and hang a left) to get to the famous duo and dog Seaman.

Nope. They're still not there. (Take my word for it since they're on the other side, going toward the MLK Bridge and not in this photo.)

So, not seeing them, I took a walk closer to the Arch. And bear in mind, this is a 23-FOOT-TALL statue. How high do you think that water has to be to cover it up like that? Oh, and that's a stop sign and highway direction signs floating back there in the distance.

As I headed for one of the many sets of stairs along the river ... uh-oh! NO MORE STAIRS! And I didn't bring a raft. So I went back up the path.

The Mississippi crested yesterday at about 36.7 feet, at least three feet lower than expected. And it is continuing a steady fall. Thank God!

While it is high, and it probably is almost as bad as it looks, you need to also know that 36.7 feet is a whole lot lower than the almost 50 FEET this part of the river hit in August 1993 during the great floods. So, now it doesn't seem so bad, does it?

It will probably be this time next week before things even vaguely resemble normal again. I'm not sure when the infamous Lewis & Clark will both officially return to land, but I'll keep watchin' for them.

In the meantime, I'll just be hummin' that tune. I'll let you know when they've been spotted.

Lookin' for Lewis & Clark

OK. Remember those photos I took of the Mississippi flooding back in June? History sure has a funny way of repeating itself. And in just 90 days, too!

I didn’t bring a camera today – nor would I have had time this afternoon to walk down that far on the landing anyway – but I did find the photo you see here on GatewayPundit’s blog. Apparently he was taking the river flood photos around the same time I did and captured this shot of the Lewis and Clark statue.

The tip of Clark’s hat is just barely sticking out of the river. Well, that’s exactly what I expect to see when I go over the bridge. Coming over the bridge this morning, a tiny bit of arm and most of the hat were still visible. (Can’t see it? Look just to the right of the stop sign, at the railing with the chain then look directly behind the rail. That little triangle bobbing up? That’s it.)

Twenty-four hours earlier Clark was disappearing, but you could still see him. And like Clark and his hat, Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. is MIA, too. (Please note: GatewayPundit and I don’t appear to have anything in common outside geography and photography. Just wanted to give proper credit to another blogger’s work. ‘Nuf said.)

If you want to see a video of the riverfront, one of the local news stations posted some shot this morning.

So just like I did in June, I find myself humming – or God help us singing – the refrain from an old ‘80s song from a band whose name I’d long forgotten ‘til today. The song (appropriately enough) is called “Lookin’ for Lewis and Clark.” You can see the video of the song here. The band was called the Long Ryders. I guess I’m going to have to get it on iTunes now.

Especially since it appears I’m going to be lookin’ for those two again for a while.

The Grass Is Always Greener

Especially after 4-5 inches of rain ... in just a few hours. On top of a few inches 48 hours before that.

The good news: my yard is SO lush and green! The mother can't stop saying how nice it looks. I'm very glad I got it mowed Saturday, otherwise we may be talking jungle out there. The bad news: Step on it and you'll sink faster than in quicksand. I made the mistake of stepping on the edge as I deposited the last of the trash at the alley this morning. ACK! A mere step and my whole foot was nearly gone. Mud city, man. Think I should open a spa? People pay good money to have that crap slapped all over 'em.

Things are slowly drying out though the Mississippi is on the rise again. So much so, that the commemorative statue of explorers Lewis and Clark along the banks of the St. Louis landing that normally looks like this





instead looks like this today -- and the river won't crest until Thursday! While we aren't set for rain this week, if it rains upstream, it will surely go well above the 11 feet over flood stage. I'm thinking that hat will disappear soon and the banks will soon reclaim the adjacent Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. as it did earlier this summer.

The weatherman said today that as of right now, this is the seventh wettest year on record with more than 50 inches of precipitation to date. We're on track though to have the wettest year ever. We only need four more inches. I'm OK with that.

Just as long as it doesn't all come at once again ...

Spared the Worst

We were lucky. The heavy rain dissipated before any got in the house. Our neighbors had some water, though nothing serious.

Lots of people here -- and on the other side of the river -- were flooded out. Some had to be rescued from their homes by boat! I was flabbergasted watching some of the news coverage.

The local hospital had a flooded basement and a telephone pole on the corner either got knocked down by the wind or else fell due to eroded ground from the rising water. (second photo) Stalled cars happened all over the place.(top photo) The worst was past by noon. Just some really gusty winds remained.

It was a rough morning so I took a nap. Didn't get to sleep much as my neighbor, who is siding his shed, came out and got working after the rain stopped. But I did get an hour or so in and that helped some.

Take Me to the River

At lunchtime yesterday, I walked down to the Archgrounds to see how high the water is. To put it simply, it's pretty damned high and the Mississippi isn't supposed to crest until Sunday!

Had to take a few shots for the record. As you approach the Arch on this gorgeous day and the geyser is visible in the lower left of the Arch, it's hard to imagine that anything could be wrong. But when you get down to the Arch itself … get a boat!

The water has filled the parking lot adjacent to the river, spilled over Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. (I love the pedestrian crossing sign in the middle of it all), and is working its way up the Arch steps. That said, they've now announced that Fair St. Louis and the summer's Live on the Levee concert series will have to move. (Yeah, or just call it Live in the Levee.)

Did I Buy Lakefront Property?

No. I did not. But you'd think I did ...

Here's my lakefront roadway courtesy of the first of three storm fronts. Driving rain. High winds. Some hail, but not here. They said a tornado touched down about 10 miles away but now they're saying it was much farther. Hope all is well there.

Soon, the roadway will be littered with cars that, after making itthrough a series of flooded roads, couldn't make it through one more ...