Emergency Program Note
POSSIBLE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION:
As I write this, something like a third to half of my county is on fire. We had a lightning storm a few days back -- an incredibly rare event in California -- and it sparked off several wildfires, which have been burning and growing ever since. The fire is "zero percent contained" at the moment.
We are personally in a very safe zone, so we are in no danger at all (as of now). The fire is at least 10 miles away from us, and it would have to burn its way through an entire large town/small city before it got to us in any way. So while I have friends who have already evacuated (and possibly have already lost their homes), we are not in such danger yet, and most likely will not be at all.
However, I cannot guarantee that my ISP -- a local small business -- will not be affected in the next 48-72 hours. Or the wires they use to connect to the rest of the world, for that matter. So there is a chance that this site could suddenly go dark at any moment.
This is just to warn everyone of the possibility.
I will update the situation as it changes, but just wanted to give everyone a heads-up.
Stay safe everyone, and thank your local firefighters for the hard work they do.
-CW
Don't worry about the column! Just take care of yourselves and be very safe! I'll be watching the situation and praying for you all ...
Oyé Chris,
I feel ya. I live at 7200' in Green Valley Lake, Inland Empire, the highest town in California with more than 30 full timers. It's carved out of the San Bernardino National Forest and it's "one bar territory - if the wind is blowing in the right direction."
On Saturday all of the sudden there were choppers with water nozzles hanging underneath buzzing the lake, and two fire trucks roared by up to the campground at the end of the road. Turns out we had four separated lightening induced fires which they pounced upon and neutralized after drawing and dumping about 20,000 gallons of lake water on them.
"Earthquakes, Forest Fires, Mudslides and Freeway Shootings...
Signs that God is getting serious about destroying Southern California."
#SSDD
[1]
Forget what Board Mother said. Worry DEEPLY and INTENSELY about the next column.
Semper Fi...this is bigger than all of us.
[1]
K, Elizabeth has the "prayer" thang covered. I'll work my end of it and have a chat with Satan (he goes by the name "Chuck" and we play poker every Tuesday night.) I'll say, "Comrade Chuck," (we're also both in the local Democratic Club,) "Let this Weigantian guy, er, Weigant LIVE. He has a lot more mischief to cause in this lifetime."
So now that there's DOUBLY no worries...make sure you review Joe's big acceptance speech tonight
And, oh yeah. I haven't forgotten how to render a proper Army salute, and that's what I give our local Firefighters. I served in the Army decades ago -- but these guys and gals are serving me every damn day!
I remember living through the 2003 fire season in Big Bear Lake (a little East of GVL.) They evacuated the whole town but when I found out that there was nothing exactly "mandatory" about evacuating I let my Lady pack up her kids and all the priceless family photos and whatnot and evac "off the Hill" as us Hillbillies say. I stayed in our double-wides right by waters edge, tending our critters (two dogs and four cats.) I knew that if fire threatened me I'd just grab the critter crew and wade out into the lake until danger was passed.
It was great! I got to run red lights because there were only a handful of folks in the Valley. I read politics for 10 hours everyday at my Real Estate office, ate 4,500 calories a day and went quote overboard with the PPV Movies.*sigh*
And then everybody came back.
...and went QUITE overboard with the PPV...
Yes, but it was only seriously smokey for one day out of that whole week.
Another year I put up my BFF#2's whole family when fire burned right up through the houses across the street from him, in Running Springs 2007. It was like the 60's, maaan, communal living. Let Grandma and the wife sleep in my bed, me and Homeboy crash on the Living room floor, and kids and critters elsewhere scattered.
It sounds horrendous, doesn't it? But hell I'd rather deal with this or )the 30 seconds and it's over) earthquakes than, say, bugs and humidity and hurricanes in Florida, or the bitterness of Winter in our Badlands, or such-and-such.
I come from Detroit...or DEE-troit. A town full of tough people, survivors and visionaries. Yet they're also about the warmest people you'll ever meet. I think adversity makes us Humanoids better and more loving/understanding.
Now I live in the mountains with the folks I'll be trapped with when the Big One happens and there's SO much liquifaction destruction "down the Hill" that noone will worry about us Hillbillies, a-yup!
I am blessed for the company that I keep
So.
Don't everybody comment all at one time.
So far, so good here.
Google "CZU Lightning Complex Fire" to see maps, etc.
If it jumps Route 9, that's bad. If it jumps Route 17, the whole county may burn.
-CW
Are you located EAST of the 17?
Thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts.
My Day Three review is now up:
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2020/08/20/democratic-convention-day-three-a-more-perfect-union/
check it out!
MtnCaddy [12] -
We're more "in town" by the coastline. The fires are up in the mountains, in heavy forest. Which is why we're pretty safe for the time being. Technically, we're east and south of 17.
-CW
Chris
I'm behind reading. As I said on your prior commentary, I'm so sorry about your friends. Please do not give even a tiny second thought to the small stuff, and keep yourself and friends and family safe first and foremost! :)
MtnCaddy
10
So.
Don't everybody comment all at one time.
Heh. Fun posts! :)
Ditto.