I’m back home after being evacuated due to the Witch Fire in San Diego. It’s really been something. An apartment complex we had once considered moving to is still closed to residents due to the fire. Homes my husband remembers seeing built as a child burned to the ground. Ash is all over the place.

We’re quite grateful to have escaped unhurt and that our home was far enough from the fires that we can’t even see the burn areas. That’s mostly due to the hills, since there are burn areas within about 2 miles of us.

But on to the Thursday Thirteen thoughts:

  1. Keeping kids busy indoors is tough, even when you’re fortunate enough to have family to evacuate to, rather than going to a shelter. I should have grabbed more of their toys.
  2. There are times when it doesn’t matter that the kids watch a lot of television, so long as it distracts them from the crisis.
  3. Kids run a little more wild when you get several of them together.
  4. Try to keep some routine going.
  5. Have a lot of art supplies for the kids. Markers, especially washable ones, or crayons are easier to deal with than paints.
  6. Think about when you let the kids out when the air is bad. Get masks if they really need to play outside, and be especially careful if any of the kids have asthma or allergies.
  7. Ash can creep under closed doors.
  8. Think about the animals. My family doesn’t have any pets right now, but my sister does. It takes a lot more effort to care for pets during an emergency, even if you aren’t in a shelter.
  9. No matter how much you pack, after you leave you will wish you had brought more.
  10. Cooking for 11 people is a challenge, especially when you haven’t had a lot of time to plan for it.
  11. Going through a crisis with loved ones is the best way to deal with it.
  12. Watching too much news will burn you out on it, whether or not your home survives.
  13. It feels really, REALLY good to go home again.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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