Fritzy 22's Journal, 22 Sep 19

Hope there’s a break soon! 

The wind hasn't started yet. That's when the fires seem to start, when there is a strong north wind. Supposed to be windy tomorrow, and I probably won't sleep at all until the red flag warning is over. 

Thinking of you 

🙏 

I hope they don't have to turn the power off. Hugs and prayers 

Where are you? Are there any evacuation shelters where you can go? Are you under a hurricane watch?  

are u in the West? I will be praying for you sweetie 

I am so sorry this time of year is so stressful. Fire is a terrible force. I wish there was some way to help you feel better. We don't have fires to worry about here, but I have been close enough to watch. At my inlaws in BC, Canada it is an almost constant threat in the summer. I remember once being there and the closet fire was visible to us up in the mountain just behind their house. The helicopters bringing water from the lake, running round the clock, could be heard all night long for nearly a week. We knew a slight wind shift and we would have to try to collect all the animals and go. I am so thankful for all those protections and alerts and the huge force of people ready to spring into action should a fire start where you are. I will pray all the time for you, friend. We will pray for rain and low wind and no lightening. What are they saying is the level of danger now? Hang tight. I sometimes find it helpful to focus on the part of life I can control when so much around me is out of my control. We can control how much we eat and how much we move. I wish I could pop down and have that cooking party! You have the casserole dishes ready? 😁 ❤️✔️  

I am in Northern California in the Sierra mountain foothills. The danger is from the high winds they are expecting so the utility company will turn off power to hopefully prevent fires. North winds specifically. Last year's Camp fire (about an hour 15 minutes drive from my house) was caused by electrical wires and it destroyed the entire town of Paradise. I looked up the map on the utility website and my neighborhood is right in the middle of the areas they expect to shut off power. One problem is that once the wind is over, it can take days to get the power back to everyone. Seems it's easier to turn off power than turn it back on. I'll just keep checking the updates. While I don't like the idea of power going out when it's 95 degrees outside (and probably inside), I worry more about an actual fire starting and trying to evacuate 4 cats who run from me when they know I am trying to get them into a carrier. I have one cat who has torn a hole and climbs into the middle of the box spring under the mattress in one of the guest rooms. It's not supposed to happen until late this afternoon and evening. So I have flash lights by the beds and candles in all the rooms. I keep the car in the driveway this time of year because if the power is out and I have to evacuate I can't open the garage door without help. 

I have a 10 inch battery operated fan that I bought for my ranch trips (8 D batteries), I also have a small generator powered by a 12 volt battery. It helps. Generator powers my refrigerator for 16 hours and my cell phone — forever. Better than nothing. Best of luck. It’s hard having these things hanging over your head. No matter where we live there are things like this to deal with. I will surely be thinking about you. 

Praying for safety. 

Cats sure can be inventive when they want to be. Good luck...💨🔥 

Regarding the cats— I am not a pet owner, but under these critical circumstances why couldn’t you take the PRECAUTION of rounding them up, putting them in a walking harness and caging or confining them now. you could use The animal walking harnesses and take them out one by one on a leash to spend time out of the cage. Then in a crisis, scoop and run. I would figure out a temporary, alternative plan. That alone would relieve some of your stress but do it now before the crisis hits. They may not like it but they will get over it.. 

Hope you are well.  

Hoping the rains come and the fires do not. Stay safe. 💚💜💛 

@Fritzy, got you in my thoughts and prayers. The fires make me really anxious as well and we don't have the complication of having the power shut off completely. I'm with Kenna about maybe relocating the cats into a single room so you can catch them quickly, if needed. Reach out to your neighbors as a support system, you really are all in this together. I keep CB radios around (as opposed to FRS) so that I have a wider set of options in emergency from when I used to drive across the country alone. They work no matter what, unlike cell phones. Sometimes, being able to talk to someone makes it easier to get through it.  

Kenna and Katsolo - I have 2 cats that can't be in the same room. One stalks the other and she is terrified of him. I have 3 cats in the master bedroom right now with carriers in case I need them. I think I'll put the other cat, the "mean" kitty in the guest bathroom later in the day if it starts to get windy. Don't have any kind of walking harness for the cats, can't imagine any of them doing anything but struggle to get out of a harness or leash. I bought a large carrier after I was evacuated a couple years ago. 2 or 3 cats can fit in it. But it collapse! There is a good neighborhood network, we look out for each other. Liv and Shirfleur - everything is fine right now, no wind at all. But it's not expected until after 1pm. No rain forecast any time soon. 

Kenna - Thanks for your advice! I've put the 3 boy cats in the master bedroom. They all get along very well. I've put barriers around the bed so they can't get under the bed - every ottoman and footstool in the house. Put stuff in front of the closet doors in the master bath so they can't get in there and hide. They are happy enough. The girl kitty, Callie is in the other part of the house. I've set up a place for her in the guest bath for tonight. She used to stay in there before I adopted her, she was a neighborhood cat who spent most of her time at my house and during stormy weather I'd bring her in and she loved the guest bathroom. I finally adopted her and made her an inside cat when her "owners" moved away and left her. I have to keep reminding myself that if the power goes out, that doesn't mean I'll get evacuated. That will only happen if there is a fire. Hopefully a fire won't happen unless somebody decides to barbecue or something when the north winds are blowing 50 miles an hour! 

Just one more thing. If you loose power you won’t have any lights to rely on unless you have made provisions. A head lamp (not expensive) leaves your hands free to deal with other things like getting your lanterns set. I change the batteries twice every year at daylight savings time. Then I just put the old ones in a box to be used for remotes, everyday flashlights etc. don’t forget a battery operated radio. 

Sounds like you are doing everything you can. Breathe, sista! It probably does feel good to have the critters contained... Something to not worry about. Hoping the weather will cool and you can be calm in spirit. ❤️❤️❤️