WHERE ARE THE ANGELS?

Tuesday September 1, 2009

WHERE ARE THE ANGELS?

The name Los Angeles (as in the city and county where some of the major western wildfire are blazing) is Spanish for The Angels. I have also often read that the nickname for the city of L.A. is the city of angels. I certainly hope that the county and city are ready to live up to their name. All available angels are urgently needed to assist their namesake area through a difficult time.

The residents of the Los Angeles area are facing some tough times in the coming days. The wildfires just continue to grow despite the hard work and best efforts of the firefighters. The last report puts the number of acres burned at 100,000. More and more areas are threatened. More and more people have had to evacuate their homes with very little notice.

Several days ago I wrote about the danger to several critical communication towers. The fires are within a few miles of these towers now. There is very little which can be done to protect these towers because of the rough mountainous terrain. I urge everyone to make a plan now of how they would communicate with loved ones if phone reception is lost. Instead of heading back into a dangerous area to find family, you should pick a safe meeting place well outside the fire area for everyone to head towards. If you have to leave your home or work unexpectedly due to the fires, please leave a very visible note stating that you have gone and where. Many people are injured or lose valuable time searching for family or friends who have already departed.

Yes all the angels are needed. Perhaps you will encounter one in the midst of the dense smoke which is covering the area. If you don't see one materialize when needed then it is time for you to step up and strap on some angel wings. Many of your neighbors are in distress. You should aid and comfort them in any manner you are able to.

Here are just a few examples of how you could help.
-If you have time then volunteer at a shelter
-If you have money consider donating some of it to a local relief group
-If you have extra clothes or household possessions share them with a family who has been burned out
-If you love animals give a home or supplies to an animal shelter

Where are the angels? They are everywhere. All you have to do is catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror after an unselfish act of assistance and you will find one.

There is more evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

When a Firefighter Dies

Monday August 31, 2009

WHEN A FIREFIGHTER DIES


Today I can't be funny, humorous, or even witty. Yesterday 2 firefighters lost their lives while fighting the California wildfires. My heart is heavy. Fire Capt. Telmund Hall, 47, of San Bernardino County, and Firefighter Specialist Arnaldo Quinones, 35, of Palmdale, died after their vehicle rolled down a mountainside. They were trying to escape the intense flames of the wildfire they had been battling.

I didn't know these men but still I mourn their loss because I have known men like them. I have seen them in action during many emergencies. They are at their best when conditions are at their worst. These are the type of people who run towards danger when everyone else is running away. We do not have enough of these individuals on this earth. When a firefighter dies it is a loss to us all. My condolences to the Hall and Quinones families.

Also my sincere sympathy to all the firefighters who were a different type of family to these men. I know you hurt and the day will come when you will need to grieve for your firefighter brothers. Today is not that day. There is still a massive wildfire blazing out of control and you have to go back into the heat, smoke, and danger to battle it. This is what we need for you to do to keep us safe. This is what your fallen brothers would want you to do.


I will end this blog by listing actions you can do to help firefighters during an actual fire emergency. I first posted these on the August 14, 2009 blog but they are worth reading again.

STAY INFORMED
Keep a battery powered radio turned on for the latest emergency information

DON'T FEED THE FIRE
Remove anything close to the outside of your house which could fuel the fire
(example: bring in outside furniture)

Remove or open your curtains

Push any upholstered furniture away from windows and glass doors

Turn off the air conditioning

TAKE ACTIONS WHICH WILL HELP IN FIGHTING THE FIRE
If you have a ladder which reaches the roof you should put it in place

fill up a bathtub and some other containers with water

since smoke reduces visibility you should keep a light turned on in each room

close your doors and windows but don't lock them

EVACUATE BEFORE CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS
secure pets for easy transport

disable electric garage doors so they can be opened manually

back your car into your driveway and keep the car keys on your body

There is more evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Daughters

Sunday August 30, 2009

Daughters

My daughters live far away from me and I miss them. I am fortunate to able to talk with them frequently, but still I wish we were all closer and could be together more. However, I am very lucky to have a group of "girls" (young women from mid 20's to mid 30's) who I am friends with. I have decided that given my advanced age of 53 years I should be able to mother them whenever I am lonely, bored, or just want to. There was never a group vote that I would be allowed to assume this role. I just started getting into their business and so far they haven't kicked me out. Of course this might be somewhat influenced by the vast superiority of my wine to theirs.

Yesterday we celebrated four of the girls birthdays at my house. I had decided that we would pretend the girls were checking into a luxury hotel for the day. A real luxury hotel would have been nice; but, unfortunately, there was neither the money nor the means for a posh visit somewhere. Instead I dug out mementos from every great hotel I have visited and scattered them around my house. I tried to make the pool area look like the Beverly Hills Peninsula. I cleaned the area, put out wine and water, arranged and draped lounge chairs, and even placed small yellow flower arrangements on the tables.

Shortly before the party was to start I was considering the pool area. I was pleased with the results of my efforts (even though it honestly didn't look much like the Peninsula pool). Unexpectedly a huge black cloud floated directly over my neighborhood and I felt a few drops of rain. "Oh No!," was screaming inside my head as a ran around snatching up towels, flowers, and wine, "I wanted it to rain on the California daughter not here!"

My youngest daughter lives in Los Angeles and, because of the raging wildfires there, I have been concerned for her and many other Californians safety. I had been hoping and praying for rain to give this battered section of the country a much deserved break. If only it was that easy to change the course of a destructive weather system. No such luck!

The low humidity and record high temperatures of Southern California have supported the outbreak of multiple dangerous wildfires. One fire, which is being called the Station Fire, has already destroyed at least 7,000 acres, is threatening 2,000 homes, and is within miles of critically important communication towers. If these communication towers are lost things will become much worse in the fight to control the wildfires. TV and radio signals would lose the capacity to broadcast and update the public about current fire dangers. Also lost would be the ability to dispatch signals for emergency personnel and fire fighters in the field.

There were at last count 8 major blazes in California. Evacuation orders for La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Glendale, and some areas of Big Tujunga Canyon have been issued. Still there is great reluctance among the public to make concrete plans for an evacuation. I am pleading with you to please wake up and realize that yes it could happen to you. I urge you to choose 10 things you would try to evacuate from your house before going to bed tonight. If you make this decision now you will know what to grab should you have to evacuate quickly.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

P.S. The rain cloud at my home in Florida went away and we had a lovely time.

THE BEST RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT EVER! (or my time interviewing firefighters)

August 14,2009 Friday

Some areas of evacuation
Wildfires-People living in the California areas of Swantoon and Bonny Doon have been ordered to evacuate due to the Lockheed fire

Some areas of potential evacuation
Wildfires-any California residents living close to the numerous wildfires blazing in the state
Flooding-coastal east coast residents (especially South and North Carolina) still need to be prepared for possible flooding

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE IN THESE AREAS PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION.


THE BEST RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT EVER! (or my time interviewing firefighters)

While I was researching and writing my book (The Wine and Chocolate Evacuation Plan), I had to spend a great deal time alone. Just me and the struggle to find the correct sequence of words to express the ideas in my head. It was difficult. My friends would call and try to lure me into their fun activities (the beach, shopping, every exercise class imaginable). Even worse was when these friends would just go on their fun outings without trying to lure me away from work! I would feel sorry for myself and go to the kitchen to find something to eat. In my defense I really do think and write better while I'm chewing.

When I let it be known I intended to start interviewing firefighters my friends suddenly reappeared. Imagine that. There were subtle and not-so-subtle hints about the possibility of them accompanying me "to help". Perhaps I was petty but I decided this was a job I needed to do alone. I had information to gather, questions to ask, and facts to check. I also had a good 5 pounds of extra weight gained while I was writing and they were exercising. So sorry tan, thin, and toned friends you have to let me win occasionally.

Of course, I really did gather some important information about fires. If you live in an area under a fire threat this is some of the advice I received from firefighters.

STAY INFORMED
Keep a battery powered radio turned on for the latest emergency information

DON'T FEED THE FIRE
Remove anything close to the outside of your house which could fuel the fire
(example: bring in outside furniture)

Remove or open your curtains

Push any upholstered furniture away from windows and glass doors

Turn off the air conditioning

TAKE ACTIONS WHICH WILL HELP IN FIGHTING THE FIRE
If you have a ladder which reaches the roof you should put it in place

fill up a bathtub and some other containers with water

since smoke reduces visibility you should keep a light turned on in each room

close your doors and windows but don't lock them

EVACUATE BEFORE CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS
secure pets for easy transport

disable electric garage doors so they can be opened manually

back your car into your driveway and keep the car keys on your body


I realize I probably have forgotten to include some vital piece of advice. All of you cute firefighters are encouraged to write me so we can arrange interviews. I have also decided to allow any of my friends willing to gain 5 pounds the chance to accompany me on the next round of interviews.

Additional evacuation information at www.wineandchocolateplan.com