San Diego firestorm

Closed October 31, 2007

All Noah's Wish personnel have now returned home. Thank you all!!

Update 6:00pm

Qualcom Shelter closed at noon today. All animals were picked up by their families or were transported to other nearby shelters. Noah's Wish personnel left for home at 3:00pm. It was a pleasure to be of service to the animals and the residents of San Diego County.

Update as 5:00pm Thursday

Most people within San Diego city limits have been released to go home. Evacuation orders have been lifted for a number of areas. As the crowds at Qualcomm Park dwindle, people are beginning to reclaim their animals and head out to see what’s left in the aftermath of the firestorm. Noah’s Wish will be closing its shelter at Qualcomm, and returning home on Friday.

We would like to thank San Diego Animal Control, San Diego County Office of Emergency Services and the wonderful people that make up the greater San Diego community for their support. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for the warm welcome and assistance we received during our stay.

Update as of 7:30am Thursday

Winds continue to slow allowing firefighters to begin offensive moves on the fires. 1:15am news on the Harris fire: Now at 75,000 acres. Damaged or destroyed homes 450. 1,300 firefighters on scene. 5:00am news on the Witch fire (The largest)

Now at 200,000 acres. Destroyed structures 950, including residences,businesses and service buildings. 2,300 firefighters on scene.Total evacuees from the Witch fire were 350,000, with a number of these able to return to their homes.

There are several smaller fires active in San Diego County with numerous evacuations as well.

Estimates vary widely as to how many evacuees are currently at the Qualcomm shelter. The last "Official " count was 11,000 but on-site reporters say many have left for private accomodations and believe the count may now be 2,000 to 3,000.

This site will update when we receive an up- to- date count of both people and animals. The community continues to step up to help with the care of animals in the shelter. Since deployment, 325 indivduals have volunteered to help clean, walk and feed animals.

Yesterday 140 volunteered. THANK YOU SAN DIEGO! !

Update as of 5:00pm:

Finally, a slowdown in the Santa Ana winds. Without the high winds, firefighters are gaining some ground. Some areas are now allowing a partial return of their evacuees. At 4:oopm the N.W. team at Qualcomm was advised that the Red Cross is bringing 75 animals (Don't know yet what types) to their location for intake. This is believed to be from the closing of a more remote shelter. The pace at Qualcomm is still very busy, with lots of activity. The community has been terrific with offers of help coming from everywhere. Govermental agencies have indicated they are very pleased with Noah's Wish and how smooth things are going.

Update as of 2:00pm:

Weather is improving, giving firefighters a break as winds decrease, humidity levels climb and temperatures cool slightly. Estimates for property damage are nearing one billion dollars. Some residents are gradually being allowed back into their neighborhoods.

Our team of highly skilled volunteers has been supplemented by an additional crew arriving from as far away as Connecticut today. They are extremely busy setting up the intake trailer, and moving animals into air conditioned trailers supplied by Animal Transport Services. We have received nothing but compliments on how the initial response team took charge and got things under control. Way to go guys!!

With the cancellation of some evacuation orders, people have been reclaiming a number of animals from the shelter, while evacuees from new neighborhoods are making their way to Qualcomm Park.

Special update 9:00am:

Fires have merged in the San Diego area and additional evacuations are underway. There are now over 300,000 acres burned and over 10,000 firefighters battling the many fires in the south state.

Many of the evacuees at Qualcomm stadium are staying with their families and animal companions in tents on the stadium grounds. They are bringing their pets to the Noah's Wish shelter for medical care and food.

N.W. has set up an exercise area and dog walk and it is widely utilized, this process cares for the needs of the animals and reduces the requirement for repeated checking in and out of the shelter.

NOAH'S WISH WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY AND ASSISTANCE IN CARING FOR ANIMAL COMPANIONS AT QUALCOMM:

SAN DIEGO COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL

PETCO FOUNDATION

PETSMART CHARITIES

MISSION VALLEY HOME DEPOT

Mr. DAVIDSON, MANAGER OF QUALCOMM IKEA

MIKE CARTER'S FEED IN LAKESIDE

EMERGENCY ANIMAL DISASTER SERVICES of New York

ABAXIS COMPANY

STATIONS CASINOS, INC. - Especially STACI COLUMBO & CAROL GRIPENTOG

Special thanks to TODD GLAZEBROOK, Bird Handler at Sea World. Todd has provided his expertise and assistance with the aviary population at our shelter, the House Rabbit Society for all their help and River City Trade Printers for printing our brochures.

photos via FOX6 San Diego

Update as 7:00am: October 24, 2007

Per CBS, one million people are now evacuated due to the Southern California fires. 1,600 homes have been lost. In some areas the fires are classified as "unstoppable" due to heavy winds and the physical size of the fires. Water is evaporating before it hits its target. Road closures are making it more difficult to move our personnel to the shelter site.. This mornings count is 239 animals/birds of all types now being cared for by Noah's Wish at the Qualcomm shelter. Yesterday was extremely busy with 500 + animals processed, both in and out, of the shelter. It is expected that Noah's Wish will have 30 of its most highly trained personnel on site by noon today. Due to the now unknown duration of this disaster, we are currently preparing rotation schedules for the shelter volunteers.

Update as of noon: Oct. 23

Three Noah's Wish trailers left the El Dorado Hills office at noon loaded with supplies and responders enroute to Qualcomm stadium in San Diego (see photos below). Conditions continue to worsen as high winds drive the fires into communities. Over a half-million people are evacuated in Southern California. Qualcomm stadium now has more than 50,000 evacuees and the numbers continue to grow by the hour. N.W. volunteers continue to arrive. They are very busy but have the shelter functioning smoothly.

Update as of 7:00 am: October 23, 2007

All Noah's wish personnel responding to San Diego fire disaster should report to our command center at the temporary shelter, Parking Lot "H" at Qualcomm Stadium. The First response trailer arrived last evening with much needed cages and supplies.

Eight N.W. first responders spent the night caring for the many animals already in place. (With hundreds more to come). This morning's count : 20 Horses , 79 Cats, 93 Dogs, 6 Rabbits, 5 Rats and a Chinchilla.

At 9:00am this morning a caravan of three trucks pulling N.W. trailers will leave the El Dorado Hills office bound for Qualcomm. Trailers are stocked with more caging and other much needed equipment. Two dozen volunteers are now preparing to leave their homes from as far as Canada, Oklahoma and Arizona, traveling to San Diego via car and plane.

This is a major disaster, much the same as Hurricane Katrina.....Hundreds of thousands of people and animals are out of their homes. Many will have no homes to return to. Regions 1,2,5 and 6 are being deployed, more areas will be alerted as warranted by the situation.

Update as of 6:00pm: Noah's Wish assessment team is on the scene.

An additional twenty-three coordinators and volunteers are enroute to Qualcomm park and will be in place within the next 24 hours. More personnel are on standby to respond and to fill out a rotation should it become necessary.

Update as of 2:00 pm: Noah's Wish teams are enroute to San Diego at this time.

County Animal Control officials have requested that N.W. trained personel be sent to Qualcomm Stadium in downtown San Diego to be the primary responding agency . Our first responders are expected at 7:00pm tonight.

Update as of 11:45 am: * Noah's Wish is now on full deployment*.

The situation is deteriorating by the minute. 250,000 are on manditory evacuation in San Diego alone. Seven Counties are declared disaster areas. The Animal Control Office in San Diego has asked for as much help as we can provide as fast as we can get it there. All personel that are able to help are asked to call the office at 916-939-9474 as soon as possible.

Update as of 9:30am:

A Noah's Wish Assessment team is enroute to the San Diego area at the request of the San Diego County Sheriff''s Department.. The team will assess the current conditions, (Which are known to be extremely serious) and determine logistics for our deployment . The safety of Noah's Wish personnel will be a primary consideration. At this time the Sheriff's department and other local and State emergency personnel are trying to get the freeways open. Keep checking this website for updates..

Monday October 22, 2007-6:30 am- Update on fires in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties in Southern California

Huge out-of-control fires are sweeping Southern California. Winds are at hurricane strength, with a record 108 MPH in one of the canyons. The winds are not expected to lower until midweek. There are widespread manditory evacuations in progress in many locations due to the Santa Ana wind driven fire. Noah's Wish personnel are contacting key govermental agencies to determine their needs. NOTE....NW REGIONS ONE AND FIVE ARE NOW ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT. You will be contacted, if we are going to mobilize.

Check this website for further information.

Southern California fires burn to the beach. Oct. 21, 2007 (Agency photo) Brannan photo

Monday October 1, 2007- 6:30am - Update on the Earthquake in Peru

Molly Mednikow, Director of Amazon C.A.R.E.S. (Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety), has provided Noah's Wish with information on animal relief efforts following Peru's devastating earthquake in August. If you would like to review the article please click here.

You can visit Amazaon C.A.R.E.S. at this address: www.amazoncares.org

Bulter Fire #2 San Bernandino County

Closed 9/19/2007

Wednesday update:10:30am PDT - Containment is at 86% with favorable weather conditions.

Tuesday update: 9:00am PDT - Containment is now 53% and total acres burned has been estimated at only 14,039, down from previous evaluations, due to improved mapping. Mandatory evacuations are still in effect for the Fawnskin area.

Monday update: 11:00am PDT - The fire is reported to be 12% contained and some mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted. The fire continues to burn in a northeasternly direction away from populated areas, however, there is still concern over weather conditions for the next 2 days, with a Red Flag Warning through Tuesday.

Sunday update: 6:30am PDT - California Division of Forestry has been contacted by Noah's Wish personnel regarding the Butler #2 fire in San Bernandino County. Mandatory evacuations are in place for several resorts in the Big Bear Lake area. At this time no action is necessary, however, events will continue to be closely monitored. The fire has burned 18,000 acres and is only 5% contained. Red Flag Warnings will remain in place through Monday for this area.

Picture courtesy of Josie Gavieres - Region 5 volunteer (taken Sunday 9/16/2007)

Hurricane Humberto

Closed 9/14,2007

Friday update: 9:00am. After checking with local authorities in the New Orleans/Slidel areas, it was determimined that no response would be required from Noah's Wish for this event. Only 50 homes had been evacuated and no animals were impacted.

At 8 a.m. EDT hurricane Humberto was located on the Texas-Louisiana border about 25 miles west-northwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The storm is moving northeast at about 12 mph and is expected to weaken as it moves inland.
The storm is expected to go through southeastern Texas and head into Louisiana, where officials anticipate flooding. Forecasters say the storm could dump up to 15 inches of rain because it is moving so slowly. Louisiana officials positioned emergency teams and rescue equipment in the path of Humberto and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency.

Noah's Wish is waiting to see if Louisiana will implement it's emergency evacuation plan and request mobilization of our volunteers.

Midwest flooding in numerous states

Closed 8/24/2007

Monday update: Two Noah's Wish Coordinators, Tammy-Hann-Harlan and Alex Reynolds are traveling through the Ohio valley evaluating the flooding situation and offering assistance to all who need it. So far, four Goldens needing rescuing from a puppy mill have been helped and an assortment of pot-belly pigs wanting their bellies scratched have really enjoyed their NW treatment!! Great work guys....

Noah's Wish Coordinators are monitoring the heavy flooding closely. Ohio is particularly hard hit, with rapidly moving flash floods. Residents are quickly evacuated, their homes flood, the water recedes the next day and they return to clean up the mess. So far, local emergency personnel have been able to keep ahead of it. Noah's Wish volunteers are prepared and ready to respond as needed and requested.

Black Cat Fire - Missoula, Montana

Closed 8/28/2007

Monday update: Most Noah's Wish volunteers have now been able to leave and return home. A great job was done by everyone and it was much appreciated by the residents. Tim Akiimoff of the Missoula News published a terrific video taped interview of our NW Team in action...Take a look:

The fire has now burned through 11,515 acres and is 30% contained. The shelter is holding steady with about 75 animals at any given time. For each area cleared for residents to return, a new one is evacuated and additional animals are brought in to replace those that just left.

Fortunately, only one causuality...a cat with burned paws, who had surgery yesterday and is doing fine. It is believed things will normalize somtime this weekend. Local Montana disaster officials have stated that they are happy with the efforts and assistance provided them by Noah's Wish.

Special thanks to the Humane Society of Western Montana and Missoula Animal Control for allowing us to help.