Monday, October 22, 2007
California fires displace UUs in San Diego area.
The wildfires that are spreading rapidly in southern California forced the evacuation of 250,000 people from their homes in San Diego today, according to the Los Angeles Times. Here's a map showing the locations of the fires in seven counties from Santa Barbara and Los Angeles south to the Mexican border [link updated 10.24.07]. Here's a lot more coverage.
Although I have only a handful of details about the effects of the fire on UU congregations and their members right now, Ken Brown, the UUA district executive in the area, said that the evacuations had already forced 90 percent of the members of the Chalice Congregation in Escondido to flee. (Here's a map of the San Diego-area congregations.) Members of other congregations are offering housing to displaced UUs, and the district has set up an emergency relief fund. Send donations to the Fire Relief Fund, Pacific Southwest District, 2052 Norma Street, Oxnard CA 93036.
More details to come.
Update 10.23.07: An announcement from the UUA today regarding the Fire Relief Fund says that "a district committee will disburse all funds collected to UU congregations, UUs in need, community groups in relationship with UU congregations, and other groups supporting those most in need." You can now donate online.
Update 10.24.07: Here's the official UUA.org page about the fires in Southern California, which have now forced the evacuation of 881,500 people.
Copyright © 2007 by Philocrites | Posted 22 October 2007 at 5:35 PM
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Philocrites
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2 comments:
Patrick McLaughlin:
October 23, 2007 01:26 AM | Permalink for this comment
Here's some commentary from "inside."
It appears that a large majority of Chalice's members have been evacuated. Their minister was as well. We presume that some home losses are likely, because of the numbers displaced.
Evacuations have displaced an undetermined number of members at Palomar UU Fellowship. (A number of our members are in areas that are advisory evacuation areas, as is the Fellowship's building, and many are just barely outside that area. If the wind shifts...)
Given the evacuation orders, it's also very likely that a significant number of the members of UU Fellowship of San Dieguito have been displaced... and the fire's still active in areas that may affect members.
I've no insight into the impact on Summit or First Church, but I'm certain members of both congregations are affected.
Philocrites:
October 23, 2007 04:57 PM | Permalink for this comment
An announcement from the UUA today regarding the Fire Relief Fund says that "a district committee will disburse all funds collected to UU congregations, UUs in need, community groups in relationship with UU congregations, and other groups supporting those most in need." You can now donate online.
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