[TowerTalk] Tower Down Due To Cindy Tell Ne What You Think

[Reicher, James]

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 at gmail.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Tower Down Due To Cindy Tell Ne What You Think,
	Be Nice
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Message-ID: <ae66592005071412301e932940 at 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