...another source of funds is the SBA. I got a small business loan from them first time around, interest is low and the payments are low also!
Jaguar121264 wrote:
Hi, everyone I just wanted to share. I live in TX right outside of Dallas. Last week do to cold weather and electricity going out for 37 hours straight a water pipe busted in my ceiling. I didn't find out until 2 am that morning when the Fire Department called me.
When I got there we opened the door and water started gushing out the door. The busted pipe was spraying water everywhere. I lost everything, I had insurance but when covid 19 hit I was told to close my business. After four months I was allowed to reopen.
I wasn't getting any customers due to the six feet distance apart from one another and having to wear a mask. All my clients canceled their appointments. I completely understand because who wants to have a picture taken wearing a mask. So with no income coming in I had to do something and fast if not I was going to lose everything including my home so I had to make some hard decisions and one was canceling the insurance on the studio, now with everything ruined, I don't know what to do.
Thank you for listening to me : )
Jay
Hi, everyone I just wanted to share. I live in TX ... (
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What kind of equipment (brand) did you lose?
fotobyferg wrote:
“I hope your insurance covers the cost of repairs to your location, any loss or damage to your equipment, and provides some compensation for business interruption. I hope there is no "small print" in your policy that precludes compensation in the event of natural disasters or "act of God, etc. Insurance companies are not my favourite folks- oftentimes they want their premiums on time but tend to drag out claims.”
You missed the part in the OP’s post stating he had cancelled his insurance.
A terribly unfortunate series of events.
“I hope your insurance covers the cost of repairs ... (
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Sorry! Yes! I misread or misunderstood the sequence of events. I thought he cancelled his insurance after the water damage, not as a result of a falloff of business due to the pandemic. Bad news! I can, however, understand that when income is interrupted and there are problems in feeding the family and paying rent or mortgage payments, folks cut expenses on things that may not present an immediate need. Climate change is a real crisis but it is not at the forefront of most people's priorities. Politics aside, if you are not a scientist or meteorologist, who could imagine a devastating blizzard or an ice storm in Texas.
Up here in Canada, we get some very long and cold Winters. The building codes, heating equipment, and hydro-electric grids are engineered according, Nonetheless we do have power outages, frozen water mains, sinkholes and otere disastrous occurrences. There are unfortunate and disenfranchised persons who are homeless and arefoud frozen to death.
I hope Jay finds assistance from his family, friends, clients, and the various governmental relief plans that others here have recommended. He should still document his damages and do whatever paperwork is required to apply for help without delay. Sometimes the claims are handled on a first-come basis.
Was there a tap outside the building? I ask because here in Canada we have outside shut offs and losses due to water damage when this valve is not securely closed will void insurance policy
Btw yes I am an insurance broker
This is a sad story. Did you rent the studio space and is there any chance the landlord has responsibility for the pipes freezing.
I am so sorry to hear about your losses. I hope some of the good suggestions here work out for you. It is hard, but look into some of these suggestions and with some perseverance things should work out for you. Keep us posted and we will be praying for you.
JFCoupe wrote:
This is a sad story. Did you rent the studio space and is there any chance the landlord has responsibility for the pipes freezing.
That is a great question. If the landlord is responsible then maybe their insurance will cove most, if not all, the damages.
The story of your loss is truly heartbreaking. So many have lost so much due to Mother Nature's cruelty.
Commercial and industrial plumbing, fire protection, heating and air conditioning was my business before retirement. The first thing we would do when a storm was predicted was to advise our clients that if there was a threat of losing power to "Turn off the water service to the building" and open all faucets. Fire sprinkler systems were far more difficult to protect although they too can be protected.
Frozen pipes are not the problem.....thawed pipes are the problem..! Even though much of a building's water network may be damaged from freezing at least it would minimize the water damage caused by continuous gushing pipes.
I wonder if members of this great photography forum have enough gear laying around that we could get him going again. I'm guessing most of us have some gear we could donate. I'm not sure what he was shooting but am guessing that he would use whatever he received. What do people think?
Sorry to hear. Hopefully you will recover soon.
Sorry to hear it Jay. I too live in the Dallas area. I was fortunate to only lose power for 40 minutes about the last day of the bitter cold. I dont know if can help, but I did hear that FEMA will be here in Texas. Possibly something you can do for your home that goes over and above property insurance is what they were talking about.
I am so sorry and I cannot imagine facing this loss. I agree with JRiepe. Please keep us posted.
Sorry to hear
Things will work themselves out
Be patient
Devastating news Jay. There must be some sort of relief mechanism is Dallas for sudden & unexpected accidents like yours. The American Red Cross may be of some assistance in locating a new place for you or connecting you with an agency that can help-out . When folks lose their homes to fire & wind,these guys come to their aid and Fema as well.........hang in there man and good luck to you and your family. So sorry for your misery.
Jimbo
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