My hubby is a fireman, so talk of fire is a regular occurrence in my house. But recently the discussion has reached an all time high as our fair county has been faced with three serious fires in just as many weeks. As one local reporter put it, any of these fires alone would have been eligible for “Story of the Year” were this even the end of it.
Fire season has only just begun and fires continue to rage, as illustrated by this map dated June 27, 2008. Walking outside my house it reeks of campfire, normally a smell I love, but now a scent that represents destruction. Fortunately, the fires have not yet been at my own back door, but close enough that hubby and I have assessed the most valuable items to grab in an evacuation (dogs, cat, computers, backup drive and wedding photos), tightened down our fireboxes with important documents, and stocked our “get-away” vehicle—our truck—with food and water for us, our animals, bedding, dishes and the basics to get us by for a few days self-contained. We’ve even made plans about where we’ll meet should we be separated at the time of evacuation.
This week, when reports of possible thunder and lightning—weather that caused 300 spot fires last weekend—hit the news, I started my home inventory. The list catalogs everything in our home, what it is, where it’s from, how much it cost and when we bought it, should we need to make an insurance claim on our burned-down home. It’s not done yet (boy do we own a lot of stuff!), but it has served as an interesting barometer of our lives. You see patterns that mark the changes in your life, like the plethora of kitchen appliances from our wedding registry and the furniture from 2005 when we purchased our second house. In making these lists you are struck by both the futility of the “things” that accumulate in our lives, and the special place they hold in our hearts.
We all know we should have these plans and preparations in place anyway, especially living in earthquake country, but sometimes you need a little nudge to make you do it. In this case, the emergency has made me grateful for what I have, and what I don’t need.
How are you prepared for an emergency?
I’ve been following the fires with my heart in my throat. The animal losses in this last fire hit me especially hard as that was always my biggest worry living on Fern Flat.
I think it is great you are doing your home inventory … I always meant to do that and never got around to it. In the end we left most of our stuff behind and, though once in a while, I’ll wish I still had some small thing, for the most part, it felt great. Losing everything traumatically is devastating, I am sure. Starting over, on the other hand, does have redeeming value.
Comment by Laura — June 28, 2008 @ 10:08 am
Loren has done a photo inventory but we should do more. We have not
had an evacuation plan but that should also be done. I need to do ‘where
things came from’ so you all will know family things. I sure hope you do not
need any of it. It is so sad what seems to be happening all over the country. We are packing and getting things ready to leave on Tues.
for Seattle and Alaska. Hope things are good there. love you both
Comment by Gram — June 29, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
I am so glad to hear more and more people are learning the importance of doing a home inventory. Many people don’t know that the first thing an insurance company will ask of you is a list of everything that was lost or damaged. My piece of advice is do not forget to store it somewhere safe. I heard a victim of the Santa Cruz fires quoted on the news saying she completed her inventory but left the paper copy in the house. Therefore it was destroyed with everything else.
Comment by Bobbi Jo Price — June 30, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
You are so right Bobbi Jo! Maybe a copy in the first box, on your person and with another family member out of the area.
Comment by westi — July 1, 2008 @ 5:52 am
Thanks for the nudge. You’d think living in earthquake country with storms and fires as well, that I would have done a complete inventory. But, no! The form on the link is a good one. Doing the inventory will also
help to decide on and consolidate what the important things are to have ready. Love, Deborah
Comment by Deborah — July 2, 2008 @ 8:47 am