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Archive through October 26, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Oct. 2007 ~ Dec. 2007: WILDFIRES and mudslides: ARCHIVES: Archive through October 26, 2007 users admin

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Treasure
Member

06-26-2002

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 4:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Treasure a private message Print Post    
You like those older songs, too, I see.

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 4:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rosie a private message Print Post    


It is still dark and smokey here.

Treasure
Member

06-26-2002

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 4:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Treasure a private message Print Post    
Well, the smoke did cross the state line. Guess you can see it from Phoenix...if your up in a plane.

Konamouse
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 5:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Konamouse a private message Print Post    
In case anyone is wondering.
My mom & her dog, Misty, made it to our home at noon on Tuesday. We watched the internet for news all night. And called her answering machine (still working).

Last night Mom spoke with someone she knows who lives in Rancho Bernardo who went back to her apartment on Wednesday night - she drove by my mom's complex and it's still there.

Her friend, Paige, still has her home. Her other friend, Sara, is vacationing in Europe. She doesn't know that her home & van are gone. That area is only a few blocks (north east) from my mom's home.

Mom will probably head back home on Monday.

My heart goes out to those who have lost a home & other memories. But I'm glad most people listened to the evacuation and got out safely.



Treasure
Member

06-26-2002

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 5:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Treasure a private message Print Post    
Very glad to read that your mom made it to you and that her home is still there. Thanks for telling us, Kona.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 5:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
LOL Escapee. I kinda thought NOW would be a good time for a terrorist to attack... with all the frickin' talkin' heads here in San Diego!

Bush landed at about 9:45 and left about 1:15. Small aircraft were not allowed to fly while he was in the air, but they did fly while he was on the ground.

I'm still unclear why he was here. I'm still unclear why Schwarzenegger was here, or why Michael Chertikoff was here, or why so many other politicians were here. While the fires were still raging. I can understand coming in AFTER everything is under control.

Sorry Treasure! I guess we thought we needed to share with you! :-)


Oh, and OK, this is almost worth a laugh. NOTE: I said ALMOST!!!

We've got this city attorney. I won't go into what I really think about him but... On Monday, he was requesting that the ENTIRE CITY OF SAN DIEGO BE EVACUATED. That's 3 million people. He called the mayor of Phoenix, I believe (or maybe it was the guv of AZ?), and asked how many people he could handle! WTH??? I guess I need say no more!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 5:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Kona, glad your mom is safe!

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 5:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Kona, I'd missed that your mom was there.. so happy her place was spared and sad for those who lost so much.

Costa, glad your dad is still hanging in there and still keeping him in my thoughts..

===

As for any politician, I do think some of them grandstand, but it WAS Arnold wo arranged for California to have use of that C10 huge tanker plane when the Feds have made such planes not an option, so I'm all for that.

And if Bush had not come, he'd also be criticized. I think it is quite common for those who can approve aid or make declarations to go to review a disaster site. Sen Dianne Feinstein was right next to Bush coming out of that plane when they arrived and I'd bet Barbara Boxer was there as well.

I do routinely change channels when someone starts making "impassioned speeches"..
===

Our paper reported that 1/3 of the avocado crop was lost. This wasn't just loss to fire but to the wind, prematurely stripping trees of fruit (but at least if the trees are ok, that's good for the future).

Losses have reached $1 billion in So Cal, and that will probably rise.

Some good things.. Pacific Life Foundation donated $500,000 to the Red Cross, Target donated $1 million, Wal-Mart gave $250,000 to aid wild fire victims.. Target's went to Red Cross and Salvation Army, plus they directly gave supplies such as nonperishable food, water, air mattresses, chairs and pillows. Wal-Mart gave to the Red Cross.

Home Depot is restocking daily with needed items and has donated some money.

Office Depot is offering domestic fax service, internet access, cell phone and laptop charging for free.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 6:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pamy a private message Print Post    
Kona, so glad to hear about your mom.

continued prayers for all. Bill is still out there but gets to have tomarrow off...will work all nite, come home at 8am and have to go back Sat morning

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 6:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Firefighters were just interviewed on our local news. Those who got to meet Bush in person today. They said that while they thought it was a "nice gesture," his visit was more distraction than anything else. Particularly since no water dropping planes could fly while he was around.

And sorry, Sea, but I gotta disagree. There was a lot of discontent after the Cedar fires when the politicians didn't do what they needed to do to get air resources down here. There were military planes ready to fly, but CalFire didn't release them, saying they needed spotters on the planes. This is not something that the politicians need to do. This is something that the agencies involved in fighting the fires need to do. THEY are the ones to gather and disburse the resources.

And FWIW, we never saw anything but DC-10's flying over us. I don't know where the huge tankers, the ones that can drop enough fire retardant to cover a four acre area, were, but they sure as hell were NOT down here.

Treasure
Member

06-26-2002

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 6:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Treasure a private message Print Post    
Not a problem Costa. ehehe I don't believe anything GWB says anyway. He talks outta both sides of his mouth, plus elsewhere. LOL I figured that they went back to flying while he was making his speech. But if he wants to see charred acreage, he can do that in a week or two after these fires are out. I mean, they probably stopped the flying before his helicopter ever left the ground and he might have been up for about half hour, so that means somewhere around 40 to 45 minutes that no water drops were made. I would not have been happy!

Sea, I agree that he would be criticized what ever he did and that the politicians do always visit areas to view the disaster first hand. I just think they should use a bit more common sense and realize the things that happen because they are in the area.

It is good to know that these big businesses are stepping up with help, financial and material.

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 6:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rosie a private message Print Post    
Yay for Kona's mom!

We have ashes falling around here tonight. Weather people say that is because the wind has died down and the smoke and stuff is sticking around. Guess that makes sense.

Oh, those ashes are coming from quite a distance so not a worry.

Treasure
Member

06-26-2002

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 6:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Treasure a private message Print Post    
Yeah, I don't believe they would still be burning embers by the time it gets to you. ehehe

Just figure, if the winds blew all that smoke close to 800 miles out to sea, now the winds have turned and can possible blow that smoke all the way to Phoenix.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 7:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Good to hear about all of the safe people, and safe pets and animals.

I can speak for the Canadian plane helping with the water dropping. It hit a bird on its flight over, had to be repaired, and made its way down today.

Has anyone heard from Bee yet?

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 8:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Pamy where is he working? Rescue, or a shelter in San Diego? I'm sure he's just an angel to those animals!

We've had almost no wind today and we never had ashes but particles.. on the ground, the plants, etc.

Treasure that is indeed possible, they say, if we get strong onshore winds soon enough, but not sure they'd make it over the mountain ranges in between.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 8:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
No word from Bee and she hasn't been logged in since the 23rd. Hope they are just hanging out at their Long Beach home. I'm not sure of her precise area, but pretty close, and last I heard that wasn't the best area.

But even if they got back in I bet they have much to do and who knows about power.

She does have a couple of our phone numbers when she has time (and if she took them when she evacuated..

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 8:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
We've been getting a lot of smoke since yesterday afternoon when the winds finally stopped. The sun was bright orange this morning, eerily beautiful, almost spooky. And we're 25-30 minutes driving distance from the nearest fire depending on traffic.

I know they were landing some of the water dropping planes out here for overnight (I didn't see them, I heard them so no idea what type they were) but they've been flying over my sisters house since yesterday. Can they not fly at night or do they take shifts?

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 9:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pamy a private message Print Post    
Bill is wking at a make shift shelter they set up at Temecula HS

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, October 26, 2007 - 7:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
War, none of the planes fly at night. They'll fly until sundown and then they are usually grounded until first light.

We had a bit of a scare last night as the northern end of the Harris fire was heading north due to winds. But the winds weren't that strong, and eventually my dad heard the fire chiefs commanding the Witch and Harris fires saying that it looked like it was going to be "a good night" and maybe some people could get some rest.

It's very foggy out here right now, which is not gonna help our air quality any. I hope it clears up soon (the fog).

Looks like the worst is over, for now. But I heard winds will be picking up again next week. <sigh>

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Friday, October 26, 2007 - 7:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I hear that the Marine's are helping fighting the fires. I have not heard from my BIL who is stationed at Camp Pendelton, but I did hear that MCRD San Diego, where we were earlier this year, has been evacuated. I am thinking about all the places we visited while we were there and I wonder if some of them are still there.

Prayers, love, and well wishes go out to all.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, October 26, 2007 - 8:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Thanks Costa, I wasn't quite sure about that.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Friday, October 26, 2007 - 8:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Good to hear that they think the worst is over. I sure hope they are wrong about the winds picking up again next week. That might make those ***holes who think starting fires is fun come back out of the woodwork.

I wish we would hear from Bee. Hopefully, no news is good news and that maybe she just doesn't have internet access or her computer with her at her other house.

I'm also hoping that the powers that be appropriate a ton of money to help all of the people who had their lives turned upside down by this disaster. To hell with fighting drug crimes in Mexico, and to hell with more money being spent on the war... help at home first!

Treasure
Member

06-26-2002

Friday, October 26, 2007 - 8:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Treasure a private message Print Post    
Good to read the you are getting a little bit of a break with the Harris fire, Costa.

Hope the fog lifts and the firefighters can get a larger percent of containment before the winds pick up again.

Kstme
Member

08-14-2000

Friday, October 26, 2007 - 9:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kstme a private message Print Post    
We are now getting the smoke. It actually came in last night. I thought someone in the neighborhood was bbquing at 10:30pm last night! Duh, moment!

I am so thankful the fires are getting better and the marine air is moving in. Everyone take good care!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, October 26, 2007 - 10:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
They are getting a handle on the dozen of fires here in San Diego county. The three biggest (which total around 300,000 acres) are about 30% contained. The winds are mostly calm and the humidity has increased. Things are starting to feel like they are getting back to "normal" (at least for those of us who didn't lose our homes).

Estimates are that it's going to cost well over a billion dollars. Several agencies are running relief fund drives. A couple of the local stations ran some drives yesterday and a they got a couple of million dollars (the funds are going to the American Red Cross).

Speaking of... if anyone needs an additional tax deduction this year, or just feels like they wanna do something, donations can be made to the "Red Cross San Diego Fire". All donations made in that name will go to relief efforts here.

Most evacuees have been allowed back home. Qualcomm, which at one point had almost 10K evacuees, is down to about 300 people. They are all being relocated out of the Q today. Snarky folks are saying it's so the Chargers can play Sunday (which is still up in the air) but it's really because they just don't have facilities. People are staying in tents in the parking lot. So they are being redirected to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, where there are walls and roofs as well as showers, or to shelters closer to their homes.

Air quality is still horrible.

The winds they are expecting next week (which will come out of the east) are not expected to be as fierce as this week's winds. However, we are still in the midst of a very long dry spell, and there is a lot of dry brush out there. I do agree, Hukd, that those ***holes don't decide to start up any more fires for the "fun" of it!

Escapee, I dunno where all you went, but most of our "major" visitor areas escaped harm. Julian is still under an evac order and so the Apple Festival is basically shut down. Our major attractions all escaped harm (Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, LegoLand). The Viejas Casino and outlet mall are still shut down till this weekend. Schools are still closed, all federal courts are still closed. But businesses are starting to open up again, there's activity outside now.

I hope Bee is OK! I think I'm glad I've kept my Verizon wireless card for my laptop, "just in case." (Although it's a biz expense, it'd come in handy if I ever lost access to the Internet; it allows me to connect almost anywhere!)

Thanks for all of your support and well wishes, all! We really needed every bit of positive vibe you sent this way! The number of dead and injured was relatively low compared to the Cedar fire, and they've done some revising of the numbers of homes destroyed (less than originally thought, thank goodness!).