As some of you might now know from my recent Facebook post, my hometown of Santa Rosa was devastated by wildfires that started late the night of October 8th and have continued to burn into this week.  While I no longer live in Santa Rosa, my mom and many friends still reside in this beautiful part of Sonoma County and it was such a helpless and terrifying feeling to watch the news from afar while amidst so much uncertainty and active fire danger.

{via NY Daily News}

 

Those first 48 hours were terrifying, as my mom was evacuated and I panicked as to whether she’d be able to save enough memories of my dad during her frantic rush to leave the house.  The devastation is tremendous…as of the time I am writing this, Santa Rosa alone lost 3,000 structures and has a death toll of 34 and counting.  Over 220,000 acres have been scorched across series of fires currently burning in Northern California.  To put that in perspective, that’s over 260 times the size of New York’s Central Park.

{via LA Times}

 

In the days that have followed, what became evident was how many good, kind, generous, and wonderful people there are in this world.  My guess is that most news stations showed video of the fire’s destruction, so what you might not have seen were the photos of police stations overflowing with food for rescue personnel, not to mention donations for fire victims.

{via Santa Rosa Firestorm Update}
{via Santa Rosa Firestorm Update}

 

Or lost ones being found.  Or pets being treated for injuries and reunited with their families.  {Izzy, the dog below, survived the fire and waited nearby for her owners to return!}

{via NBC News}

 

Or homeowners providing hot meals to rescue workers or just those that were without power and needed a meal.  Or the free services offered to those in need, no questions asked.

{via Santa Rosa Firestorm Update}

 

Or the pictures of burned family photos or other mementos that people were gathering and posting online in an effort to find their owners.  {And the owners were found, by the way.}

{via  KTVU and Jessica Riveras}

 

Or those who had power, setting up phone charging stations for those without power.  Strangers helping strangers out of the goodness of their hearts.

{via Santa Rosa Firestorm Update}
{via Santa Rosa Firestorm Update}

 

And the help didn’t just spring from within the affected areas, but from ALL OVER.  My mom evacuated to my home in the Bay Area and I wanted her to get some necessary supplies before she returned to her home.  Would you believe that respiratory masks were sold out everywhere??? People here snatched them all up when they heard of the need for them in affected areas and were sending them by the truckload.  Thankfully for me, a kind-hearted stranger donated a mask to my mom so she would be safe to return home.

{via Santa Rosa Firestorm Update}

 

This recent disaster really got me thinking about how much strength we have, both as individuals and as a community, not to mention as a nation.  We have the ability to overcome and persevere through the most challenging of situations.  So today, with this in mind, I’m sharing one of my favorite inspirational quotes with you.  This is a FREE graphic that you can click, save, and then print at whatever size you choose, up to an 8×10.

For those interested in helping victims of the fire, please consider donating to the Redwood Credit Union, a local non-profit organization where 100% of your tax-deductible donations go to help victims of the Northern California wildfires.  For more information, you can visit them HERE.

 

We are NorCal Strong and yes, the love in the air is thicker than the smoke.

 

 

For more free printables, you can sign up to receive updates HERE and gain access to all free printables.

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. – My mom’s home is near an active fire, so she has not yet been allowed back home.  The brave men and women that continue to battle this blaze day and night will forever have my gratitude.

 

 

 

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5 Comments

  1. Norma Rolader says:

    Prayers have been going up for comfort, healing, love and guidance through this horrible time of need May our Father take care of all

  2. Patricia Neuffer says:

    Hi Kim,
    Thank heavens your mom and her home is OK.
    Many prayers from upstate NY to Santa Rosa victims and their recovery. And thank u for reminding us how many good people r in this world.

  3. Kim,
    I’ve felt such a sadness watching from southern CA the devastation. This post lifts my spirits and gives me hope that in this time of seemingly more bad news than good, there are angels in our midst.
    Best to you and your family and friends.
    Karen

  4. Hey, Kim. I’m in Novato and have been glued to the internet and tv for days. My mom was evacuated from the McCourtney Road Fire in Grass Valley but is safe, as is her home. I am heartened by all the support that survivors are receiving from businesses, humane societies, people who live locally and throughout CA. Skies are smoky again today, but it’s white smoke from the backfires our brave responders are setting, not someone’s home. Hard to wrap my head around the destruction.

  5. Marlene Stephenson says:

    Thanks for all this information which really shows how we Americans can unite in love. Still praying,speechless.

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