Wildfire in my hometown: Info & Evacuation Checklist

Information on the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs...

I have had many people contact me to see if we're okay, so I just want to start this blog with: WE ARE OKAY!

Saturday a wildfire started in the Colorado Springs area. That day, the wind moved the smoke thickly into the city and breathing conditions were not good. We could see flames in the mountains for many days. For many days, there were not structures lost. Yesterday (Tuesday) the fire rapidly moved into the city requiring 32,000 people to be evacuated. Many structures were lost and the evacuation looked like those "end of the world" movie scenes. Traffic was stopped in all directions. People had their vehicles filled with their essentials. The air was thick with smoke.

This picture is all over FB...I hope that guy is evacuating.

Currently we live outside the evacuation zone and safely outside of the evacuation zone. The fire is in the Northwest side of town. We live in the Northeast side of town. There are three major north/south roads between us and the fire: I-25, N. Academy, and N. Union.

With that said, the fire is relatively close. The evacuation zone is currently 5.6 miles from our home. Ryan works one block outside the evacuation zone. The fire (by road) is 8 miles from our home.

Woodmen Road is at the NE of the map. We are 5.6 miles from that point.

The major concern for our family is the smoke, as it is for all residents of Colorado Springs. Haley and I do have asthma. Until this week, I general only use my inhaler once every other month. I have finished one inhaler, have a back up inhaler and currently trying to fill my prescription. There seems to be a shortage being this has brought on breathing issues for many. Haley & Megan were out of town until yesterday so as of yet, Haley is breathing good.

The recommendation from the health department is to stay indoors, do not exercise outside, close windows & doors, use air conditioners and recirculate the air in vehicles. If you do not have AC, they suggest finding refuge in Malls, Libraries or a friend's home. Many do not have AC in Colorado Springs. We do have AC, but it does not work well. We have record high temperatures which do not help the fire either. Our plan is to find refuge with family that does have working AC today.

To the local Colorado Springs Friends:

Our home is available to evacuees. We have many beds to share. If you need to park a camper or trailer in front of our home you are welcome to do so.

To prepare for pre-evacuation:

 Last night we discussed our evacuation plan. I thought I would share it. Please feel free to comment on other things that could be helpful in this time.

Our family has a meeting point. During the evacuation yesterday, phone lines were jammed and text messages were not getting through. We have plan A, B, C. The first meet up place is our closest family's home, but because they are so close, they could be apart of the same evacuation zone. The second place is the next closest family's home. The third is a church far enough east that there will not likely be in a evacuation zone. During the evacuation they do not want people using cell phones unless it is an emergency so having a meeting point is crucial.

Prioritize Evacuation Checklist:

It is recommended that these items be kept inside the home. Do not load your car being you run the risk of it being broken into.

• Register your cell phone with reverse 911 at http://www.elpasoteller911.org/
• Photograph or Video the home. 
• Open cupboards and draws and move things to photograph as many things as possible. 
• Bookshelves, hutches and storage benches, tool boxes, and medicine cabinets.
• Don't forget storage rooms, items under beds and closets. 
• TAKE CAMERA WITH YOU
• Think about uploading your photos or video to an online, secure storage such as photobucket or youtube. You can post a video on youtube or photos online with a password as a private file.
• Inventory & photograph high value items:
• Sterling Silverware
• China
• Jewelry
• Tool
• Guns
• Furs
• Pack Photos & Legacy items and recipes that CANNOT be replace by insurance.
• Important family documents:
• Insurance documents
• Car Titles, Mariage Certificate, Birth Certificates, SS Cards, Passports, Banking & Investment statements (with value & account information)
• Wills, estate documents, Power of Attorney, Custodial paperwork
• Laptop and/or CPU (User IDs & Passwords for different website)
• Back up all computers before moving anything
• Pack:
• Cell phones & chargers
• Medicine (don't forget over-the-counter meds)
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, muzzle, ID, food, carrier, bowls, bed & even a toy)
• Clothing (3 days worth)
• Comfortable Shoes
• Children's comfort items
• Games/activities for kids (a few movies to play on laptops)
• Have all car & house keys near the front door
• Jewelry
• Guns & Ammo

*If you have evacuated, please register with Red Cross that you are safe & well at: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php

To our family and friends...

With all that said, we are well outside the evacuation zone. We, however, are being prepared and understand that with the hot temperatures around 100° F and humidity below 15%, this fire has the potential of being very dangerous and move very quickly.

If anything changes with our status, I will update FB and hopefully be able to blog.

How to Pray...

Pray for:

• RAIN
• Safety of our firefighters and forest workers
• More reinforcements for other cities and states to provide relief for our firefighters 
• Police reinforcements for evacuated areas as well as help for possible future evacuating
• All locals being breathing conditions are so poor
• Evacuees that they find safe refuge for themselves and their pets

Planes dropping slurry on the fire.

How to Help...

Locals: please remember DO NOT DONATE at the fire command or at the evacuation centers. Public safety concerns prevent those locations from taking donation.

RED CROSS:

To contact the local Red Cross, call 719.632.3563. Monetary donation can be made online at: httpL//www.redcross.org

CARE AND SHARE:

Monetary donations can also be made to Care and Share at: http://careandshare.org/. Food donation will be taken at Care and Share at their facility at 2605 Preamble Point until Friday, June 29 from 7 am - 6 pm then on July 2nd donation can be made from 8 am - 4 pm. Walgreens is partnering and are also taking donations. Care and share is also looking for volunteers, please contact Isaac Ring, Volunteer Manager at 719.528.1247 x4604. They are inundated with calls and they stated their VM box is full. Be patient and call again later. DO NOT just show up.

GOODWILL:

Donations can be taken to all locations.

Offering Assistance:

Those wanting to offer assistance can visit: http://www.helpcoloradonow.org, http://www.redcross.org or http://www.tsacs.org/registertoring