In a message dated 10/23/2007 4:07:12 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Yes, we  are all packed and waiting for an evacuation order here in the
northern  section of San Diego. I am hoping that we will not have to leave
the area,  but...



The news tonight reported 514,000 people have been evacuated in San Diego  
and 950,000 in Southern California, which makes this the largest evacuation in  
American history since the Civil War. President Bush is arriving in San Diego 
on  Thursday and FEMA is on the scene making hollow announcements. When NBC 
and ABC  national news arrived today, they expected to see a scene similar to 
New Orleans  at Qualcomm Stadium (our football field). Instead, they found 
roving bands of  clowns, jugglers, kids playing checkers, medics taking care of all 
the infirmed,  and 10,000 happy people tailgating in the parking lot. We 
expect 12,000 people  tonight. The only problem the emergency shelters are having 
is a shortage of  porta potties and showers, which will be solved by 
overcoming personal shyness  and opening the Chargers' shower facilities. The losses to 
property is not  precisely known, but at least 1,250 houses have burned, over 
250 commercial  buildings, at least one City of San Diego, Historical 
Landmark, the 1870 Sikes  Adobe burned, and thousands of people lost everything. The 
outpouring from the  public is astonishing, as much so as the organization and 
willingness to carry  out official direction.
 
The San Diego Archaeological Center in San Pasqual Valley was completely  
surrounded by enormous firestorm flames, but the fuelbreak spared the building.  
The nearby Battle of San Pasqual (Mexican War of 1846) State Park visitor 
center  lost part of the public toilet and a building wall. 
 
The Wild Animal Park animals are safe and the condors have been relocated  to 
a safe sanctuary. The elephants and giraffes are out in a field that is a  
very long way from brush or flamable materials. Needless to say, the place is  
closed indefinitely.
 
The only colleague who is known to have lost a house is Mike Baksh, who is  
president of Tierrra Environmental and former president of the San Diego  
Archaeological Center. But many colleagues live in areas that were evacuated and  
hit pretty hard by the Witch Creek and Harris Fires, so who really knows the  
toll right now?
 
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.



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