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Over 12,000 Evacuees Spent Night At Qualcomm Stadium

POSTED: 10:04 am PDT October 23, 2007
UPDATED: 4:42 pm PDT October 23, 2007

About 12,000 people displaced by the wildfires sought shelter Tuesday at Qualcomm Stadium, where volunteers were on hand to provide food and other services.

The evacuation operation was going smoothly Tuesday afternoon, and National Guard troops sent to maintain order were described as polite and helpful.

AT&T provided Internet access to the evacuees and charged their cell phones for free. Volunteers offered massage therapy, yoga, kosher food and art projects for kids.

"There was a call for artists last night," said Brian Patterson, who manages community programs at the San Diego Museum of Art. "And I thought, 'this is what I do, anyway,' so I came down here," he said.

Evacuees also had access to information on insurance and got medical help. They were given snacks and drinks and necessities such as baby wipes, tooth brushes, toothpaste and hand sanitizers.

Mariana Ramirez, 12, of Spring Valley, arrived with her family about 4 a.m. Tuesday as their community was threatened by the fire.

"I was watching the news," said Mariana, a student at Spring Valley School. "Then I told my mother, I'm packing."

She said she was scared.

"I'm freaked out," she said, as she drew a tree and grass with watercolor paints. "I've never been through any of this before."

Mariana said when her family saw the flames burning on the hillsides not far from her home, "everyone in my house was running around, screaming."

She, her mother, father and sister camped out in their SUV, which was parked in Qualcomm Stadium's parking lot.

Clean cots, tents, pillows and blankets are available to evacuees staying at the stadium.

Officials said there is plenty of room available, and 25,000 cots are being delivered today from sources that include FEMA and the Red Cross.

The city of San Diego asked residents to temporarily halt deliveries of donations to the Qualcomm Stadium because the outpouring of support has overwhelmed the ability to manage the goods.

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