Day 1 as evacuees. We will be sure to to give better details in the next few days, but I wanted to get this blog up and started as we have had many requests for a central place to update our friends and family.
We were very quickly evacuated from our neighborhood yesterday. We did have a little notice as a pre-evacuation status to get some things packed. To let those of you who aren't sure know there are three levels of statuses. The lowest is "Pre-evacuation" which is, "hey, you might want to go home and start getting a few things together. "Voluntary Evacuation" is next. This is like, "Go home and get together your valuables. There is a slight chance that your area MIGHT be threatened, so be ready in case you do have to evacuate." Finally, we have "Mandatory Evacutaion." This is just as it sounds... cops drive through the neighborhoods on their loud speakers saying something along the lines of, "This area is under mandatory evacuation. Please leave the area immediately. It is no longer safe to be in the area. Leave your home immediately."
This was what we expereinced yesterday. I went home about 2 pm to pack some things. I had a glass of wine to relax a little and very calmly just started gathering things of value. I was in no rush, no hurry. It was a PRE-Evacuation notice. Some friends came to help... we were chillin, relaxing on the couch wacthing the news, packing things and joking non-chalantly...
Then, the cops... the loudseakers... people rushing round the neighborhood in a panic. Neighbors were hugging and crying... it was surreal. We walked outside the house and looked at the ridge just behind us. The sight we saw was by far the most terrifying thing I have ever seen in my life. Flames consuming the ridge within minutes. The fire and smoke that was so far away Saturday through Monday was now in plain sight. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up... the heat from the fire blew in my face. That was when I knew... this is for real and we have to leave NOW.
We quickly grabbed everything we had packed, locked everything up, and joined the hundreds trying to leave the neighborhood. Of course reality set in and I started to cry... to panic even. I drove in our little caravan with me, Sarah, and my friend Ted as we entered the bumper to bumper traffic leaving the Mountain Shadows neighbohood. As we sat in our cars, I was crying. I looked to my right and a guy in the car next to me looked over and gave me a little shrug and sympathic look as if to say, "If we weren't driving, I would totally give you a hug right now... yea, this sucks."
I can only imagine what happened to our neighborhood from that point. All I know is of the smoke. It consumed the entire city... where we were sitting in traffic, the smoke was so thick that it made the sky look like night. Ash and embers were raining down all around. Businesses were closed and parking lots were empty. Surreal... that is the only word I can think of to describe it.
We of course got split up in the traffic and ended up meeting at Colorado Mountain Brewery to regroup. We had to just let it sink in. There was optimisim in the conversation. We tried to encourage each other that surely the house would be ok. After a beer, a delicious meal, and some quality time with friends, we decided we better get settled in somewhere for the night. We stayed with Ted's very gracious parents in their guest rooms. I think Sarah and I both wanted to cry... but shock was set in... and numbness and exhaustion was about all we had.
A sleepless night and some strange dreams later, we started day one. Woke up to news and pictures of the devastation of the Mountain Shadows neighborhood. The optinism diminished by far.
We've settled in today in a friend's apartment. I am SO BLESSED to have such generous people in my life. My friend Brandon works in construction and is only home on the weekends. He has offered to let us stay here for as long as we need.
This evening has been strange. As we settle in, we have moments of, "Oh my gosh, I left this..." or "Crap, I forgot to grab..."
There's nothing we can do. Sarah, Campi and I are safe and together. Aside from that, we have lost some things and been displaced, but all in all we are OK.
I have had so many messages, phone calls, and texts from friends and family all over the country and I am overwhelmed by the willingness and generosity to help.
I can say that right now prayers are the best thing. Please pray for us to have peace of mind and clarity as we continue to work through this. Secondly, pray for those who are evacuated and living in shelters. Pray they find comfort and solace in the community around them.
Pray, pray, pray for our firefighters. They are working around the clock battling a very large and unpredicatable fire. It has consumed 18,500 acres so far and is only 5% contained. They are working so hard to protect the homes and landmarks in our beautiful beloved city of Colorado Springs.
As far as any needs for Sarah and myself... I'm really taking things one day at a time. We packed some clothes and a few other items. If the house is truly gone, we will eventually be in need of things like furniture and houshold goods, etc... but I can't even get my mind around that right now. This is day one and right now we are coping, processing, and greiving. I am sure that in a few days we will begin to plan and take steps in a direction but for right now we are just existing and that's ok.
Bottom line, "Thelma & Louise" are in this together for the long haul. No matter what we are going to come out on the other stronger, closer, and better friends than ever.
Love you all!!!
MJ & SJ
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