White Rock Town Hall meeting 6-30-11

Here are my notes for those who couldn't pick up the stream of the townhall meeting in White Rock.  It was very hard to hear some of the speakers, unfortunately, but here are the main points I picked up on:
From Fire Chief Tucker:

• Will not end the evacuation until some time after Saturday.
• Los Alamos Canyon is still a problem, and they are doing a back burn there.
• Santa Clara Canyon is a big problem.
• There is a good perimeter around the lab, so no one needs to wer their radiation suits :-)
• The closest points to White Rock is in Frijoles Canyon. and though there is little fuel between the two, this is an active, unpredictable fire.  They will back burn there to provide as much protection as they can.

From the Type 1 Commander of the North part of the fire:

• They burned from 501 through the ski area to provide a fire break.
• They continue to work to flank the fire on east and west sides, using the Cerro Grande burn area on the east.
• They will also be tying Pipeline Road into the perimeter around town.
• The fire ran four miles north yesterday right through Santa Clara and beyond.  They might be able to utilize the South Fork burn area as a break going north.

Sharon Stover announced that TNT Firewroks corp has pulled all firewroks from 500 distributors in the state.

From Police Chief   Torpey:

• They are planning for return specifics.
• Essential support staff (like utilities and hospital staff) will be brought back first, before everyone else, so they will be in place when others return.
• Wait patiently for instructions. They will try to give 24-hour warning before letting general public back.
• Make sure you follow instructions when they come.

The director of Los Alamos Medical Center said:

• They have minimal staff to treat fire-related injuries, but are not open to the public.
• Most doctors are taking calls.  If you have a question, start by calling your primary care doc.
• Remember that there is severe smoke, esp. 10pm to 6am, so take that into consideration when returning.

Russ Gordon announced that the concert for tomorrow (Friday) will be held at 7:00 pm at the Espanola Plaza (across from the old car dealership).  It is a band from Austin, TX.

The lab rep said:

• Any employees who experience personal loss due to the fire should contact the folks at the Emergency Operations Center.
• They are working on making sure the environmental aspects and facilities aspects are safe before people come back.
• Paychecks went out today, except for subcontractors. If you are a subcontractor, contact your employer.  If that doesn't work, contact the EOC.
• They are doing surveillance flights, not real-time, but will at some point post information.
• BC/BS should be called if you are not getting your mail prescriptions.  Mail is delivered to Pojoaque high school, 10-3, daily.

The Chamber of Commerce rep said:

• There are business loans available from LANB at 4% for those needing help during this period.
• They have business interruption insurance and discussions online to discuss things of this sort.
• There are some facilities available to set up temporary work space, one in WR and one in SF, for Chamber members.
• Contact them with questions.

The County Council has info on the county web page: http://www.losalamosnm.us/Pages/default.aspx
Since this is a "normal" disaster, our ability to get recovery funding will be different than under the special circumstances of Cerro Grande. Your best source of recovery is your own insurance company.

That's what I got.

Aerial view this morning

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/weather/wildfires/bob-martin-special-skyranger-web-report

Bob Martin special Skyranger Web report: krqe.com

Appreciating KRQE and Bob Martin!

Morning meditation

This morning in White Rock my eyes and throat and nose are burning a bit from the acrid smoke that descended on us some time in the night.  Note to self: just when it starts to cool down outside, close all the windows... But it was good to sleep in my own bed, and to be hear to pay bills and do laundry, and water my parched plants a bit. And all the news about the fire last night seemed positive: back burns west of the Lab seem to have been very successful.  God has been good in so many ways!

My dear friend Brenda reminded me of one specific way God has been good to us when I spoke with her yesterday.  She asked me to imagine what would have happened if the Las Conchas fire had hit us without the Cerro Grande fire providing a burn scar around the town.  Well, this came so fast and furious, I am sure if it had not hit up against the Cerro Grande burn area, and had all that fuel the CG fire consumed, it would have been much worse. So, once again, we see God's providential care for us where we least expected it. 

I continue to find myself grieving a bit over our losses-- loss of beautiful, precious scenery and spots we loved that will never look the same again. Driving into the smoke yesterday, and knowing behind it these precious places were burning was difficult. And it is disconcerting to have your community displaced. Having friends and church family scattered all over is disorienting, somehow.  But in this all, God is good.  We see the amazing community He has made us part of, and recognize the preciousness of the life He has given us.

The smoke is an irritant, and we'll see how we manage or if we need to head out again.  But it's still good to be home.

Las Conchas news conference update

This is really intended for my friends from this dear, quirky community of Los Alamos. We are back in WR, and I just listened to a streamed conference with fire management/city folks and residents of White Rock and Evacuees.  Several folks weren't able to hear it, so I thought I'd list several items that I heard that seem important. So below, listed in no particular order, are some items of interest:

• These men facing the stress of the situation (Police Chief, Fire Chief, County Administrator) were facing citizens for the first time.  They were visibly moved to see the people they are protecting.  The fire chief and police chief hugged. You have to love our community!
• The evacuation of the hill took just about 3 hours.
• They are beefing up the police/national guard presence on the hill: you cannot be out after dark in either LA or WR without being stopped and questioned.  We may have to go out tonight just to check it out!
• Some known burglars who did not evacuate, were watched and encouraged to leave town as soon as they came out of their homes..  :-) Gotta love our police!
• All the folks from Aspen Ridge are at St. Catherines' in ABQ, and the folks from Sombrillo are at either Espanola Valley Nursing Home or Santa Fe Care in SF.
• The Gordon's concert will be held in Espanola.
• There will be no fireworks here on July 4, but if weather conditions change, we might do some on labor Day
• If you are needing to refill prescriptions you can get help by calling 661-8900 (I missed who this was, unfortunately)
• If you have a fire/evacuation specific question, you can get info in WR at the 311 center.  out of town you can call 662-8333.
• 17,000 acres of Bandelier have burned-- roughly half of the park.  One back country cabin was lost, but no other structures, and the ruins and buildings in the lower Frijoloes are fine, though they are still fighting in Frijoles Canyon.
• The 3% containment is from a backburn along lab property.
• They are watching for (and finding) spot fires anywhere from 1/2 mile to 2 miles from the fronts of the fire.
• They are building breaks east and west of the fire, which is burning due north towards Santa Clara Canyon.  They hope to squish it, and wait for opportunity and good terrain to get out in front of it.
• Things are still touchy north of Cochiti, and more homes in danger there.
• It is burning about 8 miles from jemez Springs, but they have done alot to spare Sierra Los Pinos subdivision and are hopeful there.
• Any evacuees that need rides either to medical/pharmacy things or to get back to town once people are allowed back can get rides from Atomic City Transit by calling them.
• WR is not considered under any danger at this time, however, they do have an evacuation plan, and people should be ready to go if something unexpected happens.
• They will do these every day at 2:00 until things are "normalized".  If I can go or view, I'll try to post notes if people want me to.

Most horrifying:  during the conference, the fire cheif interrupted to say the fire on the ski hill had jumped the break at Camp May road, trapping a group of firemen.  He left, but called in to say everyone got out safely.  But they are really fighting on the ski hill right now, so pray!

And funniest, most "LAPD" moment: The library manager had two points.  First, they have arranged recipricol privileges with Santa Fe Public library for people to get books while they are evacuated.  And she said, "Where but Los ALamos would people be worried about their library privileges during a wildfire evacuation?"  Adn secondly, she thanks the hundreds of folks who returned books on their way out of town during the evacuation.  Where else, indeed?!

That's it for now.  Just the things I jotted down during the meeting.

Los Conchas Fire update

Gentle Readers,

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes as we are watching our community undergo yet another wildfire.  The Cerro Grande fire of 2000 was heart-breaking.  The problem, and the good thing, too,  this time around, is that we know more and everyone was better prepared.  However, we are still in a wait-and-see pattern, and watching what will burn.  Dave, Marilyn and I are at my parents' home in Rio Rancho, just north of Albuquerque.  We are safe, and right now our home is not being threatened.

For those of you who don't know, the fire began about 12 miles from town on Sunday afternoon, and within 12 hours had grown to more than 30,000 acres.  Now it stands at over 60,000 acres.  Its eastern boundary is at Route 4 along National Laboratory property.  Its southern boundary is now pushing through Camp May and the Pajarito Mountain Ski area.  I have to admit that I can't type that without tears. This was the only ridge spared in the Cerro Grande fire, and became a symbol of hope for our community.  To have it burn now, with its old-growth forests and almost 30 years of memories is heart-breaking.

Below are the best links I've found to stay informed.  You will find pictures, video, and updates at these spots, and this is where I keep informed:

Los Alamos Monitor (local paper)
NM Fire Info (an inter-agency information site with official updates)
KRSN (local am radio on the web)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (where Dave works and a jewel of the US research facilities)

It's hard for me to express the emotions of this time.  Suffice it to say that there is a sense of heartbreak that is intense, but also, a knowing of hope.  Today I went to the local branch of gym I belong to, without the requisite "pass", and they welcomed me with open arms. A woman approached me with tears, offering room for others who have evacuated.  People seem to rise to their best at such times, and it gives me hope!

And God is the Father of all hope.  We are not despairing, though we grieve.  We know that God's fingers are running through our precious places, and working His will there.  His fingers are sifting our worldly things, and removing the dross and the things that tie us too tightly to this world and its things, and redirecting our gaze to the things that are important. (Thank you, Amy LAwrence, for using that illustration when you lost your home 11 years ago in Cerro Grande!  You are still a hero of mine!)

For those who would like specific prayer requests, here are some from my heart:

• Pray for the hundreds of firefighters- some volunteers- putting their lives on the line to turn something of tremendous ferocity.  Pray for their safety, and their success.
• Pray for those who are losing their homes and possessions, that God would bless them, and cause them to turn to Him in their time of need.
• Pray for those who can minister to others in this time--  which is all of us!  May we see the needs around us and step up top fill them.
• Pray for God's mercy in stopping this fire.  He is mighty and able.
• Pray for all of us undergoing loss to turn to God and seek His face with fresh vigor. 

Thank you, Gentle Readers!  I will update as I am able.