Finally one I can sink my teeth into!!!! My experience isn't with a
tower, though.
Almost a year ago (on July 16th) a huge storm blasted through the KC
area... 80 MPH + winds, tornados, lightning, the whole works. There was
even a Sheriff's Patrol car that got hit by lightning. The car was
totaled but the deputy was ok.
During this whole mess, at approximately 2:45 AM, my next-door
neighbors' trampoline got caught by one of those 80+ winds and decided
to attack the side of my house. It hit hard, hard enough to wake both me
and my XYL from a deep sleep.
My wife asked, "What was that?!"
I replied, "I don't know, go back to sleep." And immediately took my own
advice.
A few hours later, when I finally woke up, I inspected the damage
outside... holes punched in the siding over the entire wall. I woke my
wife just enough to tell her what happened and drove off to work.
After arriving at work and getting my coffee, I got a call from my
apparently-shaken wife... "Honey, there's a hole in our bedroom wall"
"Yes, I know... the trampoline hit the outside wall..."
"No, I mean IN our bedroom... right behind the bed... behind your
pillow."
The trampoline had punched a 2 foot diameter hole through the entire
wall. I figure I'd missed getting some cranial ventilation by about 6
inches.
I called our insurance agent who told me that our neighbor was not
liable, since the storm was an Act of God. Told us that we still had to
pay the deductible, but if we worked it out right, we might be able to
get the neighbors to pay it, even though they were not liable.
73 de N8AU, Jim in Raymore, MO
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 14:30:17 -0500
From: Jim <jclark6@gmail.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Tower Down Due To Cindy Tell Ne What You Think,
Be Nice
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Message-ID: <ae66592005071412301e932940@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Here is my story. Cindy took down my ROHN BX tower and laid it in my
neighbors yard. I only had a VHF antenna on the tower so no big deal. I
just
had the insurance adjuster here and he is telling me I need an estimate
to
repair or replace. I was a estimator for 25 years but he wouldn't take
mine.
I already have one from RS MEANS which is twice what mine was so I will
give
him what he wants. I am trying to find a company locally ( New Orleans )
or
on the Internet who can provide an estimate. If anyone knows of one
please
pass it on.
What I have learned. I can cut the the Tower at my property line and the
sections on my neighbors property are their problem. I would never do
this
and didn't believe it when the adjuster told me this. I verified it with
my
agent, what a great way to get even with complaining neighbors, now the
tower you hated is yours to deal with. Even better when they sue it is
considered an act of God and they have no recourse. Sounds wrong but
both
the agent and adjuster verified it. If I were serious about leaving the
tower in the neighbors yard I would check with a real Lawyer.
If I replace it the insurance will pay, if I don't they will depreciate
the
value before cash out. No brainier replace.
The agent was talking about using existing sections for rebuild, so I
will
cut it at the property line and tell the insurance company to ask the
neighbor for the sections as per his statement that the sections on
their
property are their problem. I will remove the sections for to my
neighbors
for a $1.00 them a buy them a beer.
This is my plan and I am sure that it has so many holes it will never
work
and I will end up losing money and friends.
The one good thing is that if Cindy had reached Hurricane force the
deductible would of been $3700.00 instead of $1000.00. If Cindy had
become a
Hurricane the dropped back to Tropical Storm or Windstorm it would still
come under Hurricane deductible.
I am sure that this is old news to many but please feel free to correct,
and
pass on information.
This is fun for me as I wasn't gone to replace the tower but the rules
seem
to encourage me to do just that, so I will play their game instead of
just
cleaning up and forgetting the tower. The other advantage I am in no
hurry
for a insurance settlement.
--
73 De Jim N5TJZ
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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