My family and I evacuated from our home in Groveland last night because of the #MocFire. It was an arduous experience to say the least, but will share some thoughts in the hopes it will be of use to those who evacuate from other current/future fires. Thread:
You’re never as prepared as you think you are and it will take longer than you expect. And fires can move extremely quickly. The #MocFire started quite a distance from our home (HWYs 120 & 49).That’s a 30 minute drive from our house. Within a few hours, it was at our doorstep.
Getting accurate and timely info was frustratingly tough, and accurate info matters because it - at the least - determines how you should evacuate (ie, jump in the car and run or take time to pack up survival equipment, etc).
We decided to leave before the evacuation order because the main roads west went near the fire. So we decided to run East of the Sierra and Tioga pass. Hotels already very expensive this season decided to pack up survival gear in case we had to camp.
I’m an outdoorsman and keep my kit nearby our vehicles, but even then it took me a good hour to get the car packed up. Spare marine/rv batteries and five gallon fuel cans feel extremely heavy when you’re in a rush. Line for the gas station 20 miles up the road was 20 cars deep.
Was lucky to have half tank that would of just barely got us over the Sierra to the Mobile 1 at Lee Vining, but fortunately the lesser known gas station in Crane Flat still had fuel and wasn’t busy so topped up and made it to Mammoth. Very hard to find hotel room though.
Point is that I was monitoring the fire since it took off, was relatively prepared, and it still took 90 min to three adults and theee dogs out of there. Had we left and hour or so later, it would have been a very different and much more uncomfortable experience.
Likely would have had to set up camp in the smokey pitch-black Stanislaus Forest or Yosemite it we hadn’t had the fuel, and if we were in a rush because it was a mandate, probably wouldn’t have had food either.
Lessons are: (1) waiting until mandatory evacuation orders would have really puts us at a disadvantage for securing the creature comforts - fuel, food, and lodging. (2) monitor nearby fires, have a plan, and be prepared to amend those plans as new information comes in.
(3) keep things you will need to take with you near your escape vehicle in packed or near-packed state. (4) take a good mental picture - or actual one if you have time - or your home and loved ones, because it could be your last of them.
(5) the dogs are going to think you’re going on a big adventure and they’re right. Try to keep the same upbeat attitude as them and it will be a much better experience.
(6) you’ll have a much easier time convincing your significant other that a @YETICoolers are a good investment. Don’t lead with that on your way out, but hammer it the next morning when most of your ice has melted in your “we don’t need a $500 cooler” wal-mart special.
I mean, a fella can dream right? 
