“It could be a lot worse”

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In the nicer parts of San Clemente, “no vacancy” signs adorned ocean-view resort hotels, one after another, and a San Diego crowd had transformed the normally sleepy weekday beach town into a bustling carnival.

Every table at the waterfront cafes was filled, and evacuees with dogs, trailers and cars stuffed with household possessions could be seen on every block.

“They have been coming in since yesterday,” said Cindy Campbell, manager at the posh San Clemente Cove Resort Condominiums, a time-share condominium complex overlooking to ocean where units typically rent for $225 a night.

Evacuees got a break, paying only $200 per night, and were allowed to bring their pets, she said. Many were from the Carlsbad area, she said.

Dave Henderson, 43, a computer director, spent the night at the San Clemente Cove with his wife and 13-month-old daughter after evacuating the Del Mar area ahead of the order so that the baby would not have to breathe smoky air.

The family could book the condo for only one night, and Henderson was returning the garage-door opener at the front desk, baby in one arm, so the family could head north to Laguna Beach, where another hotel room waited.

“It could be a lot worse,” he said as waves crashed at the nearby pier and people passed with surfboards.

Henderson said hotel clerks were helping evacuees by providing referrals, so he had to make only a few calls to find the condo.

“The thing I learned is: leave early! It’s less stress,” he said. “You don’t think it is going to reach you, so you want to stay. But live and learn.”

--Jill Leovy