I don't know if the national news would report on anything from flyover country, but over the weekend we have run away fires over much of Eastern Oklahoma. Some were suspicious, but most were started by downed powerlines in high wind (60+ mph) Once going, they raced across the dry countryside at about 13 mph. Engulfing lots of homes and forcing many people to evacuate. One of the fires was two miles from my home. Luckily, it was contained and never even got close...but it starts you thinking what if. And to it, that my power was out..so no tv to track the course of the fire. Luckily, I have a radio standing by so I was able to tune in to local news and get the info.

To many times we plan on single events. Imagine trying to get together things you would want to take...in the dark. I saw interview after interview of people who made it out of their homes with nothing but clothes on their backs and no place to stay...very sad, but could have been avoided. One of the big problems was that there was no warning to evacuate until the Fire Department knocked on their door and told them to get out..and fast. Having a BOB ready would have helped alot of these folks.

We had very cold and strong winds come in the other night. The news devoted local coverge to a nurseryman explaining how to protect landscaping. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> My cats woke me in the night. I grabbed the photon, confirmed everything was o.k. and doublechecked the BOB and two carriers were at the door. Back in bed and my cat bites me on the wrist and meows again, running to the window. So I look out and his squirrel buddy is lying on the ground in the shattered remains of his nest and hypothermic. Out comes the heating light bulb and a towel. Morning and I have two cats and a squirrel playing tag on top of me. Rocky is back outside rebuilding his nest. I propped Tom Brown's illustration on litter shelters outside. Rocky tore out the pages on solar stills for material. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yes, it seems that the local coverage always seems to be lacking. They never seem to report on what I feel they should. When you have 60 mph winds and fires over 50,000 acres..human interest pieces should get second billing. I did check the National coverage and it seems only my favorite news service Fox News deemed the fires newsworthy..neither CNN or MSNBC mentioned them. Go figure.

Congratulations on your rescue of your wildlife neighbors. I know the fires caused many whitetails to evacuate, but luckily, I haven't heard of to many problems with animals, but most folks interviewed made sure they had their pets with them.

News is only good for its entertainment value, and THAT'S just to sell advertising. It isn't really news any more.

One thing to keep handy is a box of all your important documents. I'll bet it's easier to get a claim started if you know your policy numbers.

Sue

I saw/heard news about the wild weather in the midwest on various media from here in California--newspaper, TV, radio, but then again, I'm sort of a news junkie, too.

But it's wild that at the same time, you've got blizzards and snow drifts in the Dakotas, and also grass fires and tornadoes down in the plains. Better be prepared--for anything! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And now the power's out in parts of Detroit. Could be a cold, messy commute home. Actually, I guess the power went out in many places over the weekend.