San Diego is My Home

16
Apr

Shaky Ground

Author: HelenKay, Category: Emergency Situations, Neighborhoods, Weather

New reports this week say there’s a 99.7% of a major earthquake (magnitude 6.7 of higher) hitting California by 2037.  The odds are 93% for Northern California and 97% for Southern California. 

This sounds kind of awful but…uh, is this really a big surprise?  Isn’t it kind of like saying there’s a 99% chance of wildfires and mudslides in California?  These strike me as the obvious downsides of living here.  I’m thinking the scary part here is that the percentages are high enough to be considered a guarantee.  Suspecting an earthquake will hit and knowing it will are two different things.

Here’s the good news according to ABC News:

Knowing the likelihood of a strong earthquake is the first step in allowing scientists to draw up hazard maps that show the potential severity of ground shaking in an area. The information can also help with updating building codes and emergency plans and setting earthquake insurance rates.

I say we all start working on these projects.

04
Apr

Rep. Issa’s Big Goof

Author: HelenKay, Category: Emergency Situations, Neighborhoods, Politics

U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (Republican from Northern San Diego County) got himself in a bit of trouble this week.  During congressional hearings regarding additional benefits for the 9/11 victims, Rep. Issa described the World Trade Center attacks as:

“…a fire that had no dirty bomb in it, it had no chemical munitions in it. It simply was an aircraft, residue of two aircraft and residue of the material used to build this building.”

Yeah, that did not go over all that well.  Many viewed his comments as being dissmissive of the attacks.  He argues that he was merely questioning whether benefits should be extended to people who were not physically injured and who did not work at Ground Zero.   Some fellow Congressional folk did not accept the explanantion.  Rep. Issa has been called stupid, unpatriotic and insensitive.

Admittedly, his delivery needs work.  But questioning a blank check and wondering if the federal government is going to compensate anyone involved in similar terrorist attacks in the future is legitimate.   A reasoned discussion without namecalling might be the best way to come up with a solution to this difficult issue.  Have members of Congress forgotten how to do that?

For Rep. Issa’s part, talking about 9/11 in terms of ariplane residue is about as smart as setting his desk up in the middle of the 805 and trying to do work.  We’re talking about people killed in a terrorist attack.  Show some smarts when trying to raise a point that needs to be raised.

Politicians…

08
Feb

Lake Wohlford

Author: HelenKay, Category: Emergency Situations, Environment, Neighborhoods

Because you don’t have enough to worry about with earthquakes, fires and landslides…

A new report says that the Lake Wohlford Dam could liquefy in a major earthquake.  It seems that a portion of the dam is made from sand and silt.  Two-thirds of the dam, to be exact.  This is not the best news for Escondido.  The city is looking at its option, which include building a new dam or strengthening the old one.

But don’t worry.  The folks in charge in Escondido insist the dam is safe.   They are trying to look at the worst-case scenarios and prepare.  In the meantime, all is well.

Kind of makes you wonder if this is what the San Diego folks told those homeowners on Mt. Soledad…right before a big sinkhole sent some houses sliding down the mountain…

10
Dec

Gwen Stefani Scholarship

Author: HelenKay, Category: All For Charity, Emergency Situations, Neighborhoods

Gwen Stefani is best known as a singer and tabloid favorite.  She’s also a clothing designer and has a perfume line.  Now, she can add charity donor to her list of titles. 

Stefani recently set up the After-the-Fires Scholarship for high school seniors and college students who lost their homes as a result of the October wildfires.   She funded the scholarships through The San Diego Foundation with a $166,000 donation from her October concert in San Diego.  Who will get the scholarhsips and for how much has not been determined.  For more information, including deadlines, visit The San Diego Foundation.

06
Dec

The Gift Of iPods

Author: HelenKay, Category: All For Charity, Emergency Situations, People

Some people lost everything in the recent fires that raced through our area.  Houses, furniture, security - all gone.  Remember being a kid?  Remember how “your stuff” mattered to you?  Well,  someone at Apple must remember because the company donated nano video iPods to 100 fire victim high schoolers in Poway last week.   

Poway resident Steve Boyack helped with fire clean-up.  He remembered that with past fires the community acted with great generousity toward the victims.  Some donated items for toy drives.  Others held special events for parents.  Inadvertently lost in all altruism were the high school kids. So, Boyack contacted Apple CEO Steve Jobs for help.  And Apple responded.  Apple’s goal is to get iPods to all kids who were victims of area fires.  A pretty great goal.

05
Dec

Slip Away

Author: HelenKay, Category: City Council, Emergency Situations, Environment

The news is not good for the homeowners in Mt. Soledad. Recent rains caused even more damage to the soil in the already environmentally unsound area.  Geologists have noted additional movement on the hillside where houses have already been condemned due to the sinkhole/slide of early October.

To prevent a complete disaster, the City Council approved $20 million for emergency repairs.  Patti Boekamp, city engineering and capital projects director, says:  ”We’re racing against the clock, we’re racing against the weather, and we’re working between rain spells.”

In other words:  more trouble ahead.

30
Oct

After The Fire

Author: HelenKay, Category: Emergency Situations, Environment

There’s a movie coming out with Halle Berry called Things We Lost In The Fire.  Right now that could be our city’s theme.  Fires still burn, but the majority of the danger is past.  All towns with “Rancho” in the title appear safe.  With over 300,000 acres gone, 7 people killed and many more injured, the time has come to talk about blame. 

For the most part, everyone from the firefighters to the governor is getting high marks for their handling of the crisis.  Still, there is a water problem in Ramona, a potential underinsurance issue for those who lost homes, warnings about rental gouging for those now desperate to find temporary lodging near where their old homes once stood and questions about air support during the fire.  Yeah, plenty of questions, concerns and recriminations to go around. 

Yet, life goes on.  The Chargers played at Qualcomm on Sunday and won.  Concerts, theater and other events go on as scheduled.  And, the air is clear…well, clearer than it was last week.  The bad news is the Santa Ana winds are coming back.  We’re all hoping for wind without fire this time around. 

22
Oct

Fire

Author: HelenKay, Category: Emergency Situations, Weather

There really is only one story in San Diego today - fire.  What started as two fires - one near Ramona (being called the Witch Fire) and one near the border (being called the Harris Fire) - has turned into eight.  The Santa Ana winds are making it tough for firefighters to attack these from the air.  Highways are closed.  Courts are closed.  Some radio stations are off air.  Residential areas are on fire.  Rancho Bernardo is in trouble.  Chula Vista is in trouble.  That range gives you an idea of how many fires are out there and how big of an area they cover.

This one is very serious.  Potentially tragic.   For those who lived through the 2003 Cedar fire, this one supposedly is worse.   Sheriff Bill Kolender predicts this will be the worst fire ever in San Diego.

Be smart.  Be safe.  Evacuate if you’re in a danger area.  You can go to the Del Mar Fairgrounds or Qualcomm Stadium.  Go now.