Monday, June 25
I’m in the middle of preparing a post for this blog when an email arrives from my friend, Geri, who lives in Eastpoint, Florida, with her husband, Chuck, and their pups, Radar and Tater. Readers of this blog may remember them from previous posts when we got together in Bluff, Utah.
Blogorinos know Geri and Chuck from their participation in the comments section.
Wildfire at Eastpoint!
Here’s an excerpt from Geri’s email:
“We had a horrible wildfire here yesterday! It was just a few miles from us and 40+ families lost their homes! We were under an evacuation warning, in other words be packed up and ready to go! It was so serious even the weather channel and a national news channel mentioned it and showed videos of the fire!” — Geri
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How you can help:
Make checks payable to Franklin’s Promise Coalition, Fire Disaster Fund.
Send to Franklin County EOC, 28 Airport Road, Apalachicola, Florida 32320.
“This is a small fishing village, many living below poverty level! This fire may be gone, but the scars will remain for a long time!” — Geri
UPDATE — 6/27/18:
Geri reports that the wildfire is the result of a controlled burn by the Apalachicola Forest Service that wasn’t put out completely.
In an email she writes:
“The State of Florida will not DECLARE the Eastpoint fire a disaster because of the low cost of the residential neighborhood. If you have a million dollar home you could get FEMA money. Yet the POOR people in Eastpoint can’t get help because they are POOR!!!! What is wrong with this picture?”
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In the next post . . .
We will return to our regular format of news from our house in Arizona with photos of a boondock in the past.
rvsue
NOTE: Have you been affected by wildfire this summer? Has smoke or fire changed your travel? Tell us about your experience or what you know about the fire situation. — Sue
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So glad Geri and Chuck and pooches are safe!
Me, too! CONGRATULATIONS, PAM AND MAYA! FIRST!
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Yes, VERY glad to hear Geri and Chuck and kids are safe! Sad deal. I hate the thought of wildfires! They are just so destructive. 🙁
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So glad Geri and family are safe! These fires are horrendous.
Scary! CONGRATULATIONS, KAREN! FIRST ALSO!
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Fire and floods are 2 disasters I’m most scared of. Even more so than a tornado or a hurricane I think. At least with the last 2, you have a chance to get away.
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Praying for the safety of all involved as I type, thanks for letting us know, Sue, I hope you and your crew are doing well, too.
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I’m afraid this “fire season”, if climate change is a season, may be the worst yet. Remember L.A. fires last December?
I’m pleased to report I have no first hand knowledge of wildfires. I know people who have had, though, and it’s not a situation I would wish on anyone. Stay safe out there.
Thank God, we are safe! Eastpoint is such a tiny town to have such a huge disaster! Local churches and restaurants have become emergency shelters. There is a disaster fund set up. If any of you are interested, I will be glad to send Sue the particulars!
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Go ahead and send them, Geri. I’ll be happy to include info on how people can help (in the text of this post).
Also feel free to add more information. I’m going offline as I have an appointment.
Thanks!
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Make checks payable to:
Franklin’s Promise Coalition
Fire Disaster Fund
Send to:
Franklin County EOC
28 Airport Road
Apalachicola, Florida 32320
Thank you all very much!
We have Red Cross vans set up at the main 3 churches with food and water. Florida Governor Rick Scott was here at 8:30am to survey the damage. Hopefully he can get state and federal aid in here to help these families who lost everything!😥
This is a small fishing village, many living below poverty level! This fire may be gone, but the scars will remain for a long time! Thank all of you again for thinking of us!💗
Wow, prayers for Chuck and Geri and everyone who had to deal with that. I would never of thought of a wildfire in FL. Lots of flooding happening here in Iowa.
One thing I want to bring up for the blogorinos to help educate their family and friends is water safety. We have had 5 drowning here in Iowa in recent weeks. It has been horrible. Several children.
Please from a parent and grandparent, please help your educate about water safety. I had my young kids in life jackets even if we were only fishing and not swimming. It just takes a split second of your attention being diverted for them to slip away and be gone forever. Off my soapbox now. Sorry.
I would like to add to this thought – if you have young children, put the life jacket on them and test it in the water with the child wearing it. There’s a video circulating on Facebook right now showing a young child in a life vest that is designed to keep their head afloat. Instead, it flips them over face down. The poorly designed life vest would drown the child instead of saving it. Check it yourself – don’t assume that it works the way it says it does.
Good information. And please take your kids to swim lessons!!! The younger the better. And still have them wear life jackets when appropriate.
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Chuck and Geri, I am so glad that you are safe, but so sorry for your town. Sue, thanks for letting us know.
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Speaking of fires, as of noon news here in Sacramento region, news reports at least15 wildland fires up and down CA, the largest 8200 acres near Lakeport east of Clear Lake with at least a dozen homes gone and many outbuildings and thousands of people evacuated plus efforts on to save livestock ongoing. Red flag warnings most of state, with 10 day forecast for temperatures 95 to 105, very low humidity, and breezy to windy conditions. The Pawnee Fire near Lakeport is about 80 miles north west of Sacramento area. Be careful out there folks!
Velda
So sorry for all your wildfires out there in California. 😥 Fire is scary, more than I realized! I’ve often read about wikdfires, mainly in Sue’s blog! This is the first time I have been up close and personal. Guess I can cross that off my bucket lit!💗
We are leaving here tomorrow to continue our journeys in CA. Wildfires have not affected us yet, here in the Bay Area, but will definitely be a consideration as we continue our travels. Hope to head north, but there are numerous fires in Northern CA.
Chuck & Geri, I am glad you are safe. I remember as a child seeing the Everglades on fire and my Dad trying to explain to us Kids how the grasses could burn with all of the water around. You and your townpeoples are in my prayers. Thanks Sue for letting us know.
Take Care
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Wow, thise are some scary pics! So glad you are safe, Chuck and Geri, and so sorry for those not as fortunate.
Here in So California we are no strangers to wildfires, and I have seen first hand and on numerous occasions the devastation.
It seems like anything goes, weather-wise, these days. Wildfires in the Florida Panhandle! Yikes.
It was scary for sure!💗
Hi Sue,
So sorry for your friends and their neighbors. I guess wildfires can spring up almost anywhere with the proper conditions. Don’t think there will be any in southern Michigan any time soon. Flooding is much more possible.
So glad you’re continuing the blog. I must “have missed the part when you decided to continue after you had thought you would need to “retire.” I look forward to your posts every day.
Love to the pups.
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My prayers for all in the path of this fire. Such an awful thing.
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Hi Sue, and all,
Yes, it’s fire season, darnit! And yes our travel plans need to be adjusted daily due to forest closures. The San Juan Nat’l Forest is closed, so we will enter CO from the West, skirt along the Southern closure border, and exit South at Durango, instead of continuing East into the Pagosa Springs area. Once in NM, we have 2 forest closures preventing us from camping in the Santa Fe Nat’l Forest, and the Carson Nat’l Forest.
We haven’t a plan yet for the Santa Fe area – between Santa Fe, and Pecos, or maybe a bit further, past Pecos, SE, but not as far as Las Vegas, NM. We need to tent it somewhere, and we were hoping to take advantage of higher elevation to stay a bit cooler. Now on to plan B- Which is, ?? Anybody out there have any ideas? Along I-25, Furter East of Pecos, I see an area with a peak- So. San Ysidro, that is just out of the confines of Santa Fe NF, and may have some boondocking near there. I see some gravel roads in that area. More research is needed!!
Sue, we leave Vancouver, WA in a mere 3 days. Wow. It’s upon us, Yikes!
Take good care out there, traveling or not.
Suzi
I’m glad Geri and her family are safe. This is scary for me, too. I hope never to be near a forest fire.
I commented earlier, but my computer was doing weird things. I think this one will go through.
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I’m real glad that you, Geri and Chuck are ok and that the Wildfire didn’t push you out of your home with your pups,, being from the West I know about the Dangers of the constant threat of Wildfires and have been pushed off a Mountain to the Desert for the safety of my Donkeys and myself back in October of 2003,, the San Bernardino Mountain WildFire had pushed the whole of the Residents and visitors off by Mandatory Evacuation and we weren’t allowed back till November 3rd. It seems to me that the more the Drought is the more of a threat of more Wildfires,,, glad all is safe and have a great week,,,,,,, 🐾👣👣
Sorry we didn’t get the post right away, we were in town and under a threat of a Tornado here in Hart county, we held up in a grocery store till it passed on,,,, 🐾👣👣
Ooohhhh…. scary! Did the tornado pass through? Or peter-out?
Ya , a miss🐾👣👣
💗. Glad the tornado missed you Rusty!
Glad the Wildfire didn’t push or burn you and your family, Geri,,,,,,🤓
I just came back from the Louaville VAMC that they did a Bone Density Test, mainly on my Back to see if the living on the Ground has done Damage to it, cause lastly it has been giving me much pain,,, to carry a 2 gallon bucket of water 25 feet 8 times I hurt so bad that I need to set down for about 15 minutes to finish watering the Gardens, my Brother says it’s old Age and I say I’m not Old yet and won’t be till after a Hundred, so now other than having a strong drink, I on the VA’s pain pills and I still hurt, but you all stay safe and have a great day,,,,,,,,,,,,, 🤓🐾, oh this is what I look like with my New Glasses, the framework is right on 🤓,,,,,,,,,, 🐾👣👣
Praying for Chuck and Geri!!! Wild fires are so frightening and DANGEROUS. Please stay safe!
💗 Thank you Pauline!
Hi, Sue,
Thank you for sharing Geri and Chuck’s e-mail. I am so sorry to learn about the fire, but so thankful that Geri, Chuck, and their pups are ok. So scary to have the blaze so close. Thank you, Geri for sharing the information as to where we can send checks to provide direct help to those in need.
It has been an extra busy week or so…. no need for worry. I will check in and catch up on everyone’s news and comments this weekend. Sue, sending you, Reggie and Roger lots of love from me and Gracie pup! xo 🙂
Keeping all of the blogorino family in my thoughts and prayers. Please stay safe, everyone! 🙂
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Thanks for letting us know why you won’t be here, Denise. I always miss you when you and Gracie pup are gone. Have a good, rest of the week. 🙂
xo 🙂
Hi, Chuck and Geri,
So glad that you all are safe! So scary! How are you all doing? Did your RV get smoke damage? Are you both ok…I am sure the smoky air is not good to breathe. Sending you both a *HUGE HUG*! Thank you for providing the information for us to send checks to help out those affected by the fire. So, so thankful that you all are ok! 🙂
💞 Chuck and I are fine! The strong winds that caused the Fire to flame up and move so fast headed away from us, to the west.
Sue added an update to this post, Eastpoint fire victims will be getting NO AID because it was such a poor area! What? FEMA will help rich people with their million dollar homes in the island and fully covered with their own personal home insurance but it won’t help the poor people of Eastpoint because they were mostly living in mobile homes and small sticks and bricks and almost none of them had home insurance!
40 families lost everything they had in life! The Florida Forest Service started this horrible wild fire, and there is no heIp for the victims!??! I am OUTRAGED!😠 Sorry for the rant,but sometimes ya just gotta!
Geri your rant is justified. Besides the fact that FEMA won’t help any of those who have lost everything, the Franklins Promise Fund will not help anyone with a mobile home(they only grant or loan money to those with sticks and bricks houses).
If the ones with a mobile home had a mortgage they will have to let the bank or loan company repossess the home, so now add a destroyed credit rating to how much has been ruined for them. Most landlords now won’t rent a place to anyone without a decent credit rating. I pray they find a place to live owned by understanding people that will give them a break.
In that type of situation wealthy people could hire lawyers to petition the state to change their policy about disaster funds, but those with very limited income can’t afford to do that, either. Perhaps someone connected with the churches in Eastpoint will have someone in their congregation willing to volunteer to do whatever they can legally. While it seems unlikely that the state’s government will change their minds and policies, if we pray for God’s will to be done things have a way of turning out better than we expect them to. I haven’t been able to find much about the situation on the internet.
By the way, so people understand why someone wouldn’t have home owner’s insurance, if you can even find a company willing to insure anything except a newer model mobile home or house, the rates are exorbitant and more than most of the people whose homes were destroyed could afford.
You and Chuck have already had to deal with the fear that your home might have been destroyed, now this situation is weighing on your hearts, too. May His peace allow to you to enjoy each other, your dogs, home and days. You’re good people, and deserve time to just relax and appreciate the gifts in your lives.
Thanks for the information, weather. I appreciate the research you’ve done. Did you happen to come across an organization that will help people who had their mobile home destroyed?
Not yet, I’m checking on what I can find about Franklin Graham’s(Billy Graham’s son) charitable organization, and how to leave a request with a couple of other Christian charities that help people in Florida and worldwide. If I find out anything that indicates they would be willing to consider helping those that lost everything in this situation I’ll let you know.
Thanks again, weather. I’ve been trying to find websites for local churches, thinking they might have a fund set up.
I trust Samaritans Purse to manage funds efficiently and honestly.
Sadly, the three I checked only provide tents as temporary housing, don’t build permanent dwellings or offer more than what the residents of Eastpoint are already being offered( a temporary shelter, food, clothing, toiletries, etc.)
Perhaps someone can let us know the names of the officials in Florida that made the decision not to have FEMA funds allocated to this disaster, and how they can be reached(phone or email). Any attention given to this may help. A letter to the editor of whatever newspapers carried the initial story about this might get published if someone sent that in, too. Or those news organizations might thereby be prompted to do a follow up story(?).
The local churches funds are offering what I mentioned in my previous reply. Samaritan’s purse is one of the three organizations I checked and also described their limitations in that reply.
I am Ashamed to what out county has become to helping those who lost everything in any Disaster that comes their way and Pray to God for those in lost of Home and in Life,,,,,,, 🤓🐾
Remember last summer in Montana? Thanks Sue for riding it out for as long as you could! The smoke from the wildfires was pretty horrendous. I recall you weren’t too far from my home when you were camped at Bratten or Pelican fishing access. Seems so long ago.
Hi, Diann,
In a way it does seem like a long time ago. I guess because so much has happened (and changed) since then. Even though the smoke drove us out of the area, I’m glad we camped there. Those camps along the Yellowstone were peaceful and pleasant (and inexpensive or free!). Montana is beautiful.
It may seem like a long time ago, yet I can recall the smallest details and imagine being in those camps. I wonder how little boy Cade is doing. 🙂
Geri, so glad you, Chuck and the fur babies are okay. That fire was way too close for comfort. The photos made it look like the fire was less that a mile away. Thanks for sharing the info for help. My prayers are with you all and the town.
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http://rvsueandcrew.net/the-stuff-you-find-along-a-less-traveled-road/
Was Chad the name of the young man who surfed the Yellowstone. Which I thought was an incredible feat!
No, Chad wasn’t his name. I chose not to include his name in that post because I didn’t ask for permission. “Fly fishing and surfing the Yellowstone”
I was thinking of Cade, the boy who was left behind by his parents at Palisades Campground near Red Lodge. “When it sucks to be six-going-on-seven“
So sad to hear of the plight of this little village…hopefully someone can get things going soon to help them rebuild!! Thanks for updating on this Sue and friends!! At the least we can pray for things there… I have read that often the Amish/Mennonite folks will come help in such cases…and they are so good at being organized and able to quickly put up buildings!! Being so experienced in working together to accomplish things!
There are 2 names I can offer. Governor Rick Scott and Secretary of Agriculture Adam Putnum Rick Scott and Adam Putnam are 2 politicians in Florida that I respect! Both are running for offices, Rick Scott for Congress and Adam Putnam for Governor! They had better get on this if they want my vote!
I didn’t verify Franklin’s Promise because it was the only address offered in the local news! They won’t be able to help much if they won’t help people with mobile homes. Maybe they offer food,meds, etc. I will try to check that also!
What I have done is sent the info to some bulldog lawyers, Morgan and Morgan! They take a percentage of they win and it’s a hefty cut, but this situation is perfect for a class action law suit! I sent the info to them on Facebook and within an how they posted that they are investigating the fire! They have the resources these local folks don’t have! But, being local country folk, they are naturally suspicious. But darn it, 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing! So life goes on!
Thank you all for your kindness! I guess if you wanted to Donate, the main place helping now is The Church of God! Let me check that out too! I am moving a bit slow these days because Chuck has been sick with gout. He is my #1 concern, everything else is after him! Thanks again!💗
Glad you are ok Geri…will be watching to see what is your best idea to donate to from this…thanks for sharing. As to gout…my hubby has it too…he has gotten a great deal of help from eating cherries…or taking pills made from them. A friend dealt with her husband’s gout this way and told us what to do…she knew down to the exact number he needed to eat in order to be free of the pain…and how many pints per summer she needed to can in order to help him. I think his regular daily dose, if not in an outbreak, was just 9 cherries per day. Right now cherries should be in season…I hope he likes them…I would go get him some and get him to eating them.
Please keep us informed about that address, and thank you for the information. And you too, Sue, for letting this be a forum through which we can help.
Thanks Elizabeth! Chuck is taking a black cherry syrup made by Tree of Life. It helps but the gout really settled in deep! He has has it before, but nothing like this! I will start looking in the produce section for fresh cherries! Maybe even frozen ones too for a cherry smoothie! Gotta get my man healthy! 💗
Oh glad you are working on it…it takes time…sometimes my hubby has his get real bad too…I think if he is lax about taking those cherry pills…somehow it hits with a vengence. And being I hate to drive…I really need him to be able to do that!! It is so hard to give up the beef though…I end up eating more than I would in order to eat out with my hubby…often the chicken is Parts is parts…ick! Wishing you both the best!
When I arrived here in Kentucky my feet were swollen real bad, I thought they were bad due to the drive to get here, but later found that my body retains water a lot, so through the VAMC in Louaville I got a pill that I take twice a day to rid my body of the water it retains and WOW, what I thought was Gout is Totally Gone, no more swelling on my feet and now I can see my Ackeles ,, a lot has changed because of the carrying folks at the Louaville VAMC, have your Doctor check to see if your retaining water,,,,,,,,, 🐾🤓
I know that water pills can help with some issues Rusty…do be careful to guard your kidneys all you can as those pills are not easy on the kidneys. I split the one a day I take…and take half in AM and half in PM…and I feel better spreading it out too. Hope you continue doing well!
After all of the tradgedy in the panhandle; how about some thought provoking little ditties, to dissect, if you wish to:
1. “The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us!”
–>Calvin & Hobbes (Bill Watterson)
2. “Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving @ different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing!”
–>Clive James
3. “A hippo does not have a sting in it’s tail, but a wise man would still rather be sat on by a bee!”
–>Polish Proverb
Read these, copy them down, use them @ your leisure, they were found in an old newsletter that my cousin helped to compile. I’m not even sure if it’s still in publication. Tell us your interpretations of them. This is just for fun, & something a little different! ENJOY! 🙂 LOL
Cheryl
Would a Go Fund Me apply?
This morning wxtl.com and the Miami Herald reported investigations had shown the department of wildlife and fishing had ordered a controlled burn that was the cause of the fire, and ADDED that the state will grant $5000 to each household whose home was destroyed. Those residents need to apply for the funds and can begin doing that today. The state will not demand those receiving the grant account for how they spend it, even though they stated it’s being given for use towards temporary housing and other things already being offered by charitable organizations. At least now those who lost everything will now have some money to start over again. So far that is the best news I have read concerning this matter, thank God those affected are being given some hope that they have not had until now.
Thanks for the report, weather. I will add this to the post!
You beat me to the good news weather!I don’t mind 😁
We were traveling to Grand Junction Colorado to stay with family for the summer so that I can receive a second round of chemotherapy at a Grand Junction clinic. We had been in Southern Arizona for seven months, four months longer than we planned because of my diagnosis in early January. We love Arizona in the winter, but by April things were heating up, and by June 15 when we got to leave, it was 107 in Phoenix where I was being treated. We were so excited to finally be on the road, even though we knew what awaited me. We wanted to take at least a three or four days to do a 10 hour drive—to travel and feel normal again—so we thought about doing the San Juan Skyway through southwest Colorado to Grand Junction. We craved the mountains!
However a Durango friend first warned us about Highway 550 because of the steep drop offs and hairpin turns and then she said the road was closed due to the 416 fire.
So we thought we would take the west loop of the Skyway. Then they closed the San Juan Forest because of the fires. The road was open, but no camping.
We stIll had a good time visiting Sunset Crater and the ancient pueblos near Flagstaff, Navajo National Monument, and the drive through Moab and along the Colorado River. The weather also turned cooler because of Hurricane Bud (?).
The summer fires have become a sad reality throughout the West. Last summer we were chased all the way from Washington state to Northeast Yellowstone before we escaped the smoke.
Be safe out there.
Good morning, Martha!
Moving out of Phoenix to Flagstaff, Sunset Crater, and Navajo NM would also put you in cooler temperatures due to the change in elevation. I’m glad you were able to skirt the forest fires and smoke to enjoy that area, as well as southern Utah.
You were chased across states last summer, just as we were. I have a feeling a lot of planned routes were changed this summer, too.
Thanks for the report, Martha.