Not just Duluth flooding…

Areas all over. This is my brother’s house in Barnum. First pic.. can see his house to the right. Next is a close-up. His house is not at street level.. a couple feet lower so he ended up with 3-4 feet of water in the 100+ year old house (with no flood insurance). The WORST part is.. on Monday, he and his wife lost their baby in the FINAL week of pregnancy. The baby was fine until Monday.. but a knot in the cord cut off oxygen. So.. in the matter of 3 days, he loses his baby and his house.

So very sorry, what an awful week. My thoughts are for them.

I’m very sorry for your Brothers Loss. What a terrible week for him and his family. Prayers are sent.

Sorry for there loss,Prayers sent.

Wow, when folks think they have it tough… my sympathies.

Thanks guys! Yeah… feel really bad for them… and especially for his 3 little ones he has already. My other brother and I are heading up to help him out today. Gonna try and salvage what we can from the house. Just hope it is safe in there.. pretty old house… makes me nervous.

Oy! Talk about kicking a guy when he is down. So sorry for the losses.

Wow thats completely terrible I’m sorry to hear that they are going through anything like that no person should ever have to experience the loss of a child no matter how old or even before birth. I can’t even imagine how it would feel

That’s heartbreaking..heart goes out to your brother and his family.Godspeed.

Just as my walls are crashing in around me, I thank you for instilling in me that there are still friends and family who may/still are going through worse!!!

Gods Speed to those in this story and all who are having a tough go of it now!!!

Mark

Well, been working up here all day. Turns out… my brothers house got it worse than others. One amazing thithing though… this is an awesome community. The church has food available for all 3 meals. And the teens are awesome. We have had 3 seperate groups of kids come by and help.

Watch channel 9 for all newscasts tonight. Maury Glover interviewed my other brother while we were hauling a load… and filmed the house and wreckage.

Disappointed.. though they showed the interview at the 5pm newscast… the 9pm newscast showed my older brother for about 2 seconds during their opening teaser… saying “double whammy”… but not mentioning anything other than flooding in general.

Update… Fox 9 showed the interview during the 10pm broadcast. Also, Here are some more pics from today. Obviously… water is a LOT lower than it was the other day. We found one of his patio chairs 5 feet up in a tree (with 6 feet of water below that.. so 11 feet up in the air from normal). I feel SO bad for my brother and his wife. I gave him a few hundred bucks to get him by (what I could afford right now.. I am sure, more to follow). My other brother gave him a half a grand… as well as my father. Should take care of a few of the needed supplies, clothes, food, etc. Still feel horrible for his kids… who, I am sure, are freaking confused as hell.. the last time at home, all was well and they were going to have a new brother in a few days. Now.. There is NO brother coming into their life and they no longer have a home (and most of their toys are gone).

I am thinking of setting up some kind of fund for the family. I don’t want to just ask out here for help for them… I am wondering if anyone here has any experience with setting up funds (you know.. the kind you see on the news.. for donations, send to xxxxxxxx). I have ALWAYS been self sufficient and never ask for help.. but, I just can’t stop thinking about them and the situation they are in. I am more than willing to give them more than I have in my possession. I have already offered them a place to stay, etc.. whatever I can give. but with where he works, just not practicle.

Though it may have been warranted in the past.. I have never put up posts here or elsewhere for prayers, help, etc. But when it comes to this… I haven’t slept more than a couple hours in the last few days and just feel aweful for them. Handed my brother’s wife a check… and she hugged me hard and bawled… and I almost lost it myself.

If you have info on how to set up a fund, etc… please let me know. If you prefer… PMs are welcome. Last night, I sent an email to a local Duluth News Org with the situation. I just want them to be OK.

So sorry to hear this Dave. It’s things like this really put life in perspective. Keep us posted on how things develop re: your bro and family. I’ll be keeping you guys in my prayers.

How old are his kids, and do the have boys? I know we had a garage sale a few months ago but we might have some extra boys clothes around.

DT

Well, my brother’s story prompted WCCO to go up there and interview him. Watch the 10pm newscast tonight and you can hear from my brother first hand.

Also… BIG THANKS to GEEMAN! Your donation to my bro will be much appreciated by him!

Deertracker, I will ask my brother what, if anything, his kids need. He has 2 boys and a girl. I am a bad uncle… can’t remember exact ages… but I think his boys are 9 and 7 and his girl is 4. Thankfully, the kids’ bedroom was on the upper level.. so they were able to save most of the kids stuff. My brother and his wife had their room on the main floor.

Looks like I forgot to add the pictures from my previous post…

Terrible situation they are going through. Were they able to come up with housing locally so the family can stay together? Does your brother still have his job or was that flooded away? Any chance of insurance coverage? You mentioned the bottom floor flooded. Did you brother and his wife lose all their clothing and furniture? Was anything able to be salvaged?

Let us know what they need the most, maybe we can help out in some small way.

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Terrible situation they are going through. Were they able to come up with housing locally so the family can stay together? Does your brother still have his job or was that flooded away? Any chance of insurance coverage? You mentioned the bottom floor flooded. Did you brother and his wife lose all their clothing and furniture? Was anything able to be salvaged?

Let us know what they need the most, maybe we can help out in some small way.

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They are staying at his wife’s father’s house… also located in Barnum. Kis kids have been with my mother for the last week… but they are now back with their parents. Most of their furniture on the main level is trashed… as is a ton of other belongings. I found out that they went in DURING the flood and tried to get the important stuff out (pictures, documents, etc). My brother does still have his job. They don’t have flood insurance… so we doubt anything will be covered. I don’t think anyone in the city had flood insurance… I think they figured they were high enough to avoid floods. Don’t know if that city has ever been flooded.

I think the best we can hope for is for Gov Dayton to request a presidential declaration of disaster. I think that frees up federal aide.. and that should help. If not.. then not sure what they are going to do.

Here is the story from WCCO

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/06/24/tragedy-after-tragedy-family-hit-by-flood-after-stillbirth/