This past week has been undescribable (not sure if that is a word but it fits regardless) I looked on youtube to try and find a video that would most convey the look, the smell, and the fear. This video is shot about 15-20 minutes from my area. The color of the sky is what i was trying to describe on the phone to my friend...it looked like dusk in the middle of the day. You could n't go outside for days without coughing or in the first few days almost gagging. My kids spent the entire week indoors....absolutely no going outside unless we needed to leave the area.
Last Monday was probably one of the scariest days----The Santa Ana winds had picked up over night, no humidity in the air at all, not a cloud in the sky. I knew there were fires the next town over, and at first i really thought nothing of it. Then i turned on the news and saw the devastation begin. I remember getting a chill, the kind you get when your blood runs cold because you just know something is going to happen...something bad. 7:00am the phone rings-school is closed. Our schools never close....unless theres fire. I grabbed my keys went straight to the grocery store...funny every mom i knew from my girls school was there talking, trying to calm eachother....buying provisions. I bought different than i have ever bought before cases of water, batteries, dry food, canned food....what if we had no water, no electricity, how would i make my kids feel the safest, calm them....all this running though my head while buying beef jerky, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruits.
I came home. all the girls were up....we were glued to the TV. Watching. Waiting.....
Finally i heard something i have never heard before...The sound of the Emergency Broadcast Signal, followed by instructions. I have never heard that sound followed by instructions. That made me feel sick to my stomach.
The winds were still strong...on TV you could see embers flying acoss the sky like a gorgeous firework gone sideways....huge embers flying . The winds were making the fires hop entire freeways----the 15 is not small by any stretch. i figued if it can hop freeways it can hop neighborhoods. I told my girls to pack, just in case. I did not want us to be one of those stories we hear so often out here , where they had no time to grab anything but the clothes on their back. I wanted so at least have something saved should the worst happen.
Vista( the little city i live in) was spared the devastation- many of our friends in surrounding cities were not. Every single person in this county was affected 950,000 homes evacuated....many lost. Please keep those that need help in your thoughts and prayers, please continue those thoughts long after we are no longer thr front page news...it will take years to rebuild what was lost. Today after 8 days of constant reminders of devastion and destruction, school is back in session and San Diego is moving on. That is a good thing, a good feeling, a blessing.
Today is 08/01/08. I was hunting for something in your archives and came across this. My thoughts immediately went back to Hurricane Katrina here in N.O. I totally understand what you went through, and am so sorry to hear that anyone else had to go through something like that. So sad, but I'm so happy you are well and safe now. I do still pray for all people who are affected by nature's fury, in whatever form it takes, past or present. Bless you.
Posted by: Dee | August 01, 2008 at 05:26 PM
I can't even begin to imagine how terrifying it must have been for you and your family and friends! I was in Boston at the time of the fires and saw the images of devastation each day. I am so glad you and your family are safe!
Take care..hugs!
Bhavna
Posted by: Bhavna | November 07, 2007 at 06:56 PM
I am so glad to hear that you are safe and well.
I can not imagine how scared you must have been.
Thank God you and your girls are safe!
I am very thankful for that!
Posted by: Tammy Kay | November 01, 2007 at 12:08 PM
definitely lots of prayers and well wishes for everyone there. we lived in o'side for 3 years and have many dear friends there that have been affected in some way by the fires. i truly miss socal.
Posted by: Susan D. | October 31, 2007 at 06:34 PM
sending you all our love. wish we could have sent the snow we got here :(
Posted by: anam | October 30, 2007 at 02:56 PM
That video made me cry! I am so glad to know you all are safe. I will continue to pray for you all!
Posted by: Alicia Sharp | October 30, 2007 at 01:22 PM
Thank you for the update. I have been so concerned about you and yours as well as everyone in your area. You will continue to be in my prayers. Hugs! Tammy
Posted by: Tammy Gray | October 30, 2007 at 10:50 AM