By Linda Warren
Texas is in the worst drought I’ve seen in my lifetime. Last month the headline in the newspaper read: Texas is on fire. They weren’t exaggerating. Wildfires have sprung up all over the state. We haven’t had any rain to amount to anything in six months and a burn ban has been in effect for months. About three weeks ago a man decided to burn his trash in a barbecue pit and sparks ignited the dry grass and the fire took off, well, like a wildfire. It burned 6,000 acres and thirty
homes before firefighters contained it. The blaze was 15 miles from our home. We could see smoke billowing into the sky. It was scary.A lot of people had to leave their homes at a moment’s notice. They didn’t have time to grab valuables. The fire was at their back doors and the authorities got them out as fast as possible. Pets were left behind. That broke my heart. Days later their owners were looking for them. So far all pets have been recovered (lot of happy pictures in the papers). Authorities cut barbed wire fences so cattle and horses could get away from the fire.
Several counties have pulled together to help those who have lost everything (perfect
opportunity to clean out my closets, but donating to the Red Cross was the best. They were there helping everyone). Some home owners didn’t have insurance and will have to start over from nothing. It’s heartbreaking. But everyone has found a place to stay. Now the rebuilding starts.I read about these disasters all the time, lately there seem to be so many, and my heart breaks every time I do. This was the first time it was so close to home. As we watched the smoke and situation unfold on the news, I wondered how I would feel if someone knocked on my door and said I had to leave NOW. If I had to leave everything behind, I’d be devastated, but I’d fear for my life too so I’d go just like everyone else did. Everything is replaceable except your life. But I wondered if I was allowed to take one thing, what would I take?
After much thought, I decided I’d yank this computer from the wall and scurry away with it. It has 12 years of writing on it, family photos and business information. When I told my husband this, he just shook his head. It’s fun to play what if, but the sad truth is the people involved in the fire didn’t have time for anything. Just run. Get out. And that’s what they did. They followed orders and, thank God, not one human life was lost.
Oh, there was a happy ending. This little fella was saved.
So what would you take if you had to evacuate your home at a moment’s notice? That night I emailed all my books to myself and tons of photos. I’m not paranoid or anything.
Don’t forget the free weekly online read at eharlequin , The Cowboy Next Door. The story kick off The Hardin Boys series starting in August.
My best,
Linda
37 comments:
How weird! I've only recently started emailing myself photos and copies of the manuscript I'm working on as a sort of "back up". I use dropbox as well, but it just seemed to give me a bit more security.
To be honest I think most things are replaceable. As long as I've got my kids and my beloved, everything else can be replaced!
Linda, my thoughts are with you. Being a very dry continent, Australia inevitably has some kind of terrifying bushfires every year. Last time they hit hard outside of Melbourne hundreds of people died, unable to flee their homes as the eucalyptus-fueled flames engulfed whole towns. Horrible stuff. And it's had a real impact on the community here. I hope that you get a good long burst of rain and that Texans continue to remain safe during this scary time. The only thing I need for sure if something bad happened is my husband, but I would probably run out the door with my laptop tucked under my arm.
There are many things I would want to take, need to take, but ultimately, if I could get my family and our pets out, I could deal with the rest, I suppose. I'd mourn our family photos for the rest of my life, and I'd love to take the laptop with so much of our history and important documentation. At least I know that I could get to my ebooks again. There's the good news about having them remain online. One of your books is my newest ebook acquisition, in fact.
Stay safe, Linda! I hope the rain comes soon and the heat breaks a bit!
I would have to grab four things....I have two portraits of my parents when they were small children that I would have to grab and then I would have to grab the picture my great, great aunt painted just for me a couple of years before she died and I would grab my laptop.
Linda, I'm so glad no one died and that the fire didn't reach you! My heart goes out to those who lost their homes.
I think the only thing I would grab if I had to leave the house because of fire would be my purse, if there was enough time for that. After that, I'd just be happy to get out alive, along with whoever else might be visiting at the time.
No single possession is worth a human life.
Scarlet,
You're so right. Everything is replaceable. It really bothered me that so many pets were left behind.
Every night I email what I've written that day to myself and I have everything on flash drives too. I've been thinking of checking into Dropbox. I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Sarah,
It really hits home when it's so close and you can see the smoke. I felt bad for all those people. Everyone is praying for rain, but so far nothing. Lakes, ponds and rivers are getting really low. I've never seen the Texas landscape like this. It's scary here in central Texas.
Yes, we think alike, as long as I've got the hubby, I'll be fine.
JV,
Thank you! I don't have everything on my laptop, but I will now. Much easier to carry. I have portraits I'd want to grab off the walls, but it seemed the people living in the fire's path had to go immediateoly. Still, I don't think I could leave my pet behind.
Hope you enjoy the book.
Ellen Too,
Oh my, those portraits would be hard to leave behind. I hope the drought is not so bad in your area. Stay safe.
I feel your pain.
Here in Canberra, Australia we had a ten year drought – that’s ten years of the most extreme level water restrictions – you couldn’t water your garden, you couldn’t wash your car – people were collecting shower and dishwashing water in buckets to reuse.
In 2003 a bushfire destroyed a huge portion of our city – the national capital. Until you’ve lived through that there’s no way to describe it. It was so surreal having helicopters water-bombing over our house and burning embers dropping in our garden in the middle of the city, in view of Parliament House.
Our first concern was getting our photos into the car for when we evacuated. It’s amazing what’s important when you only have a couple of minutes to decide.
I feel both so awful for and so angry at people who accidentally set fires that destroy lives. There was one on the other side of Australia recently – and it was an off-duty police officer who caused it.
Mary,
Thanks. Everyone followed orders and that saved a lot of lives. On the news and in the paper it said not one prized possession is worth a life. Thankfully, everyone understood that.
Like you, I'd try to grab my purse.
So,
How awful. Ten years! My heart goes out to you and all the families who suffered through that. If Texas doesn't get rain soon and the ponds and lakes dry up, it will get really bad. But oh, I'm praying, not ten years.
Hope you continue to have some rainy days. That phrase sounds heavenly now
Linda, that's so heartbreaking. Such a tough year for so many people.
MN might have tornadoes and blizzards, but we don't get wildfires. In fact, we've had so much rain this season, we haven't had to water the lawn once.
I'd grab my dogs and cats if I had to evacuate quickly. I'd probably want go for my box of old family photos next. I hate even thinking about it. Hope the situation improves very soon.
Son, sorry. I left the n off your name. Typing too fast.LOL
As your state's next door neighbor, I can attest to the dryness being the worst I've seen in a while. While most of South Louisiana stays wet because of humidity and rain, the northern part (where I live) is essentially as hot and dry as Texas. We've had a few fires and have been under the burn ban for months too. Every day I look at the skies and pray for good soaking rain. Hasn't happened. Spotty periodic showers at best. As bad as I hate tropical weather, we need a big ol depression to settle over Texas and come up to Louisiana.
I hate to hear those horrible stories of destruction, Linda. And the same from Australia. Mother Nature is fickle and she unleashes on us without care sometimes. The only silver lining is the care shown by others during these difficult times.
I suppose the most important thing to me would be my family and pets. If I had enough time, I'd take the computer, my photo albums and the blanket my gram crocheted for me.
I'm praying for rain, Linda. Maybe the tropics will help us with a depression (nothing more, please)
Liz,
The fire has really brought out the best in everyone here. It was in a rural area and donations of clothing and household items were collected at a small church close by, but they received so much stuff the church couldn't hold anymore. They asked people to donate to a rebuilding fund and we did that too.
The hotels and motels let people involved stay free the first night and then gave them a reduced rate. The outpouring of help has been wonderful to watch.
Let's hope for that depression soon.
Hi Linda ~ I knew about the drought and fires in Texas. I have been hoping that all the authors and internet friends I know have been safe. I'm hoping you get a nice long gentle rain soon.
Mother Nature has sure been very active and fickle this year. At one point we had over 200 wildfires in Northern Alberta ~ one of them burnt 1/3 of the town of Slave Lake. At the same time Southern Alberta had some floods. We didn't have near the flooding that Saskatchewan and Manitoba did ~ a whole lot of farmers did not get to plant any crops this year in those two provinces. North Dakota suffered with some flooding from the same rivers.
I would be absolutely heartbroken if I had to leave my two cats behind. I would regret losing other things but the loss of my cats would be devastating.
Linda--My heart goes out to all who are suffering from the drought and its effects. Our house burned when I was a child and I still recall the trauma of losing everything--except my dog. My dad threw the dog out the window along with armloads of clothes and then he grabbed the slides (photos) and that was all he could get out.
Here in NC, we are also in a terrible drought. The coast is experiencing peat fires that have burned for more than a month. We are in the middle of the state and smoke has come and gone from that area to us.
All I keep thinking is FLASHDRIVE to keep everything on back up. Sometimes computers are left at home when things happen but a flashdrive can be put on a key ring.
Having just had to help the inlaws downsize and watch them get rid of stuff with a lot of emotional attachments, my husband and I have decided we need to change how we look at things. But when it comes to photos and writing, I am thinking of putting flashdrives in my safety deposit box right now!
Peace and stay safe, Julie
we live in a rain forest, but there is the fear of forest fires here also. Last year we had a really bad drought, this year we're doing much better with the rain. We have a turtle pond which I would hope would remain safe. I would help my husband and son grab our 3 dogs and my wallet. I would make sure the duck was loose and could fly away (she doesn't let you hold or catch her). Everything else can go. Life is precious.
Helen,
Oh, we could use some of your rain. We're watering trying to keep our grass, trees and shrubs alive. We're going to faint when we get the water bill. If the situation doesn't improve, we probably won't be able to water anything. Another silver lining is that it's sparked my imagination. I'm thinking of having a wildfire in my next book. LOL
Kaelee,
Wow, Canada is having wildfires too. They seem to be all over the country. It's heartbreaking. I read in the paper the other day that the world is coming to an end in October. I usually roll my eyes at that sort of headline. But it certainly was food for thought.
I'm like you, I wouldn't leave my pet behind.
Jeannie,
How terrifying that must have been for you as a child, but how fortunate to have such a great dad. Usually the pet is the last thing anyone thinks about. Yay for Dad! In moments like that it's hard to think at all.
Julie,
NC, too? What is happening? I usually dread hurricane season, but now I'm wishing a mild one whips up soon and brings some rain.
Since the fire, I've become a flash drive maniac. I now have everything downloaded and keep them in my purse. A storage box is a great idea. Thanks.
Snookie,
You have fires in a rain forest? I never realized that. I guess no one is safe from wildfires.
Yes, let the duck fly away.
Hi Linda ~ I just read that tropical storm Don is forming in the Gulf of Mexico and if it moves north without becoming too big of a hurricane it may bring you some rain. Let's hope Don does bring rain without too much wind.
Hugs to everyone experiencing fire and flood. This year has seen unprecedented bad weather worldwide. What would I grab as I run out the door? My husband and children's hands. And my dog and cat. But if I had a moment, I'd pick up my external hard drive with all my manuscripts and photos on it. If I had another minute (and another hand) I'd take the ceramic cookie jar from my childhood that is a dear reminder of my late mother.
Kaelee,
Thanks. We heard that on the news tonight too. Praying for rain here.
Joan,
The fire burned for a week and I constantly thought of all the things I would hate to lose. I thought of putting the quilt my grandmother made in the car. And my art work. My husband shook his head and reminded me the fire was going in the other direction. He's so grounded and practical. Me, I tend to panic.
If the worst were to hit here I would grab, after family, my document wallet, photo albums & then anything else I could.
Marybelle,
That's a good plan. I'm hoping the weather conditions improve and we can just concentrate on good books to read.
Oh, Linda, I love your words...."hoping weather conditions improve and we can just concentrate on good books to read".......it is sad to hear of fires, drought, etc. and my heart goes out to those involved. Keep safe!
Jackie,
Thank you. With all the sad news in the world, it's great to get lost in a wonderful Harlequin romance.
Linda, my heart goes out to all of you affected by thise wild fires! The closest we ever came to an evacuation was during a flood some years ago. It was the worst flood in over fifty years (in Eastern Germany). But we were lucky enough to stay in our house as the flood had already peaked.
Claudia,
It seems none of us are immune to these disasters. They're happening more frequently and all over the globe. I'm glad you didn't have to evacuate.
I'm German on my dad's side and we have relatives who still live in Germany. No sure where, but I always thought that some day we'd go for a visit and locate long-lost relatives. So far that hasn't happened. Often think about it though.
Thanks everyone for stopping by and sharing your thoughts and concerns. I appreciate it. As I type this, a severe storm is in the Gulf and headed for Corpus Christi. Rain is in the forecast. Yay!! We're all hoping and praying.
Thanks everyone for stopping by and sharing your thoughts and concerns. I appreciate it. As I type this, a severe storm is in the Gulf and headed for Corpus Christi. Rain is in the forecast. Yay!! We're all hoping and praying.
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