On August 28th, Cincinnati was hit with a storm that caused some flash flooding. Because I live in a sub-floor one-bedroom apartment, I (in the back of my head) knew that something bad could happen. I did not expect it to be this bad.
Around 8PM, water started coming in through the bathroom window and eventually started flowing through my apartment. The front door was not strong enough to stop the flow from my poorly-draining front patio. The low placed air conditioning unit was also not a help, as it gave water another entrance to my apartment.
Scared out of my mind, I tried to call 911, but could not get through, as I'm sure other people were doing the same. My upstairs neighbor, a friend from college, knew I was stuck. As the rain poured down, he helped me escape through the living room window, carrying my turtle in a bucket (because priorities.)
Knowing that the clothes I was wearing were already soaked, I headed back into the apartment to turn off the breaker as the outlets were submerged. The water was 3 feet deep at it's worst. I could feel the carpet lifting up and my possessions swimming between the rooms. There was nothing I could do.
I didn't get much sleep that night. After the storm subsided, I made multiple runs back into the apartment to get things that had not been touched by the water: my mattress (surprisingly), both of my televisions sans remotes, and every piece of clothing that hung in my closet. I do not think I could have saved as much as I did without the help of my neighbor.
Monday was not much better. The apartment had drained and reality set in: I would have to start saying goodbye to things. All of my Harry Potter books, which I learned how to read using, were completely water damaged and unsalvageable. My desk from my childhood, which I had my parents bring to me from New Jersey, would not lift without falling apart. My piano keyboard that I got for Christmas when I was 11 was dripping mud from all the keys. Also, all the groceries I had just purchased were gone. It was definitely an emotional time for me and to this day I keep thinking that I left something behind.
Renter's insurance doesn't cover floods. I didn't find this out until after it happened, of course. So what am I supposed to do now?
Right now, I'm staying with my boyfriend's parents (who I am so thankful for). His mother is an angel and managed to save 99% of my clothing, including the things that had been sitting in the water/mud mixture overnight. Harley the turtle is living with the upstairs neighbor. The apartment complex is letting me use an empty apartment for storage until I figure out what is going on. My mother will be arriving tomorrow, and I have never been more excited.
Am I currently in the worst position? No. There are definitely people that lost a lot more than me. Because it was an apartment, I don't have to worry about cleaning it or re-carpeting or fixing the walls. I can just leave. That is why I am not asking for cleaning supplies or furniture yet. I am waiting for a couple other things in my life to play out before I make my next big move.
If you are reading this, I thank you for caring about me and my story. My friend and my aunt have both set up GoFundMe pages to help me purchase new/new-to-me furniture, household items, and groceries once I am ready.
As I move forward, prayers are appreciated. If you don't know me, I try to remain positive, even in the toughest situations. Luckily, this flood came at a turning point in my life, and I did not lose as much as I could have.
I hope to be back with quality content soon, I just don't know when it will be exactly. I hope you stick around. Be sure to follow my social media accounts because I'm more likely to post there.
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