We're fine

We're fine.

Here's an update (mostly) taken from an e-mail I sent out to a good friend.

Yesterday morning an evacuation was called for just about a mile or so north of our house so we decided to pack up and go to my mom's (she's out in the desert). We headed out and after forty minutes of driving they announced on the radio that the freeway was shut down. Sooo, we turned around drove back. We got home and were checking status and our power went out (!!) and then they added another evacuation just to the east of us. We gathered up some phone numbers of people we know in the city and figured that if we get turned away again, we'll go stay with someone else. Thankfully the road was open and we were able to get across, but they weren't kidding when they said the winds were high. I've never seen anything like it. It was terrifying. They said gusts up to 70mph and I believe it. A few times I thought the windows in the van were going to blow out. The emergency call boxes had been blown off their bolts! It was awful.

Last night our neighborhood was added to the voluntary evacuation list and they were talking during the press conferences about how worried they were about our neighborhood in particular, so we're really glad we got out. It looks like our house isn't in any immediate danger right now, but we're not headed back any time soon.

My dad went by the house this morning and said everything looks fine. The wind was calm and there wasn't too much smoke in the air, not like before. He said that almost the whole neighborhood was empty. There were no cars driving around, just national guardsmen. Thank goodness they're there.

It was so smoky at our house. The boy and I are both really hoarse and have bad coughs. Ugh. I tried to call the doctor but the office is closed (evacuated too). If we're still doing poorly tomorrow I might find a doctor out here.

We're very thankful we're here and VERY thankful we were able to get out when we did. Now we have a mountain range and a stretch of desert between us and the fires. The four of us are safe and we have our most treasured possessions with us. Thousands of people have lost their homes and there are more in danger now, so we are so lucky.