LA Wildfires

I know, there’s even a modern Pompeii built above some of the ruins of the old one. I wouldn’t want to live there (or in Los Angeles). I really wonder if some of it will ever be rebuilt, such enormous acreage has burned to the ground.

Christchurch, cities near Mount Etna, towns in Iceland, so many towns and cities around the world.

Living on the edge.

Reminds me of that Eagles song, The Last Resort - Call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.

prestbury

One of the properties that has survived is built of concrete and stone with a fireproof roof, also was built with supports many metres into the bedrock to give it safety in an earthquake. All the other properties around it (and they are pretty close) have been decimated.

Except the one next door but one and the one next door to that and the large property up the hill.

petra

prestbury

One of the properties that has survived is built of concrete and stone with a fireproof roof, also was built with supports many metres into the bedrock to give it safety in an earthquake. All the other properties around it (and they are pretty close) have been decimated.

Except the one next door but one and the one next door to that and the large property up the hill.

Yes, it's rather misleading as are other photos of that property.
Perhaps they were all of similar construction?
Strange how swathes of houses were burnt down completely, others untouched.

This is a very good piece on who’s taking all the water.
Mother Jones is an environmental group.

www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/09/california-san-joaquin-valley-drinking-water-dry-wells-almonds-pistachios-groundwater-aquifers/

How many of us does not have a packet of almonds or pistachios in the cupboard?

No farmers no food.
No water, no farmers.

petra

This is a very good piece on who’s taking all the water.
Mother Jones is an environmental group.

www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/09/california-san-joaquin-valley-drinking-water-dry-wells-almonds-pistachios-groundwater-aquifers/

Water rights is a huge thing in the western US. Up until 5 years ago, it was against the law for us to collect rainwater in my state (not California) because once it hit our roof it was owned by people downstream.

Even now we are limited to 2 50 gallon rain barrels per property.

These laws have been in effect since before we were all states, so they aren't going away any time soon.

Allira

How many of us does not have a packet of almonds or pistachios in the cupboard?

No farmers no food.
No water, no farmers.

I like the slightly rough Spanish and Greek Almonds. I have those in my cupboard - however I do accept that they are still almonds!

Allira

How many of us does not have a packet of almonds or pistachios in the cupboard?

No farmers no food.
No water, no farmers.

Or cartons of almond milk?

Fires continue to rage, and a lot of help is needed as many people have no where to live or clothes or other basics although there is a lot of mutual self help happening. Catch up on
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce8j1djgvrpt

Time for Trump to stop playing politics blame games - and offer real help. He hasn't even visited (he was pretty quick to visit North Carolina). It shouldn't be "party political".

Biden is still the President so has control of services. Trump can’t enable any action until he’s has been sworn in I imagine? Wyllow3 Additionally there might be some health risks involved in breathing in Californian air at the moment - don’t forget Trump is 79.

NotSpaghetti

Allira

How many of us does not have a packet of almonds or pistachios in the cupboard?

No farmers no food.
No water, no farmers.

I like the slightly rough Spanish and Greek Almonds. I have those in my cupboard - however I do accept that they are still almonds!

Just checked mine from Tesco - produce of USA.

I admit to the assumption that a region near the coast might be well-watered from what I learnt in geography lessons at school. It seems this is not the case there.
Are the farms in the area of the rain shadow?

ronib

Biden is still the President so has control of services. Trump can’t enable any action until he’s has been sworn in I imagine? Wyllow3 Additionally there might be some health risks involved in breathing in Californian air at the moment - don’t forget Trump is 79.

My post was based on the reality that Biden can't make large commitments of money and any other federal aid 8 days before a change of administration - and when we don't even know the full scale of the problem. A commitment for aid is what is being asked for.

With the change in climate issues and possibilities of more floods/fires its likely to come up again, ie the need for federal aid when a state is swamped.

Wyllow3 well the Democrats were firmly in control of California so not sure how Trump will respond. He might be more of a pragmatist than the Democrats? I imagine Trump will want measures put in place to prevent further fires.

What measures? Official raindancers?? That's the big big causation factor - no rain for months plus strong winds.
Or will Elon start trying to manipulate the weather -cloud seeding etc?

I would imagine any administration would want to do that, all will want to look at problems lie deep in drought, supply and uneven distribution,
but I was considering immediate situation support for the thousands without homes (and inadequate insurance), destruction of the infrastructure/power supplies which no state could have predicted.

vivaldi Australia must have a few tips on having firebreaks and clearing away wood and combustible materials… it really isn’t rocket science. And how about improving water storage? The Democrats have failed in California that’s for sure.

I have read, and heard on the radio that many of these property owners are uninsured. they are extremely wealthy. I am a 83 year old widow living on a pension, my home is insured, why don't these wealthy people insure their homes?

I don’t think the insurance companies wanted to insure them mabon so it wasn’t an option for the homeowners. The companies deemed the risk too high. They run a business and didn’t want to see profit just thrown away so houses just remained ‘uninsurable’.

Anyway as we know, most insurance companies will rent you an umbrella - until it rains.

I'm not at all sure a Republican state would have run matters any better/are better prepared tbh. This is an overwhelming situation.

Fact check on Trump claims
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj3yk90kpyo

In terms of states best prepared for climate change and extreme weather its an interesting picture

www.planetizen.com/news/2024/07/130666-20-states-best-and-least-prepared-climate-change-and-extreme-weather

Gary Newsom is a dork.

Its good to see neighbouring states like Texas (which is also a very high risk state for wildfires) offering and giving help).

* Gavin Newsom the Governor of California

If you suggested this as a plot for an apocalyptic horror movie people would have said it's too far fetched. It's not even over yet. Some have said for years that Nature will reclaim the planet - think of the deadly floods last Autumn in Valencia, Malaga, Seville. Our climate has been decimated by humanity and Mother Nature is getting her revenge, some might say. I pray for the hundreds of thousands who have lost everything - what on earth will these poor souls do, where will they go? I can't get my head around it all. Absolutely terrifying.