I'm trying not to die here, and you pick today to not comprehend English?

[Gopherbassist]

So, yet another thread of my whining about Arizona. I imagine you guys are bored by now, but I don't care.

So, the mountains down the road from my house are burning. The fire department could have put it out the very first day, but decided it would be better to wait until the fire was completely out of control before calling in the proper number of planes. Houses and churches are burning and burned to the ground, but luckily no fatalities yet.

In the effort to not be a fatality myself, two days ago I called information to find out where the evacuation zones were. I figured it would be easiest to call information, because I didn't know if the sheriff's office would have information, and I didn't have the fire department's, highway patrol's, or forest service's phone numbers at hand.

My conversation with 411 is something like this:

"Hello, I'm in the southern part of the county where we're having a wild fire. I don't have a radio or a TV, so I need to find out if [my neighborhood] is in an evacuation zone."

"Uhhh... This is 411, who do you want to talk to?"

"...? I just told you: whoever can tell me whether or not I need to evacuate."

"Oh. So... Uh... Do you want to talk to the police?"

"Yeah, that should work."

"Okay, I'll connect you to the police department of [the next town over]"

"Hold on I need to talk to-" *click*

At this point I can tell that I'm not going to have any better luck if I hang up and start from the beginning, so I decide to ask this police department for the information. With the wind where I live being a constant, quick, and strong gust during daylight hours most of the year, and the dry grass all around the county, I figure one spark could potentially set the entire place on fire, so all law enforcement is probably cooperating everywhere.

"Police department, how can I help you?"

"Hi, I live in the southern part of the county where we're having a wild fire. Someone called me and told me the evacuation zone has been expanded, but I don't have a radio or TV, so needed to find out if [my neighborhood] needs to evacuate."

"Okay, well, there are roadblocks set up at [X,Y, and Z] places. Hope that helps, goodbye." *click*

At that point I wasn't in any danger, and thankfully nothing happened. But yesterday the only cell phone tower that serves my neighborhood was burned down, so I got out of there as fast as I could. Today my neighborhood was evacuated, although I haven't seen any of my neighbors in town, so I do wonder if any of them were smart enough to leave.

[jp58]

Hooray for public servants!

On a similar note, our public servants aren't in good standing either. Two of our police units and task forces are being investigated federally, one cop just got busted for selling coke, and our county is poor enough that we can't even have an election.

I think the wildfire story still has us beat though. Good to hear that you had enough sense to leave.

[macaroni tony]

glad you made it out all right

[tZer]

Why don't you have a radio or TV? Were they not in service due to the fires?

[Gopherbassist]

Originally Posted by tZer

Why don't you have a radio or TV? Were they not in service due to the fires?

I'm out of range of radio stations except those in Mexico, and I don't have TV because I don't watch TV ever.

[TJ55]

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

I'm out of range of radio stations except those in Mexico, and I don't have TV because I don't watch TV ever.

You couldn't find any information on the inernet?

[tZer]

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

I'm out of range of radio stations except those in Mexico, and I don't have TV because I don't watch TV ever.

Do you think it might be a good idea to at least have one in case you needed to see if the news was broadcasting valuable emergency information?

You don't have to watch it otherwise. But it seems a little misguided to get angry at other people because you chose to be disconnected from one of the most ubiquitous and effective methods of emergency information distribution.

[bassguppy]

Originally Posted by jp58

Hooray for public servants!

Actually, this is due to all the budget cuts that counties & states are now forced to contract out many services to save a buck.

So more than likely the person the OP spoke with was not a public employee but someone just hired for minimum wage so the contracted agency could maximize profits.

[Gopherbassist]

Originally Posted by tZer

Do you think it might be a good idea to at least have one in case you needed to see if the news was broadcasting valuable emergency information?

You don't have to watch it otherwise. But it seems a little misguided to get angry at other people because you chose to be disconnected from one of the most ubiquitous and effective methods of emergency information distribution.

I don't have a terrestrial antenna at my house, and it's not worth the money for cable just to watch the news some times. And why should people who are paid to direct callers to the connections they need not be prepared to direct emergency calls in an emergency situation? I think it's perfectly reasonable to be angry at incompetence that puts lives in danger.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

I don't have a terrestrial antenna at my house, and it's not worth the money for cable just to watch the news some times. And why should people who are paid to direct callers to the connections they need not be prepared to direct emergency calls in an emergency situation? I think it's perfectly reasonable to be angry at incompetence that puts lives in danger.

I agree. I was just exploring some other options. Apparently your choice to live remotely has it's drawbacks that leave you at the mercy of the lowest common denominator. Tough spot to be in.

[Sam Hain]

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

So, yet another thread of my whining about Arizona. I imagine you guys are bored by now, but I don't care.

So, the mountains down the road from my house are burning. The fire department could have put it out the very first day, but decided it would be better to wait until the fire was completely out of control before calling in the proper number of planes. Houses and churches are burning and burned to the ground, but luckily no fatalities yet.

In the effort to not be a fatality myself, two days ago I called information to find out where the evacuation zones were. I figured it would be easiest to call information, because I didn't know if the sheriff's office would have information, and I didn't have the fire department's, highway patrol's, or forest service's phone numbers at hand.

My conversation with 411 is something like this:

"Hello, I'm in the southern part of the county where we're having a wild fire. I don't have a radio or a TV, so I need to find out if [my neighborhood] is in an evacuation zone."

"Uhhh... This is 411, who do you want to talk to?"

"...? I just told you: whoever can tell me whether or not I need to evacuate."

"Oh. So... Uh... Do you want to talk to the police?"

"Yeah, that should work."

"Okay, I'll connect you to the police department of [the next town over]"

"Hold on I need to talk to-" *click*

At this point I can tell that I'm not going to have any better luck if I hang up and start from the beginning, so I decide to ask this police department for the information. With the wind where I live being a constant, quick, and strong gust during daylight hours most of the year, and the dry grass all around the county, I figure one spark could potentially set the entire place on fire, so all law enforcement is probably cooperating everywhere.

"Police department, how can I help you?"

"Hi, I live in the southern part of the county where we're having a wild fire. Someone called me and told me the evacuation zone has been expanded, but I don't have a radio or TV, so needed to find out if [my neighborhood] needs to evacuate."

"Okay, well, there are roadblocks set up at [X,Y, and Z] places. Hope that helps, goodbye." *click*

At that point I wasn't in any danger, and thankfully nothing happened. But yesterday the only cell phone tower that serves my neighborhood was burned down, so I got out of there as fast as I could. Today my neighborhood was evacuated, although I haven't seen any of my neighbors in town, so I do wonder if any of them were smart enough to leave.

Darwin...is that you?

[BurningSkies]

If you're in an emergency situation, why are you calling 411 (info) instead of 911 (emergency)?

[Pacman]

You got on Talkbass, but you couldn't find any information at the MANY sites that were keeping that information up-to-the-minute? And you want to blame someone else?

Jeez dude, I live in Japan and knew exactly where the evac zones were for that fire - don't blame others for not knowing.

[Gopherbassist]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

If you're in an emergency situation, why are you calling 411 (info) instead of 911 (emergency)?

It was a general emergency, not the kind of emergency you call 911 for. No one was bleeding, no one had an airway blocked, no one had broken bones. I needed information, not immediate help.

Originally Posted by Pacman

You got on Talkbass, but you couldn't find any information at the MANY sites that were keeping that information up-to-the-minute? And you want to blame someone else?

Jeez dude, I live in Japan and knew exactly where the evac zones were for that fire - don't blame others for not knowing.

I don't use TalkBass from my house.

[Pacman]

Well, you no land line, no TV, no radio, and apparently no internet.

Sounds like you got what you asked for - isolation and lack of information.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

It was a general emergency, not the kind of emergency you call 911 for. No one was bleeding, no one had an airway blocked, no one had broken bones. I needed information, not immediate help.

I don't use TalkBass from my house.

So what was it... Were you REALLY worried you were in immediate danger of death (as you suggest in your OP), or not? 911 will take ALL emergency calls. 411 nets you a random operator or computer. Or maybe you could look up the local non emergency police number?!?

Or is this just a chance to post on TBOT, which you don't do from home but only in emergency situations?

[P. Aaron]

I am glad I live in an otherwise boring state with largely predictable weather, plenty of water, and few, if any extremes.