Ok, i am just seeing this and as i saw the headline i sincerely hoped it wasn't an actual fire.
Now i see it was and let me tell you how sorry i am! I know exactly what you are dealing with. I am so so thankful you and the dogs are all ok.
It is so scary to go through.
We had a gas leak in our home literally 1 year and 11mo ago. I was home alone with the dogs. We too, were incredibly lucky! Like you said, it's just stuff. Things can get replaced, people and pets can't.
I mean this with everything in me, is there anything at all you need? Dog supplies, food, clothes, anything? I am more than willing to have delivered wherever you are.
I know you said minimal water damage, but what appears to be minimal can actually be so much more.
I want to share a little advice, get a good contractor/ inspector into your home as quickly as possible to assess the damage and how it should properly be fixed.
Then you go with your own contractor that you TRUST to do all repairs. (I do not suggest using the insurance company's recommended person) Keep in mind, you are not required to use their person.
Insurance companies are in the business of making money not giving it away. They will low ball you, give sub par contractors, etc in order to spend the least amount of money.
You said in the thread above that there was a long road ahead and i am sorry to say you are probably right. I am just shy of 2 years later and still fighting for the replacement of my things and it took 9 mo of living somewhere else.
They tried to put us in a hotel.. fine for a week or two.. but after that they need to provide the same living conditions as you currently own and insure. IE.. 3 bedrooom house with fenced yard for your dogs!
it took alot of leg work on my part, but i found us a little rental house with a fenced yard for the duration. It was a far cry from our current home, but in a good safe neighborhood and had a fenced yard which was my absolute must.
The dogs were already really freaked out and i wanted to make things as normal for them as i could while we waited to come home.
I can offer you alot of advice and i am happy to share all the knowledge i have learned through this process, if you want it i am available to you.
In the meantime, love those babies, be grateful, and try your best to make lemonade out lemons wherever you can.
I am so so glad you are all ok!!! Now please inbox me with something you need, want, could use... but just don't want to ask.. I would really love to be able to help.
Sincerely!!!!
Theresa