Once again, deaths. Once again, destruction.
Anxiety and shock permeated the smoky, ashy air during the October 2007 wildfires. I spent hours at evacuation centers listening to those who fled with little more than their slippers and car keys. In one case, a woman escaped with flames a block behind her. Some knew their houses were gone. Others, glued to televisions, nervously awaited word of their neighborhood's fate.
All of it felt like a grim replay of the Cedar Fire in 2003. But I wonder now what effect that familiarity will have on San Diegans and their elected representatives this time around.
Will it better prepare people for the next fire? Will they have better coping skills, know what to pack, know where to go and feel confident that their fire insurance is upgraded? Will they come to expect this routine every few years?
Or, will loss and trauma morph into action and accountability?
Barbara and Neil Levines' Rancho Bernardo home burned down early Oct. 22. They lived there for 15 years. "All our children were born in this house," Barbara said. "To me it was a nest."
She's rebuilding. But Barbara still feels ungrounded. She's also angry at the city. Despite the self-congratulatory tone of San Diego city officials over the purchase of a reverse 911 system that warned residents to evacuate, Levine says she never got that call. Nor did anyone in her neighborhood.
Dave
from Oceanside
February 22, 2008 at 07:27 AM
If 9-11 (as in September 11th) has taught us anything.. it has taught us that when government is faced with a chance to take blame and improve things they will do neither...
Malibu had a fire the same day.. 8 helicopters easily seen on CNN flying missions... that's why we had none.. they had 50 structures threatened.. maybe it was 500 . .. either way a drop in the bucket compared to us..
But Malibu has more clout in Sacramento.. who pulls the strings with Cal Fire.. right??
Privatization.. er.. Contracted out... wasn't that once called piracy?? Instead of owning up to the problem we've pulled a page out of the 17th(?) century and has sub-contracted the problem.. great.
