Fire/EMS/ERs/disasters, etc.

[O Really]

Keep your gas tank full so that you can escape whichever direction is not wrecked.

Actually, we do that - but there are remarkably few ways out. If the big one is north of here, say LA, the 15 might be OK north toward San Bernardino, or the 8 might work going toward Arizona, but that's about it. The only other alternatives are basically two-lane mountain roads, fine in the Jeep, but not suitable for a coach. Going south into Mexico is pretty much impossible even now on a good day. If the damage is here and you want to go north, you've got the 5 and... the 5.

[Vrede too]

Keep your gas tank full so that you can escape whichever direction is not wrecked.

Actually, we do that - but there are remarkably few ways out. If the big one is north of here, say LA, the 15 might be OK north toward San Bernardino, or the 8 might work going toward Arizona, but that's about it. The only other alternatives are basically two-lane mountain roads, fine in the Jeep, but not suitable for a coach. Going south into Mexico is pretty much impossible even now on a good day. If the damage is here and you want to go north, you've got the 5 and... the 5.

Got it, but it's not like we're talking nuclear attack, zombie apocalypse or alien invasion. You only need to make it to working gas stations and, eventually, undamaged grocery stores. Otoh, if the road/s immediately out of your RV park are broken, you're screwed after your water/food run out.

[O Really]

Good point.

[Vrede too]

Again

Western Canada blazes cause evacuation orders, air quality concerns
Thousands of residents in British Columbia were evacuated Sunday, and some residents in Alberta have been asked to prepare to leave.


Smoke rises from a wildfire in the Grande Prairie Forest Area near TeePee Creek in Alberta, Canada, on Friday.

... The federal government has warned Canada faces another “catastrophic” wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures across much of the country, boosted by El Nino weather conditions.

Canada experienced one of its warmest winters with low to non-existent snow in many areas, raising fears ahead of a hot summer triggering blazes in forests and wildlands amid an ongoing drought.

New normal?

[Vrede too]

N.J. Family Narrowly Escapes Injury After Block of Ice Crashes Through Roof: ‘It Smashed Everything’
'It sounded like helicopter wings coming down and then smash,' Paul Gomez, whose home was damaged, said of the incident


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ppLJcPM5o8

"less than 12 feet from" fatal.

[Vrede too]

São Paulo air disaster, not sure if the MSM is showing these videos. "Flat spin" per one article:




RIP

[Vrede too]

Article

Shame on TRE45QN.

[Vrede too]

A documentary series exploring the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that affected 14 countries, offering a comprehensive look at the heart-stopping events.

NatGeo channel
4 x 1 hour episodes

I just finished watching Episode 1. I've seen lots of video from Thailand and Sri Lanka, never this video from Indonesia - shocking. Episode 2 is now starting with Phuket, Thailand.

EDIT: The 2 episodes are replaying at MN and 1 am EST.
Episodes 3 and 4 are on Monday 9 & 10 pm EST, following 1 & 2 again at 7 & 8.

[Vrede too]

Tsunami warning canceled after massive 7.0 earthquake rattles Northern California, Oregon
"No tsunami danger presently exists for this area," the National Tsunami Warning Center said Thursday.

Even so, the Humboldt County Ag industry was reportedly shaken by the event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPnc4gh-d34

[Vrede too]

Meh, motorcoaches endure the equivalent of earthquake shaking and hurricane wind every time they hit the road.

I think it's the road itself you should be concerned about.

Not to mention garbage trucks. About 35 minutes from you:

Doorbell camera captures moment garbage truck explodes in Chicago suburb

[GoCubsGo]

Meh, motorcoaches endure the equivalent of earthquake shaking and hurricane wind every time they hit the road.

I think it's the road itself you should be concerned about.

Not to mention garbage trucks. About 35 minutes from you:

Doorbell camera captures moment garbage truck explodes in Chicago suburb

It said the truck was powered by natural gas but guessing that wasn't the explosion.

A few years ago I was walking the dog at the local park and the parking lot was closed and filled with fire trucks and a burning garbage truck. No explosion though.

Must be a Chicagoland thing I was unaware of.

[Vrede too]

Not to mention garbage trucks. About 35 minutes from you:

Doorbell camera captures moment garbage truck explodes in Chicago suburb

It said the truck was powered by natural gas but guessing that wasn't the explosion.

A few years ago I was walking the dog at the local park and the parking lot was closed and filled with fire trucks and a burning garbage truck. No explosion though.

Must be a Chicagoland thing I was unaware of.

I'm guessing that it was a natural gas explosion. Let us know if you see the answer. The cause might not make national news like the video did.

[GoCubsGo]

I'm guessing that it was a natural gas explosion. Let us know if you see the answer. The cause might not make national news like the video did.

Looks like you're right.
On Tuesday, Arlington Heights officials said while the exact cause of the explosion remained under investigation, the "working theory" was that an uncontrolled combustion within the truck's garbage collection hopper surrounded the trash and provided fuel to the fire. Heat rose to the roof where the compressed natural gas tanks are located and the fire ignited one or more of the gas tanks, causing the explosion.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/video ... -explosion

What a dumb place for the tanks.

[Vrede too]

Looks like you're right.
On Tuesday, Arlington Heights officials said while the exact cause of the explosion remained under investigation, the "working theory" was that an uncontrolled combustion within the truck's garbage collection hopper surrounded the trash and provided fuel to the fire. Heat rose to the roof where the compressed natural gas tanks are located and the fire ignited one or more of the gas tanks, causing the explosion.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/video ... -explosion

What a dumb place for the tanks.

Better video, thanks.

Lower tanks risk rupture from collisions and are more likely to kill the driver, crew and bystanders in a sudden explosion?

[Vrede too]

Pacific Palisades, CA
Homes burning, massive evacuation. Good maps here:
https://abc7.com/post/los-angeles-live- ... /15772938/
Expand to full page and switch to "Imagery". The top of Palisades Dr is burning. The bottom of Palisades Dr is burning down to Sunset. I saw fire near the strip mall there on TV. People are having to abandon their cars and walk. Dad's middle Palisades Dr home for 2 decades before his death looks okay for the moment.

"The National Weather Service said what could be the strongest Santa Ana windstorm in more than a decade began Tuesday across Los Angeles and Ventura counties and will peak in the early hours Wednesday when gusts could reach 80 mph. Isolated gusts could top 100 mph in mountains and foothills."

More on the winds:
https://abc7.com/post/windstorm-map-sou ... /15771497/

Crap.

[GoCubsGo]

Crap.

Unusual for this time of year.

[Vrede too]

Unusual for this time of year.

Somewhat.

... Santa Ana winds are known for the hot, dry weather that they bring in autumn (often the hottest of the year), but they can also arise at other times of the year....

Wildfires
Some in December.

Effect of AGW?

[O Really]

This should be part of what is called "rainy season" where we should get, on average, 5 days of rain. It hasn't rained in months, not significantly since last year around this time. It's very dry everywhere, so it doesn't take much to set off a fire.

[GoCubsGo]

Ah shit.

My step brother, sis in law, step sis (vistiting him from Chicago), niece are under mandatory evacuation.

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire

[Vrede too]

Ah shit.

My step brother, sis in law, step sis (vistiting him from Chicago), niece are under mandatory evacuation.

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire

Bummer, let us know how they fare.
2,227 Acres
Last Updated 01/08/2025 6:09 AM (PST, very current)

Timelapse shows rapid spread of Palisades wildfire

Timelapse footage from the University of California San Diego shows the wildfire's explosive growth between Tuesday morning and afternoon.

The blaze grew from 10 acres to more than 2,900 acres in mere hours, while a plume of smoke billows over the city.

Those winds! The smoke is horizontal and even loses altitude.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/ ... on-warning
2,921 Acres
Last Updated 01/08/2025 5:16 AM
Massive expansion of the mandatory evacuation and evacuation warning zones. This will get worse.