Image courtesy Tim A. Williams
Currently, the San Diego wildfires are forcing the evacuation of nearly 1 million people from their homes.
Here’s a Google Map Mashup of the areas affected by the fire.
What can/should be done in times of natural disasters to help residents quickly return to economic stability and normal life?
And, who should provide that assistance?
October 24, 2007 at 15:18
Honestly? I don’t know.
Disasters such as this are always overwhelming and spell-binding to me.
Like the bridge collapse in Minnesota– I watched all the news coverage on it for days, but felt totally powerless to do anything productive.
Would be interested in anyone’s proactive thoughts on this issue, however!
October 24, 2007 at 16:39
Government has a proper role—the protection of life, liberty, and property.
Outside of that scope, they interfere with individuals who can usually do a better job. Case in point - the map you’ve included in this post. As one who is from San Diego, with many family and friends in the area affected by this fire, I’ve been keeping tabs on all sorts of information on the fire. This map has been a great asset. Contrast that with the maps being provided by government officials - they’re slow to produce them and disseminate them, they look ugly, are hard to read, and non-interactive.
Private enterprise—people with initiative and self-interest (a la Atlas Shrugged)—is innovative, resourceful, active, and caring. Government isn’t.
So, while it’s difficult for a citizen to fight a fire, they can mobilize people, rally others, raise funds, show compassion, and lend a hand, far better than Uncle Sam can ever do (if in doubt, remember FEMA).
So, what can be done to rebuild after disasters? Make sure government stays out of the picture! Let individuals have the agency and ability to get to work themselves.
Writing about Katrina, though applicable to the SD fires and any disaster, Rep. Ron Paul wrote the following:
I agree.