An update on members hecate and Knucklehead...
...and a notification of some down time.
We still haven't heard from either of them and under the circumstances that is understandable.
Since right after the recent California fires the plan has been to raise some funds with the goal of getting some supplies or whatever may be needed directly to our friends who have been affected.
Hecate is isolated without electricity, phone, internet or vehicle. We can't contact him and he can't contact us until the electricity and internet is hooked back up and who knows how long that may take. Another member, Tall Bald and Ugly, who lives relatively near, volunteered early on to take a long ride to see him. The intent was to have TB&U find hecate, get a list of things he needs and then report back to us so we could raise some funds and get back to him (hecate) directly with some supplies. Things were all set up last week for TB&U to hit the road but I then read an article stating that all roads have been blocked from access that lead to Paradise. To follow up on that I called the Paradise Police Dept. and lo and behold I got through to them. The dispatcher affirmed that indeed all roads are closed into Paradise and wont be opened back up until the evacuation order is lifted and once lifted it will be by zones. So that ended the trip to Paradise. It had also been brought up that perhaps we could reach hecate by mail so I asked the dispatcher and she said that all mail to Paradise is being held at the Chico Post Office, so without hecate having a working vehicle we stand little chance of reaching him any time soon via the USPS.
So it appears that we will have to wait until someone hears from him.
Unfortunately we have yet to hear from Knucklehead either. I do not monitor the other blogs that Knuck has been known to hang out at so if anyone has any further info about him please let us know.
Thank the stars that they are both OK.
Downtime: Sometime this weekend the site will be down for regular maintenance. It should only take an hour or so unless something unforeseen happens.
Thanks folks.
PS: Please, restrain from posting any articles about the Paradise fire survivors. The articles may contain information that would amount to doxing without explicit permission from those affected.
Comments
Thank you for the update JtC
I continue to worry about hecate. It’s hard to imagine how he and the animals are ok, being isolated with no help from the outside world. But I have found the news reports about those who stayed and survived to be encouraging, because they seem to be helping each other, and there are first responders there, so hopefully the people are getting some help like food and water at least.
Reporters are obviously being allowed in, or somehow getting in.
Maybe we can create some c99% press credentials for TBU to get into Paradise? I’m only half joking on that. I get irritated at those in power who can control citizens from reaching their family and friends, or even stranded/abandoned animals. Animal rescue groups often have to fight for access and/or they find ways to bypass the authorities.
I hope you are able to get in contact soon. Thanks again.
amateur radio?
Are there any currently operating ham radio folks here on c99?
One of the reasons, stated in the black-letter law itself, for the Amateur Radio Service's existence is to provide communications with trapped individuals in circumstances just like these. If there are hams still in the Paradise area, that's why they're still there.
It would be worth a shot, anyway.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Thanks CS in AZ for your very thoughtful comment
It's hard to imagine that if goods were brought for those still in Paradise they would be sent back. I think it might still be worth a try to have a personal delivery accepted.
Bribery worked after Hurricane Katrina
I know a man, Adolf, who traveled from Central Texas to Waveland, Mississippi to search for and rescue his 18 or 19 year old daughter the day after Katrina hit, though it took him about a week to return.
He loaded his pickup truck with gallons upon gallons of gasoline and diesel. He took snacks and water and quite a bit of cash too. When he was stuck at multiple check points, he bribed his way through. Surprisingly (to me, at least), the diesel was the first to go. Now I understand, the cops needed fuel for their own generators, so it made sense.
He found and rescued his daughter, who weathered the storm in her teen boyfriend's attic. Her family's modest summer home, that I had visited in March of the same year, had been completely washed away, leaving only the concrete slab. Having zero communication with her prior to leaving his home in Texas, he had no idea if he'd even find her body.
I called it German ingenuity and drive, at the time. Bribery worked for him. Of course, it's totally illegal, but I'm just throwing it out there . . .
Thanks, JtC
And of course, when the time comes, I will send the Rum.
Thank you both for trying to coordinate help for hecate.
Hopefully Knucklehead will be in contact.
Maybe all we can do now is send warm vibrations of love and strength to hecate and Knucklehead, and trust they are getting what they need, physically and ethereally.
JtC, please see my comment to CS in AZ. I wonder if it would still be worth a try?
Thanks for the update, JtC! ;-D EOM
Blue Onyx
"Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong."
~~W. R. Purche
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
It's a longshot, and I'm not sure if it is even a good idea,
but...would it make sense to contact small local businesses in Paradise, or neighboring Chico, and ask them if they know anything? It is a small town, I would guess most folks know each other.
Chico is larger 85K or so, I know only one business there offhand, Paul's components (machinists, bike parts). I follow them on instagram and I think I remember them saying they would be closed for a few days because a few of their employees lost their homes from the Camp fire. Maybe one of those employees know hecate?
Just a thought...
JtC,
I've no replies from other blog inquires since we last spoke. Thank you for this update.
Thanks for the replies and suggestions folks...
a few things come to mind. I can think of three very good reasons why the roads leading into Paradise are blocked: 1-They are still searching through the remains of the houses/buildings looking for victims of the fire. 2-Looters. 3-Rubberneckers.
I believe there were a few businesses that survived the fire but it's doubtful that they would be open for business with the lack of electricity and with most of the population being evacuated.
If some supplies where sent via the mail the would have to be non-perishable, costly to send and very well could end up as a wasted effort sitting in the Chico Post Office waiting to be picked up.
Unfortunately I think our only option is to wait to hear from hecate and Knuck. I'm sure hecate will contact somebody from this site as soon as he can. Knucklehead is a different story as per my contact with him over the years he was always sporadic in the best of circumstances.
Thanks folks