KINCADE and OTHER NOR CAL/ SO CAL FIRE EVACUATIONS —
We had a couple hours notice that the power was going out and we’d be under mandatory evacuation. It was complex and tense but we chose to look at it as A Grand Adventure. A ROAD TRIP! For far too many others, it is a hellish journey with no safe place in sight. We are all of us surrounded by ashes.
[donation URLs follow — i tried to check with Charity Navigator to check them out — but hmmm. ask around if you’re unsure]
We thought we were Evacuation Ready! You know — go-bags, camping gear, survival food, water straws, flashlights and so on. Fortunately we didn’t have to camp, which would have been a disaster/ dark comedy with no car, two cats, two huge dogs and two people who were not as skilled at “stuff” as we’d hoped. We got a ride out with neighbors in the back of their truck to safe harbor just before midnight on Saturday.
We had a wonderful time {5 people, 5 dogs, two cats in a tiny house with a lush vegetable garden}, watched the fire news, bitched at the coverage, read books out loud, watched “Ocean’s 8”, told stories, ate delicious food — managed to calm each other, love each other, give support to people around us who needed it.
The FIREFIGHTERS did an unbelievable thing: they SAVED the world we live in. DONATIONS: www.cafirefoundation.org; www.calfirelocal2881.org/...
Once again World Central Kitchens fed evacuees and firefighters: donate.wck.org/…
Donate to the Latino Community Foundation's NorCal Wildfire Relief Fund. Or undocufund.org.
American red cross: www.redcross.org/…
and Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Center for Disaster Philanthropy 2019 California Wildfires Recovery Fund.
Money seems most useful.
This evening we’re back home safe. Everything’s fine. Except it really isn’t. Our hearts have huge chunks missing. People. Land. Forests. Animals and birds. Creeks and ponds and rivers — yeah we’re happy to be home. And we’re arranging our packs for the next time… before the next time there is so much to be done.