Reply #13: I was quoting public officials here actually who used the term [View All]

[Liberty Belle]

"worse than Katrina" in a press conference this morning in reference to the number of evacuees, and my article clearly indicated the comparison was to New Orleans, not the entire Gulf Coast.

However I did not mean to suggest that the loss of life is on a scale with Katrina, and while I stated that in the story, i agree with Brad that changing the headline is appropriate.

That said, the impact on San Diego cannot be understated here. There will likely be well over 2,000 homes destroyed by the time they get in and assess damage in areas not accessible now. Of the half million who evacuated, based on past fires, hundreds or even thousands of those will suffer some form of damage to their homes, properties, animals or health. Besides the fatality count (which will probably rise as they find bodies of people trapped) there are people with severe burns, respiratory problems, or other fire-related conditions. Some lost cars that burned. There is damage to schools and other important buildings. Many people are taking in refugees. Everyone in the county is affected, or has family or close friends who are. This is NOT just a few isolated areas - it is virtually county-wide in the 6th largest city in America. This is the worst wildfire in California history.

The land is scarred for decades, especially given the destruction wrought by the 2003 Cedar Fire, which burned over 99% of Cuyamaca State Park, our entire pine forest, for example. Vast neighborhoods in almost every city and community within San Diego County look like war zones. Two of three major electrical lines into the city are down. In some areas people have no drinking water or must boil water supplies.


After the last fire, half the people in the County have still not been able to rebuild, many because of under insurance issues. Many left the area. The same may happen here again. Last time, depending on which count you use, there were 50,000 to 100,000 evacuees. This time, well over half a million - and that number continues to rise. Remember that for every home burned, there are often several people left homeless, and some will never be able to afford another home. Recovering from such a loss is traumatic at best.

So no contest with New Orleans, but please have sympathy for the people of San Diego - and by the way there are many, many poor people hear who are burned out - the news media focuses on the rich homes, because reporters aren't interested in showing you the burned out trailer parks or poor people in small homes in the mountain towns who are now reporting looting, too.