California Fires « She’s Royal

Over the last two days, I have been watching CNN keenly to keep up-to-date on the fires raging there…..The news has reported that it has been the largest evacuation ever in the US with almost 1 million persons being ordered out of their homes

When I first heard about it …It was Malibu that was reported and even though i watched it was more just for information on whats is happening out there in the world….then two nights ago i was reading about it on the CNN’s website and saw that San Diego was threatened….I immediately jumped on my phone and called as I have a very close friend (she used to be my neighbour when i was in high school) who lives there with her hubby, 3 kids and a dog!

Got her voice mail on my first attempt………..then called back after about 2 hours…….only to hear she was packing up all the important papers and items and keeping them near the door waiting on the word from officials to evacuate……at that time the fire was about 20 miles from her house….She said she only got trophy’s from the kids dancing and their costumes, the important papers, but said when she looked around the house she didn’t bother packing a lot of the other stuff saying to herself….”those can be replaced”

All of a sudden the whole thing became very real to me…..Can you imagine…..and i thought, what would i save in my house if I was faced with having to evacuate (would i be trying to take down the TV hanging on the wall…the stove…fridge…etc etc or would i simply just put the passport/birth certificate in, all my kids school reports from they hit school, the ribbons they have won in sports day..the box which has the little mothers day/fathers day cards they make in pre-school, etc etc….when you really stop what is important for us to save????? (this reminds me to get the contents of my house insured)

Anyway praying that all goes well for her and others affected…up-to-late night, she was still at home but they have been told to stay indoors, she could see the smoke and ash fallout from the fires so the air quality is bad…… Havent spoken to her since morning(they are 3 hours behind) but the wind seem to be dying down…so hopefully that is some good news
Praying……..

bobby Says:

October 24, 2007 at 11:11 am

That is such a unfortunate situation there thank God their economy can absorb it, ours sure as hell… no pun intended …. can’t absorb a catastrophe as big as that. We would survive some way some how but …..
I will cross all that i can cross and say a word for her and everyone else who have not been touched yet… sad bad.

Cranky Putz Says:

October 24, 2007 at 1:24 pm

i met a girl on the train today whose condo went up in smoke, and she was decribing to me the ramifications of losing your favorite underwear or blanket, not for the things in themselves but for the memories…i hope your friend and her family are safe, and that good things await them in their future.

Jamaican Dawta Says:

October 24, 2007 at 2:03 pm

Hope to hear some good news re that situation and your friend.

You’re right. Something like that forces one to think about what’s really important. The material things are just stuff, as your friend said. They may be nice, but they won’t last. Like you, I wonder what I would try to save.

Adrian Says:

October 24, 2007 at 3:32 pm

Hurricanes are one thing to deal with but they have a fire season over there… I guess the song it never rains in Southern California has some merit.

I’d probably just throw my safe in the car along with some clothes and my pc and cut… I don’t think I have much sentimental value attached to anything in my place.

mad bull Says:

October 24, 2007 at 8:14 pm

I hope she was ok… Thats an interesting question. You should post it over at Owensoft.

You need clothes, Passports and such delights. Everything else can probably replace, if its insured.

fiyah Says:

October 25, 2007 at 1:02 pm

I hope everything works out well with your friend (and everyone else for that matter). Thats a scary situation.

owen Says:

October 25, 2007 at 10:46 pm

man I mean the place is like hell the place catches fire every year at some point or the other its nothing new but right now I’m watching one of those stupid fox news guys saying that there might be a ALKIDA terrorist connection! (can you believe I can’t spell that word? weird). Bad things happen, most times to good people. sorry about the rant

marangand Says:

October 26, 2007 at 3:22 pm

Thanks all for the good wishes and prayers for my friend…here is an excerpt from her last mail to me…..

“the fires have died down except in some areas, which are east of me. People are being allowed home now, some don’t have water or electricity. The air pollution is still bad but I am going to take the kids out later today, as they have cabin fever. We have ash all over the place and we will be cleaning it up. At least the sun can shine and the sky is not gray.”"

BTW Owen it is pronounced “Alkida” but spelt “Alqeda”…..(i think, it does look funny)

experienceaurie Says:

October 28, 2007 at 9:08 am

i wish your friend only the most favorable of favorable outcomes in such a difficult time. i’m glad that she had at least enough notification to get everyone out safely and then to get the essentials. Home Owner’s Insurance is such a huge thing in moments of disaster and that’s when those premiums really start to pay dividends.