❤️”the Volcano Eye”
📷 by Artist: #GunnarFreyrGunnarson
Website: www.icelandicexplorer.com

Pacific Palisades had a fireworks problem. Now one may have caused a disaster Pacific Palisades had a fireworks problem for a while. Now one may have caused a disaster, as investigators begin probe of megafire's origin

On Monday, specialized Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents reached the hillside where the Palisades Fire sparked to begin an investigation into the cause.

How was California supposed to prepare for a fire f**king a tornado?

Review | A cool Icelandic novel emerges out of the covid pandemic’s long winter In “Your Absence Is Darkness,” Jón Kalman Stefánsson contemplates curses transmitted from one generation to the next.

A few years back, I stopped reading American dystopian fiction. Living in disaster-prone California and amidst political and climate realities, that genre felt too dark (and painfully real). I then turned to Icelandic authors and this is my latest favorite 💫: www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/0...

"The world is full of dreams that never come true. They evaporate and settle like dew in the sky where they transform into the stars in the night.” (from "Summer Light, Then Comes the Night")❤️

I keep a pen handy when I read his work, and though I tend to be a speed reader I try to deliberately read each piece slowly, savoring it. So much beauty in all his work. I have so many favorite quotes scrawled down.

I tend to devour everything written by one author and hold them for years as my favorite. It once was Milan Kundera then Haruki Murakami, but now your countryman Jón Kalman Stefánsson has my heart! The structure, the characters, the stories ... but I can't choose a favorite novel of his just yet.

California faces climate "whiplash"—droughts followed by floods. We need smarter water storage (aquifer recharge), stronger flood defenses (levees, floodplains), and proactive wildfire prevention (controlled burns, more vegetation mgmt.). Disaster plans at all levels must address cascading risks.

Some federal legislators want to tie wildfire aid to conditions, punishing the already suffering CA wildfire victims. The facts are states like CA, WA, MN, NH, & NY subsidize others. CA gave $83B more to the federal govt than it got back in 2022, propping up recipient states like TX, KY, & MS.👇

San Francisco County Disaster Information | 211 Bay Area AlertSF is San Francisco’s free emergency text message system. AlertSF will send alerts and instructions following a natural disaster, major police, fire, or health emergency, or significant transport...

🔟Sign Up for Your Local Emergency Alert System!
Many communities around the country use Nixle for alerts (text your ZIP code to 888777). Marin County uses Alert Marin (emergency.marincounty.gov/pages/alertm...), and Bay Area residents, find your alert system at: 211bayarea.org/disaster-inf...

9️⃣ Know Your Evacuation Options:
Identify friends or family who can host you. Keep a list of local shelters. If you have pets, research pet-friendly hotels in safer areas. As you evacuate, have someone call ahead to reserve a room. Planning options NOW reduces stress later when every second counts!👇

8️⃣ Be Proactive:
Don’t wait for an evacuation order to act!
Pack your car and leave during an evacuation warning if possible. Use only one car per household to keep evacuation routes clear and reduce congestion. Planning ahead and leaving early can save lives—including yours.👇

7️⃣Evacuation Warning vs. Order:

Evacuation Warning: Evacuation may soon be necessary. Gather your family, pets, Go Bags, and essentials, and prepare to leave. Leaving early avoids congestion.

Evacuation Order: Immediate danger. Evacuation is mandatory. Any delay can be life-threatening.👇

6️⃣Plan Ahead on Red Flag Days:
When weather conditions are dry, hot, and windy, Red Flag Warnings signal high wildfire risk. Be especially vigilant and prepared to evacuate. Don’t wait for danger to escalate—stay alert and ready to act.👇

5️⃣Navigate Turns Wisely:
On winding roads, wildfires burn most intensely in “in-turns” (inner curves with uphill slopes) due to rising heat. “Out-turns” (outer curves with downhill slopes) are safer. Avoid lingering in in-turns; instead, use out-turns to assess conditions and proceed safely.👇

4️⃣ Know Your Routes:
Plan at least two evacuation routes from your home, neighborhood, and town. Drive them ahead of time to familiarize yourself. Identify safer spots along the way, like cleared driveways or burned areas, where you can temporarily wait out a fire if needed.👇

3️⃣Avoid Fire Roads:
Fire roads are for emergency vehicles, not public evacuation. They might not lead to safety and can leave you stranded, in danger. Stick to paved roads and pre-planned routes to ensure a safer evacuation. Using fire roads risks blocking responders and endangering your life.👇

2️⃣Evacuate Downhill:
Fires spread much faster uphill due to rising heat and the “chimney effect,” preheating vegetation and intensifying flames. While heading downhill may feel counterintuitive if fire is below, fires move slower downhill, making it a safer route. Know your terrain and plan ahead.👇

Key takeaways from his message are below:

1️⃣ Stay in Your Car:
Research shows that staying in your car on pavement is the safest refuge during a wildfire. It shields you from heat, smoke, and embers. Only leave your car if it catches fire. This simple choice might save your life.👇

Wildfire Evacuation: Make It Downhill Alive YouTube video by Fire Safe Marin

Mark Brown, Executive Officer of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), explains this critical shift in his 11-minute video, "Make it Downhill Alive." If you or loved ones live in wildfire-prone areas, it’s a must-watch:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=91hg... 👇

The current guidance is clear: know multiple ways out, but stay in your car. Research shows vehicles on pavement are much safer than being exposed to heat, smoke, or embers on foot or bike. Only exit if your vehicle is on fire!👇

🚗🔥Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness: 8 yrs ago, when I began working in Bay Area emergency preparedness, the advice was 'know 2 ways out' and 'have 2 modes of transportation.' Lessons from wildfires like Paradise changed this: the safest plan is to head downhill and STAY IN YOUR CAR. More in thread:👇