Ron Hebert can’t take any more bad luck.
When lightning struck the Whalen Building on May 23, falling debris damaged his car’s windshield and hood. Insurance won’t cover the damage, citing the incident as an act of God.
Shortly after that incident, while at work, a 15-foot long railroad tie fell on his foot, leaving him unable to work for months while his foot heals.
As if that wasn’t enough for the Thunder Bay man, he became a victim of the May 28 flood.
The water and sewage that flowed into his James Street basement apartment destroyed most of his belongings.
Hebert is now sleeping in a tent in his backyard with his small dog, Teeka.
“I love camping, mind you, but this isn’t meant for me to live and the saddest part is I’m not the only one,” he said Friday.
“I hope that people, when they hear this story, they’ll see it ain’t over yet. This pain that people are going through and the suffering, it’s still here. We’re still hurting.”
Hebert has applied for the immediate $1,000 flood relief through the Thunder Bay Disaster Relief Committee and said organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army have been extremely helpful.
But he’s getting tired.
“I just want this to slow down now and I can get back (in my home), which won’t be for a couple of months yet,” he said. “It’s got to stop somewhere.”
Hebert’s landlord is trying to get the building fixed, but the restoration company is busy with all the other homes damaged by the flood. The apartment has been fumigated and cleaned a bit, but won’t be livable for another two months.
Many of his belongings, including tools, were stolen from his backyard as well, which Hebert said is frustrating.
“I’m disappointed with people,” he said. “Have some respect … have a little bit of empathy, something.”
But despite all the negativity in his life lately, Hebert says he’s also seen a lot of good in people.
There are also people out there with worse damage to their homes, he noted, adding this crisis is not over yet.
“This whole month has been nutty,” he said.
“I’ve been hit with a lot more stuff than I want to deal with. What can you do? You have to just take it, walk away and hopefully get something better going.”
Ron Hebert can be reached at 285-0681.
