When hurricanes slam Florida or Texas everyone rushes to help. When tornadoes devastate the Midwest everyone rushes to help. When ice storms or flooding or other disasters we rush to help. But when California has a disaster the disgusted degenerate scum of maga want to laugh and celebrate. Guess what, fuck them. They will need help and they can all go to hell. I would other be homeless in Ca then live in a mansion in the shit hole that is Florida or Texas.
The reality is that climate change is coming for us all and nowhere is safe forever. My friends in asheville never thought a hurricane would wash away their homes, but it happened all the same. It may already be too late. If we as a country do not confront climate change head on and soon many more far worse disasters are on the horizon until the scale of them cripple the country or civilization itself. This is all just the beginning.
You are so right. Nature will have the last word. We have done nothing to care for her and to protect her. I live in LA County and it is terrifying what is happening. The fire just keeps spreading, hotels are full and so many people have all ready lost their homes and everything in it and have been evacuated. It is surreal. We should be so ashamed of ourselves as human beings for not caring about this earth or animals. At this point, the fire hasn't reached me yet but I'm waiting now for my friend and her dog from the San Fernando Valley to come to my place as she will be evacuated soon. What a nightmare with Trump becoming our new POTUS in 10 days. I wish this all was a nightmare or a bad disaster movie but it is NOT. I so appreciate Robert Reich. We all need to join a resistance movement. I just feel sick.
I've just read your comment while I sit safe in CO. I'm devastated to see, and read what California is going through.
I'm loosing faith in America. The idea that so many people voted for a man, that hates this country, and most of it's people. I'm hoping for some strong leaders to galvanize America, and make sure California gets the help it needs, and deserves.
Biden needs to do everything he can before Trump, and his Minions move in. They've already told us what they plan to do.
As for myself, I will see what our state is offering, and make sure I take action, not just thoughs & prayers. Be strong California!!!
Here is the clip from TITANIC where the engineer that designed TITANIC discloses that it doesn't have adequate life boats because of (aesthetics by?) the marketing department:
Empathy. Larry O'Donnell on MSNBC made such a meaningful speech yesterday that the WIND determines everything. I send to you heartfelt wishes. I have dodged two "bullets," recently the "Park" fire that roared on the wind from Chico northwards. You go to bed thinking it has nothing to do with you, and then...
You’re not alone, Lila. WE have begun growing a resistance movement. Neighbors helping neighbors. All the work we did before the election built the resistance and taught us important lessons. We still have that.
And the costs to counter climate change will be eclipsed by the annual costs of these climate disasters-- and not just in terms of rebuilding homes, businesses and infrastructure. There will be long-term medical costs as well, with chronic pulmonary conditions created or exacerbated by the smoke.
Entire states like Florida will likely be abandoned as people cannot afford to endlessly rebuild. This problem is staring us in the face and no one in power cares. Worse, a climate change denier is now the fucking president. We are all doomed.
Andy , I grew up in Florida. Nothing has changed hurricane after hurricane the construction tends to be all concrete block. The problem with Florida is that the government allows homes to be built at zero ground level like right on the ground rather than elevated like most sensible building permits would require. The water table is like right at Ground Zero and that’s why the homes seem to be built higher And over the years, the building codes have become more lax, which is the cause of much of the problem. Homes used to be all of concrete block construction with metal studs no wood beams. Tie beams poured concrete, held the house together and special windows to prevent easy breakage from flying debris. People who move their know what they’re in for but the problem now is that the insurance companies are not buying it so you can live in England and be better project
But as an example, every single hotel and Miami Beach that was built in the 50s and 60s is still standing other than the condos that were built without proper timely check ups if you realize that they sit right on salt water intrusion, which eats away of stuff over overtime
trump will find some way to make a fortune off of climate change as he continues to call it a hoax. A transactional soul knows nothing of suffering or the brutality of a reality that is scoffed. But he will get his in the end as maga devours itself cannabalisticly, then turns on his craven ways, and oligarchy.
Here is my thinking on the issue of surviving these destructive events.
Recall with Covid, the establishment emphasis was on making sure the medical capacity was not overwhelmed by the number of cases coming in? If the people who handle the sickness and death were overwhelmed, the dead would end up unprocessed.
The same thinking applies to the destruction of homes and infrastructure from extreme weather events. Our resources and people to rebuild is limited. If the destruction exceeds that, people loose places to live! And food production is also impacted with some abnormal extreme weather events.
Taking a quick google, I see that the number of new houses built in the US has been about 27 million per decade for 4 decades. In 2023, 1.45 million new homes were built, at a cost of about $2 trillion. - about $1.4 million per house.
I read that the 2024 hurricane losses exceed $200 billion. That would exceed 138 thousand homes.
So these 2 hurricane alone increase the housing build by 10% for an industry that has not grown for 4 decades. That means these unusual destructive events already exceed the existing industry ability to rebuild. Paradise has not rebuilt yer. The LA fires have already grown to about $20 billion.
Meanwhile, the nature of the climate change problem can be approximated to filling a giant leakproof reservoir being filled with water. The CO2 emissions per year are like the rate of water flow into the tub.
The water level is like the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
The tub has a very tiny leak. But, the leak is very slow, such that if the level jumped by a foot it would take tens of thousands of years for the water level to say 1/4 foot. The literature is vague on the time, but it is many lifetimes.
The burning of fossil fuels every year causes CO2 emissions to rise above the natural level. So the water level rises every year, as does the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
Since the industrial revolution, we have been burning more and more fossil fuels every year. This is like turning on the tap more that fills the reservoir every year. The water level rises faster and faster, and the CO2 concentration rises faster and faster. The Keeling Curve documents the concentration from the accumulated yearly emission rising from 280 ppm to 420 ppm so far.
CO2 in the atmosphere blocks heat radiation from the earth escaping to space. More CO2 causes less heat escape, this causes more earth heating, from the sun. So we are heating the earth faster and faster every year until the burning of fossil stops completely!
It is easy to think that if we just stop increasing CO2 emissions every year, that climate change will stabilize. But it will not, because the hose filling the resevoir would still be running at the highest rate, and the concentration drops very slowly from nature. We are a long way from ending our emissions.
We must also suck the excess CO2 from the atmosphere to get the concentration back down to get the heat flow down to pre-industrial times. Only the reduction of the excess CO2 to essentially zero will get the temperature down to normal.
Given the resevoir is still filling and necessary emptying requirement, and the fact that we already can't keep up with the destruction, I would venture that our civilization itself is at the threshold of total collapse.
Will the existing level of destruction exceed our ability to maintain our ability to feed and house ourselves and get CO2 concentration down, or will we just be pounded back into primitive life?
California should secede. Then it can rejoin Mexico or give the land back to the natives. Deport all the MAGAts to flyover country and let governor newsom keep making progress in a truly vibrant, diverse democracy!
Hey! We New Yorkers and our fellow Americans in New Jersey are with you too. Don't forget: WE despised that rapist pedophile FIRST before you even heard his silly name.
WE will save those "fucking morons' from themselves as is our job as the only intelligent states!
God, and us, save you, our dear California brothers and sisters!
Washington, Oregon, California, would all be welcome here in Canada as the 11th, 12th, and 13th provinces. But first it seems you need to get rid of the electoral college, so that the GOP doesn’t reign in the US forever.
Republicans in California will make appeals for help and those requests will be honored. That is how it was done during Trump's first term.
I like to think proper post mortems will be done leading to effective solutions. However I expect politically expedient solutions will trump, pardon the term, optimal solutions.
His Trump National Golf Course is in Rancho Palos Verdes, which also include 'luxury homes". I don't believe he has any hotels or private residences in CA any more., but I could be wrong.
I have seen YouTube comments that Biden is massively helping CA, in contrast to ignoring Helene victims in "red" states. Propaganda is relentless. Apparently there are Helene victims who have not applied for relief because misinformed that FEMA is purposely stiffing them. "Self fulfilling" victims. The twisting of reality seems so hopeless to fight.
I assure you GA that NOBODY is laughing. It is worse than a horror movie. This is like earthquake, fire, floods, and landslides all in one
We lived in Calabasas for 20 years in California for over 30 and made our fortune there, but this state is an empty shell of what it used to be. The people are wonderful. The weather is phenomenal but for a state that has as you say the fifth highest GDP in the world why is it also the highest taxed? We moved to Nevada and 06 after being over taxed, the traffic becoming unbearable and the decay of the city in general.
We Come back to visit once a year and every time we come back it’s worse than the time before. we were just in downtown LA a few weeks ago we had to walk on the streets versus the sidewalk because of all the tents and homeless and the incredible stench of urine everywhere We went within a four block radius of where we were off of Wilshire Boulevard of all places. The owner of Langer’s deli almost shut his restaurant after being in Los Angeles for some 80 years because of the crime attacking his customers, the homeless and the tents and only after his plea to get the mayor involved stopped him.
You are correct. This is a tragedy of epic proportion, but to blame it on anything other than the lack of preparedness, the lack of water, the lack of reservoirs, the lack of fire lines and brush clearance and cutting budgets, by both local and state government is unconscionable.
You mean, as opposed to denying the reality of global warming altogether and promising to give licences for oil and gas drilling everywhere just so long as companies promise to invest? You're right that the problem is a lack of preparedness, but you're just wrong about who you're blaming for this. The real culprits are the MAGA deniers and theit billionaire supporters in the fossil fuel industry. You continue to repeat debunked lies wherever you post, don't you, Rick? California had an adequate supply of water for these fires, the problem with the hydrants was one of access, not supply. Clearing the foliage would have just created more space in the canopy for the air fryer heat to bake the ground and would have encouraged the growth of flammable grasses which would have made everything worse. These were not forest communities, so forest management failures are a red herring. Climate change is coming for everyone - you're crazy if you think you're safe in Nevada. California has a publicly-funded insurance scheme (FAIR - Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) - very woke right? Except that similar plans have been adopted by Republican states (Texas, Lousiana, Florida and Colorado).
Karen Colorado has nothing to do with this, but by the way Colorado has a very good governor who’s wise enough and smart enough to handle his business but the water shed is coming down. The Colorado is shared by a number of states and they negotiate their water rates.
This has nothing to do with Colorado being a Republican or a Democrat state. This is a California issue a California problem and I just sent a map out showing the fire since the mid 1850s all up and down the state in California has not done enough to fix this. This is a federal and state issue and has not been addressed substantially because every year they have these kinds of fires just not this devastating.
I don’t want to be smarter. Never stated I was smarter than anyone else just more logical and honest about the reality of what’s happening in California Nevada has had a water problem for 50 years or more. And you’ll love this. The problem is becoming greater because of all the influx from Californians getting the hell out of there.
. At least they got smart and doesn’t allow lawns anymore and pays people five dollars a square foot to remove them so they don’t need to water them.
There’s always a water fight here that’s nothing new.
On the other hand that I’ve stated California has had these kinds of fire since the mid 1800s and the feds and the state have never addressed it substantially and sufficiently, and I guess that would be an understatement
Not sure there was a climate change problem back in the mid 1800s But actually, there’s been a climate change problem ever since the population of this world has gone from 1,000,000,000 to 8,000,000,000 in a matter of two centuries While it took 1800 years, 18 centuries to get to 1 billion. There’s your problem
But the biggest issue has been ignored by those who could do something. That is because those who *knew* have been spreading misinformation and confusion since the last quarter of the last century in order to keep those magnificent profits rolling in.
I'll remember that when Fires burn across Northern Nevada, or Vegas is either under water from once in a 100 year flash floods, every other year..Or when the power goes off in 129 degree heat that hasn't cooled down for the entire Summer. Please be sure your State prepares for that because these once in a 100 year climate disasters your state has every other month.🙄
I’m truly not sure what you’re referring to or why ? My friends live in Agoura and they haven’t had power for three days. Power is the least of the problem there John. If power goes out it goes out. Cali or nevada
I can’t do anything having to do with my state being prepared, but so far so good Southern Nevada is substantially different than Northern Nevada, which has literally no foliage compared to northern Nevada different climate totally it snows in northern Nevada … but I’m not sure why you sent your comment in the first place.
Nevada got smart though having to do with lawns they don’t allow them. They actually pay you to remove them they restrict certain type of foliage, etc..
I await news of friends who have evacuated twice. My heart hurts at the vitriol toward those suffering from he who won’t even have to cross his fingers when he is administered an “oath to defend” when there is no truth to anything said. Just as the horrific “it can’t happen here” NC disaster only resulted in his lies about government workers, putting many in greater harm’s way, he continues. And the firefighters from Mexico who have come to help despite his ugly words about them and all from their country - when will he criticize them?
Smiling: after watching the services for Jimmy Carter, I almost wrote “What would JC do?” and realized what it appears to be. I need to channel my energies to good to help. I cannot dwell on evil.
People such as Jimmy Carter refresh my belief that even with a history of so much sociopathic evil committed in the name of religion, those who approach it from a mindset of wise humility and universal compassion have something to teach me, have something to give. I am hoping to hear a louder voice from those who don't worship wealth and despise the abused and very poor, who reject the way of vainglorious cruelty. MAGA hogs way to much of the spotlight.
Like. (can't) I just chimed in somewhere above about the disinformation harm about FEMA assistance back East. "The Internet (whatever) told me FEMA won't help me, so I won't even apply, maybe I'll just get out my shotgun...." Fantastic, and tragic.
This is chilling in its absolute clarity of vision. Lord help Californians, Americans, and every other sentient being adversely affected by that monstrosity we voted into office.
You mean the 25% that voted for him? (VP Harris recieved over 24%, but 50% DIDN'T VOTE, so voted FOR that rapist felon.) Remember: that pathetic man-child won with a PLURALITY, a TECHNICALLITY. 🤣
DEAR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS,
BOTH OF YOU HAVE REFERRED TO DONALD TRUMP AS A "FASCIST DICTATOR UNFIT FOR OFFICE".
IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT, THEN WHY ARE YOU IGNORING THE FREEDOMS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS STOOD FOR AND FOUGHT FOR, FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS BY INSTALLING A FASCIST DICTATOR WITH 34 FELONY CONVICTIONS, TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THANKS ALOT
(Please re-think your decision not to act before it is too late.)
No prayer will replace the need to make the LA Area fireproof . But if there is a public push to teach brush removal and remove the fuel that feeds the fires.
LA might have a chance to prevent the next fire from destroying so many homes.
Biden is throwing all federal aid the Government has at this fire 🔥 when the wind slows down and the firefighters begin a systematic attack the fire will be beaten for the short term.
A lack of water was a major factor in this devastation.
No politician will fall on their swords for this preventable epoch.
Finger pointing has begun…
I read that LA county cut 75 Million from the Fire Department ( LA is a City /County).
Lack of water was not a factor. The reservoirs were full. There was a problem refilling when the pumps lost power but was rectified. LAFDs budget was increased not decreased. Set a fire in your backyard and blow 80 mile an hour wind at it and see what happens. California is not all covered in concrete. It’s wild and very mountainous. You can’t manicure it. Remember what you are saying here when your home is affected by a natural disaster. And it will be. Should we tell you tough luck? You should have planned better? We did plan for this. I have lived in California all my 67 years. I have never seen Santa Ana’s with 85 mile an hour gusts. Hurricanes are stronger, tornadoes more frequent, fires more intense. I wonder why?
Johnelle, there is a lot of truth to what you say. I do agree with Mr Reich that one-party rule inevitably runs into certain types of problems, but those were not particularly in evidence in the factors you discuss, which are probably more pertinent to the case in hand.
Our hills, of which there are many, are covered with scrub. It would be impossible to remove all of that, and unwise as well, as we would have more landslides during rain storms. It is already a practice to remove brush near structures and roads. The next step should be to harden structures and make sure electrical equipment is properly maintained as well as to prohibit building in fire areas. I will say, however, that when the wind is blowing at 80 mph, there is nothing that can be done: embers can travel for miles and spread fire within seconds. The only remedy for that is rain.
Right, they should have done more raking, heh? There was no shortage of water in the LA area - read up. In fact, Mr. Reich has referenced n these posts water officials fully contradicting Shitmouth.
Evidentially you did not remove the scrub fuel which is now burning creating embers that the high winds is flinging into other neglected piles of scrub growth.
Houses are made of flammable parts like wood 🪵 that burns very nicely fences made of wood burn all that stuff is fuel .
Firefighters are as a last resort home owners are the the persons most responsible for preventing the accumulations of brush etc fuel for fires.
Lower branches of trees help spread the fire.
Only thing inevitable is our deaths at the end of our lives…
No, the scrub wasn't removed because that's impossible, as I said. Even if you could, it would be a bad idea because when the rains came, we'd have landslides.
It is true that wood is flammable, but we can't use bricks or concrete for building here because they collapse in earthquakes. We do cover our wood with stucco, which acts as a retardant. But with fires this strong, that isn't enough. What should be done is remove wood fencing and install spark protectors over openings to eaves and attics. Also, trees and shrubs need to be placed fairly far from structures. And dead palm tree fronds should be removed. Some of those trees have twenty years worth of flammable material on their trunks. When the wind blows they come loose and travel quite a distance. That kind of thing absolutely is controllable.
You obviously don't understand the terrain or where the fires happened..The fire started in 100 mph winds..One house burnt down and the flames spread roof to roof..You cannot remove the shrubs from woodland and Hillsides!! But the houses that burned where in Urban areas covered in cement for the most part..The neighborhood in Altadena that suffered the biggest loss where no different than any other housing track in America..There was no water shortage, there was pressure problems from everyone using the water at once including the residents with their own hoses.
Please , listen to scientific evidence that no one could have prepared for 100 mph winds blasting down the hills and not letting up.. It's like a blow torch that just keeps going in a fan. The water tankers could not get in the air due to the wind. Trying to hose down a fire in that wind is fruitless -- you can't..I have always lived in fire country in California..Every year some idiot decides to tractor their property down to dirt -- And every year it rains buckets..My neighbor clear cut the canyon between my house and theirs..I told them it's going to rain and that wall of dirt above their property is going to come down..Sure enough we had rain fall that flooded that basin and not only did they have a wall of mud and rocks knock their house off the foundation, it flooded the entire neighborhood down below and washed out the street.. Luckily my house remained because it was higher up and I didn't let her clear cut up to my fence.. Her home had been there since 1901 and nothing like that has ever happened..The new norm in California is Pineapple Express Rains coming in and dumping months worth of normal rainfall in days..With the highest temperatures on record beating the year before records-- THERE'S ONLY ONE CONCLUSION..The Climate has changed and there's nothing normal about any of the climate disasters happening now going back to the 1,700s..You simply have wrong information or you are unwilling to understand the truth. You cannot blame this on the natural habitat that has been in California for centuries, but you can blame these extreme weather events on Carbon in the atmosphere Heating out planet. 99% of the fires in California are man-made because people don't use fire safe practices at their homes or on their property. And I will guarantee you when the rains start up every fire destroyed area will be completely wiped out from mud slides..
No municipal water system was ever nor could be constructed to maintain pressure when almost every hydrant is opened. They're built to put out a house or a commercial structure fire or three at a time, not hundreds of homes at once. There is no failure here other than Trumpsk spewing his bullsh*t and anyone ignorant enough to believe any of it.
1. Prevention - Removal of undergrowth the shrubs and ornamentals and wild plants .
2. Trimming and Removal of trees.
3. Planting of grass and vegetation to retain soil and retard Fire.
4. The most effective implementation of the above is the Citizens of LA county .
5. The workers of the various departments of LA the primary fire dept but not exclusively must educate motivate and enforce all items listed above.
Water supply -
Water supply is not unlimited in addition to immediate repair and replacement of existing water systems simple low Maintance water sources must be added : For example Water towers where a water column can provide pressure and a small quantity of water .
New extreme water supplies such as an emergency salt water pipeline with pumping station s and hard line mains for the ten year fires that could deliver water only to the location of a fire site better than helicopters or airplanes for delivering large quantities of ocean water to a fire virtually unlimited supply of salt water.
Funding this is a whole other matter.
Might cause a bit of bother for environmental purists.
Train neighborhoods fire fighting teams to act early on before the professionals arrive on scene.
Your 3¢ Is worth zero..You are not understanding the environment there or how the wind didn't stop blowing for days. The embers that started in a home fire blew 2 and 3 miles ahead and landed on roofs in an urban environment in the Altadena Fire. The communities are in Los Angeles County but they all are separate municipal districts and most are on Wells..Do you have any idea of how big the entire area of Los Angeles basin is??
There is a video going around right now that shows that apparently there is a big reservoir above the Pacific Palisades area that held enough water to help the firefight, but it was drained earlier this year last year. Check it out.
There is also a lot of misinformation about that reservoir.. Please, Explain how in 100 mph winds any water could make a difference..There was water there, but if you will just go out and relieve yourself in the next wind storm -- come back and tell us all how it worked out.. SMH
Obviously, you’re not in California with a lot of wind breaks and mountains and places where they’re higher winds than others
And if the reservoirs would full, it would’ve made a lot of difference, especially when the wind died down during the day. And the water could be used to make a fire break. You can shake your head all you want, but in situations like this you do everything you can.
I grew up in Miami, but I bet you can’t imagine how much water you can have when you have wind. Oooops.
I grew up in Altadena with Eaton Canyon as my backyard..I know those winds well..I currently live in The Sierra Nevada Mountains below Lake Tahoe..On the night the winds were screaming down the mountain in LA at 100 mph we had winds that came off the ridges clocked with gusts at 206 mph..I also know that we have plenty of rain in reservoirs and in Northern California we had record rain in a week..The Santa Ana winds are a fact of life, but winds of 100 mph with no let up are extraordinary and the hottest temperatures ever baked Southern California for Months.. I'm sorry but nobody saved their house with a hose..It hasn't rained in Southern California since May of last year.. That's abnormal, but the State has water. Of course you're from Florida - Man..
Lack of water is one of Trumps lies. You can see for yourself that the firehoses are going at full blast; that planes are dropping water from the air. There is no way extreme wind and fire can be prepared for. And once the conflagration begins, it becomes so hot, water simply evaporates.
No, it’s not. It’s a truth. Gavin Newsom himself just begun an investigation to find out why there was not enough water. After the fact, Annie, after the fact. Incredible.
That was in one district, not the entire LA Basin.. First of all he's only been governor for a few years..Please explain how he can come in and rip up those streets and start an entire infrastructure project in those Republican Stronghold Suburbs in Los Angeles..Those people didn't vote for him, they voted for tax cuts and they voted for Trump to make them even richer.. If you're going to spread misinformation go to X and talk to that crew.. I'm sure there's several absolutely no fact posts you can contribute to.
Actually, he DID NOT..In Fact right before the New Year he fortified the Budget for Fire Defense to the tune of 20 Billion dollars.. BTW, Los Angeles City is not the state..The State of California does not govern Municipal Water Districts..If he did MAGA would be screaming he was pushing too many regulations on their Autonomous Community Districts..
Socal had two years of massive rain which caused lots of plant growth followed by last year's drought which dried out all that plant growth. Meteorologist are calling it a whiplash effect clearly caused by global warming. Then the Santa Ana winds were more ferocious than usual. Catastrophe.
ENACT THE 14TH AND 25TH AMENDMENTS ON THE 18TH!!! President Vance will likely suck, but he doesn't have a narcissistic personality disorder, Alzheimer's AND isn't a pathological liar.
My best friends of over 40 years just returned from Texas to try to help a sister who had just been diagnosed with cancer.
One of them had stage 4 cancer a few years ago. He went through surgeries, radiation and chemo. It was a hellish battle. He has been cancer free for two years now. He and his partner are the kindest most generous people I know.
They lead simple lives and work hard and don’t charge enough.
A week after returning from Texas I got a text from them: “The Santa Ana’s are at 80MPH, I can see the flames we have to go.”
They lost everything but their lives.
This is just one story out of thousands. This is not political it is a tragedy. When tragedy strikes it brings out the best and the worst of us.
While Trump is stirring up hate and speaks of retribution, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Canada have come to our aid. There are no red states blue states, my country your country. There is only the very best of us helping others in need. This is what we are meant to do. This is what gives us meaning and purpose and brightens our lives amid the darkness.
My deepest gratitude to everyone who is doing what they can to help. You are creating a better world by your kindness.
Thank you.
I’m happy to add that fire fighters from Mexico have joined us!
I am not sure this will be recalled for 500 years, might get lost in what will surely be a litany of disasters, and who can count on us making it 500 years to recall it?!?
I am sure it won't. The devastation in Western NC was due to a 1000 year event and was considered a geological event. The news cycles quickly forgot us.
Unfortunately, these events are going to happen more frequently than the old way of thinking every thousand year or 500 year events. These extreme weather tragedies are going to be happening every year in more than one place unless we acknowledge climate change and work to reverse or at least slow the worst events and start to work toward clean energy sources.
I just moved to CA last year. My heart is breaking for her people that have lost everything and just as much for the despicable convicted felon who will soon take office in our country. We must help one another
Sadly, what Prof. Reich says here is the truth. And what he says about Shitmouth Trump using the fire's devastation as an opportunity to make California suffer is right on target!
The monstrousness of 47's vindictively cruel plans against California mark him as "antichrist," about which the scholarly and prophetic priest Matthew Fox wrote a recent book. Whether one prays for 47's defeat or generates spiritual vibrations against him, the goal of us who oppose him and his minions must be the same. He and his aims must fail, because decent people will thwart him and the "better angels" of humanity will do their best to make it happen.
Yes, there is have an enormous problem in Los Angeles created by this historic fire. We have lots of other problems as well of which most can be handled. However the kinds of problems we have take good elected politicians working with the desire to do good things for the people. Unfortunately we do not have enough "good politicians" in the country. Why is this so? Mostly because the recent contribution to politicians laws change. Now rich people and corporations can contribute as much as they want. Corporate Americans have financially supported our politicians so much that they seem to be owned by them. We have the best politicians that money can buy.
It occurs to me that Los Angeles is going to have to consider the type of regulations that San Francisco introduced long ago, different in detail certainly, but similar in concept. Those who construct almost anything in San Francisco have to abide by regulations that attempt, as much as possible, anti-earthquake structures. The Santa Anna winds are not a new phenomenon, but the conditions that lead to today's fires are related to climate change in addition, so anti-inflammatory materials and practices, possibly even to sprinkler systems in large homes may be necessary in future. Experts on the subject would be the proper source, not me.
This is the most abysmal hyperbolic piling on of epic negativity. Yes it's an epic disaster. But an epic failure that somehow could have been stopped? Prevented? I don't think so. It's sad to see so many playing it for political points.
I was on the ground at (LAX) when the provisioner came to open the back galley door on the plane I was working on on 1/7, they could barely get it open. I grew up in Southern California - lived there from 1967 to 1994 and never experienced winds like that in my entire life. Climate Change is real you can’t fight Mother Nature. And if one more ass hat says they should rake and clear the brush or do prescribed burns, guess what, you can’t do prescribed burns in neighborhoods. You can’t legislate what people plant around their homes or maybe you can but anything growing will turn into kindling and tinder because you can’t prevent La Niña, which caused a severe drought and with the conflagration of low and high pressure systems that are so much stronger now because of climate change there has never been a Santa Ana wind with gusts to 100 or sustained winds of 100 miles an hour as there were which also prevented airplane tankers to fly and drop water or fire retardant until later the next day on 1/8.
Then the neighborhood should’ve never been permitted as they are… there have been fires in California since the 1850s went since the first kept and not enough has been done not for thought not planning not preparation.
And maybe you don’t know this, but here’s a piece of information you might like there is an area in Southern Cal called Simi Valley. Do you know what Simi Valley stands for in its name…? valley of the winds. Where we also lived.
And if you can’t do raking, then you do sensible fire breaks and barriers
We lived in San Fernando Valley for 30 years and trust me we felt winds like this a few times, especially the fires produce more wind.
Isn’t it possible that while this is indeed a tragic disaster, the focus should be more on understanding the complexities rather than using it for political gain? Could we address the issue with more thoughtful, solutions-oriented discussions instead of just assigning blame?
Climate Change and Powerful Winds with Fire is the culprit...there should be a call for Prayer by our leaders, the finger pointing is totally deflective and childish. Embarrassing a Nation like America, before the entire world. The significant lighting strikes on New years Eve night: Washington Monument, U.S.Capital, Empire State Building and Zero Tower in NYC was definitely a sign and wonder, so too are these flying flames(winds traveling with fire). Also Snow in the Saudi Arabian desert on November 3-8, 2024. Please Pay Attention‼️ Praying for all 🛐
A sobering and chilling take on this extreme event. Thank you for articulating it so well. My only rebuke is that instead of useless prayer as you suggest at the conclusion, we should act. Donate, assist, vote, and speak up.
How can we channel our energies toward positive change and support those in need, instead of dwelling on the vitriol and dishonesty that seem to dominate the narrative, especially when we see such contrast in actions like those of the firefighters from Mexico?
When hurricanes slam Florida or Texas everyone rushes to help. When tornadoes devastate the Midwest everyone rushes to help. When ice storms or flooding or other disasters we rush to help. But when California has a disaster the disgusted degenerate scum of maga want to laugh and celebrate. Guess what, fuck them. They will need help and they can all go to hell. I would other be homeless in Ca then live in a mansion in the shit hole that is Florida or Texas.
The reality is that climate change is coming for us all and nowhere is safe forever. My friends in asheville never thought a hurricane would wash away their homes, but it happened all the same. It may already be too late. If we as a country do not confront climate change head on and soon many more far worse disasters are on the horizon until the scale of them cripple the country or civilization itself. This is all just the beginning.
You are so right. Nature will have the last word. We have done nothing to care for her and to protect her. I live in LA County and it is terrifying what is happening. The fire just keeps spreading, hotels are full and so many people have all ready lost their homes and everything in it and have been evacuated. It is surreal. We should be so ashamed of ourselves as human beings for not caring about this earth or animals. At this point, the fire hasn't reached me yet but I'm waiting now for my friend and her dog from the San Fernando Valley to come to my place as she will be evacuated soon. What a nightmare with Trump becoming our new POTUS in 10 days. I wish this all was a nightmare or a bad disaster movie but it is NOT. I so appreciate Robert Reich. We all need to join a resistance movement. I just feel sick.
I've just read your comment while I sit safe in CO. I'm devastated to see, and read what California is going through.
I'm loosing faith in America. The idea that so many people voted for a man, that hates this country, and most of it's people. I'm hoping for some strong leaders to galvanize America, and make sure California gets the help it needs, and deserves.
Biden needs to do everything he can before Trump, and his Minions move in. They've already told us what they plan to do.
As for myself, I will see what our state is offering, and make sure I take action, not just thoughs & prayers. Be strong California!!!
Here is the clip from TITANIC where the engineer that designed TITANIC discloses that it doesn't have adequate life boats because of (aesthetics by?) the marketing department:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Lbs7n-jSs
I used to think I would suffer from brain fog for the rest of my life..."𝐛𝐮𝐭" this changed everything.... https://t.co/EeQXhJh2OC
Fer chrissakes, think! The word you wanted is losing.
Join Indivisible in your area--there are chapters--or start one. They will help you. Don't despair alone. https://indivisible.org/
Right! My exact thoughts
See above.
Empathy. Larry O'Donnell on MSNBC made such a meaningful speech yesterday that the WIND determines everything. I send to you heartfelt wishes. I have dodged two "bullets," recently the "Park" fire that roared on the wind from Chico northwards. You go to bed thinking it has nothing to do with you, and then...
You’re not alone, Lila. WE have begun growing a resistance movement. Neighbors helping neighbors. All the work we did before the election built the resistance and taught us important lessons. We still have that.
I hope you and your friend stay safe.
And the costs to counter climate change will be eclipsed by the annual costs of these climate disasters-- and not just in terms of rebuilding homes, businesses and infrastructure. There will be long-term medical costs as well, with chronic pulmonary conditions created or exacerbated by the smoke.
Entire states like Florida will likely be abandoned as people cannot afford to endlessly rebuild. This problem is staring us in the face and no one in power cares. Worse, a climate change denier is now the fucking president. We are all doomed.
No. Rise up. Join a group. Remember Greta Thunberg!
Andy , I grew up in Florida. Nothing has changed hurricane after hurricane the construction tends to be all concrete block. The problem with Florida is that the government allows homes to be built at zero ground level like right on the ground rather than elevated like most sensible building permits would require. The water table is like right at Ground Zero and that’s why the homes seem to be built higher And over the years, the building codes have become more lax, which is the cause of much of the problem. Homes used to be all of concrete block construction with metal studs no wood beams. Tie beams poured concrete, held the house together and special windows to prevent easy breakage from flying debris. People who move their know what they’re in for but the problem now is that the insurance companies are not buying it so you can live in England and be better project
But as an example, every single hotel and Miami Beach that was built in the 50s and 60s is still standing other than the condos that were built without proper timely check ups if you realize that they sit right on salt water intrusion, which eats away of stuff over overtime
Sorry, inland not England. Spellcheck.
trump will find some way to make a fortune off of climate change as he continues to call it a hoax. A transactional soul knows nothing of suffering or the brutality of a reality that is scoffed. But he will get his in the end as maga devours itself cannabalisticly, then turns on his craven ways, and oligarchy.
I can't wait.
Here is my thinking on the issue of surviving these destructive events.
Recall with Covid, the establishment emphasis was on making sure the medical capacity was not overwhelmed by the number of cases coming in? If the people who handle the sickness and death were overwhelmed, the dead would end up unprocessed.
The same thinking applies to the destruction of homes and infrastructure from extreme weather events. Our resources and people to rebuild is limited. If the destruction exceeds that, people loose places to live! And food production is also impacted with some abnormal extreme weather events.
Taking a quick google, I see that the number of new houses built in the US has been about 27 million per decade for 4 decades. In 2023, 1.45 million new homes were built, at a cost of about $2 trillion. - about $1.4 million per house.
I read that the 2024 hurricane losses exceed $200 billion. That would exceed 138 thousand homes.
So these 2 hurricane alone increase the housing build by 10% for an industry that has not grown for 4 decades. That means these unusual destructive events already exceed the existing industry ability to rebuild. Paradise has not rebuilt yer. The LA fires have already grown to about $20 billion.
Meanwhile, the nature of the climate change problem can be approximated to filling a giant leakproof reservoir being filled with water. The CO2 emissions per year are like the rate of water flow into the tub.
The water level is like the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
The tub has a very tiny leak. But, the leak is very slow, such that if the level jumped by a foot it would take tens of thousands of years for the water level to say 1/4 foot. The literature is vague on the time, but it is many lifetimes.
The burning of fossil fuels every year causes CO2 emissions to rise above the natural level. So the water level rises every year, as does the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
Since the industrial revolution, we have been burning more and more fossil fuels every year. This is like turning on the tap more that fills the reservoir every year. The water level rises faster and faster, and the CO2 concentration rises faster and faster. The Keeling Curve documents the concentration from the accumulated yearly emission rising from 280 ppm to 420 ppm so far.
CO2 in the atmosphere blocks heat radiation from the earth escaping to space. More CO2 causes less heat escape, this causes more earth heating, from the sun. So we are heating the earth faster and faster every year until the burning of fossil stops completely!
It is easy to think that if we just stop increasing CO2 emissions every year, that climate change will stabilize. But it will not, because the hose filling the resevoir would still be running at the highest rate, and the concentration drops very slowly from nature. We are a long way from ending our emissions.
We must also suck the excess CO2 from the atmosphere to get the concentration back down to get the heat flow down to pre-industrial times. Only the reduction of the excess CO2 to essentially zero will get the temperature down to normal.
Given the resevoir is still filling and necessary emptying requirement, and the fact that we already can't keep up with the destruction, I would venture that our civilization itself is at the threshold of total collapse.
Will the existing level of destruction exceed our ability to maintain our ability to feed and house ourselves and get CO2 concentration down, or will we just be pounded back into primitive life?
We live in Asheville <333 As we realized the devastation all around us, my daughter said, "Well mommy, we may as well get used to it." ):
That breaks my heart. No child should have to know that, but her wisdom WILL help her in the long run. Give her a hug from me.
Okay, I will(:
I think it’s going to be “the scale of them that cripples civilisation itself”.
I used to think I would suffer from brain fog for the rest of my life..."𝐛𝐮𝐭" this changed everything.... https://t.co/EeQXhJh2OC
This is an advertisement and doesn't belong here! You can look at the infomercial and then look online for a cheaper 'same thing'.
California should secede. Then it can rejoin Mexico or give the land back to the natives. Deport all the MAGAts to flyover country and let governor newsom keep making progress in a truly vibrant, diverse democracy!
Hey! We New Yorkers and our fellow Americans in New Jersey are with you too. Don't forget: WE despised that rapist pedophile FIRST before you even heard his silly name.
WE will save those "fucking morons' from themselves as is our job as the only intelligent states!
God, and us, save you, our dear California brothers and sisters!
Couldn't we rope in ice to deport all the MAGAS to Texas. We could have a positive program for a change.
Right on!
God bless, California.
Washington, Oregon, California, would all be welcome here in Canada as the 11th, 12th, and 13th provinces. But first it seems you need to get rid of the electoral college, so that the GOP doesn’t reign in the US forever.
Take us Canada #bluexit
Sounds great!!!
I so wish we would secede.
How close is LA to a Trump golf Course or Hotel ???
That proximity will determine how much federal aid arrives and when it arrives once DJ tT gets sworn in.
How much of his campaign was contributed to LA residents ???
Republicans in California will make appeals for help and those requests will be honored. That is how it was done during Trump's first term.
I like to think proper post mortems will be done leading to effective solutions. However I expect politically expedient solutions will trump, pardon the term, optimal solutions.
It is what it is.
His Trump National Golf Course is in Rancho Palos Verdes, which also include 'luxury homes". I don't believe he has any hotels or private residences in CA any more., but I could be wrong.
Good questions.
😇👍😇
https://www.trumpnationallosangeles.com/ not near the fires. But Palos Verdes has its own slow moving disaster of land collapse
Also NYC. See: Hurricane Sandy, when MAGA Republicans refused to vote for disaster aid. Without NY & CA, there would be no Democratic Party, no?
I have seen YouTube comments that Biden is massively helping CA, in contrast to ignoring Helene victims in "red" states. Propaganda is relentless. Apparently there are Helene victims who have not applied for relief because misinformed that FEMA is purposely stiffing them. "Self fulfilling" victims. The twisting of reality seems so hopeless to fight.
I assure you GA that NOBODY is laughing. It is worse than a horror movie. This is like earthquake, fire, floods, and landslides all in one
We lived in Calabasas for 20 years in California for over 30 and made our fortune there, but this state is an empty shell of what it used to be. The people are wonderful. The weather is phenomenal but for a state that has as you say the fifth highest GDP in the world why is it also the highest taxed? We moved to Nevada and 06 after being over taxed, the traffic becoming unbearable and the decay of the city in general.
We Come back to visit once a year and every time we come back it’s worse than the time before. we were just in downtown LA a few weeks ago we had to walk on the streets versus the sidewalk because of all the tents and homeless and the incredible stench of urine everywhere We went within a four block radius of where we were off of Wilshire Boulevard of all places. The owner of Langer’s deli almost shut his restaurant after being in Los Angeles for some 80 years because of the crime attacking his customers, the homeless and the tents and only after his plea to get the mayor involved stopped him.
You are correct. This is a tragedy of epic proportion, but to blame it on anything other than the lack of preparedness, the lack of water, the lack of reservoirs, the lack of fire lines and brush clearance and cutting budgets, by both local and state government is unconscionable.
You mean, as opposed to denying the reality of global warming altogether and promising to give licences for oil and gas drilling everywhere just so long as companies promise to invest? You're right that the problem is a lack of preparedness, but you're just wrong about who you're blaming for this. The real culprits are the MAGA deniers and theit billionaire supporters in the fossil fuel industry. You continue to repeat debunked lies wherever you post, don't you, Rick? California had an adequate supply of water for these fires, the problem with the hydrants was one of access, not supply. Clearing the foliage would have just created more space in the canopy for the air fryer heat to bake the ground and would have encouraged the growth of flammable grasses which would have made everything worse. These were not forest communities, so forest management failures are a red herring. Climate change is coming for everyone - you're crazy if you think you're safe in Nevada. California has a publicly-funded insurance scheme (FAIR - Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) - very woke right? Except that similar plans have been adopted by Republican states (Texas, Lousiana, Florida and Colorado).
Colorado is not a Republican state thank god
Karen Colorado has nothing to do with this, but by the way Colorado has a very good governor who’s wise enough and smart enough to handle his business but the water shed is coming down. The Colorado is shared by a number of states and they negotiate their water rates.
This has nothing to do with Colorado being a Republican or a Democrat state. This is a California issue a California problem and I just sent a map out showing the fire since the mid 1850s all up and down the state in California has not done enough to fix this. This is a federal and state issue and has not been addressed substantially because every year they have these kinds of fires just not this devastating.
I wasn’t talking to you. I was commenting on Russell’s post calling Colorado a Republican state. So your comment is irrelevant.
A bit touchy aren’t we? To me, Russell is a poor lost soul.
You've moved to a state that has a huge water issue coming in the near future. I'm not sure that makes you much smarter than anyone here.
I don’t want to be smarter. Never stated I was smarter than anyone else just more logical and honest about the reality of what’s happening in California Nevada has had a water problem for 50 years or more. And you’ll love this. The problem is becoming greater because of all the influx from Californians getting the hell out of there.
. At least they got smart and doesn’t allow lawns anymore and pays people five dollars a square foot to remove them so they don’t need to water them.
There’s always a water fight here that’s nothing new.
On the other hand that I’ve stated California has had these kinds of fire since the mid 1800s and the feds and the state have never addressed it substantially and sufficiently, and I guess that would be an understatement
Not sure there was a climate change problem back in the mid 1800s But actually, there’s been a climate change problem ever since the population of this world has gone from 1,000,000,000 to 8,000,000,000 in a matter of two centuries While it took 1800 years, 18 centuries to get to 1 billion. There’s your problem
But the biggest issue has been ignored by those who could do something. That is because those who *knew* have been spreading misinformation and confusion since the last quarter of the last century in order to keep those magnificent profits rolling in.
Muted
I'll remember that when Fires burn across Northern Nevada, or Vegas is either under water from once in a 100 year flash floods, every other year..Or when the power goes off in 129 degree heat that hasn't cooled down for the entire Summer. Please be sure your State prepares for that because these once in a 100 year climate disasters your state has every other month.🙄
I’m truly not sure what you’re referring to or why ? My friends live in Agoura and they haven’t had power for three days. Power is the least of the problem there John. If power goes out it goes out. Cali or nevada
I can’t do anything having to do with my state being prepared, but so far so good Southern Nevada is substantially different than Northern Nevada, which has literally no foliage compared to northern Nevada different climate totally it snows in northern Nevada … but I’m not sure why you sent your comment in the first place.
Nevada got smart though having to do with lawns they don’t allow them. They actually pay you to remove them they restrict certain type of foliage, etc..
I await news of friends who have evacuated twice. My heart hurts at the vitriol toward those suffering from he who won’t even have to cross his fingers when he is administered an “oath to defend” when there is no truth to anything said. Just as the horrific “it can’t happen here” NC disaster only resulted in his lies about government workers, putting many in greater harm’s way, he continues. And the firefighters from Mexico who have come to help despite his ugly words about them and all from their country - when will he criticize them?
Smiling: after watching the services for Jimmy Carter, I almost wrote “What would JC do?” and realized what it appears to be. I need to channel my energies to good to help. I cannot dwell on evil.
People such as Jimmy Carter refresh my belief that even with a history of so much sociopathic evil committed in the name of religion, those who approach it from a mindset of wise humility and universal compassion have something to teach me, have something to give. I am hoping to hear a louder voice from those who don't worship wealth and despise the abused and very poor, who reject the way of vainglorious cruelty. MAGA hogs way to much of the spotlight.
I am very afraid that human life is committing suicide by worshipping wealth and glorifying cruelty.
WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! Aren't Bunkerboy's tiny sausage fingers too fat to cross??? (We gotta' get our "yucks" when we can.)
True that!
Like. (can't) I just chimed in somewhere above about the disinformation harm about FEMA assistance back East. "The Internet (whatever) told me FEMA won't help me, so I won't even apply, maybe I'll just get out my shotgun...." Fantastic, and tragic.
This is chilling in its absolute clarity of vision. Lord help Californians, Americans, and every other sentient being adversely affected by that monstrosity we voted into office.
You mean the 25% that voted for him? (VP Harris recieved over 24%, but 50% DIDN'T VOTE, so voted FOR that rapist felon.) Remember: that pathetic man-child won with a PLURALITY, a TECHNICALLITY. 🤣
Who's we? Not me!
Proud Bernie voter here, and he won my state in 2016.😀
Bernie would have won!
OPEN LETTER TO THE
WHITE HOUSE,
DEAR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS,
BOTH OF YOU HAVE REFERRED TO DONALD TRUMP AS A "FASCIST DICTATOR UNFIT FOR OFFICE".
IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT, THEN WHY ARE YOU IGNORING THE FREEDOMS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS STOOD FOR AND FOUGHT FOR, FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS BY INSTALLING A FASCIST DICTATOR WITH 34 FELONY CONVICTIONS, TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THANKS ALOT
(Please re-think your decision not to act before it is too late.)
Jerk Jerk Jerk!!!
No prayer will replace the need to make the LA Area fireproof . But if there is a public push to teach brush removal and remove the fuel that feeds the fires.
LA might have a chance to prevent the next fire from destroying so many homes.
Biden is throwing all federal aid the Government has at this fire 🔥 when the wind slows down and the firefighters begin a systematic attack the fire will be beaten for the short term.
A lack of water was a major factor in this devastation.
No politician will fall on their swords for this preventable epoch.
Finger pointing has begun…
I read that LA county cut 75 Million from the Fire Department ( LA is a City /County).
Lack of water was not a factor. The reservoirs were full. There was a problem refilling when the pumps lost power but was rectified. LAFDs budget was increased not decreased. Set a fire in your backyard and blow 80 mile an hour wind at it and see what happens. California is not all covered in concrete. It’s wild and very mountainous. You can’t manicure it. Remember what you are saying here when your home is affected by a natural disaster. And it will be. Should we tell you tough luck? You should have planned better? We did plan for this. I have lived in California all my 67 years. I have never seen Santa Ana’s with 85 mile an hour gusts. Hurricanes are stronger, tornadoes more frequent, fires more intense. I wonder why?
Ignore ignorant naysayers. Millions of Americans respect and are praying for you 🙏
I’m from Chico, we suffered the Camp fire this summer. This was the hottest summer on record. Climate Change is real, no matter what Trump says.
What you said, Johnelle.
Thank you Johnelle. Mother Nature sometimes can’t be controlled. We refuse to understand that.
Johnelle, there is a lot of truth to what you say. I do agree with Mr Reich that one-party rule inevitably runs into certain types of problems, but those were not particularly in evidence in the factors you discuss, which are probably more pertinent to the case in hand.
Obsolete fossil fuel companies want to ignore reality: THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL ON EARTH FOR AT LEAST 200,000 YEARS.
Our hills, of which there are many, are covered with scrub. It would be impossible to remove all of that, and unwise as well, as we would have more landslides during rain storms. It is already a practice to remove brush near structures and roads. The next step should be to harden structures and make sure electrical equipment is properly maintained as well as to prohibit building in fire areas. I will say, however, that when the wind is blowing at 80 mph, there is nothing that can be done: embers can travel for miles and spread fire within seconds. The only remedy for that is rain.
Right, they should have done more raking, heh? There was no shortage of water in the LA area - read up. In fact, Mr. Reich has referenced n these posts water officials fully contradicting Shitmouth.
Evidentially you did not remove the scrub fuel which is now burning creating embers that the high winds is flinging into other neglected piles of scrub growth.
Houses are made of flammable parts like wood 🪵 that burns very nicely fences made of wood burn all that stuff is fuel .
Firefighters are as a last resort home owners are the the persons most responsible for preventing the accumulations of brush etc fuel for fires.
Lower branches of trees help spread the fire.
Only thing inevitable is our deaths at the end of our lives…
No, the scrub wasn't removed because that's impossible, as I said. Even if you could, it would be a bad idea because when the rains came, we'd have landslides.
It is true that wood is flammable, but we can't use bricks or concrete for building here because they collapse in earthquakes. We do cover our wood with stucco, which acts as a retardant. But with fires this strong, that isn't enough. What should be done is remove wood fencing and install spark protectors over openings to eaves and attics. Also, trees and shrubs need to be placed fairly far from structures. And dead palm tree fronds should be removed. Some of those trees have twenty years worth of flammable material on their trunks. When the wind blows they come loose and travel quite a distance. That kind of thing absolutely is controllable.
You obviously don't understand the terrain or where the fires happened..The fire started in 100 mph winds..One house burnt down and the flames spread roof to roof..You cannot remove the shrubs from woodland and Hillsides!! But the houses that burned where in Urban areas covered in cement for the most part..The neighborhood in Altadena that suffered the biggest loss where no different than any other housing track in America..There was no water shortage, there was pressure problems from everyone using the water at once including the residents with their own hoses.
Please , listen to scientific evidence that no one could have prepared for 100 mph winds blasting down the hills and not letting up.. It's like a blow torch that just keeps going in a fan. The water tankers could not get in the air due to the wind. Trying to hose down a fire in that wind is fruitless -- you can't..I have always lived in fire country in California..Every year some idiot decides to tractor their property down to dirt -- And every year it rains buckets..My neighbor clear cut the canyon between my house and theirs..I told them it's going to rain and that wall of dirt above their property is going to come down..Sure enough we had rain fall that flooded that basin and not only did they have a wall of mud and rocks knock their house off the foundation, it flooded the entire neighborhood down below and washed out the street.. Luckily my house remained because it was higher up and I didn't let her clear cut up to my fence.. Her home had been there since 1901 and nothing like that has ever happened..The new norm in California is Pineapple Express Rains coming in and dumping months worth of normal rainfall in days..With the highest temperatures on record beating the year before records-- THERE'S ONLY ONE CONCLUSION..The Climate has changed and there's nothing normal about any of the climate disasters happening now going back to the 1,700s..You simply have wrong information or you are unwilling to understand the truth. You cannot blame this on the natural habitat that has been in California for centuries, but you can blame these extreme weather events on Carbon in the atmosphere Heating out planet. 99% of the fires in California are man-made because people don't use fire safe practices at their homes or on their property. And I will guarantee you when the rains start up every fire destroyed area will be completely wiped out from mud slides..
No municipal water system was ever nor could be constructed to maintain pressure when almost every hydrant is opened. They're built to put out a house or a commercial structure fire or three at a time, not hundreds of homes at once. There is no failure here other than Trumpsk spewing his bullsh*t and anyone ignorant enough to believe any of it.
No one will ever go to the moon !!!
The problems (s) of the L A firestorms are many .
1. Prevention - Removal of undergrowth the shrubs and ornamentals and wild plants .
2. Trimming and Removal of trees.
3. Planting of grass and vegetation to retain soil and retard Fire.
4. The most effective implementation of the above is the Citizens of LA county .
5. The workers of the various departments of LA the primary fire dept but not exclusively must educate motivate and enforce all items listed above.
Water supply -
Water supply is not unlimited in addition to immediate repair and replacement of existing water systems simple low Maintance water sources must be added : For example Water towers where a water column can provide pressure and a small quantity of water .
New extreme water supplies such as an emergency salt water pipeline with pumping station s and hard line mains for the ten year fires that could deliver water only to the location of a fire site better than helicopters or airplanes for delivering large quantities of ocean water to a fire virtually unlimited supply of salt water.
Funding this is a whole other matter.
Might cause a bit of bother for environmental purists.
Train neighborhoods fire fighting teams to act early on before the professionals arrive on scene.
My three cents.
Wooden structures burn more easily than any brush. Eaves catch firebrand. New construction should be fire resistant.
Your 3¢ Is worth zero..You are not understanding the environment there or how the wind didn't stop blowing for days. The embers that started in a home fire blew 2 and 3 miles ahead and landed on roofs in an urban environment in the Altadena Fire. The communities are in Los Angeles County but they all are separate municipal districts and most are on Wells..Do you have any idea of how big the entire area of Los Angeles basin is??
Congratulations one of the most sensible logical and honest posts yet today
Fire brakes, permits, and planning that don’t allow this kind of spreading
And if necessary, specifically, allowing a certain kind of foliage and not others.
There is a video going around right now that shows that apparently there is a big reservoir above the Pacific Palisades area that held enough water to help the firefight, but it was drained earlier this year last year. Check it out.
There is also a lot of misinformation about that reservoir.. Please, Explain how in 100 mph winds any water could make a difference..There was water there, but if you will just go out and relieve yourself in the next wind storm -- come back and tell us all how it worked out.. SMH
By the way, you do know that a few people actually save their homes with it with a garden hose by watering their roof. They had enough water for that.
Obviously, you’re not in California with a lot of wind breaks and mountains and places where they’re higher winds than others
And if the reservoirs would full, it would’ve made a lot of difference, especially when the wind died down during the day. And the water could be used to make a fire break. You can shake your head all you want, but in situations like this you do everything you can.
I grew up in Miami, but I bet you can’t imagine how much water you can have when you have wind. Oooops.
I grew up in Altadena with Eaton Canyon as my backyard..I know those winds well..I currently live in The Sierra Nevada Mountains below Lake Tahoe..On the night the winds were screaming down the mountain in LA at 100 mph we had winds that came off the ridges clocked with gusts at 206 mph..I also know that we have plenty of rain in reservoirs and in Northern California we had record rain in a week..The Santa Ana winds are a fact of life, but winds of 100 mph with no let up are extraordinary and the hottest temperatures ever baked Southern California for Months.. I'm sorry but nobody saved their house with a hose..It hasn't rained in Southern California since May of last year.. That's abnormal, but the State has water. Of course you're from Florida - Man..
The water could not defeat the power of the winds and the heat created as a result..bottom line🎯
Lack of water is one of Trumps lies. You can see for yourself that the firehoses are going at full blast; that planes are dropping water from the air. There is no way extreme wind and fire can be prepared for. And once the conflagration begins, it becomes so hot, water simply evaporates.
No, it’s not. It’s a truth. Gavin Newsom himself just begun an investigation to find out why there was not enough water. After the fact, Annie, after the fact. Incredible.
That was in one district, not the entire LA Basin.. First of all he's only been governor for a few years..Please explain how he can come in and rip up those streets and start an entire infrastructure project in those Republican Stronghold Suburbs in Los Angeles..Those people didn't vote for him, they voted for tax cuts and they voted for Trump to make them even richer.. If you're going to spread misinformation go to X and talk to that crew.. I'm sure there's several absolutely no fact posts you can contribute to.
Robert Hubbell in his Substack today said that figure about the LA fire department cuts is erroneous.
17 1/2 million dollars factual and apparently Newsome cut 100, million from the budget state wide
Actually, he DID NOT..In Fact right before the New Year he fortified the Budget for Fire Defense to the tune of 20 Billion dollars.. BTW, Los Angeles City is not the state..The State of California does not govern Municipal Water Districts..If he did MAGA would be screaming he was pushing too many regulations on their Autonomous Community Districts..
Socal had two years of massive rain which caused lots of plant growth followed by last year's drought which dried out all that plant growth. Meteorologist are calling it a whiplash effect clearly caused by global warming. Then the Santa Ana winds were more ferocious than usual. Catastrophe.
ENACT THE 14TH AND 25TH AMENDMENTS ON THE 18TH!!! President Vance will likely suck, but he doesn't have a narcissistic personality disorder, Alzheimer's AND isn't a pathological liar.
What is wrong with you people? None of what’s happening right now and California has anything to do with Donald Trump. What is the matter with you?
Get the heat out of your heart, put it in your back pocket and focus on the problem at hand
Hate not heat
The current administration has no way of stopping the installation of the new administration.
Do you believe the current administration has any power to stop the installation of the new administration, or is it already out of their hands?
It’s not POLTICS is about Fire Prevention
Only you can prevent a forest fire
Shade trees can become the match that light your or your neighbors house; and/or your Neighborhood on fire…
Do me a favor please post more often even Annie Below here would understand that this fire has nothing to do with Donald Trump
They cannot. The USA is a democratic nation. The people voted.
Only half of "us" voted, sadly, which is why Agent Orange is taking over.
Because he won an election. And because 77 million voters plus their family members are happy about it.
Hey! Donald Trump has a new alias. Thanks, Dale S, for showing it to us.
Haha. You mean all CAPS!
My best friends of over 40 years just returned from Texas to try to help a sister who had just been diagnosed with cancer.
One of them had stage 4 cancer a few years ago. He went through surgeries, radiation and chemo. It was a hellish battle. He has been cancer free for two years now. He and his partner are the kindest most generous people I know.
They lead simple lives and work hard and don’t charge enough.
A week after returning from Texas I got a text from them: “The Santa Ana’s are at 80MPH, I can see the flames we have to go.”
They lost everything but their lives.
This is just one story out of thousands. This is not political it is a tragedy. When tragedy strikes it brings out the best and the worst of us.
While Trump is stirring up hate and speaks of retribution, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Canada have come to our aid. There are no red states blue states, my country your country. There is only the very best of us helping others in need. This is what we are meant to do. This is what gives us meaning and purpose and brightens our lives amid the darkness.
My deepest gratitude to everyone who is doing what they can to help. You are creating a better world by your kindness.
Thank you.
I’m happy to add that fire fighters from Mexico have joined us!
That’s great about the Mexican fire fighters. I had not heard about that.
Alas, it looks as though we won’t be seeing rain in Southern CA until February.
I am not sure this will be recalled for 500 years, might get lost in what will surely be a litany of disasters, and who can count on us making it 500 years to recall it?!?
I am sure it won't. The devastation in Western NC was due to a 1000 year event and was considered a geological event. The news cycles quickly forgot us.
Unfortunately, these events are going to happen more frequently than the old way of thinking every thousand year or 500 year events. These extreme weather tragedies are going to be happening every year in more than one place unless we acknowledge climate change and work to reverse or at least slow the worst events and start to work toward clean energy sources.
I just moved to CA last year. My heart is breaking for her people that have lost everything and just as much for the despicable convicted felon who will soon take office in our country. We must help one another
Thank you for reposting Steve’s writing on the fire. It’s impossibly sad and tragic, but we all can chip in to help.
Sadly, what Prof. Reich says here is the truth. And what he says about Shitmouth Trump using the fire's devastation as an opportunity to make California suffer is right on target!
Its a post from Steve Schmidt. He tells the truth but in a very hyperbolic way.
The monstrousness of 47's vindictively cruel plans against California mark him as "antichrist," about which the scholarly and prophetic priest Matthew Fox wrote a recent book. Whether one prays for 47's defeat or generates spiritual vibrations against him, the goal of us who oppose him and his minions must be the same. He and his aims must fail, because decent people will thwart him and the "better angels" of humanity will do their best to make it happen.
Yes, there is have an enormous problem in Los Angeles created by this historic fire. We have lots of other problems as well of which most can be handled. However the kinds of problems we have take good elected politicians working with the desire to do good things for the people. Unfortunately we do not have enough "good politicians" in the country. Why is this so? Mostly because the recent contribution to politicians laws change. Now rich people and corporations can contribute as much as they want. Corporate Americans have financially supported our politicians so much that they seem to be owned by them. We have the best politicians that money can buy.
This is not a political problem. This is an environmental problem. Climate change is real - no politician can fight mother nature.
It is both. Of course no politician can fight Mother Nature....but politicians can support laws to provide disaster relief etc.
And politicians can support measures to try to lessen the acceleration too climate change.
Yes!
Politicians should be fighting climate change, but greed is what will kill us all in the end. Massive wealth accumulation Trumping life.
Well accepted Carla raised $2 billion and still lost an output Trump three to one
Except Kamala spent 2 billion. Sorry . Spellcheck.
It occurs to me that Los Angeles is going to have to consider the type of regulations that San Francisco introduced long ago, different in detail certainly, but similar in concept. Those who construct almost anything in San Francisco have to abide by regulations that attempt, as much as possible, anti-earthquake structures. The Santa Anna winds are not a new phenomenon, but the conditions that lead to today's fires are related to climate change in addition, so anti-inflammatory materials and practices, possibly even to sprinkler systems in large homes may be necessary in future. Experts on the subject would be the proper source, not me.
State building codes have earthquake safe rules, which covers all new construction in the state, not just San Francisco. That's not the issue here.
This is the most abysmal hyperbolic piling on of epic negativity. Yes it's an epic disaster. But an epic failure that somehow could have been stopped? Prevented? I don't think so. It's sad to see so many playing it for political points.
I was on the ground at (LAX) when the provisioner came to open the back galley door on the plane I was working on on 1/7, they could barely get it open. I grew up in Southern California - lived there from 1967 to 1994 and never experienced winds like that in my entire life. Climate Change is real you can’t fight Mother Nature. And if one more ass hat says they should rake and clear the brush or do prescribed burns, guess what, you can’t do prescribed burns in neighborhoods. You can’t legislate what people plant around their homes or maybe you can but anything growing will turn into kindling and tinder because you can’t prevent La Niña, which caused a severe drought and with the conflagration of low and high pressure systems that are so much stronger now because of climate change there has never been a Santa Ana wind with gusts to 100 or sustained winds of 100 miles an hour as there were which also prevented airplane tankers to fly and drop water or fire retardant until later the next day on 1/8.
Then the neighborhood should’ve never been permitted as they are… there have been fires in California since the 1850s went since the first kept and not enough has been done not for thought not planning not preparation.
And maybe you don’t know this, but here’s a piece of information you might like there is an area in Southern Cal called Simi Valley. Do you know what Simi Valley stands for in its name…? valley of the winds. Where we also lived.
And if you can’t do raking, then you do sensible fire breaks and barriers
We lived in San Fernando Valley for 30 years and trust me we felt winds like this a few times, especially the fires produce more wind.
Isn’t it possible that while this is indeed a tragic disaster, the focus should be more on understanding the complexities rather than using it for political gain? Could we address the issue with more thoughtful, solutions-oriented discussions instead of just assigning blame?
Schmidt is hyperbolic and incoherent, when we need sober assessment and reasoned planning.
I agree with you.
So true. This is our new climate. Wind with fire is not manageable. It happened near me last summer.
Climate Change and Powerful Winds with Fire is the culprit...there should be a call for Prayer by our leaders, the finger pointing is totally deflective and childish. Embarrassing a Nation like America, before the entire world. The significant lighting strikes on New years Eve night: Washington Monument, U.S.Capital, Empire State Building and Zero Tower in NYC was definitely a sign and wonder, so too are these flying flames(winds traveling with fire). Also Snow in the Saudi Arabian desert on November 3-8, 2024. Please Pay Attention‼️ Praying for all 🛐
A sobering and chilling take on this extreme event. Thank you for articulating it so well. My only rebuke is that instead of useless prayer as you suggest at the conclusion, we should act. Donate, assist, vote, and speak up.
Seconding this.
I was thinking about you and your home. I hope you stay safe.
This is a really, really good article. Thank you for all you do.
How can we channel our energies toward positive change and support those in need, instead of dwelling on the vitriol and dishonesty that seem to dominate the narrative, especially when we see such contrast in actions like those of the firefighters from Mexico?