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26 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2022 THE GAME HAS CHANGED Four Seasons at Beaumont residents may be asked to evacuate during an emergency or a disaster. Many of you may choose to stay but you have to remember this is not only about you. It has been said that you cannot fight a war on two fronts; but that is exactly what you are creating by staying. If you stay, you are creating a second front. I am sure that the fire department is trying to protect life before property. Once residents are gone, the firefighters can concentrate on putting the fire out. Residents who stay may be okay. Who is putting out the fire in the neighbor's backyard? Simply put, you are taking firefighters off the fire line and asking them to rescue the stubborn person who refused to leave. Leaving your home is difficult but you have to realize that it gives you the best chance to protect your life and property. How would you feel if you stayed and had to be forcibly evacuated to find out that your neighbor's house had been burned to the ground? Maybe the home would have burned even with extra firefighters being available. We will never know because they were busy pulling you out of your house, the house you should have evacuated days ago. Remember, things have changed. The climate is hotter, the forests are drier and there is also the bark beetle. These conditions have increased the chances of larger fires. Do you feel lucky? Do you want to stay in your home based on historical information that is 10 to 20 years old? They talked to the folks who chose not to evacuate during Hurricane Ian. Most residents who stayed said that they should have left. There were other folks who stayed who spent the time keeping sheets of plywood jammed against the patio sliding glass door to prevent damage to their home's interior. Remember that at any time only about 50 percent of us are not considered handicapped. Having handicapped folks, sick folks, pets, and even an injury to yourself can slow down your ability to evacuate. Leaving late may ensure your place in a long line of evacuees in stalled traffic. Planning ahead will keep you and your family safe and give your property a better chance to be saved. We meet the third Tuesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 10 am in the RCN Conference Room. ~ Michael A. Mendoza, srmendoza@verizon.net Emergency Preparedness Committee Don't miss Yappy Hour! Join us Thursday, Nov. 3 from 4 to 6 pm in The Lodge Card Room. Canine Corral members, sponsors, and anyone interested in becoming a member of the Canine Corral is invited to join us for a glass of wine and some fun conversation about our dogs and the Canine Corral. Canine Corral Committee members will be there to answer any questions you may have about membership. Applications for membership will be available, as will forms for Honor Plaques. This is a friendly fundraising event, and we have some beautiful baskets full of wonderful doggie-goodies to raffle, so bring a couple extra dollars. Our weather is finally cooling down enough for us all to begin enjoying the Canine Corral again. As our membership grows, we look forward to some afternoon and early evening play groups. The Corral is open for members from dawn to dusk. ~ Teri DiMarino, teridimarino@gmail.com Canine Corral Council

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