w00t w00t booyah

I don't really think FEMA did everything in California. Much like I don't think they did everything in Hawaii, neh?

Here's the original. Snatch it for posterity

A good 9,000 people ended up here, at Qualcomm Stadium, and if this was the endgame of a disaster, it would be a disaster that seemed possible only in the idyll of California.

There was a banh mi picnic in the parking lot, beef empanadas on the chow line, Caesar salads, cartons of fresh Starbucks House Blend, free magazines, toys for the kids, cots for grandma, pizza by the slice or, if you wished, the box. There was a man playing jazz guitar, a blues band, massages and acupuncture.

"It's better service than when you go to a restaurant," said Gary Potter of Rancho Penasquitos. "Every time you turn around, people are asking us if you need something -- water, food, anything."

"They thought of everything," said Erin Kelley, his wife. She was particularly impressed by the massages being offered in the parking lot.

A steady stream of volunteers brought blankets, potato chips, diapers -- anything they thought someone might need.

The center is being operated by the city of San Diego but almost everything consumed within it was donated.

The place was so opulent relative to the standards of disaster relief centers that for some it was an improvement in living conditions.

( Here's the whole original )

I am so damn proud of my state right now. I won't deny it.

The Red Cross sent me a blast this morning with some figures:

As of 2pm, October 24, 2007: From Santa Barbara to San Diego, about 8,000 firefighters attempted to extinguish more than a dozen wildfires that had scorched at least 645 square miles (1,670 square kilometers), an area twice the size of New York City, in the past four days. Five people have died and 1,664 structures have been destroyed.

Since the latest wildfires broke out Oct. 21st, about 321,ooo residents have been ordered to leave their homes, and an additional 500,000 people have left voluntarily, making it the largest evacuation in California's history.

Your American Red Cross is providing the immediate emergency needs for those directly affected by the fires.

The American Red Cross Response as of Midnight, October 23, 2007:

Shelters/Evacuation Centers Opened: 24

Shelter Overnight Stays: 9,481

Meals Served: 9,028

Snacks Served: 14,973

Total Number of Red Cross Workers: 3,352

Total Number of Red Cross Volunteers: 3,264

Workers Given Training: 2,976

The emphases are mine, but I think you get the point.

You want to live here, you gotta work. But if you work, there's enough to go around. You'll pay the taxes, you'll take the shit jobs...and when things go bad, we got your back. Everyone has to work like a dog to make it here - and we all know it.

You hear about the nutcases who think all the ills can be traced to "illegals" using the system.

The rest of us - and we are the vast majority, no kidding - aren't saying that. We just know how stupidly expensive it is to live here.

And we share, readily. You want to come here? Come on in. Jump in, paddle like hell like the rest of us and welcome to the party.

Sunrises are NOT supposed to be electric ORANGE. Not.

And yes, using your Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner's "air cleaning" setting does do just that. Leave the windows open all night at your peril down here - next time Jim wants some cool air, I'll pack him in the freezer. *hack*

That said, I remember the days after 9/11. There's no comparison. We were BONED for weeks after 9/11. And don't run off to Google California and 9/11 - there were no terrorist attacks here. At all. EVAR.

I'm going to work, have been all week, and likely will have little direct consequence from any of these fires. Seriously -

There are two big reasons I believe we're not getting the Katrina treatment.

1. We're ready for disasters. We're going to fall into the ocean at any minute, remember? I've got an earthquake kit - so does everyone else. Think of how many people have evacuated into shelters - hear of any riots or shortages? No? Gee. We spent some money getting ready. What a concept.

2. Fires, while destructive? Don't whip an entire topography into froth like a hurricane or a tornado does. Also, afterward? Fires leave areas pretty sterile - they don't leave standing water waist-deep to grown scary shit when the sunlight hits it. They may close roads, they won't destroy them down to the bedrock. You can get in and out of those areas - torando or hurricane damage? Not so much.

http://wonkette.com/politics/fires/as-california-burns-refugees-party-chill-314198.php

Another thing - the fires are in areas all around Los Angeles. Some of them the poorest parts of our state, so don't focus solely on San Diego's northern suburbs (which are also Duke Cunningham's old stomping grounds). Chula Vista and environs have been, in my experience, grindingly poor. San Bernardino lost most of its tax base when the bases closed in the eighties and nineties and haven't recovered yet. Santa Clarita is a bedroom community still stinging from that massive truck pileup that closed the 5 a few weeks ago. Temecula might be an up and coming, but folks have lived there for years on nearly nothing - and the oldsters get hit just as hard as the newbies. Fires don't care. Areas north of Malibu? Not a lot of industry up there, yanno. Malibu itself? See #1.

It's going to be a good year for the reconstruction business.

I hope a lot of homeowners have read their policies carefully, because some of these fires down south of us have been determined to be arson - and that changes the landscape a bit when it comes to insurance claims. Some do not cover "Acts of God" - but a lot of them also don't cover "damages due to criminal activity." That's right - down to the ground, and the only place to go is FEMA. Yay LA Riots.

So the folks who have kibitzed the most about poor folks taking advantage of the system - are going to be at the mercy of it themselves. Karma does exist. (And watch that NOT hit the FOX network.)

Gulping down my breakfast and hitting the road - will post updates and better direct assistance links when I get them.

Original Here.

LUSH Helps Victims of the Recent California Fires

Come in to any L.A. area or Scottsdale LUSH shop and purchase any item to be donated to the victims of the recent fires in Southern California, and LUSH will match your donation! So, if you purchase three pots of Dream Cream to be donated, LUSH will match that donation with an additional three pots of Dream Cream. They're going 100% matching on all products donated now through the end of November.

Our own LUSH employees will be going around to various shelters, hotels, and other places where displaced persons are being housed, and they will be dropping off products and explaining their use. Of course, many of our products are great for this purpose, but there are those that are more practical than others at the moment. Some suggestions are:

Dream Cream
Helping Hands
Shampoo bars
Solid facial cleansers
Shave creams
Soaps
Shower gels


Every L.A. area LUSH (Pasadena, CityWalk, Beverly Drive, and Santa Monica) and LUSH Scottsdale are participating, so come on in today! Feel free to link, forward, or otherwise pass on as you see fit. If you have any questions, you may contact me here, or call LUSH Santa Monica at 310.255.0030.

--

The "me" is chowyunsmut and I've told you she's wonderful many times already.

I also don't need to remind you that I love bath fizzies, right? Right. So do a buncha other people.

Original Here.

LUSH Helps Victims of the Recent California Fires

Come in to any L.A. area or Scottsdale LUSH shop and purchase any item to be donated to the victims of the recent fires in Southern California, and LUSH will match your donation! So, if you purchase three pots of Dream Cream to be donated, LUSH will match that donation with an additional three pots of Dream Cream. They're going 100% matching on all products donated now through the end of November.

Our own LUSH employees will be going around to various shelters, hotels, and other places where displaced persons are being housed, and they will be dropping off products and explaining their use. Of course, many of our products are great for this purpose, but there are those that are more practical than others at the moment. Some suggestions are:

Dream Cream
Helping Hands
Shampoo bars
Solid facial cleansers
Shave creams
Soaps
Shower gels


Every L.A. area LUSH (Pasadena, CityWalk, Beverly Drive, and Santa Monica) and LUSH Scottsdale are participating, so come on in today! Feel free to link, forward, or otherwise pass on as you see fit. If you have any questions, you may contact me here, or call LUSH Santa Monica at 310.255.0030.

--

The "me" is chowyunsmut and I've told you she's wonderful many times already.

I also don't need to remind you that I love bath fizzies, right? Right. So do a buncha other people.

My CSA provider?

Has been evacuated.

Tierra Miguel and they're wonderful.

You want to send them some love, I won't argue with you.

"Imagine San Francisco emptied. Completely."

That's how many people have been displaced down here.

I gotta go call some folks today. I'm not busy enough. I'm surrounded by plenty of evidence, but the phone's not ringing.

--

Folks, you want to know what you can give someone who has lost everything in a fire?

Give them security.

Bring them home with you. Feed them. Let them have hot showers with the good shampoo and bath fizzies if they're up for it. Have a hot meal waiting for when they're done. Wash their clothes while they're in the shower. Wash *everything* they brought with them if it needs it. Keep yer yap shut about people getting what they deserve...NOBODY gets what they deserve...and nobody asked for this. Say "I'm so sorry" and let it be.

If you know how, help them place an insurance claim. Provide a pad of paper and writing tools for them to carry around with the claim number, their adjuster's name and phone number and any other identifying marks. Provide a larger one for them to begin the inventory of their lost possessions. If you can spare it, give them a digital camera to take back with them when they go back to their house to begin the documentation process.

Before they go, pack them a sack lunch and make sure they take drinks with them. Oh, and a basic first-aid kit with bandaids and antibiotic ointment in it.

Give them respect.

Listen. Take notes, if need be. Offer to make phone calls to people who should know where they are and that they're okay.

Don't loan anything you aren't willing to just wave goodbye to. It's not worth the hassle. Really - I have a funny thing about loaning anything out. I just don't do it. Flip side of that is that I always have a ton of stuff spare - thank my mad mad packrattery skills, but I do. I won't begrudge you much - but I won't loan you anything, either. It's mine - or it's yours. Period.

Give them the creature comforts.

Food, clothing, shelter - okay. But don't forget - they need books, music and diversion as well.

After the first house fire, I had two books to read the entire summer. Love Story and The Andromeda Strain. Seriously. THE ENTIRE SUMMER. Three records - only one of which I could play. Television? What we could get off the air and that wasn't much more than a very faint receive on two channels, one of which wasn't in English.

If they do knittery, get them tools,yarn and patterns. Get the hands busy.

You got a spare mp3 player? Load it and pass it on.

Go find some spare paperbacks. Oh, and don't forget cookbooks either. Everything is gone - and the rebuilding will include replacing basic reference materials. Got a ton of freebie recipe cards? There you go.

They will have lost all of their holiday decorations. All of them. ALL OF THEM. Start thinking. (See knittery. They can start making new ones right away if they have materials to do so.)

A number #1 box from IKEA has everything to refit a kitchen. Consider purchasing one or two to have on hand. I don't see them on the website, but if you visit a store - they're there. Ask where they've put them this year.

If you pack a mug, pack coffee, tea and sweeteners. Thing to stir with. Think about what you are packing for them - are you including everything that makes it possible for them to use it? Like, batteries? Pre-loaded spice shakers are a big plus.

A jacket. A sweater. A pair of shoes that they can wear sorting through junk.

Go through what you have and divest mercilessly.

Anything you have in good working condition is better than nothing.

Make sure they know how to reach you when they forget something. They will.

They will want to go HOME in the worst way, with no home to go to - warn them ahead of time this is going to hit like a ton of bricks within a week or so and not freak out when it does.

The fact there are a lot of sympathetic ears does not make it any less miserable. Percentages don't make a hill of beans when your home is 100% gone. And I don't care if you had a mint or a pot to piss in - it was yours and now it's GONE.

--

I gotta go make some phone calls.

"Imagine San Francisco emptied. Completely."

That's how many people have been displaced down here.

I gotta go call some folks today. I'm not busy enough. I'm surrounded by plenty of evidence, but the phone's not ringing.

--

Folks, you want to know what you can give someone who has lost everything in a fire?

Give them security.

Bring them home with you. Feed them. Let them have hot showers with the good shampoo and bath fizzies if they're up for it. Have a hot meal waiting for when they're done. Wash their clothes while they're in the shower. Wash *everything* they brought with them if it needs it. Keep yer yap shut about people getting what they deserve...NOBODY gets what they deserve...and nobody asked for this. Say "I'm so sorry" and let it be.

If you know how, help them place an insurance claim. Provide a pad of paper and writing tools for them to carry around with the claim number, their adjuster's name and phone number and any other identifying marks. Provide a larger one for them to begin the inventory of their lost possessions. If you can spare it, give them a digital camera to take back with them when they go back to their house to begin the documentation process.

Before they go, pack them a sack lunch and make sure they take drinks with them. Oh, and a basic first-aid kit with bandaids and antibiotic ointment in it.

Give them respect.

Listen. Take notes, if need be. Offer to make phone calls to people who should know where they are and that they're okay.

Don't loan anything you aren't willing to just wave goodbye to. It's not worth the hassle. Really - I have a funny thing about loaning anything out. I just don't do it. Flip side of that is that I always have a ton of stuff spare - thank my mad mad packrattery skills, but I do. I won't begrudge you much - but I won't loan you anything, either. It's mine - or it's yours. Period.

Give them the creature comforts.

Food, clothing, shelter - okay. But don't forget - they need books, music and diversion as well.

After the first house fire, I had two books to read the entire summer. Love Story and The Andromeda Strain. Seriously. THE ENTIRE SUMMER. Three records - only one of which I could play. Television? What we could get off the air and that wasn't much more than a very faint receive on two channels, one of which wasn't in English.

If they do knittery, get them tools,yarn and patterns. Get the hands busy.

You got a spare mp3 player? Load it and pass it on.

Go find some spare paperbacks. Oh, and don't forget cookbooks either. Everything is gone - and the rebuilding will include replacing basic reference materials. Got a ton of freebie recipe cards? There you go.

They will have lost all of their holiday decorations. All of them. ALL OF THEM. Start thinking. (See knittery. They can start making new ones right away if they have materials to do so.)

A number #1 box from IKEA has everything to refit a kitchen. Consider purchasing one or two to have on hand. I don't see them on the website, but if you visit a store - they're there. Ask where they've put them this year.

If you pack a mug, pack coffee, tea and sweeteners. Thing to stir with. Think about what you are packing for them - are you including everything that makes it possible for them to use it? Like, batteries? Pre-loaded spice shakers are a big plus.

A jacket. A sweater. A pair of shoes that they can wear sorting through junk.

Go through what you have and divest mercilessly.

Anything you have in good working condition is better than nothing.

Make sure they know how to reach you when they forget something. They will.

They will want to go HOME in the worst way, with no home to go to - warn them ahead of time this is going to hit like a ton of bricks within a week or so and not freak out when it does.

The fact there are a lot of sympathetic ears does not make it any less miserable. Percentages don't make a hill of beans when your home is 100% gone. And I don't care if you had a mint or a pot to piss in - it was yours and now it's GONE.

--

I gotta go make some phone calls.

Go refresh that map I just posted.

Some of the fires are now marked "contained" with itty bitty GREEN fires.

The surreal...is much amusing.

Because everywhere smells like burning.

The car is now covered in fluffy gray ash as well as the brown from yesterday. NASA TV is showing satellite pictures of the west coast instead of archival films.

I've called the DART team here at the South Bay ASPCA - so far, they haven't activated.

Last night at sundown, the sky was blue overhead - and orange fifteen degrees down from straight up, to the horizon.

This morning, the winds are back up and the skies are crystal clear again.

Here's the Google Map of the Day - wow, cutsie widdle flames. *facesmacks*

Note most of the fires are in pass areas. Anytime you see a freeway with no connections to either side, and no cities to either side? Only reason is because they can't build because there are big friggin' MOUNTAINS on either side. Trust me.

I really have to feel for the folks in Santa Clarita - not two weeks ago, they had to close the one freeway that fed that area (the 5) when the one tunnel was blocked by FLAMING DEATH a semi-truck pileup that killed a number of people. They are NOT the lucky ones, no matter what they'd like to tell you.

Go open that map. I'll tell you where I am.

See the cities of Santa Monica and Inglewood on the map? Where that last "D" in Inglewood is? Move your pin below it. That's work. Right on the ocean, yup.

Now - trace the 405 down to it. It intersects a freeway drawn straight down, north to south, just above the word "Long Beach." (That's the 110, BTW.) That's home. Finding Jim's work is harder, because it is not near any identifying marks...think just a bit south of Whittier and a tad west.

We are verily surrounded. But not in any danger.

I am also vastly amused that Hemet is visible, but Manhattan Beach is not.

Because everywhere smells like burning.

The car is now covered in fluffy gray ash as well as the brown from yesterday. NASA TV is showing satellite pictures of the west coast instead of archival films.

I've called the DART team here at the South Bay ASPCA - so far, they haven't activated.

Last night at sundown, the sky was blue overhead - and orange fifteen degrees down from straight up, to the horizon.

This morning, the winds are back up and the skies are crystal clear again.

Here's the Google Map of the Day - wow, cutsie widdle flames. *facesmacks*

Note most of the fires are in pass areas. Anytime you see a freeway with no connections to either side, and no cities to either side? Only reason is because they can't build because there are big friggin' MOUNTAINS on either side. Trust me.

I really have to feel for the folks in Santa Clarita - not two weeks ago, they had to close the one freeway that fed that area (the 5) when the one tunnel was blocked by FLAMING DEATH a semi-truck pileup that killed a number of people. They are NOT the lucky ones, no matter what they'd like to tell you.

Go open that map. I'll tell you where I am.

See the cities of Santa Monica and Inglewood on the map? Where that last "D" in Inglewood is? Move your pin below it. That's work. Right on the ocean, yup.

Now - trace the 405 down to it. It intersects a freeway drawn straight down, north to south, just above the word "Long Beach." (That's the 110, BTW.) That's home. Finding Jim's work is harder, because it is not near any identifying marks...think just a bit south of Whittier and a tad west.

We are verily surrounded. But not in any danger.

I am also vastly amused that Hemet is visible, but Manhattan Beach is not.