The Paper Chase Part II
Spent about three hours at the Dallas Convention Center today, filling out all the SBA stuff for my business. Since the house is okay, we (rightfully) don’t qualify for any FEMA help. But, since my Mid-City business remains highly skanky, I’m in line for low-cost loans to cover income lost (business interruption) and possibly some lost equipment depending on damage. It might be another few weeks before I can actually go see the damage, however.
You kinda apply in the dark, telling what you know and leaving some spaces blank. So far, it appears most of the damage came from rising water and I did not have flood insurance. This was a gamble I took knowingly and, at least in this case, it appears I lose. Or at least in one way. It also appears my loss may be less than what would have been the flood insurance premium in that part of town. At any rate, it also appears much of the equipment will be salvagable, given what I know about the water depth in the building. It’s among the many gambles you take when you go into business for yourself.
What I don’t understand is all the whining from homeowners who are griping they’re not covered for a flood. This is spelled out pretty clearly in the list of exclusions you get when you receive your policy. I have sympathy for their situation but, on the other hand, it’s pretty much a standard deal.
Now it’s just a case of waiting to see when the SBA makes a decision on this loan, and it might be a while. We’re also in somewhat of a holding pattern here in Dallas, given the cancer diagnosis for my mother. She’s facing surgery and chemo and the rest of that and we’ll not be going back to New Orleans for a little while yet. What seemed to be such big priorities a week ago don’t seem so big anymore — particularly after spending much of today around a lost of folks who are in really desperate situations.
Cash is dwindling, given I can’t restart my business yet and temporary help we’ve applied for hasn’t yet come through. This means it’s time to go to work, so I’m hoping to find a job to gain some hands-on experience in stuff that’s going to help once we get a chance to go back.
Dubya is yammering on the TV behind me, live from Jackson Square. Some of it sounds pretty good, including the generalities about helping entrepreneurs like me. But, frankly, I’ll believe it when I see it. I learned a long time ago that politicians are big on saying “I love you” when all they want is for you to get screwed. What would impress me is if he put on some boots and got his hands (arms, feet, etc) dirty.
Hell — that’s all I want to do. But we’ll get there.
Related posts:
Wbat kind of business do you own?
My sympathies concerning your mother; this is the first I’ve seen about her, and you don’t need that worry at this time. I’ll save a special place in my prayers for you.
Dear Craig,
Don’t know what kind of cancer your mom has been diagnosed with, but did you know that the premier cancer center in the SE was located in Memorial Hospital in NOLA? I traveled there from Michigan in February to have an innovative Breast CA operation that is offered very few places in the country. Dr. Alan Stollier, Dr. Dellacroce and Dr. Sullivan were my surgeons. Dr. Stollier is on the board of Breastcancer.org and evidently is quite the cancer surgeon. The other guys do reconstruction -website is http://www.breastcancer.com.
Drs. D&S are trying to regroup and plan to reopen their practice Oct. 1st. I was heartsick to see what happened at Memorial Hospital. As a former patient there, I can tell you with no doubt in my mind and heart that those doctors and nurses did everything in their power for their patients. Wanted to give you the referral if relevant and also make the point to those unfamiliar with New Orleans that there is a lot more to it than Mardi Gras.
Janet
Dear Craig,
Oops, shouldn’t post at 2am, that link is http://breastcenter.com, not what I posted above.
Sorry,
Janet
Damn, it is http://www.breastcenter.com
Arrgh, Janet
Geez Craig….Keep yourself healthy and strong.
As someone who lost all of my immediate family long ago (during the dark ages of health care) I can say this:
I love problems that you an solve by throwing money at them, go into debt for, work hard at or make choices about.
When cancer, or any scary illness affects your family, all other problems seem to pale. I’m so sorry that you and your family are having to go through so much scary uncertainty at this time. Hopefully your mom isn’t too worried about YOU (her baby). You sound pretty resourceful. I just bet you came from strong stock and she’s pretty tough as well.
I send you all positive healing energy. I’m imagining your mom visiting you in New Orleans in a years time.
Drury
I think a lot of people took the ‘no flood insurance’ gamble. It’s so expensive it almost doesn’t make sense - well, until you lose everything. In my case, I could replace everything I own for what it would cost to have flood insurance for one year (I have very modest belongings).
I haven’t heard much from the insurance companies on what will happen to rates and such. One friend who did have his home insured to the hilt explained that he has to deal with two seperate agents. One for the homeowners insurance and another for the flood insurance even though they are from the same company. He also voiced some frustration that if, say for example, a television was ruined during the storm, the homeowner agent says it was from rising water and to claim it with the flood agent. The flood agent then says something about it being ruined by rain water getting in from a hole in the roof caused by a falling tree and to claim it with the homeowner agent.
I wonder how common this is? Are homes and businesses in New Orleans going to even be insurable for an affordable cost?
Craig,
First of all, prayers to your Mom. Everyone here who was praying so hard for your home and the “palace” are praying for her as well.
Help is in the mail tomorrow. Joey will fill you in.
god bless you, you have the american spirit. i know a good person like you will rebuild, and be more successful in the long run. over the next few months, in the rebuilding process, you will become stronger and more determined than ever to succeed. i have faith in you, and will pray for you and your mother.
I have cited this post in my Weekly BlogScan on Blogcritics.org, this week titled “Lost Orleans”. To view your citation, or comment on the post, please join us at
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/09/17/163545.php
Craig
sorry to hear about your mom. Cancer is terribly hard on the person and the family. Regarding insurance I’m in the profession and sometimes I cringe to say it as I know how people have to jump through hoops to get claims paid. I also cringe as the industry decides when not to pay for this diaster in a lovely city of NO and communities in the south. The industry decided to pay for the terror attack on NYC even if it wasn’t covered. I do think that the finacial aspects of NYC had alot to do with it. Can you say Wall Street? I hope they will look into their hearts why they will not pay for a whole section of the US that is destroyed. Yes there will be fights over if the exposure was covered by rain or trees or water or flood. Yes some claims will be paid as some businesses are more important than others. I hope the industry will pay what they know in their hearts but they will think in terms of business and that saddens me.
http://www.gratuitbaise.com/lesbienne/qrestin/fatty/7725725/transdermal.html boardsooneststyle
nice blog
hi, how are you!
carls levis
nice blog
k soleil
show me
testing