Surviving a Fire: The Aftermath

My life was turned upside down the morning my fiance and I woke up approximately an hour before we noticed the building next to us was smoking -- BADLY! My fiance turned to me and said, "Honey, we have to go!" I just looked at him confused, "Why?" Not knowing that the building next to us was on fire. I ran around in a circle a couple of times, thinking, "What do I grab?" My fiance grabbed me and said, "Just head downstairs!"

I grabbed my coat, I had already had my wallet and things on and preceded to go downstairs. As soon as I walked out the front door I saw a fireman taking his helmet and busting the windows out of the store that was next to my building. I just stood there, watching, and I felt that our apartment would go out too. I just knew it would burn so then I started to cry. Not because I had irreplacable items in there, no because I had no renters' insurance, because there were hundreds, literally hundreds of men, fighting this fire to try and keep us safe, and I prayed that they would be alright.

After what seemed like days to me, it took them hours to extinguish the entire fire, and when it was all said and done, what was the Dollar Store standing next to my building in a row of buildings was no more. What was a beautiful one bedroom, art studio-style apartment was trashed with ceiling tiles, dripping water, puddles, and that awful smug-smoke smell. Our bathroom and kitchen where completely destroyed, there was nothing left but ashes. I had thought that maybe the toilet and things would remain however, I was gravely mistaken. But the great news is that no one was hurt save for a little kitten who had to be put on life support for a few hours but turned out to be okay. The damage and loss was great to everyone, but we all made it out with our lives!

Among this good fortune, there were a lot of people who care about us so much! The American Red Cross, was there on the scene working in conjunction with the Salvation Army doing the most to help us in our time of need. We received a lot of help from the Salvation Army in Norristown, which is where we ending up staying(with family), until we found another apartment, and when we finally found a new apartment we were blessed by the Pottstown Salvation Army; with gift-cards.

Upon returning to work, my co-workers and customers had gathered money and offered household items! I was so overwhelmed, I began to cry! I had no idea that anyone would help me, I never expected anything!

Here is my advice to the readers, if you are ever involved in a natural disaster, it is good to have your purse and or your wallet with identification, bank cards, checks, and registers, along with social security cards, birth certificates, in ONE place so that if this happens you can just grab and go. There is an item at Target, called "the Only book you will ever need" which is essential for holding all these items helping to make it easier to grab and go. This book is listed at $25.99.

Contacting the American Red Cross is easy, if you have a computer, go to: http://www.redcross.org/
This will bring you to the Red Cross website were you can find a number to a local office to get help immediately.
If you do not have access to a computer, you can call the Red Cross through their 1-800 number which is as follows: 1-800-257-7575.

Getting in touch with the Salvation Army is moderately easy. They have an address listed on their website for the National site:

The Salvation Army National Headquarters
615 Slaters Lane
P.O. Box 269
Alexandria, VA 22313

There is not phone number listed, but I am sure that if you search for a location in your area via their website: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
that you will find a phone number for your local Salvation Army.

I have also heard the the Goodwill: www.goodwill.org/
helps those who are in need of it by giving a generous discount on their items through out there stores, not sure if this is for all Goodwills or just locally. Their contact number is 1(301) 530 6500.

Other websites that I have found helpful in recuperating my household items:
Freecycle.com: this website allows you to post what items you need and if someone has it and was getting rid of it in the first place they let you know and you can come pick it up for FREE!

Modestneeds.org: This site helps you pay bills that you are behind in and cannot afford to pay.

Angelfoodministries.com: This site allows you to view the menu for the month, and local pick up sites where you can pick up a large box of food(enough to fill your freezer), for just $30.00!!

I hope all this information helps those who need it!