So today was the day that Emma arrived on a one-way ticket to Seattle. There was drama this morning as snow was threatening to fall and I wouldn’t be able to get to the airport. Fortunately, we just ended up with flurries and some heavy rain.
After having some dinner and falling asleep watching a movie we were woken by a noise in the hallway “baamp baamp baamp”. Bleary eared, we pulled on some clothes and shuffled outside with all the other residents realizing it was the fire alarm.
The fire dept. turned up and checked out the alarm and gave it the all-clear. As we were walking back up, we heard the sound of running water outside and didn’t think much of it.
However, as we entered our apartment on the third level we realized something was not quite right. Here’s what we saw:
Yes – that is water coming out of the smoke detector and all the light fittings – it was even coming out of the wall outlets and light switches. I quickly raced downstairs to find somebody that could help us, while Emma and our hastily-met neighbor started putting out water receptacles and every towel we could find.
When I got downstairs, I met our upstairs neighbor in quite the same panic – their apartment was completely flooded. We grabbed the firemen just before they left and they came and shut off the water. It didn’t take us long to realize that we had quite a problem. Although nothing of ours got damaged, we had to move apartments so that they can clean it out.
So that the water drained properly and the roof wouldn’t collapse, the maintenance installed a new drain.
4 hours later, our apartment is empty and everything is dumped on the floor in a dry vacant apartment. Since we didn’t plan for this and it was too late to buy boxes, we had to move everything using suitcases. The Kirkland Fire Department were exceptionally helpful by moving our bulky furniture. It would’ve been a much longer effort without their help.
Ironically, when Emma arrived we had the conversation "Should I unpack tonight?". Thankfully she didn’t and it was easy to move her stuff.
So all in all, we’re safe, relatively dry, tired but in good spirits. We’ve met a lot more of our neighbors and are genuinely impressed with everybody’s willingness to help out. And in typically Aussie spirit, we had a laugh and toasted it all with a few beers.
6 Comments
I am glad all is well with you and your girl, but the actual apartment building is in trouble. I never did understand what caused this, but if you move back in, you need to watch for all the drywall on the ceiling and walls to buckle. Hopefully there isn’t going to be any black mold either.
But those are pretty dramatic pictures of all that water. Pretty good story.
Classic timing! Glad to hear that Emma got there safely.
Grant & Emma, really sorry to hear about the flood! Emma, welcome to the states, I assure you, this is not the typical welcome reception. Glad you’re here safely though and you made it before the big snow
Emma, welcome to Seattle. Great to hear that you’ve arrived safely.
There’s nothing like a little “trial by fire” (or should that be “trial by water”) to help mark the start of a new adventure in life
Oh my goodness!! You poor things! That was a rude shock for Emma’s first night in Seattle. Wow you must be fairly tired right now the two of you! It’s good to hear you are in good spirits and toasted the whole ordeal with a beer! VB I hope? I hope you get dry soon! Thinking of you both!! Love your sis (and in-law) from downunder : )
xoxoxox
Ha! How random. Good thing you had somewhere dry to go. My friend had a flooded lounge room once, so he put all the heaters in the house in the room, switched them on, and closed the doors for a few days. The doors now bow in slightly to the lounge room, but it worked…
Glad to hear everything worked out an Em arrived safely!