I don't live in Southern California. I live in North Carolina. I know that fires have seasons in southern California. They don't get much rain during "normal" times. I also know that Global Warming, from whatever the cause, has made this area drier than normal.
My wife and I honeymooned in La Jolla just north of San Diego. I love the area. The people are very nice and friendly.
There are a lot of Katrina references being thrown around. I know that 79% of Americans own at least one car. I don't know if there are more car owners in San Diego than there are in New Orleans. I think that there are but I'm still looking that up. I know that the median income in New Orleans is just over $30,700. Median Income in San Diego is over $55,600.
I'm not saying that one tragedy is worse than the other. If you lose your home, your home is lost, period. I just think that it should be understood that the folks in San Diego have more means as a whole than New Orleans. I just came back from New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. Large areas of the city was flooded, not just the 9th ward. Large portions of the city have empty decaying houses. Something needs to be done. Even if that something is to bulldoze those houses. There needs to be some leadership and a plan. Let's see if the new Governor will be able to something. (I bet he will do nothing of any substance to help New Orleans or the other cities of the Gulf Coast. )
Update: Excellent information can be found on some local California blogs - here, here and here.
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From CNN.com:
Relentless wildfires roared through Southern California for a third day Tuesday, sending more than half a million residents fleeing with family members, pets and whatever prize possessions they could fit in their vehicles.
The blazes have charred 400,000 acres and reduced 1,300 homes -- 1,000 in San Diego County -- to ash.
The fires have killed one person and injured more than 50. Earlier Tuesday, officials erroneously reported that a second person had died.
Earlier Tuesday, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, said the number of evacuees "could very well approach 500,000 by the end of the day." (more...)
