Government sucked, most of the rich were silent, some people upped their rentals, property developers salivated, crooked politicians got recast as saviours... but there was a pocket of amazing people doing the best for those needing help. I was thrice given accommodation, received takkies that an American had taken off his own feet to give to a tatooist who'd converted his shop into a donations store, got a microwave and a money from a temporary charity etc. In turn, I helped people, directing donations, fighting for the truth. Overall, good and bad memories. Unfortunately, overall, a situation of loss, especially for those tragic people who couldn't afford to pay insurance on their indebted houses after the USA's 2008 crash damaged our tourism economy for the long-term.
These disasters seem to bring out the best and worst. Unfortunately way too much of the later. An incredible tragedy. I can only hope I could come through such an event as well as you seem to have.
What a nightmare! So sorry about the loss and trauma you and your neighbours experienced.
Last year so much of the province where I live was burned by wildfire, and our little region was somehow spared, so I can relate to the fear if not the actuality.
I hope we can collectively manage to restore our systems, and spare ourselves and each other of this kind of trauma.
Heavens Mike...how absolutely awful. Everything I could possibly say would sound horribly trite after all that. What a blessing so many survived.
Government sucked, most of the rich were silent, some people upped their rentals, property developers salivated, crooked politicians got recast as saviours... but there was a pocket of amazing people doing the best for those needing help. I was thrice given accommodation, received takkies that an American had taken off his own feet to give to a tatooist who'd converted his shop into a donations store, got a microwave and a money from a temporary charity etc. In turn, I helped people, directing donations, fighting for the truth. Overall, good and bad memories. Unfortunately, overall, a situation of loss, especially for those tragic people who couldn't afford to pay insurance on their indebted houses after the USA's 2008 crash damaged our tourism economy for the long-term.
These disasters seem to bring out the best and worst. Unfortunately way too much of the later. An incredible tragedy. I can only hope I could come through such an event as well as you seem to have.
I had an attitude before the fire :)
What a nightmare! So sorry about the loss and trauma you and your neighbours experienced.
Last year so much of the province where I live was burned by wildfire, and our little region was somehow spared, so I can relate to the fear if not the actuality.
I hope we can collectively manage to restore our systems, and spare ourselves and each other of this kind of trauma.
When we leave it alone, Nature remarkably builds itself. We, however, are often the opposite.