It appears that the end of 2024 (beginning with Helene) until the beginning of 2025 (ending with the California wildfires) are all about demonstrating man's humanity to man. The people in western NC and eastern TN had no reason to expect that an impending hurricane would prove to be so disasterous, not only because of the thrashing of the wind but the addition of raging water as well.Most people in western NC (at least) were in no way prepared for what the water could and would do
Wildfires have become commonplace in California exacerbated by the Santa Ana winds. The main difference between the wildfires now and the wildfires 100 years ago is access to fuel. Dried underbrush, in fire circles, is called tinder.Tinder + strong winds + a spartv= disaster. Hurricanes are a fairly common occurrence on the coasts of the Carolinas but are the exception in the Appalachian Mountains. What took place in late September of 2024 was at least a 100 year flood but more likely a 1000 year flood. No way to predict it and no way to stop it.
These situations are likely an extension of the nature vs nurture conundrum. The California wildfires were nurtured by policies. The CSX derailment in Ohio was simply an accident nurtured by sliding around the rules. What happened in Lahaina is more similar to the LA wildfires preventable? Maybe but maybe not. Were the fires aided and abetted by government incompetence. Probably.
In these four disasters, the government response (FEMA) was present but woefully lacking. Hopefully the government bureaucracy in California is stepping out of the way for people to rebuild. Sadly, that hasn't happened yet in western NC. As in Lahaina, the vultures seem to be working their way in to "save" the residents by buying their land for pennies on the dollar. Too early to see about the LA fire victims. The poor people of East Palestine won't get offers for their polluted, hazardous land. Insurance wasn't even imagined much less a possibility to combat this kind of disaster.
Pray for all of these people. If you can spare some extra dollars, look for groups that were there immediately after the disaster and are still there. Late to the game or early to retire from it doesn't make one a good partner!!
Done. Not much, but something. Thanks.
Thank you!
(((Holly)))
The fallout from these fires will echo for the next decade. Thanks for finding at least one avenue to be a help for our neighbors.
Thanks - I had been looking for a reputable place to donate, so I was able to send an Amazon order to them. Such horrible conditions.
Thanks for donating!
It appears that the end of 2024 (beginning with Helene) until the beginning of 2025 (ending with the California wildfires) are all about demonstrating man's humanity to man. The people in western NC and eastern TN had no reason to expect that an impending hurricane would prove to be so disasterous, not only because of the thrashing of the wind but the addition of raging water as well.Most people in western NC (at least) were in no way prepared for what the water could and would do
Wildfires have become commonplace in California exacerbated by the Santa Ana winds. The main difference between the wildfires now and the wildfires 100 years ago is access to fuel. Dried underbrush, in fire circles, is called tinder.Tinder + strong winds + a spartv= disaster. Hurricanes are a fairly common occurrence on the coasts of the Carolinas but are the exception in the Appalachian Mountains. What took place in late September of 2024 was at least a 100 year flood but more likely a 1000 year flood. No way to predict it and no way to stop it.
These situations are likely an extension of the nature vs nurture conundrum. The California wildfires were nurtured by policies. The CSX derailment in Ohio was simply an accident nurtured by sliding around the rules. What happened in Lahaina is more similar to the LA wildfires preventable? Maybe but maybe not. Were the fires aided and abetted by government incompetence. Probably.
In these four disasters, the government response (FEMA) was present but woefully lacking. Hopefully the government bureaucracy in California is stepping out of the way for people to rebuild. Sadly, that hasn't happened yet in western NC. As in Lahaina, the vultures seem to be working their way in to "save" the residents by buying their land for pennies on the dollar. Too early to see about the LA fire victims. The poor people of East Palestine won't get offers for their polluted, hazardous land. Insurance wasn't even imagined much less a possibility to combat this kind of disaster.
Pray for all of these people. If you can spare some extra dollars, look for groups that were there immediately after the disaster and are still there. Late to the game or early to retire from it doesn't make one a good partner!!