Living in California is a challenge. Golden State residents live with new natural disasters every day. And I've had that experience myself, having lived in California for 30 years before moving back to the East Coast.
In 1982, a 100-year landslide occurred in Marin County, washing away dozens of houses and most of our property, but our house narrowly escaped. In 1995, the Mt Vision fire destroyed 45 homes in Inverness Park, rushing towards our home in the nearby village of Inverness. The fire department camped on our lawn overnight. Our car was loaded and headed downhill in case we had to evacuate. Fortunately, the wind direction changed and firefighters were able to stop the fire half a mile from the house.
Living in San Francisco and Los Angeles, I also experienced mostly small earthquakes, but the two most devastating ones I'll never forget. First, in 1989, the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred at San Francisco's Candlestick Park during Game 3 of the World Series, killing 63 people, injuring more than 3,700, and destroying major sections of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. It collapsed.
Five years later, we're sitting in our Malibu beach house after the devastating 1994 Northridge earthquake that killed 60 people, injured more than 7,000, damaged more than 40,000 buildings, and leveled parts of Santa Monica. I experienced the full power of the magnitude 6.7). highway.
Of course, there were many other wildfires, landslides, and earthquakes in those 30 years that I didn't experience firsthand. But now, the apocalypse has arrived on top of that, with deadly wildfires still raging across Los Angeles. As of this writing, the Palisades Fire is only 11% contained. Even though we are 3,000 miles away, this really hits home because of the friends we have there. Many of them are still affected, many have been evacuated, and some have lost everything.
But here's what has changed. Until now, these natural disasters have had one element in common. It is the sense of community that quickly emerged in the aftermath of the disaster. First, neighbors helping neighbors. Local fire and police departments then responded. Assistance is then available from state and federal agencies. All are united in one purpose: caring for those affected, repairing damage, and rebuilding infrastructure and communities.
Of course, there were always questions about what happened, why it happened, and what could have been done better. But they came later. The priorities were clear. First, we value people. Next, deal with managerial or political issues.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Donald Trump has turned that upside down. He shows no sympathy for the victims of earthquakes, floods, and fires. For him, every natural disaster is another opportunity to play politics by lying, attacking state and local leaders, and withholding aid, especially in areas that did not vote for him. It's nothing more than that. For him, it's politics first, then aid…maybe.
As reported by the Guardian, former Trump administration officials said the former president was in his first term. Initially refused to provide federal disaster aid for wildfires Withholding wildfire aid to California in 2018 and Washington state in 2020, and severely restricting emergency relief to Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria in 2017, that's simply because these areas are It's just because I feel like I'm not being supported enough. But months later, President Trump promised to pay 100 percent of Florida's post-Hurricane Michael costs, according to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' memoir.they love me in the panhandle”
Last October, President Trump unfairly criticized the Biden administration in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen. Withholding relief from Republican areas of North Carolina And again, by mistake, Accuses FEMA of diverting funds To help illegal immigrants.
The same pattern is currently occurring with the Los Angeles wildfires. Outgoing President Joe Biden has promised to cover all costs for 180 days of relocating victims and clearing debris, but President-elect Donald Trump has promised to pay 100 mph for the first time in Southern California since last summer. ignored the winds and near-zero rainfall to brand California's governor as Biden. Gavin Newsom played a “newscam” and blamed Newsom for causing the wildfires by not signing the deal. “Water restoration” materials State officials said the document did not exist in 2019 and threatened to withhold additional disaster aid.
The key to disaster relief, as any first responder knows, is first and foremost helping those in need. period. Politics doesn't matter. Donald Trump never learned that lesson.
Bill Press said,bill press pod” He is the author of “ ”.From left: Life in the crossfire.” Follow him on X @BillPressPod and in blue sky @BillPress.bsky.social.
