2008 Woodie Awards
Two different natural disasters, two different responses
Brice Tarleton
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: World
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On Oct. 20, a number of wildfires started in southern California. Due to drought conditions, unusually high temperatures, and unusually strong Santa Ana winds, the fires tore across the state too fast for firefighters to contain the blaze. After nearly three weeks, the last wildfire was completely extinguished on Nov. 9.
The California wildfires are the first major national disaster to occur in the United States since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005, breaking the levees and decimating much of the city.
Many are drawing comparisons between the two disasters and the way in which each was handled by various level of government.
"It's unfair for a comparison to be drawn between the two," said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesman Ken Higginbotham to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "Both were catastrophic events that affected a large number of people. That's where the similarities end. This is a different time, a different period, a different scenario."
Despite the fact that Hurricane Katrina proved to be more devastating, the response to the California wildfires has been much faster and more comprehensive.
The California wildfires burned about 500,000 acres, an area twice the size of New York City. At least 1,500 homes were burned, causing about $2 billion worth of damage. Nine people died as a direct result of the fires.
In contrast, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc over 90,000 square miles in the Gulf Coast, an area twice the size of the state of New York. In New Orleans alone, flood water covered 140 square miles, an area seven times the size of Manhattan.
"We didn't even have half the people to evacuate that they had in Katrina," said San Miguel fireman Andy Menshek to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "That's why (the response has) been more effective here."
At least 200,000 homes were rendered uninhabitable by Katrina, resulting in $81 billion worth of damage, according to California's Daily Pilot. Approximately 1,830 people died as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
The California wildfires are the first major national disaster to occur in the United States since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005, breaking the levees and decimating much of the city.
Many are drawing comparisons between the two disasters and the way in which each was handled by various level of government.
"It's unfair for a comparison to be drawn between the two," said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesman Ken Higginbotham to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "Both were catastrophic events that affected a large number of people. That's where the similarities end. This is a different time, a different period, a different scenario."
Despite the fact that Hurricane Katrina proved to be more devastating, the response to the California wildfires has been much faster and more comprehensive.
The California wildfires burned about 500,000 acres, an area twice the size of New York City. At least 1,500 homes were burned, causing about $2 billion worth of damage. Nine people died as a direct result of the fires.
In contrast, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc over 90,000 square miles in the Gulf Coast, an area twice the size of the state of New York. In New Orleans alone, flood water covered 140 square miles, an area seven times the size of Manhattan.
"We didn't even have half the people to evacuate that they had in Katrina," said San Miguel fireman Andy Menshek to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "That's why (the response has) been more effective here."
At least 200,000 homes were rendered uninhabitable by Katrina, resulting in $81 billion worth of damage, according to California's Daily Pilot. Approximately 1,830 people died as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
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