October 28, 2007 - San Diego Wildfires

We arrived in San Diego, California at 5:00 this morning. On the trip out we discovered that San Diego County had the most devastation compared to the rest of Southern California so we decided that would be a good place for us to start. We drove straight through – seventy-two hours later we are here, and we are safe. We quickly determined that the most devastated and poverty stricken area is a mountain community called Ramona. For the first time in my life I saw vast mountains, once full of lush green trees and beautiful homes, reduced to nothing but rock, dirt and ashes.

We met with a man who owned a large avocado and palm tree farm. It was astonishing to look up at the mountain full of scorched trees. I did not know what to say to the man. He had his hands on the side of his truck, looking up at what was once his beautiful farm. Seth put it best…”What do you say?”

We will seek out those who are in need. Our next stop is the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and many other humanitarian organizations that are descending on this area to help. We are the only ones who have responded with heavy equipment and cranes. If any of these organizations need assistance with accessing closed areas with food, water, and nurses we will help make a way. After that we will seek out those who have experienced total loss, have no insurance or are under insured. There is much to do here.

October 26, 2007 - San Diego, CA Wildfires

It’s 4:00 am on Friday morning and the decision has been made to respond to the fires in San Diego, California. As of now, the reports are saying 516,653 acres of mountains and homes are on fire. All of these fires are still burning, none of which are contained. The devastation will be great for the people affected by this disaster. Hurricanes, tornados, ice storms and floods will often leave many valuable and sentimental things unharmed but fires consume and destroy everything, leaving families with only memories of what once was.

The last 12 hours have been difficult because the decision to go from New York to California will be costly. It’s a lot easier to respond to a disaster in New Orleans than it is to respond to one all the way across the country. At what point do you take the yellow pads full of crunched numbers, crumple them up, throw them in the garbage and decide that when those families return home to a pile of ashes, we want to be there to help? That time is now.

Thanks to all my friends who encouraged me to respond. To Andy for saying, “Do what you know you’re supposed to do, besides you wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.” To Bobby for saying, “Isn’t this why you started the First Response Team, to help people?” To Steve for saying, “Go with your gut. The worst decision you can make is no decision at all. Fuel that son of a gun up and get out there.” Thank you Tim and Seth for responding within three hours of my request to go and for so many others who encouraged me to go and helpedthe details come together.

We will leave Long Island, New York, in a few hours with a 2007 Sterling truck equipped with a hydraulic crane and crushing head with a capacity to hold 120 yards of disaster debris; two Caterpillar 252B front-end loaders equipped with hydraulic grapple heads, an American Express card and some cash. I’m not sure if passion is enough to get you through life but I’m sure I wouldn’t make it without it.