Hell is other people. And California wildfires.
Don’t let the two compound misery
I am an ex-Californian. What’s happening now in Los Angeles County is the main reason why. We lost our house to a California wildfire in October 2017.
The memories and deep-rooted feelings from that experience are returned to the forefront of my thoughts as we witness the hellscape firestorm that is rampaging through Southern California right now. It’s an awful sight. It’s devastating now and will continue to devastate as the fire danger continues to spread in the coming days … and weeks … and months … and years.
This “new normal” is never going to be an acceptable “normal” to any Californian. The Santa Ana winds are not going to stop after January. Or after 2025. This fresh hell will act on repeat. For beyond the rest of our lifetimes.
Here is what you should know if you are in the possible path of these wildfires, or if you care about anyone in the possible path of these wildfires.
- Don’t wait. Get out. Mandatory evacuation in your area or close to your area? Get out now. Recommended evacuation in your area? Get out. Now.
Here’s why: People are idiots. If you evacuate late with fire and embers all around you, you will be in line with thousands of others. Are you all going the right way? Who knows the right direction? Are you sure it’s these idiots in front of you blocking your way and behind you blocking your way who DID NOT HAVE THE GOOD SENSE TO EVACUATE before the situation turned dire? Do you think you will enjoy contemplating how stupid you were to leave late and get stuck with the masses and have no choice but to follow blindly? It’s a terrible feeling, especially if you’re responsible for the care of anyone else traveling with you.
People are also assholes. How long before panic overtakes the nerves of one or more Jim-Bobs with their monster trucks who decide it’s everone for hisself, fuck it, and smashes his way past or through the thousands waiting to leave? Don’t give Jim-Bob the chance to squash you on his way out. Get out before Jim-Bob does.
Be prepared. Have your go bag ready. Know what you need and more importantly, what your loved ones need. Get it in your gassed up and ready vehicle and go. Grab only your most precious items (phone, laptop, cash, weapon(?), clothing, food, pets, pet food, lots of water, medications) and get out.
This might be nothing. Why all the fuss? I can ride it out or wait til it get’s really dicey.
No.
Do not be that guy. Do not be a needy, desperate evacuee by choice. There will be many tragic, needy evacuees that will need assistance from friends, family, neighbors, first-responders, etc. who need to be able to focus their limited capabilities to best serve the least able. Do not be a selfish idiot who drains resources from those really and involuntarily in need.
After you have evacuated or while you are evacuating it will occur to you that you hope your neighbors or friends got out. It will further occur to you that you wish you could have done something to help them. It would at least be good to know their state of affairs. If you are an idiot waiting around to see if this is really happening, you are wasting precious time you could be using to help others. Others that aren’t as capable as you and may need assistance. Be that guy. Don’t spend weeks and months agonizing over what you could have done but didn’t.
Assess how long you have to leave and be ready to leave then. If you’ve got 90 seconds to spare, you might be able to bang on someone’s door to make sure they’re doing the same. Even if you get no answer, you can feel better knowing that they are probably out and you won’t worry about them.
Know where you are going. If possible. If not, go anyway. Have a plan. It’s far easier to have a plan before you go lizard brain. Don’t wait to make a plan. If you land somewhere safe, it may only be short-term safety. Be ready and able to hop again.
If you get out, you will experience some amazing, moving, touching human kindness. People and communities will rally in ways you never conceived to help you and many others get through this tragedy. Your heart will be touched while your head is spinning and your stomach churning.
And then it will get dark again. Resources will be in short supply. Housing will be ever more difficult to come by. The rich will be able to bid for desireable housing in the near term. Most won’t be able to. Is that you? Expect a major life disruption that will necessitate hard and unpleasant decisions. Your life will not be the same if you lose your house and most of your possessions in a fire. Some of that will be good; most of it will haunt you for the coming years.
One good: All that decluttering you never got around to? Problem solved. You are free of that burden. Your memories are intact, even if the talismans that triggered those memories are now gone.
But losing your home and nearly everything you own is tragic. You will experience a whole new reality. For perspective, yes, this is awful. But remember others have experience worse: War. Famine. Disease. Cancer diagnosis. Losing a loved one to a violent crime. Losing a child. These tragedies are all far, far worse than what you are experiencing. Grieve an appropriate time and then turn the corner to stop feeling sorry for yourself. You made it out. Some will not. Many others are experiencing worse.
Go on. Help where you can. Express your gratitude. Check in with others. Go on. Do what you can to throw cold water on this fresh hell.
Beware the scammers, by the way. You will be reached by organizations that will help. Somehow, scumbags will also find ways to contact you and try to separate you from your personal information and ultimately your funds. Be suspicious of anyone trying to get your info.
Be safe. Be helpful.
