Flooding

[Danny Mesena]

A couple of you know me from here and there at some events but I am in Company I with Joey and Casey. I am posting here since I know most of you know these guys and I just wanted to get the word out since I know they probably won’t ask for prayers.
As you all know we just had a great deal of rain and it caused flooding in many areas. One of those areas was the home of , Joey G. of the Flatlander‘s Mess. Joey had to evacuate his house at 2am the other morning as the water rose to dangerous heights around his house, he floated out what little bit he could for his wife and daughters. They returned today in boats to find that what he had expected to be at most a few inches of water in the home but this has all been turned on it’s ear now because his house is flooded chest deep and they have lost everything. Along with everything else of Joey’s Family’s belongings were most all of Casey Graber’s belongings since Casey has all his civil war items and other things at Joey’s since he doesn’t want to keep it on the Air Force Base with him. I ask you all to pray for these guys and Joey’s Family.

Clay Thigpen

[BobbyHughes]

Re: Flooding

Done! Being as I know Joey, you can rest assured our family is praying for him and his, and for Casey as well.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Flooding

We Iowans know what you all are going through. Stay tough!

[joey12thga]

Re: Flooding

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. To give you an update on things as of 4-9-08.
Water got to approximately 6 foot inside the house from what we have seen in a picture taken by a neighbor, it was about 4 and half foot when I went back in the other day to rescue my pets. Water is receding slowly now, It is out of the house now but water is still neck deep getting to it but should be lower by this weekend so I am going to go out there and see what is salvageable. Seeing what I saw last time though it seems everything is a total loss. We only rented the place so we aren’t responsible to rebuild but unfortunately we are basically homeless since the homeowner doesn‘t seem to be in a hurry to rebuild. Currently we are in an extended stay hotel until we can find something permanent and so we can start back over. Anyways come this weekend we will have an idea of what we will walk away that can be saved. We are hoping if we can get in their we can save our clothes since we can wash it out if it doesn’t mildew. Thank God though that everyone from my neighborhood got out unscathed. Anyways again I appreciate the thoughts and prayers. I will try and keep someone posted as to any new developments. Hope you guys have fun at Knoxville, hopefully I can make Resaca but from what I saw of my stuff the other day, I may not be out until Bummer’s since I will be rebuilding my impression. Least you guys wont have to put up with me till November so you guys luck out ha-ha. Be good, be safe, and stay dry.



Joey G.
Flatlander’s Mess….now a reluctant member of the brown water navy ha-ha.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Flooding

You're in my thoughts pard. That picture is worth 10,000 words.

[FlaYankee]

Re: Flooding

Good Lord Joey;
I'm sorry this had to happen to you and your family. Thank God you'ns got out of it unscathed. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Your pard;

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Flooding

Glad you got out, but sorry to hear about the mess. You have a PM.

[joey12thga]

Re: Flooding

I got some great advice from Becky Morgan on saving some of my stuff from this century.
Now can anyone reccomend how to save my reenacting gear?

Clothing?

Hats?

Leather?

Weapons?

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Flooding

Sheesh, I plumb forgot the gear! The same goes for everything--get it out of the water, remove the mud (cold clean water and as little agitation as possible for all but washable items) and clean it thoroughly. A hair dryer can be a great help in getting to seams, the inside of your cartridge box, etc. Most flood mud is looser than it would be if you fell and slid down a muddy hill, etc.--it's more light staining and fine silt that is very fond of sticking in seams and creases. It's tempting to try to dry everything right away and shake the mud out, but you're better off cold rinsing first.

Clothing: (For goodness' sake, if any of the actual museum preservation folks chime in, ignore anything I say that's different!) For shirts and other lightweight wool articles, handwashing with wool wash (some people don't like Woolite and insist on Eucalan, but I have no Woolite quarrels myself) will get out all but the most persistent crud. You can avoid most, if not all, shrinkage by using cool to lukewarm water and avoiding unneccesary agitation and changes in temperature.
For heavy, ordinarily non-washable items like your greatcoat, etc., cold rinsing to remove the mud and, as a last resort, a very careful wool wash in cold water is the best you may be able to do at home. Dry heavy items flat, if possible, and get them to a dry cleaner if you can. Dry cleaning might get stuff too clean ;) but a couple of good events might take care of that. Cotton can be laundered and hung as usual. You might want to use the shade on a windy day rather than full sun if you don't want fading; OTOH, full sun will brighten dingy whites.

Leather will mildew if it stays wet. Wipe it off with soft cloths. If you're willing to go non-period, microfiber towels work great. A hair dryer will help dry the innards of items, too. If you have tins in your cartridge box, take them out so the inside will dry better. Give the leather a good period cleaning, refinishing if need be, and it should be OK.

Weapons: this can be tricky. Disassemble everything you can from guns and do a very thorough cleaning and regular oiling. If you have the slightest doubt about anything on a weapon, tell a competent gunsmith what happened and have him go over it. Make sure you clean the lands on any rifled barrel! Swords are a little easier, since they won't misfire on you :)...just make sure you clean and dry the scabbard thoroughly.

[Abrams]

Re: Flooding

Wow Joey. Thank goodness you got out okay, but it is a shame about all the damage. I hope you are able to recover your gear, and other possessions.

You're in my prayers.

[BobbyHughes]

Joey,

The main thing is you and the family are ok.... everything else is replaceable, lives are not. Prayers will continue to come your way Pard.

[joey12thga]

Re: Flooding

Thanks Ron and Bobby,

As of now most everything we had is a loss. Water didn't recede quick enough and we weren't able to get back in until most everything mildewed or had other crap get onto it. We got about a truck load out which we think is slaveagble. Luckily my Wife's work has rallied around her and have been donating clothes for the kids and all so they are good. Biggest issue right now is starting over, trying to find a place to live and rebuild all our possessions. It's life. Lucky though that everyone made it out ok.

Only thing I know for sure that survived from my gear was a Tim Bender made Hardee Hat and a Kiev Thomason made Kepi............My endorsement is that Tims Hardee Hats can survive floods and so can TMEs' Kepis. HA-HA