Los Angeles Fires
As many of you may know I live in Los Angeles. Last night while writing my article (Tuesday the 7th) a fire appeared upwind from my house. The smell of smoke crept in as the fire grew till it consumed my every breath. Suddenly my watch screamed. My house is on the edge of an evacuation zone it yelled.
I packed up, grabbed Kita (my dog), and left for my girlfriends house.
I’m ok.
I had another article in the works. It’s almost done. I put it on hold because the fires felt like the hotter topic.
This is my second time evacuating for a fire. I mistakenly thought that a second time would make it less scary. I thought that I would be able to focus on what’s important, and spend less energy panicking.
I can officially report I was very wrong.
My cocktail of fear and adrenaline hit fast. My brain melted to porridge before I was on my feet.
What experience did provide; however, was preparedness. I’ve learned that preparedness is not a cure for fear. Its a preventative measure, like a flu shot. It protects you from stupid mistakes when you are scared, rushing, and numb (or dumb).
It gives you time to make VERY REAL, VERY TOUGH decisions while you’re calm and thinking rationally.
So here’s my advice on how to plan for you inevitable evacuation.
Have somewhere in mind you can go
This only takes a couple minutes, just somewhere different.
You can also google your closest evac shelter if need be.
Have all of your important personal documents in something that makes them all easy to grab at once. You don’t want to sift through documents while evacuating.
Look around your house/room/apartment make a mental list of things you can’t re-buy. Trinkets who’s weight can’t be measured on a scale.
You can’t take everything. Grieve, and consider these decisions in advance.
Toiletry bags.
I’ve been going back and forth between my Girlfriend’s house a lot. As a result much of my toiletries are usually packed. This made things very easy in that department.
Pets
During an evacuation pets are going to get very agitated. Make sure they are out of the way during packing.
The most important thing to bring for your pet (dogs in my case) is something with their scent on it. As much as possible in an ideal scenario. Toys, and bedding.
Clothes
Think of a way to pack up as many clothes as possible in a short period of time.
When the event comes you can’t predict weather conditions, and you’ll be glad to have brought an ample selection with you.
You have a whole car after all. Fill it up.
The major difference between this evacuation and my first is how much I filled my car.
And the fact that I brought my car at all (Whoops).
Generally you have more time than your gelatinous mush brain thinks you do.
I benefited tremendously from packing early. I have an app that I use to track and notify me about fires (my local big disaster) [Watch Duty]. The app notified me of the fire’s debut at only 10 acres. Regardless I was up and packing a to-go bag just in-case.
Once the situation had clearly escalated is when I started filling trash bags. By the time I got the official evacuation warning my car was mostly full.
Finally thanks to COVID we had an ample supply of face masks. You absolutely want to wear these for fires. Air quality around fires rapidly deteriorates, and unless you like getting large particles of ash, char, and burnt plastic (a carcinogen) in your lungs I plead for you wear a mask.
Should I stay or should I go?
Leave.
Even if your house is totally safe. Don’t endure the hazardous air quality. Do yourself a favor and take a small vacation.
It feels… frivolous to commit to leaving your house on such short notice.
“Is this worth it?”
“Am I being a burden?”
“Will I feel silly leaving if nothing happens?”
No.
You deserve to be safe.
Stay safe everyone. I’ll see you all next week!
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