Sometimes life throws a curve ball and you just have to go with it. 6 short months ago we were dealing with Hurricane Helene and now we are dealing with wildfires. Our trip to New Jersey ended with growing concerns about the wildfires that were growing in South Carolina. The one closest to us is the Table Rock Fire and it was started by some teenagers. They have been apprehended and details are pretty sketchy at this point but that is probably wise because people are pretty upset about it.
So we flew home and kept an eye on our phones and apps that were keeping us up to date on the fires. Flying during the daylight from Newark to Atlanta we were able to see the smoke but not the fires.
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When we flew from Atlanta to Asheville it was dark and we flew right over the fires and while I didn’t photograph them, suffice it to say, it was scary.
We have oscillated between nervously waiting for updates to being optimistically hopeful to becoming uncertain and anxious. Repeat. Our General Manager of our community is on top of it and I feel that we are getting really good information and advice and while we have not gotten an evacuation order yet, we are prepared. We spent the day gathering documents, picture albums, memory cards and external hard drives, the few valuables we have and a few sentimental things like my mom’s cathedral window quilt, a few precious teapots and my Uncle Rollo’s books. Add in all of the cat paraphernalia, clothing and fly rods for Chris and various odds and ends and I think we are ready to go if and when the call comes to evacuate. We spent as much time preparing the outside of the house as much as possible until the air quality was just too horrible to continue. It will have to do.
I have been amazed at the support we have been offered from all over and most importantly –all of the dedicated fire fighters who are risking so much to take care of us. We have a great volunteer fire department here at Connestee and one in Cedar Mountain but there are people coming in from all over to fight these fires. We are so very grateful.
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The above map shows the evacuation area. We are the red X
This map shows the actual fire areas as of Thursday night around 7:30 pm. We are located at the little lakes south of the 276 road marker.
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This map shows our air quality (or lack of) which explains why it was so difficult to be outside for too long of a time today.
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Friday I hope to be able to do some things for the firefighters –even if it is just purchasing some items that will help them keep their energy up and things that will help them do what they need to do. We will go when we need to go but these folks will do the hard work of protecting what we all love. We are beyond grateful.
If you would say a prayer for all of our brave firefighters and all who are scared during this disaster I would be so very grateful. We have a plan and are fortunate enough to be able to have a good plan. Not everyone has the resources to do that so of course we are concerned for them. Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes — keep them coming!
