The lack of long range thinking around the inevitable disasters California faces is frustrating, but as the public and their leadership becomes more aware of the real suffering inaction causes—not only to individual lives but the very fabric of the state's prosperity—there will be a resurgence of thought around what needs to be done (I think we are in the first stage of that period now), and one hopes it is followed by action.
Dan Walters: California: A disaster in waiting
By Dan Walters - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, July 1, 2007
California's unique mélange of topography, scenery and weather has made it the nation's most populous state with a world-class economy.
But those qualities have a darker face -- imminent disaster. We may not be able to predict them, but we know that Californians face perpetual peril from wildfires, earthquakes, floods, landslides, droughts and other natural or semi-natural calamities.
The latest is the Angora fire, as it was dubbed, that swept through more than 200 homes near Lake Tahoe last week. And it has generated the usual torrent of words from pundits and politicians that it should be a "wake-up call" about better preparation and prevention.
It should be such a warning, of course, but if the past is any guide, after a few days or weeks, we'll shut off the alarm button and figuratively turn over and go back to sleep until the next disaster strikes and the finger-pointing and alarm-raising begin anew.
Were we to treat the Angora fire as a serious sociopolitical phenomenon, we'd wonder why years of warnings from foresters, wildfire fighters and other natural resource professionals about living in wooden houses in an overstressed, diseased and tinder-dry forest had been largely ignored.
