Tag: emergency

Preparations

It appears to be human nature to procrastinate and avoid the potential dangerous realities that lie ahead. We are certainly guilty of it. One thing we have decided is to get our proverbially acts together on many levels. Today’s job is to prepare for possible evacuation. The fires in Los Angeles make it very clear. And having seen the beginning plumes of the Palisades Fire as it began while sitting in an office, I need to be realistic.

Today has been taking a lot of time for me – Josh is easy enough. I, though, need more to keep my little mind from going nuts. He can put together a backpack of stuff, and I need more than a back pack . . . I need to pack papers and documents, electronics and their attachments, cameras, musical instrument(s), basic art supplies, writing supplies. Inky (our dog) needs food and water. We also have put together our hardly gourmet instant food pack, water. The cars have full gas tanks.

Why these preparations, some of which will be completed later today? The winds are returning over the next two days and so is the possibility we could be burnt out. After spending hours today, I am glad we are doing what we are doing as it would be a terribly slap dash and not well thought out way have to beat a hasty run for safety.

Busy Morning

I am not sure where things will end up.  This morning I woke up to the smell of smoke filling the house.  Somewhere, a fire.  The sound of the winds was up, curling around the house and howling.  It is fire season and Santa Ana wind season in my neck of the woods.  Phone calls from SoCal Edison warning of potential power shut-offs and calls from the school district letting us know schools are closed.  I am drinking my coffee to wake up enough to figure out what to do.  Writing all this is a way to clear the fog from my morning brain to make a list of what to pack in case we are evacuated.

Confused, Hands, Up, Unsure, Perplexed, Young

To the Rescue

to-the-rescue

A few weeks ago when I was in a local open space, fire trucks and and ambulances were in the parking lot and along the street.  Someone hiking had passed out or had been injured – I never found out the whole story.  The park was not closed, so in I went.  I heard the noise of a helicopter nearby.  Deep in the canyon below came this medivac helicopter, a small craft capable of navigating in narrow canyons.  It moved so quickly I was lucky to get this shot.