Discussions on difficult subjects

[Bosco]

Re: Southern California Fires

I suppose the new difficult question becomes, is there a valid reason to rebuild these costal communities? It's about guaranteed that the same area will be susceptible to natural disaster sooner than later and unlike some other vulnerable natural disaster areas, Los Angeles has a densely populated sprawl that is capable of triggering a catastrophic fallout effect.

Today these communities lost their homes, possessions, memories, and sadly for a few, loved ones. But think about all the forever chemicals and carcinogens that entered the atmosphere from these fires. In the coming years, don't be surprised by the unprecedented rise of health issues not only in the Southern California counties, but just about anything west of the Rocky Mountains.

[whirlygirl]

Today is the first time in several days where I haven't been doomscrolling the recent California wildfires. It was a perfect firestorm. Strong winds (the Santa Ana winds) gusting over 85 miles per hour, embers that can fly up to 3 miles on those winds, no significant rain since May, everything is as dry as a bone here and so so vulnerable. The amount of devastation is something I am having a hard time wrapping my head around. As someone who has spent 48 of my (soon) 53 years of my life living in Southern California, I'm having a hard time with the scale of it all. Thousands and thousands of people suddenly homeless. There is much focus on high profile Palisades as there should be, and it should also be noted the town of Altadena was pretty much blown off the map due to the concurrent Eaton fire. What I find to be salt in the wounds is the politicizing this tragedy, pointing fingers, calling for resignation of the LA Mayor and California governor, and the dumb fuck conspiracy theories and misinformation going around. So much so, the California governor published an FAQ to combat the lies. 

So, the difficult question.

They will rebuild. There is still tourism to be hand in the great state of California. It won't be the same, the community will no doubt disperse, but the area will be rebuilt. The Getty Villa museum (I was just there a month ago) survived the fire and within the structure survives the billions worth of ancient artifacts. I am hopeful that bit of culture can remain an anchor to the area. Whether or not the homes on the sand can be rebuilt remains to be seen. I don't know that the town of Altadena will fare as well as that community is far less affluent and not nearly as high profile as the Pacific Palisades area. On a homeowner level, as if getting home owner's insurance isn't enough of a high cost pain in the ass... that is if your insurance company didn't already flee the state.