So. Cal on fire
 

HI There,

Keep all our sisters from the Theta Upsilon chapter in your thoughts. If you've seen the news about all the fires in Southern California then you can understand why. Theta Upsilon is located at University of LaVerne in the city of LaVerne which is battling forest fires, in fact A K Phi Sig on GC lives in that area and attends school there too. Also, San Bernardino and Claremont are all near the school and sisters may have family and friends in that area as well.

Where I live in Carson, we're at least 40 miles from any of the forest fires blazing in Southern California but the smoke is so bad that the whole Los Angeles Basin has this orange haze throughout. I washed my car this morning and have a 1/4 inch layer of ash on the car already. When you walk outside it's so smoky that you would think you're right next to a campfire. We had to close up all the windows and doors to the house because the house was starting to smell like smoke.

Can anyone do a rain dance for Southern California, we could really use it about now - they can't even estimate when the fires are even going to contained at this point.

Carolyn

I wish the best to them all, they can have allllll the rain that Florida gets if I had anything to do with it!!!

IT'S BAAAAD!!
 

I went to Vegas on Friday and came back on Saturday-> we had to drive right through it!!! (well one of them... there's about 5 different fires going on throughout So. Cal)

It seriously looked like we were entering Hell! :eek: Before we got to the mountain we obviously saw smoke, but it didn't look too bad. We get up next to the mountain and all of a sudden everything was gray! It was like we went through a curtain!!! The weirdest thing was that there was this eerie red glow on the road and in the sky. The sun was soooo red! (that sounds weird, but I honestly have never seen it like that before) It looked like Mars!

Man, there is ash EVERYWHERE!!!! It's so sad because all I can think about is that this ash that I'm walking in and that is covering my car could be someone's house. :( These poor people.

Nikki, my aunt is visiting from Florida and I wish she brought your rain with her!

Unfortunately, when it does start to rain, we're going to have massive floods and mudslides because the ground is littered with ash and the hills have nothing to soak up the water now.

Say a prayer and hope that it'll end soon!

LITP~Beth

Well, I got an email from Wendy Lau (many of you have heard her speak at Founders Day & Division Conference events), she is the CKA for Theta Upsilon. So far good news that everyone and their families are okay although they are all really nervous still.

I also got an email from Tara, A K Phi Sig, and she's okay so far as well.

Beth, you are so lucky that you were even able to get back from Vegas. You probably just made it in time before they closed the freeways coming in from Vegas. I'm glad you made it through safely.

So far the news is now saying there are 10 major fires burning in the So Cal area. Ventura, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego counties are all ablaze. None of the fires are even close to being contained. There are fire engine companies coming in from all over the West and we're still going to be shorthanded with fire personnel. It almost seems that the fire trucks are just jumping from area to area just to try to save houses and don't have a chance to actually try to stop the fire.

As Beth said, now we almost have to pray it doesn't rain for quite a while. They need to get these areas reseeded asap otherwise in December through March you're going to be hearing on the news about massive landslides and floods in these areas next.

Well, I'm off to get ready for work. Let's hope that my building is really a closed ventillation system or it's not going to be a fun day today.

Carolyn

EEEHHH!!!!

I've been so nervouse for all of my sisters and friends over there...

I think for once i'm glad i'm in Michigan and not La Verne. but i've been looking at pictures and it's absolutly horrofying...I can close my eyes and just see it....

Keep hoping that everyone is ok.....haven't been able to get a hold of anyone, so i'm glad that you posted that you've heard from Wendy and Tara...

We have two sisters from Delta Gamma who are from down south whose homes may be effected by the fires... let's send everyone facing hard times because of these fires positive thoughts and energy they can use it ! It's been soooo hot lately all over Cali I can see why they are having such a hard time containing everything....

Helping the fire victims
 

My family and I are planning on getting some items together to donate to the victims of these horrible fires. If you, or anyone you know, are interested in helping out lemme know. We're going to deliver it to one of the firehouses or evacuation centers. There also is the Red Cross hotline (800)Help-now.

Ideas for donations:
Blankets
Clothing
Toiletries
Toys
(well, just think if your house was burnt down, what would you need to live/survive???)

LITP~Beth

Thanks everyone who has been praying for So. Cal to have some rain. Amazingly we went in one day from 80 to 90 degree weather to overnight the weather was in the mid to high 60's. Yesterday we even had rain, more then they expected. that has helped a lot with the fires - some are almost fully in control. They are still worried about two though as the hot weather and high winds are expected back by Tuesday so if they don't have the big ones in full control they may get bad again.

Last time I heard a day and a half ago more then 722,000 acres had burned. One firefighter said that one of the fires was burning a half-acre a minute.

Keep up the good thoughts and prayers for us.

Carolyn

I'm glad things are somewhat better. You all can come up here if you want and stay with me!! :p

My school is doing a teddy bear drive for the children that have lost everything from the fires. Wednesday in our quad we will be collecting lots and lots of teddy bears. They are challenging the students to bring 300-500 teddy bears. Hopeful we can get that many. And you can all bet that lots of them will be from Theta Mu!!

Sending more rain vibes for Socal.
LITP

News is so much better. First off they now expect cool temperatures and more rain this week so officials are no longer worried that we're going to get the hot Santa Ana winds that could have caused the fires to go out of control.

The best part is that all the fires are at least 70% contained and most are over 80% contained. Residents are able to return to some areas now.

Thank you..!
 

Thanks to all the wonderful sisters that kept us in your prayers..!

I have friends that lost their home, my family in a few miles away where the fire was.. our chapter baked fudge and we made cards for those who last their homes..

Again I thank you in name of all my chapter! :)

God Bless you all!

LYLAS,
Clariz :D