IV Stories: One stormy winter night..

in December

It’s 3:30 pm on a December Wednesday with darkness about 105 minutes away. An unfamiliar number rings the work phone.

“Can you help? My insurance agent gave me your number.”

“What do you need help with?”

“Last night’s storm dropped a tree on our garage.”

“Possibly. “

The tree came from the neighbor’s land. The neighbor had harvested many trees that summer so the remaining trees were more vulnerable to wind and storms.

The lady remarked, “I tried calling 3 others. One can come on Friday.”

“They are predicting rain, then 5-9 inches of snow starting about 8:30, tonight.”

“Yeah.”

I replied, “Can you send me a picture?”

“Where are you located?”

A quick Google Map check finds the address 25 minutes away on the county road north of a small town.

I’d have to get materials in Eau Claire before I went up there.

With rough measurements and a YouTube check of best methods, I break the news to my family my plans have changed. I climb into my insulated coveralls and grab my electric chain saw, pruning saw and power cords to add to my usual tools.

My wife packed a quick supper of sandwich and sides.

The 2 sheets of 4’x8’ Oriented Strand Board (OSB) from Menards clearance bin fit in my Toyota Sienna along with plenty of tarps, backup lighting, and other supplies. The drive included 10 minutes weaving the snow slick curves along the riverside, in the dark, before I pulled in front of the damaged garage.

Their work lights lit up the 15” tree trunk suspended across the garage roof.

I grabbed my extension ladder and a pruning saw from the Sienna and climbed onto the snowy roof to cut off the 8” branches. The sticky snow from the night before made better footing than clearing down to the shingles so we left it there to work in.

The husband and wife helped as we cut up the tree and dropped it beside the garage. We cleared the snow from around the holes, screwed down the OSB over the holes, and over that stretched the 10’x20’ tarp from over the ridge line down to hang over the eaves. I’d forgotten to grab 2×4’s from the store but they had some on hand. We wrapped the tarp around those to hold all 4 sides down and tighten the tarp against the coming storm.

As the wind picked up and the sprinkles of prickly rain gathered intensity, by 9:00 pm we had the holes covered and the tools put away. I drove home with new snow blowing across the headlights, thankful we had prepped their roof enough for the snow that fell the next three days.

It will be months before they get their new roof since a snowy winter does not make the best weather for roofing. Someone else gets to do that, ‘cause my insurance is for a handyman, not a roofer.

The next day I returned the unused tarps to Menards, called the insurance company contacts and totaled up an invoice in time to submit it to the insurance adjuster on his way to survey the damage. Then it was up to the insurance adjuster, and related negotiations over my invoice to determine who pays it and when. The payment came eventually. Till then, I had the satisfaction of helping someone with an urgent problem, a chance to meet some nice people, and a good story to share.

Although we didn’t get the roof completely repaired, we prevented the horrible sight of rain and snow wetting all the things in the garage. The vision of the tarp secure over the damaged roof was the match they needed at the time.

If your emergency is not for 911, just need some handyman help in a hurry,
review my services , then see when I’m available to make the space match the vision you need.