California Fires

[hsapiens]

Just heard from my family. One of my uncles lives with his family in Ramona, CA and has already evacuated. They (he, my aunt, their 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 3 parrots) are staying with my other uncle and his wife, who lives in Carlsbad, CA. There's already a half inch of ash in the yard in Carlsbad. :| They're prepping the house and yard as best they can but there's not a lot you can do against a hurricane with fire instead of rain. :| :|

Hope everyone on my f-list and your families are doing okay. And I hope California gets some rain STAT.

Comments

[memento1.livejournal.com]

I just wish the Santa Anas would die down. Nothing's going to be safe until that happens. I hope your family stays safe and their home doesn't get burned :(

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

That would certainly help. The firefighters can't make a lot of headway until the winds die down. Thank you for the good wishes; I hope you aren't in the fire's path.

My family should be okay. They're resourceful and have the means to get out and to rebuild as needed. It wouldn't be easy but at least that isn't an additional worry for them. In the meantime, though, *I* am worrying. I'd prefer to be the one facing the crisis because it doesn't leave me time to worry, you know?

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

I heard one firefighter on TV saying rain COULD actually ignite more fires - guess we need a downpour or nothing. And definitely for the wind to go completely calm.

I saw a fire plume on the news that was spinning like a tornado. It really was just like a tornado of fire instead of wind. Terrifying.

I'm glad your relatives and their pets are safe. I'm afraid even with resources the rebuilding is going to be painful - getting permits, making sure the land isn't ready to slide down a hill with the next good rainfall, etc.

Sorry, I know I'm really negative at this point, so just ignore me. It's just they're predicting yet another hot, bone dry winter, and I swear this region just can't take that. :(

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Rain could ignite more fires? GAH!!! I assume they're talking lightning?

Tornado fire? Extremely scary.

I don't mean to belittle the difficulty of rebuilding or the pain of losing one's house (and all of its contents). That's no small thing and it's life-changing. I try to look on the positive side, though, and I'm thankful that if they do lose everything, they have the means to rebuild with. There are a lot of people who lost everything who will be far worse off than they. As of yesterday, my uncle whose house is in Ramona, has a functioning answering machine at his place so we're assuming at least part of his house is still there.

It's easy to get down when you see a lot of destruction and suffering all around you. As someone who *needs* rain to be happy, I know how depressing it is be in a drought. I think I'm sort of backwards from the usual SAD patients. :) If I don't see rain often enough, I get moody and negative.

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

My understanding was that rain could hit electrical stuff that hasn't blown up yet and spark explosions. Or something. In any case it's not coming but it looks cautiously like we're starting to get the worst of this behind us.

I knew you weren't belittling the rebuilding process, and there's nothing wrong with looking on the bright side. I'm just finding that difficult because I'm here in the middle of it, breathing sooty air and longing desperately for rain (I used to hate rain; that should tell you how bad the draught is, that I get hopeful every time I see clouds).

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

GAH! That sounds horrible! No disaster is complete, I suppose, without the hundred calamities that follow on its heels. *sigh*

I completely understand your position. We weren't hit by Katrina but the overwhelming sense of disaster and depression at watching folks lose everything was just incredibly awful and something I would prefer to never repeat.

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. Today, I'm feeling better. The fires are out of my mind unless someone brings them up.

[evil-moopie.livejournal.com]

My uncle is a firefighter, who generally works in south-central LA. I dropped my aunt a note to check on them, and she said, "He's safe in Da Hood."

How many times do you hear that? ;)

*is glad to have moved from Santa Clarita*

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Eep! I hope that he stays safe. Hurricanes scare me a bit but the idea of a hurricane of burning embers leaves me horrified.

Who knew Da Hood might be the safest place to be some day? Concrete jungles are good for something, by golly.

*is very glad you moved*

[evil-moopie.livejournal.com]

Thanks. So far I'm in a good spot away from burningness. Hope your fam is okay, too.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I'm very happy to read this. And yes, my family seems to be out of the way, which is a relief. Now we're just waiting to find out whether my uncle's house survived. His answering machine has, thus far, so it's looking good for him.

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

I will keep your family in my prayers and hope that all ends well for all of them. *Hugs*

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really appreciate that. I'm worried, of course, but count myself lucky that they're smart enough to evacuate if needed and both of my uncles have the financial resources to survive any blows. Many other people are not so fortunate. So, while I'm worried, I know it could be so much worse.

[ml-spikie.livejournal.com]

I will keep your family in my prayers.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Awwwww. Thank you, hon. As I said up there *points*, my family who are currently in harm's way are amongst the luckier/more privileged of those affected so I'm fairly confident they'll be okay, even if the very worst happens and their houses burn. I'm worried for them and I can't imagine the stress of being homeless with all of their animals but I know they'll be okay if very, very stressed and upset. I do appreciate the payers, though, as *I* am a worried wreck until we hear about my uncle's house in Ramona.

[bleekabyebye.livejournal.com]

I hope your relatives stay safe!

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs* I think they will. California seems to have done a great job at evacuating people and getting folks out of harm's way. More than a million evacuees and, as yet, "only" 3 deaths. Those are three too many but I know first hand how stubborn people can be about staying with their houses, damn the oncoming natural disaster.