A Few Pictures

Wind damage to tree and pulled down trellis' in the front of our house.




The pool filled with dirt and other debris.



Clare at the playground one day last week.



I am amazed at how quickly people are getting back to the routine of things. Today the trash man came by and there were trucks out cleaning the streets as well. Many folks are out cleaning up their yards and sweeping garages (I'm waiting 'til the air clears to do that). The stores in town are back open and people are out shopping for food and other items. School doesn't start again 'til Monday. This is life for people who have a home to return to. I wonder what the people without homes are doing today. Many are being let back in to see the neighborhoods that were heavily hit. Some are probably on the phone with insurance companies (and will be for 100's of hours I imagine). People are looking for someplace to live and crying over all the loss. Tonight there is a meeting at our stake center with the stake president and bishops and RS presidents to asses the needs of the stake members and also the ability of members to assist those in need. I will be anxious to learn what we can do to help those who have no home. I can't even think of what to do for them or what I would need if I were in their situation (aside from a place to stay of course). What would you want others to do for you?

We're home!

We are so glad to be home...it has been a long few days. All is well at the house. There is some mess to clean up -- in the yard some trash blew around and leaves and dirt. The pool is black. Quite a bit of ash and dirt blew in through doors and windows even though they were closed so I need to sweep and mop everywhere. The kids and dave are all sleeping in their beds! Dad and Kari are still evacuated but I imagine they'll be allowed home either tonight or tomorrow unless something crazy happens.

update

We are safe and fine and so far our house (and dad's house) are both fine. There are still fires burning near both our homes but so far it seems our houses are okay. We called our house and the answering machine picked up so we know the power is on and the house is fine! Actually one of our neighbors called this morning and said our street is fine and the homes are okay. The fire is about a mile or two down the hill on Espola Rd. (a main road through town). And, the air is black up there.

We have been staying in San Marcos with Kari's parents. It is so nice of them to put us up...and bob and kari and all the kids. There are 8 adults, 3 cats, 4 dogs, 6 kids here! It took us 2 hours to get here because the roads were so busy.

I doubt we'll be allowed home today, but we'll just see what happens as the day goes on. Dave is one of the emergency preparedness people in the ward so he'll be trying to head back to poway to do an assessment this afternoon. Dave is not working today -- it is his day off. So far, we heard that 2 homes in the ward burned down and there are several that still don't know as the fires are still very active in a couple of neighborhoods. They said 50 homes in poway burned and also at least that many in RB (where dad lives). Schwarzenegger gave a newscast from RB this morning.

The weather is supposed to continue to be really dry and windy today (it was 85 when we woke up this morning) but tomorrow is supposed to be much better.

I'm so nervous about the fires that I need to write....so i'm writing ....It is 6am. Looking out my windows I see every house in the neighborhood has lights on as people are up packing and watching the news.

Here is a fire update. There are now 8 fires in SD county. There are 2 fires somewhat close to us buring towards each other and they are concerned that they'll merge. They have evacuated all of a neighboring city (ramona) and a pretty significant section of our town (poway), which probably includes 20 families or more in our ward. I have loaded up the car with food and clothes and a few items like pictures and documents. just in case we have to evacuate. Right now the evacuation line is a couple of miles from us. You never know what will happen -- the fire can keep moving this way or the winds can carry it off another direction.

Meanwhile, dave is at the hospital downtown. He called last night to tell me his keys had been stolen and so he will need a ride home. I honestly don't even know if I can make it to him with the road closures, plus the freeway going south (towards dave) is packed. I guess he might have to spend another night at the hospital. Their hospital is filled to capacity with burn victims and other fire-related injuries so who knows if he'll ever get off anyway. Most of these are not neurosurgical, but they may have a need for all availible hands to keep working.

What is the worst about all these fires is that the fire crews are basically helpless becuae of the fierce winds. The gusts range between 40-80 miles/hour (hurricane force winds) and the winds combined with the darkness make it so they can't use the airplanes or helicopters to fight the fires. Everyone is basically at the mercy of the wind. I keep thinking of that hymn - master, the tempest is raging where it says "the wind and the waves shall obey thy will . . .oh, hasten and take control"

It is supposed to be in the mid 90's today and tomorrow so the weather isn't helping much either.

The people say that there isn't really hope of containment today, they're just waiting to see what happens. The winds are supposed to continue to be strong today and will hopefully abate during the night tonight or tomorrow.

One of the fires is right next to the wild animal park...I wonder what it is like to try to evacuate all the animals (or if they even can).

This has all happened in less than 24 hours. When we went in to church yesterday at 11am it was a beautiful day and there were no fires burning.

Real Quick

GO BUCKEYES!!!

Yesterday we got the game on the TV (which we haven't so far this season) and had a good time seeing some of the game. Hopefully they'll do well in the big games they have coming up.

Oh, and I sure miss Columbus. It made me tear up to see the arial views of the stadium and surrounding areas.