This will be the test for all of us during the next four years: not making the world revolve around his absurd, weird, crazy, lying outbursts. Those in SoCal who have fled their homes and businesses, those who are on the front lines, and those who will lead them through the rebuilding are the ones we need to support and your writing did offer that. It sickens me though to know that MAGA will hear otherwise and blame, blame, blame.
You think Trump is mad, you should watch all the interviews of those who were affected. They are furious at their local and state leadership for their negligence.
I had thirteen inches of snow here in NE Kansas this week... and have struggled all week to take care of my animals and my home. I cannot even FATHOM what the people of California are facing this week, and my struggle pales in face of their terrible losses. Praying and donating do not seem like enough... how will they ever have their lives back?
Same here in NE KS - juggling life with 14 inches of snow on top of ice, with cancelled appointments, hoping to drive safely to pick up a loved one at the local hospital, all certainly stressful. But - nothing, absolutely nothing compared to the fires and loss and fear, all the emotions, in California. My heart hurts trying to comprehend.
Thank you, Elliot for this heart wrenching essay on the perils facing LA I have never liked LA because it is too crowded for me, But I do like the people there and hope they can recover as quickly as possible. President Biden was quick to send firefighters from all over, as did Canada. The President also sparked FEMA into action. Lets hope the fire is under control and the people on the way to recovery before January 20
Thank you, Elliot, and I hope you and yours are well.
I am heartbroken about the loss of life and property in every fire. It does not matter who you are, or whether you have the wherewithal to rebuild easily. Loss and death are great equalizers and we are human first. I hope those in less robust financial situations will get all the help they need. I pray no one else will be harmed, human or animal. I fervently hope the winds will die down and the water can be brought in.
And I find the remarks of an upcoming occupant of 1600 Penn positively revolting, along with all those who are going along with his filthy charade, whoever they may be. May karma dish them back the grief they are causing.
Here on the Big Island of Hawai'i far from the fires in LA I sit in shock at the devastation. We thought the devastation of Lāhainā over on Maui was apocalyptic, yet this is so far beyond that--it boggles! As for the incoming President who I shall not name . . . he needs to learn humility, compassion, and charity.
I canot even imagine thr panorama in LA , home to my Alma Mater CSUN,and to Me for 33 years. How you found the words to write such a heartwrenching story! Keeping Californians and California in my heart.
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 I can't grasp the enormity of what's happening to california. And I fear the denial of services by Trump 2.0 and his hatred of Gavin Newsom along with his bizarre belief that Newsom ditches clean water into the Pacific Ocean, only to be topped by his trolling on the Canadian faucet that Canada chooses not to turn on so that water can flow freely down all of American rivers. 2.0 is crazy, certifiable, and I believe people in his administration know that but are greedy power- grabbers and will continue to use him as the front man for their personal and financial gains, while California burns.
I am so heart sick for these CA residents… everything up in smoke in a matter of minutes… everything they have worked for all their lives… gone. The same goes for hurricane victims. How do you ever recover from something like this?
My fear is that more hardship will befall them from the incoming administration. We know Trump has zero empathy for blue states no matter what. But if he tries to weasel out relief efforts based on what Gov. Newsom is “willing to do for Trump” I hope the deal is off. That kind of mob choke holding squeeze tactic is reprehensible, but I see that playing out.
Recommend reading recent non-fiction, Fire Weather, by John Valliant. About fire in the tar sands area of Alberta. Lots of understandable info re how fire like this work.
Thank you for this great article. I have at least two close friends lost everything in the Palisades fire. The speed of the fire was stunning and the evacuation orders didn’t allow them time to take much with them. Heartbreaking losses for those families.
The prospect of T***** being "in charge" for the next four years, when natural disasters caused by the climate crisis will inevitably befall us, is sickening.
yeah. He’s ALREADY tried to refused disaster aid to CA, until his aides pointed out that Orange County has a lot of Republicans. There will be a bunch fewer Republicans in CA if he tries that out on this fire.
Thank you. Well said. I have a brother in Pasadena, less than a mile from the Eaton fire's edge. He has lucked out so far and is safe. I also have relatives scattered from the top to the bottom of California, so there is always something interesting happening with the weather or the geology.
Mean spirited instincts is way too civilized to describe the horrible response of the man who will soon become president.
That is the truth. I just didn’t want to make this about him. But yes. Vindictive. Deranged. And completely unfit to lead this nation.
This will be the test for all of us during the next four years: not making the world revolve around his absurd, weird, crazy, lying outbursts. Those in SoCal who have fled their homes and businesses, those who are on the front lines, and those who will lead them through the rebuilding are the ones we need to support and your writing did offer that. It sickens me though to know that MAGA will hear otherwise and blame, blame, blame.
And then they have hydrants that don't work properly...which has little to do with the man to become president.
I believe the hydrants worked properly - it's just that so much water was pulled from them to refill quickly.
I’m surprised he didn’t accuse those in charge of that giant faucet of being negligent. But there’s still time, once he recalls that whopper.
You think Trump is mad, you should watch all the interviews of those who were affected. They are furious at their local and state leadership for their negligence.
I had thirteen inches of snow here in NE Kansas this week... and have struggled all week to take care of my animals and my home. I cannot even FATHOM what the people of California are facing this week, and my struggle pales in face of their terrible losses. Praying and donating do not seem like enough... how will they ever have their lives back?
Same here in NE KS - juggling life with 14 inches of snow on top of ice, with cancelled appointments, hoping to drive safely to pick up a loved one at the local hospital, all certainly stressful. But - nothing, absolutely nothing compared to the fires and loss and fear, all the emotions, in California. My heart hurts trying to comprehend.
Thank you Elliot for this compassionate essay. And to those who have responded to it here.
So many of us have friends and family who live there. My daughter and her family were evacuated yesterday.
May we all circle around them and send our love and support.
Thank you, Elliot for this heart wrenching essay on the perils facing LA I have never liked LA because it is too crowded for me, But I do like the people there and hope they can recover as quickly as possible. President Biden was quick to send firefighters from all over, as did Canada. The President also sparked FEMA into action. Lets hope the fire is under control and the people on the way to recovery before January 20
Thank you, Elliot, and I hope you and yours are well.
I am heartbroken about the loss of life and property in every fire. It does not matter who you are, or whether you have the wherewithal to rebuild easily. Loss and death are great equalizers and we are human first. I hope those in less robust financial situations will get all the help they need. I pray no one else will be harmed, human or animal. I fervently hope the winds will die down and the water can be brought in.
And I find the remarks of an upcoming occupant of 1600 Penn positively revolting, along with all those who are going along with his filthy charade, whoever they may be. May karma dish them back the grief they are causing.
May your wish be granted, Michelle.
I normally never wish ill but I am so darn angry. How dare these people. How dare they mock people in distress and people trying to help.
Here on the Big Island of Hawai'i far from the fires in LA I sit in shock at the devastation. We thought the devastation of Lāhainā over on Maui was apocalyptic, yet this is so far beyond that--it boggles! As for the incoming President who I shall not name . . . he needs to learn humility, compassion, and charity.
I canot even imagine thr panorama in LA , home to my Alma Mater CSUN,and to Me for 33 years. How you found the words to write such a heartwrenching story! Keeping Californians and California in my heart.
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 I can't grasp the enormity of what's happening to california. And I fear the denial of services by Trump 2.0 and his hatred of Gavin Newsom along with his bizarre belief that Newsom ditches clean water into the Pacific Ocean, only to be topped by his trolling on the Canadian faucet that Canada chooses not to turn on so that water can flow freely down all of American rivers. 2.0 is crazy, certifiable, and I believe people in his administration know that but are greedy power- grabbers and will continue to use him as the front man for their personal and financial gains, while California burns.
I am so heart sick for these CA residents… everything up in smoke in a matter of minutes… everything they have worked for all their lives… gone. The same goes for hurricane victims. How do you ever recover from something like this?
My fear is that more hardship will befall them from the incoming administration. We know Trump has zero empathy for blue states no matter what. But if he tries to weasel out relief efforts based on what Gov. Newsom is “willing to do for Trump” I hope the deal is off. That kind of mob choke holding squeeze tactic is reprehensible, but I see that playing out.
Recommend reading recent non-fiction, Fire Weather, by John Valliant. About fire in the tar sands area of Alberta. Lots of understandable info re how fire like this work.
Thank you so very much. You are appreciated.
Thank you for this great article. I have at least two close friends lost everything in the Palisades fire. The speed of the fire was stunning and the evacuation orders didn’t allow them time to take much with them. Heartbreaking losses for those families.
Thank you for the moving thoughts on this disaster. So far all my friends down there are safe, though some on FB haven't yet responded to queries yet.
I hope Biden can get emergency funds going in a way that trump, with his "just need to turn on the tap for water" blather, can't stop.
The prospect of T***** being "in charge" for the next four years, when natural disasters caused by the climate crisis will inevitably befall us, is sickening.
yeah. He’s ALREADY tried to refused disaster aid to CA, until his aides pointed out that Orange County has a lot of Republicans. There will be a bunch fewer Republicans in CA if he tries that out on this fire.
Please fly your flags at half-mast on Jan 20 to honor Jimmy Carter and in sympathy with those affected by climate change.
Thank you. Well said. I have a brother in Pasadena, less than a mile from the Eaton fire's edge. He has lucked out so far and is safe. I also have relatives scattered from the top to the bottom of California, so there is always something interesting happening with the weather or the geology.
I heard he sat and watched the attack on Jan 6. Such cruelty and destructive intentions. Like Nero.