Post-Camp Fire assist for David & Lori
Donation protected
Lori and I lost our Magalia home in the Camp Fire that tore through the heart of Paradise and Magalia on Thursday, November 8.
There wasn't much time to get out. Winds were barreling in from Jarbo Gap, pushing the flames our direction. News reports say the fire was spreading at a rate of one football field every three seconds.
I got some living essentials out -- important papers, laptop and iMac, some clothing and toiletries, a painting, three guitars, two ukuleles and a violin.
And then the neighbor shouted "It's at the end of the street!"
Left behind: the accumulated stuff and vibe of a 37 year marriage, 37 years of collected music gear worth tens of thousands of dollars, our library, jewelry and wardrobe, documents and photos from 150 years of the Zink family in Bald Rock, and the Lucas family photos, things I have yet to think about.
At the same time, Lori drove from her school in Oroville back to Paradise, toward the flames, past flames, to get to her mom, Shirley, at Sunshine Cottage Assisted Living. When she turned right on Pearson the road had been converted to two lanes in the opposite direction. She had to drive against traffic on the side of the road... into smoke, into danger. But she made it, collected mom and a few essentials, then split.
There are three main evacuation routes to the valley from Paradise. Lori went down Clark. Flames on both sides, stop and go traffic. It took hours for her to drive what should've taken 30 minutes. Traffic everywhere was bad.
I was directed by cops to take the more curious route up Coutelenc, into the forest just above the fire. It proved to be the fastest route to Chico, a mere 60 mile round trip that went smoothly, moment-by-moment, into cell tower silence, rejoining Skyway above Magalia and up through Stirling City and Inskip to Butte Meadows, then left on the 32 and down to Forest Ranch, back into cell reception, and finally to a slow moving queue about two miles before Bruce Road at the base of the foothills. Despite that long circuit I made it to our host home two hours before Lori.
The sky was black as Mordor. Fascinating.
I'll keep providing updates, but for now I need to stay in motion, so I'll cut to the chase:
Several friends have urged me to launch this Go Fund Me campaign as a means for them to give cash to help Lori and I through our catastrophe. I've set the amount ridiculously high because I was urged to by our hosts. Please know that we are insured, and that some money -- we're not quite sure how much -- is on its way. Also, our "goddess in a hurry" host Kate Transchel teamed up with Lori to find an apartment we can live in over the next six months, and we've found a place for Shirley nearby.
But we've got a long road ahead. If you feel moved, please do donate to your heart's content. We'll use it immediately. Also, please be assured that what we don't need we will invest in helping other victims of the fire recover.
You can write to me on Facebook (David Leon Zink). Go Fund Me discourages sharing email or phone contact info. I can't promise to be responsive as there is so much right here claiming my attention, but I'll try. If you'd like to send us mail, the address is:
David & Lori Zink c/o Dee Randolph and Kate Transchel.
336 Mission Serra Terrace, Chico, CA 95926
Also, our daughter -- surely a romantic -- has set up an Amazon Wedding Registry for us under our married names, David Phelps-Zink and Lori Phelps-Zink , so that those who prefer to help with something specific can. We'll add necessary items in the coming days.
We've only just begun!
Thank you for your support. Now, more work -- gotta get to it.
Blessings,
David and Lori Zink
There wasn't much time to get out. Winds were barreling in from Jarbo Gap, pushing the flames our direction. News reports say the fire was spreading at a rate of one football field every three seconds.
I got some living essentials out -- important papers, laptop and iMac, some clothing and toiletries, a painting, three guitars, two ukuleles and a violin.
And then the neighbor shouted "It's at the end of the street!"
Left behind: the accumulated stuff and vibe of a 37 year marriage, 37 years of collected music gear worth tens of thousands of dollars, our library, jewelry and wardrobe, documents and photos from 150 years of the Zink family in Bald Rock, and the Lucas family photos, things I have yet to think about.
At the same time, Lori drove from her school in Oroville back to Paradise, toward the flames, past flames, to get to her mom, Shirley, at Sunshine Cottage Assisted Living. When she turned right on Pearson the road had been converted to two lanes in the opposite direction. She had to drive against traffic on the side of the road... into smoke, into danger. But she made it, collected mom and a few essentials, then split.
There are three main evacuation routes to the valley from Paradise. Lori went down Clark. Flames on both sides, stop and go traffic. It took hours for her to drive what should've taken 30 minutes. Traffic everywhere was bad.
I was directed by cops to take the more curious route up Coutelenc, into the forest just above the fire. It proved to be the fastest route to Chico, a mere 60 mile round trip that went smoothly, moment-by-moment, into cell tower silence, rejoining Skyway above Magalia and up through Stirling City and Inskip to Butte Meadows, then left on the 32 and down to Forest Ranch, back into cell reception, and finally to a slow moving queue about two miles before Bruce Road at the base of the foothills. Despite that long circuit I made it to our host home two hours before Lori.
The sky was black as Mordor. Fascinating.
I'll keep providing updates, but for now I need to stay in motion, so I'll cut to the chase:
Several friends have urged me to launch this Go Fund Me campaign as a means for them to give cash to help Lori and I through our catastrophe. I've set the amount ridiculously high because I was urged to by our hosts. Please know that we are insured, and that some money -- we're not quite sure how much -- is on its way. Also, our "goddess in a hurry" host Kate Transchel teamed up with Lori to find an apartment we can live in over the next six months, and we've found a place for Shirley nearby.
But we've got a long road ahead. If you feel moved, please do donate to your heart's content. We'll use it immediately. Also, please be assured that what we don't need we will invest in helping other victims of the fire recover.
You can write to me on Facebook (David Leon Zink). Go Fund Me discourages sharing email or phone contact info. I can't promise to be responsive as there is so much right here claiming my attention, but I'll try. If you'd like to send us mail, the address is:
David & Lori Zink c/o Dee Randolph and Kate Transchel.
336 Mission Serra Terrace, Chico, CA 95926
Also, our daughter -- surely a romantic -- has set up an Amazon Wedding Registry for us under our married names, David Phelps-Zink and Lori Phelps-Zink , so that those who prefer to help with something specific can. We'll add necessary items in the coming days.
We've only just begun!
Thank you for your support. Now, more work -- gotta get to it.
Blessings,
David and Lori Zink
Organiser
David Leon Zink
Organiser
Magalia, CA
