Heading to Wine Country? Check your cancellation insurance

A wine country getaway can smooth the sharp edges of my jangled nerves as fast as a glass of Beaujolais, but I'm glad I'm nowhere near California right now.

Voracious wildfires are gorging on whole towns from the Mexican border through the celebrity enclave of Malibu and as far north as Santa Barbara. Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in 7 counties, but that number is expected to rise today.

The fires originated in Mexico and have steadily been gaining strength and speed over the weekend.

High winds, temperatures in the 90's and low humidity in the drought-stricken region make these situation ripe for a catastrophe worse than the Cedar Fires of 2003. And dry, windy weather forecasts mean SoCal residents could be in for at least 2 more days of hell before anything remotely resembling containment is reached.

Road closures and mandatory evacuations are making travel into and through SoCal a nightmare. If you have a trip planned, call your travel agent to discuss your options. Most insurance plans (whether through airlines or private companies like RBC) offer a 'Catastrophic Event' clause. If you're already en route, these sites provide live streaming coverage:

Are you in the area or have family there? Let us know what's happening out there.

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