[BarbaraC1977]

First, thank you for the kind inquiries about how we're doing after flood and fires this month. I'm going to include notes from emails I'd already sent and from Facebook; hope this helps the rest of you get caught up!

Tuesday evening, June 26, 2012
St. Florian, patron saint of firefighters, protect them.
St. Michael, patron saint of emergency medical workers, be with them.
St. Agricolus, patron saint of rain, hear our prayers.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 AM

Thank you for your prayers; it continues to be very scary. My staff and I are all safe, and live east of I-25, so we've done prep, either packing or staging the key things, but have not needed to evacuate. Some of my staff are hosting others who are either evacuated, or friends & family that we're pretty certain have been burned out. We have camping cots and sleeping bags here at the office as a backup if someone needs a place to stay; other than showers, this place is reasonably able to accommodate people.

On TV, it's been hard to tell exactly what's happening. We've been monitoring the EMS scanner feed instead. Their voices are much calmer than TV folks; at the same time it's very specific. Last night we could hear the firefighters literally working house by house and block by block, and occasionally having to say "Pulling out, we've lost street XYZ in the block north of street ABC." http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=wp&feedId=34. So sad.

Today is just a little cooler (forecast of 96 for high instead of 101,) and it's actually a little overcast on the East side of town. Over the last several days, it's been 100 or 101, with rel. humidity 7 – 12%, even at night. The high pressure "dome" centered over western Kansas is the confining element that's keeping our weather so hot and bone dry. So, prayers for a break in the weather, preferably without too much wind or lightning, for the safety of the firefighters and EMS personnel, and for all those who have lost homes or are evacuated are very welcome.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

We had little or no wind overnight, and the weather is still calmer than it's been, so the firefighters have been making progress. Several hundred homes were lost on Tuesday into the wee hours of Wednesday, but it looks like no further structures were lost yesterday. Here's the local paper's blog with some good news: http://www.gazette.c...-safe-fire.html.

I had a dentist appointment this morning; two of the dentists in the practice are evacuated, along with several of their staff, including the doctor who saw me. He is hopeful, based on the photos posted in the Denver paper, that his house is still standing. (I can only guess what the air traffic control conversations during the helicopter flyover were like; they had slurry drops going on all day, and there were not supposed to be ANY non-emergency flights in the area!)

We are fine, and got way more sleep last night than the night before, so all of us feel better today. We are grateful for the concerns and prayers.


Friday, June 29, 2012, to a fellow Rotary member in South Africa:
It has been a hard month here in Colorado Springs (and other parts of Colorado, too,) as you are probably aware. After the flash flood in early June that flooded my home and caused moisture to come into the business, and flooded other homes much worse than mine, the weather returned to the persistent hot, dry weather we've been experiencing for months. We've had a number of wildfires caused by carelessness, lightning, and arsonists. Last week, this struck Colorado Springs in a terrible way, and on Tuesday afternoon it blew up very fast, leaping ridges, fueled by storm winds up to 65 mph/100kmh. My staff and I are safe, and our homes are undamaged; some of us are hosting friends and family who have been evacuated. Each of us knows people whose homes burned to the ground, including at least one member of my Rotary Club of Colorado Springs. We're still learning of these losses. You can see the fire in http://blogs.denverp...o-springs/5732/, and the devastation in the photos here: http://blogs.denverp...o-springs/5735/. Note: the pictures are not for the faint of heart.

In addition to the club member whose home burned to the ground, we had a friend of our Rotary club who's been rehabilitating and repairing old computers for quite a few years to share with Nueva Casas Grandes schools as part of our Sister Cities and Rotary outreach program, Bill Everett. Bill's wife was nearly an invalid, and it appears they both perished in the fire. There are a few other people missing, but no other known loss of life or injuries, which is wonderful. With over 1,000 firefighters in trucks and low-flying airplanes and helicopters in mountainous terrain, and 32,000 people evacuated, that's pretty amazing, and we're so thankful.

Friday PM: Thanks again to my friends at Scrap Girls for all of your kind expressions of concern and prayers. I'll be glad to be able to "play" here more in the time to come.

[BarbaraC1977]

And no, I'm not really keen to scrap this, at least anytime soon. So many in pain, and so hard to see in this community we love so much.

The fire is not out, by the way, so our prayers for firefighters, EMS personnel, the evacuated and for a break in the weather are all more than appropriate, here and elsewhere in the West this summer.

[nicolen9708]

So sorry to hear about all the fires! It's so devastating! We're praying for you, and hope that everyone else stays safe!

[Smiles]

Continuing my prayers. Thanks for the update. Stay safe!

[AggieB]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about this, Barbara! Adding my prayer for all involved.

[PolkaDot]

You've been on my mind so much, Barbara. Keeping you in my prayers. Stay safe and thank you for the update. It's so good to hear from you.

[A-M]

Barbara, thankyou for sharing all that news. I can understand how you are feeling because of the devastating floods we had in our town and local area - January last year that took some lives with it ( no one I knew personally ).

[SandiC.]

Barbara, you've never been far from my thoughts all week, every time I hear something new. Prayers are continuous. Thank you for stopping long enough to keep us updated.

[ValerieT]

I wish I could send our rain over to you, I'm very glad you are safe. I'll keep you and your friends and family in my thoughts.

[Sherry Lynn]

Thank you for the update Barbara - you all remain in my thoughts and prayers!

I just looked at the photos (you were right, definitely NOT for the faint of heart) there are no words.....

[Sara Arell]

So glad to hear from you, Barbara. You've been in my thoughts and prayers and although I was keeping up with you on FB hadn't heard anything since Wednesday and was getting a little worried. I'm so glad to hear that you're okay. Everyone in Colorado remains in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted as you can.

[elibar]

Thank you for the update on you Barbara. My heart is just so sad as prayers continue.

[teecee]

I'll certainly continue to send prayers Barbara. Thanks for giving us an update. Hugs!

[LaLo1103]

Thanks for the update Barbara. I think it was more informative then the news broadcasts about it. Praying for you and everyone affected by this situation.

[MariJ]

Barbara, I am very glad you are ok and so sad for all the heartache and loss around you. Thank you for taking the time to keep us informed. Be well - thinking of you...

[Rose Ann]

Oh Barb! I am so sad to hear that you are in the middle of all that! I didn't realize!
I have to say that I am glad to hear that you are safe.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

[goodqueenbee]

Thank you for checking in and being so thorough. You have been in my heart and prayers all week, every time I heard or saw more fire info or posts about that awful fire. To think we were sitting right there this time last year and seeing that magnificent ridge, now burnt out. Gives me grief.

I understand why you won't be scrapping it any time soon. Such heartache!

[Ande43]

You are in our prayers....I know how painful it is to see so many loosing everything.

[Florida granny]

Thanks so much, Barbara, for checking in. We are concerned for you. I hope and pray that you and your family will be safe.

[jenrou]

Barabara, for some reason I have not been able to get you off of my mind this week. I'm glad at least, that so far you all are ok. I pray that the fires will be out soon for everyone's sake.

[scrappinchar]

Oh, gosh! I don't watch the news these days and haven't been up-to-speed on these fires. I just looked at the 2 links you provided and it just brings tears to my eyes. I'm glad you are well. I'm trying to see on the 'net if they've been contained yet, or not. Haven't found out yet. Prayers for everyone affected.

[Scrappin_LYB]

Barbara, understand how you feel. Arrived Co Springs Tuesday (day fire went into Mountain Shadows/Perigrine) and it's been a strong reminder that we must always have faith in God alone. My sister's area is evacuated but like so many people echo, at least we have each other in this crisis. Continue to pray for our community....our town continues to bond together and the assistance that's been offered is incredible. Our heroes are our public servicemen who continue to battle extreme blazes. They are amazing, committed, self-less people! God bless them and the victims in this surreal circumstance! Hope that your family are all ok, Barbara!

Regards,
Laura

[KFiasco]

Hoping things are finally looking up. Good luck to all involved.

Karen

[luckyladybug]

My heart is aching for all affected by the fires. Thanks for sharing, and helping us add our power to the prayers.

[Cheri T]

What a terrible bunch of tragedies you've all had to endure. My prayers have been with you all along and will continue to be throughout the fire, and the aftermath of both the flood and fire.

[Molly3]

Sorry to hear that, I wish you safe and peace now.