Two Connecticut natives describe their experience during the California wildfires as "terrifying, worrisome and emotionally draining."

Woodbridge native Arielle Verinis was forced from her Malibu home when the city issued a mandatory evacuation. Verinis and her husband packed up their car and headed north, capturing photos of the Woolsey fire.

"The smoke was just billowing in and then we started seeing flames coming down through the canyons towards the ocean and it was just--it was scary but it was also so sad," says Verinis.

Verinis doesn't know the extent of the damage in her neighborhood yet, but her husband is hoping to get in Saturday to assess things.

"I know about 10 people whose homes were burned to the ground," says Verinis.

Also affected by the wildfires was Laureen Nolan Sills, who grew up in Milford. Sills says she's lived in Malibu for 32 years and has seen a lot of fires, but she has never seen a citywide evacuation in Malibu.

Sills says her home is still standing, but others were not as lucky.

"Our neighborhood is devastated," says Sills. "Piles of rubble everywhere."

Both women remain in limbo as they wait for what's next. They say the outpouring of love and support to help the state of California has been the good that's come out of this tragedy.