In the nation's biggest natural disaster since the devastating hurricane wrecked the Gulf Coast, California so far has proven to provide efficient disaster relief.
Comment: Last time that I checked one MUST obtain a JOB before getting a Credit Card...
Comment: Read about the new Temperance Flat Dam Governor Schwarzenegger is promoting - tied into the San Joaquin Delta. Ongoing arguments and protesting by experts who insist that to pursue this will likely result in another Katrina.
Comment: Read about the new Temperance Flat Dam that Governor Schwarzenegger is promoting, linked to the San Joaquin Delta. The countless arguments are due to the likelihood that to pursue such a project will likely result in another Katrina disaster.
Comment: Ummmm...I saw roads that were open leading to the stadiums, electricity, and communications, and thousands of ppl in the So Cal fires. In Katrina I saw flooded roads, no power/ communications, hundreds of thousands of ppl. No infrastructer. So how can anyone compare the 2 incidents. I saw all races of ppl helping in both. Katrina was far worse and affected far more ppl. There for would be a logistical nightmare for any Agency . There race card issue is old, the political corruption card is old. Fact is noone can predict when or where a major disaster will occur. We need to be prepared ourselves instead of relying on any form of gov. to be at our beckoning call.
Comment: Strokz, you don't even begin to understand what I am saying. It has very little to do with the elected official. let use some of the examples you have stated. In NY when the toewers fell and the steam pipe broke what did you see on TV. you saw ordinary people helping others putting there lives at risk just to save another. In new orleans what did you see and here. Looting crime and want. Al I have heard for the last year is how we need to help a people that has no desire to help themselves. many have made no attempt to return and no one has so much as picked up a can lieing on the street. what I saying is simple. I am willing to help all I can for someone who appreciates it. they don't they expect it to be handed to them as if we owe them. Well I don't owe them anything. I completly agree with you on the other point race should not have anything to do with it.
Comment: Why if the author says there is little to compare between the fires and Katrina is the article titled Avoiding another Katrina? It is a ridiculous slap in the face of the people who suffered through Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath.
Comment: Correction: "race has nothing to do with anything."
Comment: By the way I don't believe race has anything to do with anything in this day and age. It's class and wealth on which it all pivots. Those who are stuck on race should kindly remove themselves from the conversation because you are an intellectual relic and are not in the postion to provide any viable suggestion, argument or solution. Separate logic and emotion. Let's wake up people! They're using our own passion to screw us and we don't even get a reacharound.
Comment: I get it. You're saying that people deserve who they vote for. Well the american majority voted for W and that hasn't kept the rest of the world from feeling our pain.
Y'see, we are all in this world together. A society is not composed of only elected officials. It is composed of all of us and when one suffers, we all do. You may not feel an immediate effect but one's greed and lack of compassion will come back to haunt one. No matter how much you spin it. Were the people in NY supposed to help themselves by stopping that steam pipe from exploding. Were the people in Minnesota supposed to help themselves and do something about that bridge collapsing. Are the people in Georgia supposed to help themselves by stopping the draught. You're the very person that sees someone stranded on the road and keep driving. Then wonder why your life sucks and people don't like you. It's called caring about you fellow man. You're not the only one that gotten lost in the wash. You're just one of many people that don't understand when logic and emotion collide, you have to use common sense. But you probably traded that in for some shiny new toy.
Comment: It is simple distortion to compare the CA fires and Hurricane Katrina. The CA fires destroyed 1,800 homes over an area of 1/2 million acres. Katrina destroyed 350,000 homes over 52 million acres. In CA , roads were passable, power and water facilities remained intact . food and water remained available. In Katrina, the electric facilities were all destroyed, there was no running water, roads were impassable and the tempreature was over 100 degrees.
Comment: StillHere. Still where? Still watching the news? Still listening to FOX radio? Still believing Bill O'reilly? Still learning that there is great inequity in our society. Still needing to learn more b4 you speak.
Comment: Yes Still here, Still Watching, and still waiting. If you can name one news source in the last year that featured a story of the City of New Orleans mobilizing there resources to rebuild and clean there own city I will take back everything I have said. And no I am not talking about the articles of celebrities and charity groups rebuilding for them. Of course if you can name one productive thing there mayor did I will also be impressed and getting Mardi gras off in time does not qualify as productive. Are you going to sit and tell me this is an equality issue because they choose not to do anything to help them selves? Or maybe it is a race issue because they shot at rescue workers trying to enter the superdome.
Comment: "This just in". A friend of mine who went to the Qualcomm Stadium to volunteer her services had good and bad experiences. On her first day, things went well. Rations were evenly distributed to the needy. People were appreciative and cooperative. However, on the second day, there were fake evacuees being exposed and arrested, Illegal immigrants posing as victims, and families taking more than one items. For example, large bottles of lotions were provided but only one per family. There was this one lady who grabbed 4. Another one was taking 10 bottles. When my friend told her that it was only "one per family" the lady responded that they were ten families in the center. A number of people were arrested for filling trash bags of goodies and attempting to run away.
These are not Californians. These are opportunists who will take advantage of a situation whether they be at the New Orleans or Texas disasters. My feeling is these people own stalls at the swap meet and plan to sell the items to add to their profit. Pathetic, very pathetic.
Comment: I am so tired of hearing how this is a race issue and the poor people of Katrina. What measure would you have me put on the life of a culture that chooses to evacuate to the superdome and the last thing they grab is there gun on the way out the door. Or how about the guy who had to be rescued because he got stuck in flood water while looting a electronics store. Most of the Katrina victims have displaced and made no effort to return or rebuild the area. I visited New Orleans once in my life and it was the most unpleasant experience of my life. I have never smelled such a strong smell of beer and urine in the air. This is not a race issue there were many races of people affected an all responded in the same manner. The complain that no one is doing for them no one is stepping up to give them free stuff while they sit and do nothing. Were are the pictures on the TV of people out in the street picking up garbage hauling tree branches and just generally pitching in. You don???t see them because they don???t happen. The mayor of New Orleans is the worst of this group sitting an complaining while taking no action of his own to improve the situation. If the people of New Orleans wish to rebuild then do so but don???t expect me or anyone else to do it for you. The rest of us (my hometown has been hit by four tornadoes in the last 6 years) rebuild and pickup after ourselves.
Comment: This will be handled differently, those wealthy and rich white people will get government aid to rebuild their beautiful homes. I don't think there was anything on the equivalent of Katrina to rebuild. I don't even see, in this country, how this could be compared. We all know this particular administration doesn't care about anyone that isn't in one of those secret meetings...
Comment: There is a HUGE difference between Katrina and the San Diego area fires. The majority of the evacuees were financially solid, and 99% did (or will) go back to their livable homes. Kudos to all the kind hearted people who helped out their neighbors. The local government did a great job of preventing casualties and allowing firefighters to access burning neighborhoods without traffic jams because they required evacuation. Just because the California Governor and the US president visited the area doesn???t mean the sate and federal governments did a great job. That was more a spectacle then a help. Stay home next time and just send financial support. Thanks to the gutsy firefighters! They saved countless homes.
Comment: There is a HUGE difference between Katrina and the San Diego area fires. The majority of the evacuees were financially solid, and 99% did (or will) go back to their livable homes. Kudos to all the kind hearted people who helped out their neighbors. The local government did a great job of preventing casualties and allowing firefighters to access burning neighborhoods without traffic jams because they required evacuation. Just because the California Governor and the US president visited the area doesn???t mean the sate and federal governments did a great job. That was more a spectacle then a help. Stay home next time and just send financial support. Thanks to the gutsy firefighters! They saved countless homes.
Comment: I was able to volunteer all week at New Song Community Church (www.newsongchurch.com) in Oceanside, CA all week. We house over 400 evacuees.
We did not wait for aid to come in from the government. In fact, if we did, we'd still be waiting. Hundreds of volunteers poured in to help with work, supplies, food and finances. Everyone helped.
City and government officials showed up to monitor the situation but the church has had no government help. If it were not for personal finances of caring citezens, these evacuees would have been on the street. There was a local high school that was funded although they ran out of space within 48 hours and started sending the rest of the people to New Song Church.
My point, in the face of disaster, it is up to individuals to step up and corporately help individuals. We must stop relying on aid from the government and take personal responsibility in giving and helping one another.
There is nothing more gratifying than helping a neighbor in need.
Comment: I was able to volunteer all week at New Song Community Church (www.newsongchurch.com) in Oceanside, CA all week. We house over 400 evacuees.
We did not wait for aid to come in from the government. In fact, if we did, we'd still be waiting. Hundreds of volunteers poured in to help with work, supplies, food and finances. Everyone helped.
City and government officials showed up to monitor the situation but the church has had no government help. If it were not for personal finances of caring citezens, these evacuees would have been on the street. There was a local high school that was funded although they ran out of space within 48 hours and started sending the rest of the people to New Song Church.
My point, in the face of disaster, it is up to individuals to step up and corporately help individuals. We must stop relying on aid from the government and take personal responsibility in giving and helping one another.
There is nothing more gratifying than helping a neighbor in need.
Comment: had to come back.
Comment: Thank you 2 for backing me up basically! ; )
Comment: As for all the comparisons between San Diego and New Orleans ... it's not fair. In San Diego, we still had lots of passable roads and stores that volunteers could get to for supplies. In New Orleans, all the roads were under water. If you wanted to help, you couldn't just get in your car and drive over. Major equipment, the kind that the National Guard uses, and helicopters were needed to get to the people at the Superdome. And, lots of that National Guard equipment was already in Iraq. So, big difference in terms of the disasters. Here in San Diego, we could run north or south to get out of harms way. When the leavees broke in New Orleans, there was no where for the residents to go.
Comment: Good in disaster relief (may be ... there are people who lost homes in the 2003 Cedar fire who still don't have a home), bad in having the firefighting personnel and equipment to handle the disaster from the start. Don't forget, Schwarzenegger asked for help from other states and countries when the fires started. If we had that equipment at hand, from the beginning, it didn't need to come to this.
Comment: To elaborate on what I mean by keeping the poor, poor. when you do finally obtain a job, they just stop helping you, does not matter if its 5.85 per hour which is Minimum wage here in TN or if youre makin 10... so
if you get a job making 5.85per hour... which youre most likely stuck with if youre able to work, because illegals have all of what used to be our high paying, lower class jobs... how can you pay your bills, get gas, maintain your vehicle, and on top of that feed your kids... the problem is... you can't so "welfare-sucking" is yet again unavoidable... it is less stressfull on one hand and it is not on the other... i could debate for hours on this topic but I won't. After this post I am not looking at this article ever again, so if you respond to any of my comments, make them legitimate SMART responses not some SHALLOW THOUGHT placed in your HEAD by DISCRIMINATORY IDEAS PLANTED IN YOUR WEAK MIND
Comment: Those people in new orleans only know what they had to go through NOT YOU NOT ME SO you NEED TO DEFINATELY KEEP YOUR DISCRIMINATORY REMARKS TO YOURSELF. Illegal immigrants are taking our young men's jobs out from under them, construction work, trades, even buying homes from banks when I MYSELF can NOT EVEN GET A LOAN and IM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, BUT THIS ILLEGAL ALIEN CAN WALK IN, with illegal employment and illegal Identification and BUY him and his 40 cousins a home to illegally live in. Illegal Aliens suck more WELFARE than OUR ACTUAL citizens do in my opinion and observation... Atleast in my city anyway. They work, dont pay taxes, get free credit lines, dont suffer penalties, can buy houses, and then to beat it all because theyre illegals they GET FREE HEALTH CARE and FOODSTAMPS
I have seen it a hundred times or more. I am really ticked off at the shallowness of lots of you people in here. It is obvious who has a head on their shoulders and who doesn't. Oh yeah. One last thing on this one last note. Welfare recipients these days have to do community services if they live in public housing, they have to be searching for employment to obtain foodstamps, so now if they get welfare THEY ARE ATLEAST TRYING TO GET OFF OF IT. For instance myself, I attended school last semester at my local university... It was extremely expensive, I had to get a loan, and I now am paying the money back... while I was attending school MY OWN food stamp benefits were CUT in half to 130dollars permonth for me and MY PREGNANT wife, we have no vehicle and I live about 3 miles from campus, THEY TOOK HALF away because of my decision to go FULL TIME TO A UNIVERSITY... My school loans paid for my tuition, my books, my semester long lunch ticket , and I payed some backed bills i owed, there went that money... now what was i supposed to eat on? according to the welfare office I had to be working 20 hours or more a week including my 13hour a week class schedule. My major is in Nursing so my workload was heavy considering for the first two years at my university they require you to take Humanitarian and remedial courses until your final 2 years when you actually begin your medicinal studies. I was basically PENALIZED FOR TRYING TO BETTER MY LIFE, ME AND MY WIFE SUFFERED AND WERE STARVING at the end of EACH MONTH BECAUSE ME, HER HUSBAND, WANTED TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY. I imagine if I was rich, I would not have so much to worry about, i could just let mommy and daddy co-sign for my loans, and let them pay the company back, I get more food for sitting on my behind doing nothing than I do for trying to improve myself SO I DONT HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENTS WELFARE PROGRAMS, BUT HONESTLY, AND THIS IS NO CONTEST DEBATE, THE WELFARE SYSTEM KEEPS THE POOR, POOR. IT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP ONE CLASS OF PEOPLE DOWN AT THE LOWEST RUNG OF THE LADDER. So keep your yap shut if you dont know what youre talking about Sorry this is off topic
Comment: One more thing CL fillp I can tell you obviously do not come from a poor family... When your family is convicted felons and lose their homes and everything in them and you are a mere child unable to fend for yourself... what do you do then? suck welfare??? No i don't think so... people who Are discriminated against and can not obtain jobs due to race, religion or appearence dont deserve your EXTREMELY SHALLOW comments. Keep them to yourself... you friggin pig
Comment: I don't usually bother to respond but in this case I have to. You talk as if you are the victim here but just like the many people in this world like you, you have chosen your situation. I went to school full time and worked a full time job paid the bills and put food on the table. If you choose not to work then that was you choice. It is not the tax payers responsibility to support you or your family because you choose not to work. You say ???It is obvious who has a head on their shoulders and who doesn't.??? Yet you make statements like this ???PENALIZED FOR TRYING TO BETTER MY LIFE, ME AND MY WIFE SUFFERED AND WERE STARVING at the end of EACH MONTH BECAUSE ME, HER HUSBAND, WANTED TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY.??? You were not penalized unless full time school is now a 16 hour schedule and left no time for work. Assuming you only went to school from 8 to 3 very probable. You could still a full schedule in the evening. Of course you also tell us that your wife and kid are starving because of the system after you tell us ???My school loans paid for my tuition, my books, my semester long lunch ticket??? so you got a lunch ticket while you wife and child starve. No it is clear to me that this problem is definitely your responsibility and your desire to put you first.
Comment: Ok, I wanted to say this earlier this week, but I did not. We are a nation, stop the bickering amongst us...
We simply need to pull together. Our government is wasting our money and resources on things that THEY want to fix and have done. No examples are needed, we all know where our tax dollars go in the end, we are seeing they definately do not go to people who need them in times of need such as this or during katrina.
These wildfires are not just in cali, we have had some here in TN and in Florida as well as Georgia, IF you ask me sounds like terrorism.
No one else will admit that if its arson, its most likely some radical cell initiating another economical crisis in our nation...
Our best strategy as the American Citizen Populace is to simply pull together, tell the government to keep our tax dollars, and use our own to help our neighbors...
LETS STOP COMPARING. CALIFORNIA IS DOING ITS BEST TO TAKE CARE OF CALIFORNIA, NO DID WHAT IT COULD IN THAT SITUATION...
AND AS FOR NO BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OWN DISASTER PREPARATIONS. THAT IS PROPOSTEROUS, ARMY ENGINEERS BUILT AND MAINTAINED THOSE LEVEES NOT THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. The only thing they could have done while their cities citizens were trapped in that BOWL of pollution soup is exactly what they did. THEIR BEST. OUR NATIONAL GUARD DESERVES MUCH RESPECT FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN ASSISTING ANY AND EVERYONE THEY ARE SENT TO ASSIST!
PLEASE EVERYONE LETS REALIZE WHAT THIS CALIFORNIA FIRE SITUATION IS TEACHING MANY AROUND THE NATION. MATERIAL THINGS ARE EASILY REPLACED, while memories, family members, and our security can not be replaced. It will take compassion from many of us, as I know many Katrina victims who moved to my hometown here in TN, and compassion is what they need the most of, as well as food and shelter if they dont already have someone helping them with that.
ALL in ALL I want to thank the people that ARE doing WHAT I CAN NOT DO. I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE SAVINGS if I HAD ONE. I AM 21 YEARS OLD AND Come from a poverty stricken family... Trust me I know what it feels like to need a helping hand.
For the people who have nothing but hateful things to say...
I only can pray that your conscience lets you heal from your hardened heart and liberal "Progressive" ideaology.
Comment: strokz- i stated the facts - you have no idea how much compassion i have or don't have. lets not make universal statements about how much compassion i feel. first off, i'm not from CA - i grew up along the gulf in TX - where we know LOTS about hurricanes. i also lived in NYC during 9/11. so i've been through lots of disasters. i'm merely stating its ridiculous to compare these fires vs. Katrina. very different demograpics, geography, planning, etc. its much more relevant to compare the Cedar fire of 2003 in SD versus this one.
Comment: Let's face the facts...Bush made sure there was sufficient relief accessible because a lot of the people living in Malibu and the surrouding areas have cash. You don't want to mess with the people that can financial back decisions you make.
Comment: Please send a copy of the news item to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India and ask him if he would have reacted with such speed. So many such calamities have struck the state of Tamil Nadu. Ask him if he has ever dine such a dedicated service to his state.
ramaswamy
Comment: Please send this news item to the Prime Minister of India and tee Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India and ask for their views on the news item and whether they would have reacted with such speed and dedication.
S.Ramaswamy
Comment: I say way to go Schwarzenegger! We don't need another Katrina for sure.
Comment: It's amazing to me just how easily manipulated the some of the 'intellectuals' here
are. From their comments one would think that the Governor put out all of the fires
himself! If said sheeple change the law so that he can become President that will be
all we need to officially usher in a totalitarian dictatorship. Comparing the NO to SoCal is laughable really, they must have little in the way of wits considering the nature and scope of both disasters and the surrounding circumstances are vastly different. As someone mentioned before when the big one hits all of these self-centered, Starbucks swilling, S.U.V. driving schmucks will finally shut up. While mocking those less fortunate than yourself might build up your ego, it certainly wont do the same for the charred lot you used to call 'home' ;)...
Comment: It's amazing to me just how easily manipulated the some of the 'intellectuals' here are. From their comments one would think that the Governor put out all of the fires himself! If said sheeple change the law so that he can become Presidency that will be all we need to officially usher in a totalitarian dictatorship. Mark my word remember Hitler. Comparing the NO to SoCal is laughable really, you have some nerve and little in the way of wits considering the nature and scope of both disasters and the surrounding circumstances are
Comment: ...wouldn't expect much compassion from someone whose handle is "golfgal"! Wave that flag. Wave it wide and high.
Comment: OK, genii.
Comment: CA fires vs Katrina - no comparison.
1.CA had a fire, NO got flooded.
2. NO was given days to prepare for the hurricane. CA - hours to evacuate.
3. NO - people did NOT leave when told to evacuate - CA left and did so in an orderly fashion.
4. Planning: CA - evacuees were told where they could go. NO - they either could not leave, did not want to leave, and if they did, were not told WHERE.
5. Crime: CA - people are not out there looting NO: well we all saw what happened.
6. Leadership and planning: CA has fires, we plan for how to deal with them and coordinate our efforts from the local, state, county, all the way to the Governator. LA has hurricanes - its not like they didn't know, it happens every season. Lack of planning.
Comment: The government responses to these disasters have little or nothing to do with the outcomes. The difference lies in the people affected. Of course the situation is better here than in New Orleans.
In California, most people took the initiative to evacuate themselves, instead of waiting for someone to take care of them. You have mostly working and educated people taking responsibility for themselves and helping each other and first responders as best as they can. In New Orleans, the resident were lazily waiting around for yet another bailout, quick to blame somebody else, raping and pillaging at first opportunity, and actually shooting at first responders sent to help them.
In Louisiana the good folks elected, and re-elected a crooked mayor and incompetent governor who did nothing but point fingers before, during and after the tragedy. In California there is a competent Republican governor who is getting things accomplished.
The tragedy in New Orleans was not that FEMA didn't do enough - the tragedy was that there were thousands of lifetime and/or multi-generational welfare-sucking people dependent on the government for their very existence and who have forgotten how to or never knew how to take care of themselves
Comment: The government responses to these disasters have little or nothing to do with the outcomes. The difference lies in the people affected. Of course the situation is better here than in New Orleans.
In California, most people took the initiative to evacuate themselves, instead of waiting for someone to take care of them. you have mostly working and educated people taking responsibility for themselves and helping each other and first responders as best as they can. In New Orleans, the resident were lazily waiting around for yet another bailout, quick to blame somebody else, raping and pillaging at first opportunity, and actually shooting at first responders sent to help them.
In Louisiana the good folks elected, and re-elected a crooked mayor and incompetent governor who did nothing but point fingers before, during and after the tragedy. In California there is a competent Republican governor who is getting things accomplished.
The tragedy in New Orleans was not that FEMA didn't do enough - the tragedy was that there were thousands of lifetime and/or multi-generational welfare-sucking people dependent on the government for their very existence and who have forgotten how to or never knew how to take care of themselves
Comment: I live in San Diego and its been the LOCAL and State government not federal that have helped the most.
But more than anything else its been the spirit of everybody here helping when they could. Qualcom stadium has been filled with people ready and able to help anywhere they have been needed. Not just a group of people sitting back and saying help me I am in need!
So if you want to help Please send money, NOT FEMA!!!
They have screwed up every major crisis they have tried to fix!
Comment: one thing to rember is the mindset of louisana to california, the louisana governor did not request help until very later from the federal goverment while the calif governor did. also more californians were used to helping themselves in case of disasters or whatever while a lot of people in louisana were not. a better informed, more affulant and more knowlged community is better able to help themselves than one who relies on some one else to help them.
Comment: NOBODY is at fault when such disasters strike. How can any of you point the finger at anyone else?
Human beings are always fingering the blame to someone else. YOU people disgust me. I have to be blunt. EVERYBODY should be ashamed of themselves and offer upport and encouragement to the Californians in there time of crises.
Comment: I suppose the people in Minnesota weren't properly prepared to handle a bridge collapse, were they sborr? Nice brain!
Comment: It would appear that most of you either have no idea of the girth of inequity or don't care. Whatever the case, I'm done with all this skirting the real issues and all the " God bless us, everyone" bullshit. Enjoy your SUVs, potato chips and big screen plasma TVs. I'll be fighting to save this country from itself.
Comment: I really thank the People who have been helping the Victims.As Humanity is the first thing in life we have to know and life is not about comparing .I really feel sorry for the victims who has lost there homes.I am very thank full to the california Gov. for co-ordinating with the medical Logistic coordinators and helping the Victims.
Comment: I really Thank the People who are helping the Victims.The Humanity is the first thing in life we have to understand.As Life is not about comparing.I feel sorry for the victims who has lost there homes.I thank the california Gov. for coordinating with the Medical Logistic coordinators and helping the Victims.
Comment: Everything discussed in this article is no surprise. California has always been a front runner when it comes to disaster preparedness. The State, counties, and municipalities have disaster plans in place and most counties have a mutual aid plan. I was at the Santa Clarita fires as a first responder and saw fire units and law enforcement officers from other counties and cities assisting with evacuations and fighting the fires. I don't know where people get the idea that FEMA will show up and save the day, that's not their function. They come in with money and supplies for rebuilding the areas stricken and assisting those who have lost everything. The Calfires show what proper planning, cooperation, coordination, and implementation between the State, counties, and municipalities can accomplish. I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's better than most states. Fema was used as a scapegoate for the poor planning and lack of preparation by the State of Louisiana, the county and city of New Orleans. "failure to prepare is preparing to fail"
Comment: Katrina vs. CaliFire: Katrina victims were give 72 hours notice to evacuate. Califire victims were given less than 6 hours to evacuate. Katrina was considered by many there as a 'license to vandelize.' Califire was not used by CaliPeople as an excuse to vandelize/riot -- these people pulled together and helped each other out. Katrina = CaliFire in only this way: It's President Bush's Fault (well, that's what the liberal politicians and media want the 'sheep' to believe). Don't be a lib zombie.
Comment: I live here in San Diego between two fires and I can honestly say that to try to even compare this to LA during Katrina would be a big mistake. For one, the people gathered in my backyard (Qualcomm Stadium) have power, bathrooms, water, infrastructure, their cars,... If they get hungrey, they can go to the superstore down the street, or the starbucks for their morning coffee. In LA, after Katrina, none of that existed.
In San Diego county, 1 person has died. In New Orleans 1300 people died. I feel sorry for the people that will say they have lost their homes, and everything in the coming weeks here in San Diego. It is truely sad. The people of New Orleans would say that too in their following weeks -if they were not too dehydrated, starved, and too weak to speak before dying and ofcoarse, being dead.
Comment: correction: Our resources could be better spent on INSURING our borders and the paths into this nation ARE SAFE.
Comment: To: DGU56 With nearly 3Xs the population now compared to 100 years ago, you would think, we could pull together to overcome anything. Drop your remotes and sodas, and if you do have the resources to help, HELP. I am positive everyone of us from here on out will begin to realize the mistakes we have been making more and more as each passing year shows a new type of "Disaster" never seen before. The two biggest problems in our government, in my opinion, are: 1. Our immigration statutes need to be enforced and updated. I see a house of 10-15 Illegal immigrants everday as I travel to town and from town to my home. I know for a fact, because I have talked with some of them, that they are illegal. Somehow, if stopped by a police officer, they do not get deported, they get what almost looks like Diplomatic Immunity. As if they are not breaking the law.
and now the number 2. War in Iraq: No matter the motive, no matter the decision to invade in 2003, disregard all the junk we know about what has happened since Desert Storm and WWII. Let us think back in time, before the good ole' United States of America was created. The middle east was chaotic and wartorn then as well. It is nothing new for Christian extremists and Muslim extremists to war with one another. They say this is not a religious war. Well to our enemy it is. Our response is that they are terrorists. Not that they are our "God's" sworn enemy. Either way the pendelum swings, my belief is to let the Arab nations, deal with the Arab nations. Our resources could be better spent on INSURING our borders and paths into our nation should be SAFE. From illegal immigrants, terrorism, the list goes on. It makes more sense if you are worried about a nuclear weapon, to spend money developing MORE DEFENSES AT HOME to deter such a weapon. Therefore you render that threat useless.
Now this brings me to 3. Natural Disasters, which is what this article is about. Our money would be here and these 3 things would not be if 1 and 2 were taken care of.
as far as corruption DGU it is everywhere...
Comment: California has proved to be very efficient in disaster relief with out federal government support. The FEDS have yet to cut a check for the state, but the state's own people have come together to help each other and accommodate everyone who has been displaced. This is a state has spent billions on disaster relief prepardness state wide. California knows how to handle natural disasters....I am glad I grew up in a state that took my public safety seriously.
Comment: to "Abcaliux" You mentioned that you "travel to town and from town to my home". Most likely it was by either a car or a bus than ran on petroleum. Since so much of it comes from the Middle East, a stable supply is needed, including a stable Iraq and Iran. If America ignored this region, any disruption could adversely affect the world's economy, including America's economy.. Right on about illegal aliens, though.
Comment: California has proved to be very efficient in disaster relief with out federal government support. The FEDS have yet to cut a check for the state, but the state's own people have come together to help each other and accommodate everyone who has been displaced. This is a state has spent billions on disaster relief prepardness state wide. California knows how to handle natural disasters....I am glad I grew up in a state that took my public safety seriously.
Comment: The difference is that the Governor was a Republican with compassion for his people, just like Mr Bush
did for the Hurricane victims of Katrina. Kathleen Blanco who is Democrat, there was no compassion just
bunch of "blame" on Mr. Bush for everything. I am glad that Bobby Jindal will the same compassion that
Governor Schwarzenegger did if a hurricane ever approach Louisiana the next time. As for Ms. Blanco,
she will go down as one of the worse female govenors in that state's history. God Bless the California
governor and the people for being brave through such awful time. They will survive this!
Comment: Katrina and CA fires are different. The race, politics and incomes should not be a comparison. CA is very diversified in race. No "person" is better, if you are a true nice person. Politics have nothing to do with Bush/Arnold - it's merely because CA is somewhat used to disasters, with earthquakes, where LA/South had not had such a huge hurricane in a long time. And, lessons were learned on Katrina, so they have reacted faster this time. Bush is not to blame for Katrina's failures, nor this, as he has to rely on a LOT of people to do their jobs, and everyone blames him. In CA the roads are open somewhat, where the floods closed all of the roads in Katrina. Money doesn't matter, really. If you hear of a disaster coming, it's common sense to get out - on a bus, with a neighbor, in your limo - whatever. Even if you have money, and the hotels are all booked, where do you go? I wasn't born rich, and I work hard just to maintain a middle income status - just like a lot of CA and LA (and MS, TX, etc.) people. I send prayers your way, whatever disaster you may have. I've had cancer, and I've had a house fire, and I've had good times, too. As a nation we need to pull together, stop making mean comments, start helping, and may God bless you in the future. My mom said if you can't say something nice, then don't say it at all! My sister's family is in Fallbrook with all of this, between Temecula and Fallbrook, so I'm worried about them and their friends, which everyone here should be, too! If you are pro-Katrina or pro-CA, whatever, go spend some energy by donating money to the Red Cross or something rather than making bad will here, ok? Have a nice day and please pray for the best.
Comment: He's Republican. She's Democrat
Comment: He s Replubican.... Blanco's Democrat. That s why
Comment: Just an update: right now, this minute, there is big controversy brewing in San Diego about these tanker planes that were supposed to be here. They haven't arrived as promised and people are getting mad.
Comment: dgu56 - I take full responsibility - I signed my name to MY post...........Patricia
Comment: Democrats are limited to 2.5 lines. Republicans can get more :)
Comment: Sorry about the odd post. For some reason it will not take more than 2 and a half lines from me.
Comment: 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111test
Comment: Westerly, Actually, I think you hit the nail on the head. The real comparison, as you say, is the comparison between 2003 and 2007. What many people may find surprising is that the former San Diego Fire Chief resigned in April, 2006. He was frustrated over the city's lack of support for the fire dept, and he said San Diego could never handle another major fire. Believe me, there will be a lot of people questioning why these fires got so big and why didn't we have the resources on hand to immediately attack them and keep the fire manageable.
Comment: this conversation is still going on? they just need to get rid of this whole article all together. again, i cannot believe how WELL we all get along in the face of disaster! Its so wonderful who we all UNITE!
I dont think race, economy, or government has anything to do with a state of emergency in the face of a disaster such as CA fires or Katrina and I cannot believe what it all comes down to is - what will people have in the end. People are actually upset that someone might be getting something better or more or faster than someone else? These are two seperate situations involving all different people which obviously gives us different outcomes. It is how the world works.
I also believe that there are more pressing matters that all of us could be turning out attention and time to - and that is for the people who are NOT directly effected by either of the situations (and I'm talking about more than just reading it on the internet or hearing it on the news).
NEWSWEEK - CUT THIS ARTICLE ALREADY
Comment: dgu56-i forgot to add, my cousin going through what your mother-in-law is enduring...and youre right it is bad.
Comment: Maybe what we should be comparing is ...Is the efficient disaster relief of 2007 better or worse than the 2003 fires. Were mistakes made in 2003? What are the differences between 2003 Governor Gray Davis and 2007 Arnold Schwarzenegger methods of managing these disasters?
Comment to dgu56-then we can agree that it is the system that is flawed- as it is in everything; my insurances have the holes in which abuse can occur-and honest do pay....but is it relevant to human suffering? An act of nature was responsible for New Orleans, everything afterwards was everything and anything that can go wrong in a fragile "system". The question is ...is anything being learnt from it so that the next time (god forbid) will their be something in place for those who are living in it?
A few minutes ago I heard on news that some of fires might be arson.....that is not natural.
Comment: Nuff said here. it's not helping anyone. PEACE! live, love and Learn. May God Bless help us all.
Comment: Nuff said here. not helping anyone. PEACE! Live, Love and Learn. God Bless us all.
Comment: I would like to say I lived in Southern CA and it is not like you see in Beverly Hills 90210 or The OC....it is the most diverse area I have ever seen. Whites are the minority out there.
Fires and hurricances cant be compared since they are not the same, plain and simple. Different resources are needed and different kinds of damage is done.
Side note: As to the person who was very cruel to the person wanting to know if their sons grave yard was burned and told them to worry about the living....YOU SUCK!!!.. That was unnecessary!!!
Comment: A graveyard burning? So what if some turf is burned. It can grow back in a 2 weeks. Tombstones cant be ruined. Why waste time ans resources over a grave when there are live people who need care? It was not a cruel statement, it was the truth and reality. Even a pet is more important.
Comment: I would just like to say how funny all these posts are about race. I lived in CA for years and the last time I checked white people were the minority...so that has nothing to do with it.
Fires and hurricanes are two different things and you CANT compare them, just because you cant. How about we worry about saving lives and hope we never see the devistation we saw with Katrina ever again.
Sidenote, the person who told that poor person wondering if their sons graveyard was burned was absolutely cruel is telling them to worry about the living....YOU SUCK!
Comment: Westerly, you said my posts reflect an anger towards New Orleans. Let me address that. I lived there as a young man and I had more fun there than any where I've since traveled or lived. It's a wonderful city and filled with great people. I travel back every chance I get. Once I spent a whole week living in the French Quarter-never left it. Drank till dawn and had beignets on the river each day. I love that city, much more than I love San Diego, my home town. In fact, I despise the city government in San Diego. It's the most corrupt city in the nation. "Enron by the Sea." But New Orleans has a sickness about it that has to be addressed. I was horrified by Katrina. I hated the way the police behaved, the city officials, the looters and robbers, and the thought of all those poor people who died needlessly saddens me beyond belif. I will never forget, or forgive those re responsible.
Comment: To "girlonfire" - Maybe "control" was the wrong word; my point is that it IS possible to FIGHT fire - not so with rain, wind, and floods. At any rate, these two disasters should not be compared at all.
Comment: I guess the formatting doesn't transfer from WORD. THe ??? are '. The last sentence cut off reads: Some of those "poor" people are doing better than she does.
Comment: To "girlonfire" - Maybe "control" was the wrong word; my point is that it IS possible to FIGHT fire - not so with rain, wind, and floods. At any rate, these two disasters should not be compared at all.
Comment: I apologize for this long post: skip it if you want, but it is a personal experience about New Orleans you may enjoy reading about.
I used to live across the river in Gretna (Terrytown) and my mother-in-law still resides there. I visited a few months ago to help her with a few things. She had an insurance surcharge of $225.00 yearly that began to appear on her homeowner???s insurance, and she didn???t know what it was all about. Mind you, this is a 65 year-old lady on a fixed income ($1200.00 per month) and an extra expense hurts. It turns out the surcharge is a state-mandated bill tacked onto her normal homeowner???s insurance. This surcharge will be used to pay the bills of all those who didn???t have insurance during Katrina.
Now, my mother-in-law evacuated from New Orleans days before Katrina hit. This was at my insistence; even I could tell this storm coming in was going to be huge. We bussed her to Houston and when she was allowed to come back her house had been damaged. Her insurance paid for the damage and FEMA paid all her traveling and hotel expenses. She was so thankful she had insurance, even though keeping up the payments on a fixed income is difficult.
But now she has to help pay for those people who didn???t have insurance. She keeps hearing about the $65 BILLION in Katrina aid and wonders why some of that isn???t used instead. But she scrimps and saves, being as responsible as she can, but it???s hard on her.
And that, my friends, is the central problem in New Orleans. The ones who try and do the right thing, be responsible, etc.., are always asked to provide for those who don???t. There is a widespread attitude of ???They owe me??? down there, and too many peoples??? hands are out. And why not? There is no end to the number of people lobbying to ???give to the poor??? and so on.
Now, all that aid money to New Orleans should have spurred a huge economic rebirth. Opportunities should have sprung up right and left. But it didn???t, not for the people there. They refused to take advantage of everything. Instead, what happened was that people from outside the area flooded in to grab the opportunities, principally Latinos. They weren???t stupid; they saw all that opportunity and grabbed it. You might remember the mayor, Ray Nagin, complaining about New Orleans becoming ???brown???? That???s what he was talking about.
Too many of the residents there didn???t want opportunity, they want hand-outs. Now the town is passing laws designed to discourage the Latinos from conducting business. Again, those that are industrious, responsible, hard-working, are again being over-regulated and taxed to help provide for the ???poor.??? There???s no end to it down there. I love New Orleans, but it???s a whole different world there. And this year, when I help my mother-in-law pay that surcharge, I???ll wonder, like she does, why try? Maybe it???s better just to drop the insurance and expect hand-outs after the next disaster. Some of those ???
Comment: Forget about FEMA trailors, let's look into Katrina Cottages.
Comment: Also, one more time, it is not about the level of assistance provided. That's entitlement thinking. The cult of victimhood. The issue is about the planning and preparing before a crisis, and then the executing of that planning during the crisis. Not just waiting around for da help and complaining.
Comment: OK, one more time. The reason it got so bad in New Orleans is because there were too many people who were not evacuated. They had over a week to begin preparations and failed. Yes, the infrastructure was destroyed in NO. But if the people had gotten out the're be no problems, no deaths. By the way, in San Diego all the major freeways were closed, power off in large areas, water gone in large areas, etc.. But we got people out of harm's way before these things became an issue. Get it? Before, not after.
Comment: the president cut and run from new orleans. he needs a trillion dollars to waste on this useless war
Comment: California does it right? So to keep rebuilding on land prone to earthquakes and fire is doing it right? Ok, Kenneth good job. You obviously don't know the definition of insanity and once more you don't know that that's not a hole in the ground.
Comment: and living below sea lever in an area prone to hurricanes is any more sane? whatever. we should all just be hopeful that nobody has to go through what the katrina victims went through ever again. it's one thing to be hit by something so disastrous, its another thing to feel as though you've been abandoned.
Comment: It takes a high level of ignorance to compare Katrina to these fires. The infrastructure of southern California, including power, water, and communications, is still very much intact. We'll see how well California fares when an 8.0 or higher comes along--not that I'd wish that on anyone.
Comment: I was born and raised in San Diego County and my former home and property were destroyed by the fire as well as the neighbors and friends I have known my whole life. The main difference between this tragedy and Katrina is that conservative San Diegans and their leadership did not sit on their hands and wait for the Feds to act before doing something. Simply, they helped themselves and took care of each other. New Orleans leadership just pointed the finger of blame and made it political despite having ample warning to evacuate. Now the Liberals are trying to make this disaster political as well--it is how they maintain their power.
Comment: I'm really enjoying the new and ever elevated levels of ignorance of those who compare these fires to Katrina in any way. The infrastructure of southern California is still intact. We'll see how they do after an 8.5 earthquake comes along. Shame on all of you who've engaged in this non-issue.
S
Comment: Yes, even a child can understand that a flood is different than a fire. The issue is the level of assistance provided. There a people all over CA, like the world is about to end. The people in NO had to beg then and are still begging for assistance today. Did you read my point about the insurance?
Comment: TO dgu56: "Oh, come on. Flood or fire, the way to handle it is to get people out. New Orleans failed in this, San Diego didn't." Really? Be serious. Granted, different communities, different behaviours, different results. But still you have to acknowledge that standing on solid ground vs. standing in a quagmire is TOTALLY different. It's so "human nature" and predictable to immediately start ranting about how we are better than them. Yes, the government failed in many, many ways in NO. The Mayor was acting like a child. However, we would be seeing many more government failures in SD if the ground was saturated with floating debris and dead bodies. They're both horrific incidents, but I still say it's ridiculous to draw comparisons.
Comment: I think it's interesting that people in NO whose insurance companies won't honor flood damage have no recourse but Bush himself is providing help to those in CA with no policy at all.
Get ready people... we don't know our history. This revolution will be televised. Get the blades and the baskets ready Marie!
Comment: comment: as i read through your coments--you are very angry with New Orleans..or at least have nothing nice to say about them-a bad experience there?(no not asked as sarcastic---just inquiring) I was fortunate enough to get to know in both states, good hard-working folks who are living life. In both states I dealt with working class peoples---and in both states, it was these people who wanted better lives, and I didnt hear complaining from any of the people I was with. I am just glad that in Socal that people are getting out--theyre safe...I dont think either of us can imagine it unless we have been in it. And as an after thought here, maybe you are right about some of your points, but in the end, does it matter? What matters is help happens...in a timely way....so that everyone can begin to move forward to living their lives. We cannot prevent every disaster, but lessons can be learnt from past ones.
Comment: ...and yes, there is a certain amount of looting going on right here in southern Cali, at the burn sites. Humans are humans, no matter where the disaster occurs.
Comment: I think that it's about class more than race. Undereducated people don't understand that very few things have to do with race anymore. It's about money. I find it strange that courts have ruled that there is no remedy for people in NO whoses insurance companies won't cover flood damage but Bush himself is helping those uninsured in CA. So people who have no policy at all get help but people who have policies that aren't being honored get squat. The revolution will be televised and I will have a ringside seat. Get the blades and baskets ready Marie.
Comment: If you believe that race has little to do with anything anymore than explain to me the wealth gap between whites and minorities, and the underrepresentation of minorities in highly paid jobs and the overrepresentation of minorities in jail. Shame on you for saying that only undereducated people believe raceism is still prevalent. I do agree that class has a lot to do with it but the effect race has should not be ignored. Who ever believes race has little to do with things anymore is living in some kind of imaginary place, not in the U.S.
Comment: ssbn777 - what a specious, Troll's "argument." Interesting that in actuality, the poorer the person, the more likely they are to fight to preserve the few possessions they have. You can fight a fire - you can't fight a hurricane, nor a flood. A little thought prior to yammering would have saved you from appearing a doltish idiot...especially mentioning supposed incidents during Katrina's aftermath which turned out to be false. Tool.
Comment: w
Comment: This isn't California's first major disaster and Californians always pull together in time of need, helping each other out no matter what your "background/race" is. I remember the 1989 Lome Prieta earthquake, no looting occurred, neighbors poured out to help save others out of the rubble. California has many different disasters that occur and so the state is always going through training to be ready as it may hit at any moment.
Comment: TO ssbn777: That is a low-blow and ill spoken for you to say. The truth is the local and national governments have learned from Katrina and Rita and had disaster plans restructured to avoid similar results. Would you happen to know that majority of New Orleanians are blue-collar workers? Have you even been to New Orleans and met the people? They are no different in helping out their neighbors and each other as Californians are. Oh and guess what?? Most New Orleanians had emergency food and water during huricane season. It was that there was NO response from the local and national govenerments after 3 days, whereas I see that the California fire victims received asisstance (shelter, FEMA money, etc) within 3 days. And you telling us the government response didn't make a difference?
Comment: No, SoCal does NOT have a fatalistic attitude towards earthquakes. Building codes are updated all the time to increase protection gainst them, engineers here at UCSD have an earthquake testing lab that is huge so that they can better attack the problem, and in the last few years CA spent billions retrofitting bridges and highways to increase earthquake resistance. The attitude out here is to try and make things better. When I lived in New Orleans the people there always complained about not getting enough "help."
Comment: I live in San Diego. Luckily my home is not in any danger but I have family and friends who have been evacuated and do not yet know the fate of their homes. I also flew to New Orleans a few days after Katrina to deliver supplies and to transport hurrican victims to Texas and California. I would not wish either of these disasters on anyone. People rose to the challenge to meet the immediate threat during Katrina and people are rising to the challenge here. Sure, things go wrong and fingers can be pointed, but in times such as these it is amazing to watch the determination, brotherhood and humanity we Americans have to offer.
Comment: Comment:"When I lived in New Orleans, I noted people there have a fatalistic attitude about hurricanes. It is what it is. Out here there's a fighting attitude. More of a get'er done attitude." Doesnt not Socal have same with earthquakes? I too have had opportunity to live in both places---yes two very different worlds....in the same country. Does that mean one is less than another? Or should it be---we help all our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors---because we are all Americans...together?
Comment: MillerM84, please stop excusing bad behaviour on poverty. Listening to you make apologies about the looting and stealing and leaving old people to die in New Orleans because these "poor" people were losing everything is sickening. Character is not based on money. Never was, never has been. Like I've pointed out several times, the New Orleans cops, a third of them anyway, deserted their jobs and some even joined the looting.
Comment: Oh, come on. Flood or fire, the way to handle it is to get people out. New Orleans failed in this, San Diego didn't. If San Diego left the people in harm's way you'd have every bit the loss of life that New Orleans had. And as far as the number of hurricanes coming through New Orleans, they have a hurricane SEASON there. Every single year they are at risk of a hurricane. There was NO excuse not to be prepared.
Comment: comment to dgu56: human intent/unintent......a dropped cigarette...intentional or unintentional...
but really unless we are there do we know who to blame..not blame...and in the end for victims....is that what matters? We are all human beings who deserve the same when it comes to disaster--whatever the disaster is. And jtphillips has valid note---there really is no comparison to the two different types of disasters.
Comment: The government responses to these disasters have little or nothing to do with the outcomes. The difference lies in the people affected. In California, you have mostly working and educated people taking
