Hurricane Katrina Damage

[Paula]

Hi
I need some advise. I have damage from Hurricane Katrina. I can not get my insurance company, FEMA, or anyone to come inspect me home. I have a 28 x 80 double wide, 4-1/2 foot off the ground. My back piers are all leaning or collapsed. My front piers are also leaning. Some of my center piers appear to be stable. My exterior walls are all leaning, min of 1-1/2 inch on a 4 foot level. My marriage walls has a 4 inch gap. (what is the normal spacing?) Is this house safe???
Please advise, I am in a panic

thanks.
Paula

[Paula]

also.... the frame is bent in places around the shims...

thanks..

[Mark Bower]

At the moment the piers have to be your biggest concern. For now I'd somehow get some additional blocking in there to help support the piers. Don't wait for your insurance company to tell you to do this if you still want a house to live in.

4' up is quite high. If you use cement blocks, go up in groups of fours. Be sure the bottom row is dead level and on solid blocks. You could also use 4x6 timbers and go up by criss-crossing them. Once you get up to the top, then shim tight to the frame. Perhaps do a doublerow across each end. This should help add support until you can get help to figure out what to do next.

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[Paula]

It there a risk of my house falling?
what about the ceiling gap size?

thank you so much

[Mark Bower]

A 4" gap is probably quite a bit.

Unless your home is really tilting, the bracing I described should minimize the risk of it falling. You say its leaning 1.5" in 4', is that each end or does the whole house have a gradual slope to one end? Do you have any digital pics?

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[Paula]

not sure about the level specifics, my husband did that. I do have pictures.

thanks

[Mark Bower]

Please e-mail me the pictures at [email protected]

Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Bower]

Just a quick note update you all about Paula's home. She sent me pictures. And although it may be close to 4' high in areas up to the door, for the most part the height from the ground to the bottom of the I-beams was 30-34". She had anchor straps everywhere, and then some. The piers that we're leaning I felt weren't leaning so much that the house would tip. Actually, I've seen a lot worse on homes that haven't even been near a storm like Katrina. So from what I could see in the pictures, the home would be safe from falling until help arrived. But do keep an eye on things.

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[Paula]

thank you so much for helping me. I feel much better.

Paula

[rmurray]

Good Luck...Actually sounds like your home survived fairly well....