I know what a tornado is like now. I was in my shop today..and called my wife at home to tell her to get into the basement. I was crawling under that bench you guys are probably sick of seeing…and just as I was half under…my ceiling came in and smashed me to the floor. I am ok…just a few cuts an bruises…and I am very thankful for what I still have. Its just material stuff that I lost. Truck is totaled…it can be replaced. The shop is going to be biggger and better.
What really hurts is witnessing my wifes reaction to all this. She has some problems…and this does not help at all. This really freakin hurts. I post all the stuff that happens in my life…most of it has been good. This is nothing compared to what my son had to go through.
I just needed to unload a little. I have been up all night waiting for daylight.
Gode bless you all….and I will be back….but at a very much quieter level.
Replies
Here are some pictures.
That's a real bummer, Stan. Glad that you and your wife are alright. Buildings can be repaired. On the bright side, we'll get to see pictures of the shop being rebuilt. I suspect that we'll also get to see some aereal views of the storm damage. Do you have insurance to cover the damage or will there be a StanFest rebuilding party?"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." ~ Henny Youngman
If anyone wants to send money....please...not to me....the Ford County food pantry is a god given blessing to needy ones in my county. It would bring a tear to my eye for any donations to them.....It can be sent to me....but made out to Ford County Food Pantry. I have given to them for years and it makes me feel good. I am going to give in a few days myself.
Just a thought -
If you're going to need help cleaning up, Carl and I could head up either Sunday the 18th or the weekend of the 24th.
I'm leaving on a trip and won't be back until Friday, but will check my email then.Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. [Horace Mann]
stan.... so sorry for you misfortune...
when the sun comes out, things will appear in a different light...
our best to you and all in Ford CountyMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Stan, I feel for ya man. Take good care of your wife. It's real good ya had some warning.
Just saw the AM news. Y'all had it BAD up there..we did too, but not quite as much damage..winds clocked at 70 MPH here.
I lost my entire shop to a fire in '95..I know how it feels.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
i just read your brief and somewhat cryptic response to me regarding the altitude capabilities of your gyrocopter and i'm thinking "what the ...?" and i flip down a couple threads and it's all much clearer now! glad you're ok- hang in there!
m
Stan, I'm really sorry this happened to you. Best of luck rebuilding.
AndyArguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
Glad to hear you're OK and I'll pray for you and yours.
Address to send donations for the food pantry?
"It is as hard for the good to suspect evil, as it is for the bad to suspect good."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)
Stan,
Awful sorry to hear of your misfortune, but it's good to hear that you're dwelling on what you still have, rather than what you've lost. That's a sure sign of a fighter. I always look forward to shots of both your work and your leisure and will be looking forward to the rebuilding of your shop.
I'm happy to hear that you and your wife are still healthy, keep up that positive attitude.
Brian
Stan
Hang in there, man, and take your wife someplace nice so she doesn't have to look at the devastation for a few days.
SamT
Typo, typo, typo!
Edited 7/14/2004 5:14 pm ET by SamT
Stan- Sorry to hear of your loss. Glad no one was injured. Good luck rebuilding.
I enjoy seeing your pics here, looking forward to seeing more soon.
God bless,
Mike.
Stan,
I'm glad that you and your wife were not seriously injured.
I will be praying for both of you.
Jon Blakemore
Like everyone else, I'm glad you and your Wife are O.K.
I hope your Wife gets to feeling better about things.
And I hope your shop genuinely is bigger and better.
A fundamentalist is an idealist with whom you disagree.
Stan-
Sorry to hear about your loss, but I'm glad you and your family are safe.
I'm just a few miles away and would be glad to help clean up if you need it.
Mark
I'm heartened to hear that you and yours are well and suffered only slight injuries. Give that workbench a little TLC. It looks like it saved you a lot of pain.
I was reluctant to look at the pictures. I was picturing leveled slabs, rag clad orphans, a row of homes converted into fair approximation of a dump. The entire area looking like a bad day at Hiroshima.
Not to minimize the damage, such event are quite traumatic, but it looks repairable. A major PITA but recoverable. Truss is shot so likely a new one. One job I worked on where they had a tree break a couple of trusses they went ahead and replaced the entire roof. A carpenter said that the engineer suspected that even thought only a couple of trusses broke many of those remaining has been stressed. Better to replace the lot. A smoother job that also allowed them to upgrade the design to meet more recent codes.
You say the truck is totaled? Looked to me to be derivable. A few dings but not more than usual for a construction vehicle in these parts. But then again this is the south where if it rolls it is called a truck and crew commonly have to push to start and drag feet to stop. Send that truck down here and you would likely get a good price for it. Round here a common sentiment is that any vehicle that will move under its own power is worth $1000. Pretty one like yours would fetch high dollar.
I'm sorry to read, see, that such things happen to good folks like you. I wish you well in this difficult time. Don't let the bastards get you down.
This sucks....
Sorry to hear it... But a bigger better shop... Now we can see one piece 2 story flights of stairs.. A blessing in diguise...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Wow Stan! That's terrible! Was that from a wind storm or a tornado? I'm so glad to here you're OK. You and your family will be in our morning prayer time. It's amazing what the force of Nature can do to us in a short moment of our lives.
Please post your mailing address so we can send donations for helping you out.
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
i saw the title of the thread and immediatly knew it was by you.
sorry to see and hear about your troubles, but everyone is OK thats the main thing.
just think you'll be able to do all those improvements to the shop that you've had lurking at the back of your mind.
is the gyro still in 1 piece????
So sorry Stan... I hope you and your family can feel the prayers and see the results. God bless you my friend.
Kevin Halliburton
"The Greek comic poets, also, divided their plays into parts by introducing a choral song, ... they relived the actor's speeches by such intermissions." Vitruvious, (Book V)
Stan, sorry to hear your news. Glad you're all ok. If when you rebuild you want something more weather resistant, I'll donate the design and a buddy in IL would be a qualified builder. And it'd be round, too, just like your stairs!
Well...its been one week since the tornado. The shop is back to full operation..and air conditioned even with the open ceiling.
A giant track hoe has been clearing trees for days and will finish tomorrow. My cousin is going to add an addition to my shop..then while I am in there...he will rebuild my damaged section. The whole center of the ceiling..trusses and all came in....the outside walls are bulged out.
My truck is replaced with a new one....Barb is doing superb now....but it has been an ordeal.
I have two hickory spirals rising out of the rubble...and it sure feels good to get to building stairs.
I was planning on flying to a rotorcraft convention in Indiana for four days starting tomorrow...but I decided to just go Friday and Saturday. I need the break...
Stan
Edited 7/20/2004 9:26 pm ET by Stan Foster
glad to hear things are getting back on track.
I'm impressed you got the new truch so quickly, didnt think insurance companies could move at a decent pace.
Cag: The insuance companies are phenomonal.
Stan, So sorry for your trouble. Sometimes the most unexpected things come up. Tornadoes are something that happen to someone else . . . .but, to me, YOU'RE someone else !
I've got a property insured on a Builders Risk policy to cover the construction. 16,000 square foot house, finished value will be about $1.2 million. We had a violent storm pass through SouthWest Georgia last Thursday. The entire rear wing, the structure for the inside pool, collapsed. It was dried in, wrapped, but no windows or doors had been installed. Had it been properly cross braced, it probably would have been okay. The entire wing is about 40 x 60 with what I'd guess to be a 14 foot ceiling, all clear span. We're probably looking at an $80,000 claim.
The insurance company is sending a Structural Engineer to look at the construction. My customer will be fine - we'll pay the claim. But if the builder didn't use proper technique, we'll subrogate against his contractors General Liability Insurance.
The storm DID take down a 100 plus year old oak tree with a pretty good root system, so it's evident that we had unusually high winds. It'll all come out in the wash.
Yep, insurance can be a blessing or a curse. One thing about it . . . if we never paid a claim, we wouldn't be in business long.
Greg
Stan-
I know I'm a little late in replying to this thread, but I'm glad to hear everyone is OK and you're rebuilding.
Just take it a day at a time and remember we're all pulling for you.
Thanks everyone....I would not expect anything but all the nice comments and support.
Things are looking up...after three days of hi-hoe activity...the
rough cleanup is done.
Here are some pictures from today. The woods was slaughtered right next to my shop. I would have been ok except for the huge oak tree that came through the ceiling.
Its a wonder the shop wasnt tossed about like the trees.
Can you use any of the lumber from those trees in some stairs?
It might make them think twice about doing it again.
Anyway, thanks for the update.
Shep: I saved a two huge hackberry logs to have milled and sticker dried. I am going to someday build a house where that hole in my woods is.
Most of that pile was just a twisted mess. There are at least 75 trees down on my property. I am contacting some loggers to try to save them.
Edited 7/22/2004 8:54 pm ET by Stan Foster
Cool!!
Mother Nature can be a pretty ruthless vandal; but, at least there was no malice in her destruction. Glad to see you're able to shrug it off: that's a really hard thing to do, really hard. Good on ya !
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Stan,
Glad you and yours are ok. Wow what an experience. Hope all goes well in rebuilding. DanT
Stan that looks a lot like my office, less the tornado best of luck rebuilding, glad you guys made it through the storm OK
Okay you weiners, I'll be the first to say what we are all thinking.
Congratulations Stan, you've been natures selection for a much newer and larger shop, we all know that we can build ourselves for $.50 on the dollar, and insurance companies pay well, so treat yourself to bigger and better, get some new tools and a new truck while you're at it.
Some guys have ALL the luck!
Where some see devastation...others see opportunity! Keith
coupla years ago we had a rare tornado in Pgh ...
jumped right over my little house ... we hid out in the rock solid basement ...
no problems/fear there ... even had extra snacks and bottled water ... and beer.
So we came up to daylight after the freight train rumbled past ...
and I saw two big trees ... one on each side of the house ... land-locking us in ...
those damn trees both missed the old Jeep pickup with in 6 inches of each end ...
I was so pissed! No new truck!!
Then ... to top it off ... that roof I've been putting off tearing off for a coupla years ...
not one damn shingle missing!
dammit.
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Stan, Glad no one was hurt. Hang tough.
was hoping you meant just a mess from a big stair project and was looking forward to the pics... not what I wanted to hear or see at all.
good luck with the re-build and sorry to hear you got hit.
look forward to pics of the bigger better shop though.
glad to hear you and yours are alright.
Neil
Sorry to hear of the loss- take care of the family and the rest will fall in line. Our prayers are with you in this troubling time...First we get good- then we get fast !
When I saw the title, all I could think was, "God, I hope this isn't Stan's shop, he's had enough to deal with."
Like Kostello, I'm wondering how the gyro is, but my prayers are for your wife and yourself. Love ya.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Stan,
My heart was in my throat when I started reading this.
I am just glad that no one was hurt.
You and your wife have my prayers. And special ones for the wife. I understand.
It does look to be repairable, and I am glad to see that you are already planning. I think that some of the guys are right, this is probably an opportunity in disguise. You even have a solid footing to start back from. Imagine what kind of damage COULD have been done...
God obviously likes your work, and has plans for you.
: )
Whuf !! I'll buy that truck !!
Erm... You _will_ take payments of a dollar a month, won't you ? he he he
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
Best of luck in the re-build. Happy to hear everyone made it through OK.
Looking forward to the address of where to send help or show up for the party.
Hook
Holy cow. Sorry to hear. Like the rest, glad you're in one piece. Now you got a Shop With A Twister T-shirt to make too!
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
Woaaaaaa bro
I can remember huricane Gloria a buncha years ago when I was redoing my first house here on Long Island...
I dont think I was ever so scared in my life to the point of going into the fetal position in the basement with DW and my kid.
A huge tree came down right through the roof.
I'll never forget how scared I was....the emotions were beyond my control so I can imagine how you felt.
Thing is bro.you were spared....how cool is that with all the devistation over there?
Lets ya know who loves ya.
Fug the shop and truck...thats why we pay so much for insurance. You can collect insurance, right?????
Sorry about DW but as I said to you and as I'm sure you said to her....through all your families harrowing moments look where you all are...together and healthy with hugs and kisses.....someone is sure looking down on you guys.
I spose the suffering like you guys have been through lets you know its a sort of program in becoming that much more wiser than a whole lot of other folks and I think thats where "real" faith is born.
If theres anything I can do just say the word and I'm so there.
Be well bro
andy
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Just glad to hear you and yours weren't hurt. I'd hang onto that bench<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Sorry to read about this, I'm glad you and your wife are ok.
The shop doesn't look all that bad from the pics. Looks like a good size limb, or a small tree.
Sorry to hear about your loss, and glad to hear that you're all ok. I had a loss of a different type (lost a job after 18 years, complete surprise), so I know how much harder something can hit emotionally than you expect it would before it happens. Expect for your wife, and you too, to experience emotions (shock, denial, anger, guilt, sadness, etc.) that seem disproportionately strong. It's all normal. Physical work done not to the point of exhaustion can help by making you sleep better. I was surprised to find out how much hugs helped. It feels like I'm rambling, but what I guess I'm saying is, it is difficult and painful, but it really does get better. Take care of each other, sleep when you need it, eat well and exercise, and you'll be back at building a shop in no time.
I just got in and I had a wonderful but tiring day. Thanks for the outpouring of beautiful comments. God bless you all.
If anyone wants to give to truly someone needy...please make it out in my name...but to the Ford County Food Pantry. It is such a needed service as there are people that have problems that they cant help..and they need to eat. If you want to donate ...you can send them to me at ....Stan Foster....1680 State Rt. 9 East....Paxton, Illinois. 60957.
I will be so proud to deliver whatever comes to them personally. Again....please dont make anything out in my name. It would be embarassing to except one cent when I have that flying toy of mine.
I got a track hoe in to extract that pesky thorn out of my shop.
My daughter ,,,bless her heart surprised my by taking off a day from her nursing training...My son Jeff is coming tomorrow. My wife Barb worked her but off in her flowers...things are much better.
My shop addition has the green light...and it will be nice to have more room.
Stan,
So sorry to hear of your misfortune....but damn happy to hear all are well.
Sounds like yer planning on making a positive outta a negative....personally, I`m just hoping you get around to sanding and painting the drywall in the new shop!
All the best...and God blees!J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
best wishes as you put the pieces back together -"there's enough for everyone"
You know Stan, seeing the picture of your daughter, I have a 20 year old in college and um, ........not that I'm trying to play match maker or anything........um..........but.............well probably better let the kids handle that themselves. DanT
The tornado was a small one and it was lifting off the ground several times. It actually missed my shop. I will bet one thing though.....if it had hit my shop...and the way I built that workbench...I bet I could have flown that bench with a little practice. :)
I will paint my walls this time. See...I always thought it a waste of time with this storm coming through.
I don't know for sure Stan but I think it is perhaps a more valuable lesson we get as to how you approach and handle all the stressful events in your life other than Stairbuilding. Real glad to see you all came through this alright. Did you ever read that book I recommended to you a while back called "Illusions"? If you haven't just let me know, I have a couple of copies lying around here somewhere and I'll send you a copy. I think you'll find it ironically very apropos to you and your life's events.
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Jerrald: I made tremendous progress today. The stairshop will be in to full production Monday at 6 a.m. Unbelievable the people that stopped to help. For once in my life,...I let help come my way...as I now realize to do otherwise was to deny them the pleasure and satisfaction of helping someone.
I love to help people...and now that the shoe is on the other foot...I am allowing lots of people to feel good doing so.
LOL - I guess all my friends like feeling miserable. I'm having a devil of a time getting them to come over to my place for a pick me up. <G>
Seriously, I know how hard it is to accept the gift of a friend's labor and how good it feels to contribute. I'm glad to hear you are going to be back up and running so soon. Nothing like faithful friends and family picking up the mess of a monetary loss to remind us of the most important things in life.Kevin Halliburton
"The Greek comic poets, also, divided their plays into parts by introducing a choral song, ... they relived the actor's speeches by such intermissions." Vitruvious, (Book V)
Stan
Glad to here that you and your wife are OK, all the other stuff is just stuff.
Was there a lot of damage in the area, did others escape harm?
Doug
Wow ,Stan , When I saw that title I had thoughts of Parson MFG In Woodford county . That place was flattend. Glad yours wasn't that bad and that your all ok.
Sorry to here about the damage to your shop. As an Oklahoman I know all to well the damage to one's well being will take longer to mend then your shop..
Here's hoping you and yours a speedy recovery.
Bob
So all is well and glad to hear that and blessings to all!
Bluegillman
Sorry for your misfortune, but thankful no real physical harm came to you or your family. You're in our prayers tonight. And give that woman some roses, they always brighten the mood.
Just read your post Stan. Glad that your family is okay. Everything else can be and will be replaced.
Take care.
Gabe
Stan, I am very glad to hear that it is all working out.
I knew it would, but worried anyway.
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
Here is a very emotional picture for me. I took it today as my son Jeff. in the red shirt...who is working overtime at his job...is working his butt off in the heat and humidity for ol dad.
All I see in this picture is my sons health. My shop in the background is so trivial to what I see going on in this picture.
This is a keeper for me.
The second picture shows the path the tornado took through the woods. You can just make out my stairshop with its blue tarp bandaid. Then follow the trail of twisted trees.
I haven't checked in for a few days and just now saw your thread.
Very glad to hear you and yours are okay, but sorry about the shop damage.
Then again, ain't it great when folks show up to help without you saying a word? Those are usually the people you can call friends and know it's true. Sometimes it takes either a minor or major disaster to bring 'em out of their hectic everyday lives, so you can see their faces and be reminded. That's good for everyone involved.
Here's wishing you, your family and your shop a speedy recovery.
Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
Hey Stan I just got back in town and saw your post. I'm glad your alright. Sorry to hear about the shop. My sister had a tree fall on her house in that storm also.
Who Dares Wins.
Stan,
Just got back from vacation and had that sinking feeling when I saw the title of your thread. You and yours are in my thoughts, and I'm really glad that nobody was seriously hurt. You are so right that all you've lost is material and can be replaced (upgraded!).
Take care of yourself - if you got slammed in the back the pain may not really set in for a couple of days when you've had time to sit still and stiffen up.
Amy
Stan,
Sorry about your shop, I feel for you buddy and hope you get back on your feet soon. If there is anything I can do to help send me an e-mail and I'll do what I can.
Stan--
I'm just catching up with your story...I am so glad you and your family are okay.
Hopefully, it will be a quick rebuild and only a memory before long.
Take care.
JMO: Thanks. I am sure many are aware of my sons sickness two years ago. That event got me so focused on life itself. I mean...we all know that family is so important...but going through that made me so much more accutely aware of it.
Now...I am guessing this material loss in my life has gotten me refocused again in a business sense. I am adding on...I wont move in until its painted...and then my whole shop is going to be refurbished and yes...even my back room is going to get painted.....
Stan:
Definitely work in all your favorite possibilities into the new shop. No time like right now!
hey... wait a minute.. while they're rebuilding your shop , you should come east and meet all of these fine folks...Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Stan i came across this just now-
sorry for your loss- happy for your life and your families
hang in
hub
Heres the latest view of my shop. As you can see...the path of destruction luckily missed my shop. Yo can see the path it took below and to the left of my shop.
hey, stan ... what's not to like ?.... great shop... great family ... and great hobby....
now... great insurance company...........you're doing ok , old manMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Stan, my computer has been in the shop for repairs, so I'm just seeing this,
wanted to say I'm glad that you and yours are all safe(PTL), and like you said all the
material things can be replaced. I'm sure that close call really made you appreciate
what is really important in life.
My footings are in and the blocks being layed for my 28 x 32 addition. After this room is built..and PAINTED..:) I will set up my stairs in there..while the contracting crew rips my roof off my damaged section and restores it...including PAINTING...:)
Here is a shot as I flew over my woods yesterday. I never could see my shop before the storm...you can see the damaged shop and the new foundation going in.
There is pretty much 'clearing' on the lower right of the photo... were those trees damaged from the storm too? (more room for gardening next year?)
Blue: We were going to clear that area anyway...but the tornado kind of beat us to it.
Were is your house in relation to the shop? Seems that you have trees at the shop than at your house.
Don: My house is down the road 3/4 of a mile. I will build in that clearing someday.
stan... are you tempting fate.. or do tornadoes not touch down in the same place twice ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike: I will build there with no fear of another tornado. Where I build absolutely has no effect on future tornados...you know that....:)
i don't know about that , toto.....Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Stan is right , The tornado that hit Utica this spring was one of the sure things that will never happen . As they always went around the town before .
Stan,
I couldn't help but think of you when I saw the poor owner of this auto shop in Cleveland on the news last Saturday. I drove by that location yesterday and took a photo while stopped waiting for the light to turn green. Total destruction. Piles of charred cars everywhere.
Auto shop, 60 cars destroyed in blaze
donna iacoboni Plain Dealer ReporterA dozen auto repairmen will be without jobs and the owners of about 60 cars will need to find new transportation after a blaze Saturday destroyed Horn Auto Inc. in Cleveland.
Tires ignited and gas tanks exploded for more than two hours as firefighters surrounded but had difficulty extinguishing the flames that leapt from the massive brick building at Carnegie Avenue and East 71st Street. No one was injured.
The business had closed at 2 p.m., about an hour before the fire started.
By 5:30 p.m., the fire had de-stroyed Horn Auto's 30,000-square-foot building, owner Joe Beck said, steadying himself against a church building across the street where a wedding was taking place as fire-fighters battled the blaze.
"I have no idea what could have happened," he said. He bought the business seven years ago. "It's insured," he said.
Assistant Fire Chief David McNeilly estimated the loss at $1 million. He said work crews would begin demolishing what was left of the building. The fire started in the rear of the building, but the cause was still unknown, McNeilly said.
Besides the 60 cars inside the building, 15 other vehicles parked outside were damaged, McNeilly said.
D&S Vending Inc., the building west of the auto shop, received some exterior damage. Firefighters sprayed the building with water to protected it.
Black smoke visible for miles lured fire-chasers like John and Jill Donato, who "followed the smoke" from Parma.
Walter Johnson, a trustee at nearby St. Timothy Missionary Baptist Church, watched as oily smoke and water skirted the building. "God kept the wind blowing in the right direction," he said.