Ashes to ashes...

[piasharn]

I shouldn't be at home right now.

I should be at work.

But I'm not there because the fires raging across parts of southern California have resulted in so many road closures and evacuations that I can't even get through.

The town just south of the city I work in was being completely evaccuated, and the freeway between there and where I work was completely closed off to allow police, firefighters, and emergency workers access to the areas they were needed. Once I finally managed to get off the freeway, I called the hospital again to see if someone who knew the area better could give me directions.

After a flurry of discussion concerning where I was, the easiest way to get to the hospital, and trying to determine what roads would still be closed off, someone broke in and mentioned that even if I did manage to make it in, it might be a day or two before I could even get home, and the safest thing for me to do would be to turn around and head back down into San Diego.

Which is what I did. However, now I'm frustrated as hell. Between the smoke, fires, evacuations, and people getting scared, you can bet that there will be more than the usual number of people getting hurt. Plus, they're evacuating the patients at one of the hospitals in the area and sending them to other ones in the country. No doubt that the hospital I work for will get at least some of them, given that they're not too far away and are owned by the same company.

So I'm upset because not only should I be there to help, but I'm leaving them short-handed. And I don't even know if I'll be able to make it in tomorrow or the day after!

I'm safe. I live right downtown in San Diego. Even if I wasn't right next to the ocean, there's just not enough around me that can burn. And at least the air only has a slight tint of smoke, not like the thick, gritty stuff they have futher north. (I'm still sneezing grey snot left over from this morning, though.)

Damnit, I should be there... Instead I'm sitting on my ass and doing nothing. I know it's not my fault. I know I did my best to get there. But still... Ugh.

To anyone in the area who happens to read this: stay calm, stay safe.

Comments

[aigooshesays.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're safe. I was just wondering if it was close to where you were...

By the way, if you want to exchange addresses (for b-days and holidays or whatever) email me!

[piasharn.livejournal.com]

(Sorry about the late reply. While I'm safe, things are still crazy... especially at work.)

I'm too close to the ocean, thankfully. Besides, I live right in the downtown area, which is just too urban to burn... Lots of concrete, brick, stucco, and glass, but not much dry brush lying around.

The air's still pretty smokey, though. Yick.

(And I just sent an email to your Yahoo! account.)