NPR: As the Santa Ana Winds Blow

As the Santa Ana Winds Blow

Here's a few insights about the current fire that speak to our concerns and questions about our relationship with the natural world.

NPR's John Nielsen on the ways of these winds:

When the winds are moderate, they blow air pollution out to sea and make life in Southern California more pleasant. But last week, after a gigantic mass of air formed over the high plateaus, the Santa Ana winds turned into monsters.

California Nurseryman Trey Pitsenberger on certain futility:

We can prepare and plant fire resistant plantings, build our homes of more fire resistant materials, and change our neighborhoods design to better resist fire but when the Santa Annas start blowing, look out!

The L.A. Times on our continued uneasy relationship with beauty:

Brush thrives on occasional disaster. Old undergrowth chokes out new life; fires clear the ground and fertilize and freshen the soil. We know that even as we fight the flames and grieve over their aftermath. Southern Californians have chosen to live where wildness is still a visible, occasionally destructive and often awe-inspiring force.

Please enlighten us with your thoughts about why we continue to be surprised by such catastrophe, and what us run-of-the-mill passionate environmentalists can do.

11:00 AM ET | 10-24-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Great question. I've been thinking about this quite a lot for the last few years. So much that I've researched about it probably too extensively.

People move to these suburban or exurban areas, on the fringe of wildlife, because:

1. It's cheaper than buying a house in the city (at least up front, though in the long run the cost of fuel for the commute, and loss of time to spend with family outweighs this for most).

2. It is safer for the kids (extensive research has proven that this is not the case).

3. There are better schools.

4. Our country idolizes living in new, large houses. It's the status quo, and the largest growing population in the country.

5. The developers who build these communities expertly target their advertising to a specific group of people. (The dangers of living in these communities are well hidden deep within any literature they provide to residents and prospective residents.)

6. Even if people do see that there are potential fire (or other) dangers, there is a response within most people that says "it will never happen to me." Short term happiness outweighs that small possiblity that it could happen to me.

There are a multitude of other reasons, but those are my top 6.

What can run-of-the-mill passionate environmentalists do? Educate people about the economic, social, and environmental issues negatives of taking up residence in these communities. Base it on facts, past problems, etc. AND most importantly, PERSONALIZE IT - make people understand that it has happened to people "just like you."

Policy-wise, it is apalling that developers are allowed to build in these areas considering the risks. Clearly there is something wrong with our policies regarding the development of environmental impact statements!

And I must add in conclusion that I don't mean to belittle the suffering that is occurring in Southern California. It's a terrible crisis. But it is important to try to find a way to prevent it in the future!!

Melinda,
from Elements in Time

Sent by Melinda | 5:02 PM ET | 10-30-2007

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