SAN DIEGO'S OCTOBER FIRESTORM

On the morning of Monday October 23rd, 2007, at around 5 O'clock we were notified to be evacuated out of 4S Ranch Rancho Bernardo are immediately. At the time it was a massive mandatory evacuation. We (the Rasihs) were ordered to evacuate and we joined another 513,000 people( about 17% of the region population 3.1 million to fled our home due to the dangerous fire conditions and hazardous air quality that was to be worse throughout the San Diego region in the next of couple days, and hopefully they will allow us to move back in sometime tomorrow the 24th of October. More than 1,775 homes and businesses were destroyed, 7 people died and 79 others were injured and also more than 488,099 acres burned but were still counting. Gusty winds reached about 60 miles per hour, high temperatures and low humility blowing from the East, cause more damage to the coastal areas: Del mar, Rancho Santa Fe, and Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Regional Headquarters. At first we felt the heavy winds, and it smelled heavily of smoke and left our home in Rancho Bernardo. Just after 6:00 a.m., my family and I (Buu-Van A.J. and my family included my son George, my daughter Valentina and my wife Connie) gathered, and packed up our belongings(address books(electronic organizers), batteries, cash, CD-Roms,cellular phones,clothings, collectible items, compact discs, electronic games, eye glasses, family photos, First-Aid Kits, flashlights, food, GPS, important documents of car, home equity, mortgage and tuition loans, home, health & life insurance papers, jewelry, laptop computers, living wills, medication, passports, portable radio, toothbrush & toothpaste, towels, USB/SIM cards, vitamins & minerals, and watches.) and my family headed to my oldest son's house in National City. It took 1 1/2 hour to get out our way to my son's house(which usually took 25 minutes). But we still are very fortunate to have a place to stay but others didn't and they did not know where to go. They ended up in Qualcomm stadium it could house over 10,000 people, cars, trucks, RV mobile homes, pets and good air quality, services and facilities, and other generous donations from the blessed San Diegans. Some donated goods and many others donate blood, as did I at the Qualcomm Stadium Evacuation Center.
Traffic were completely jammed and barely moved in inch. But we are all safe, and that's all matters. I stayed in touch with my son Bobby by cellular phone and found the way out on the small road, to avoid the hectic traffic on the freeways and road closures. By 3:00PM on Monday morning of October 23rd , 10,000 people rushed to the Qualcomm Stadium Evacuation Center to take refuge in the parking lot, while waiting for an update to go home. We were evacuated four years ago on October 25, 2003, it was known as the "Cedar Fire" and it burned 422 square miles versus 488, 099 square miles burned this year. And also destroyed 2,400 homes this year rather than the the1,775 homes. Fifteen(15) people died in 2003 but this year we have improved and only 7 persons were killed in this travesty and we are still haunted by memories of returning the burned homes. The Witch Fire renewed our fears. Connie, my wife was curious and in a bit of fear. We never thought we'd see a day like this again. But this time of year is the worst of the worst in the history of the State of California. All schools are to be closed throughout the week. More Spirit, more money, more food, more donations pour in San Diego County and endless support from all over the world just like You, Me and other American Spirit.