Kossacks,
I could use a bit of help trying to answer a question: is the war in Iraq preventing the National Guard from doing what's needed now in Southern California? I don't know the answer, since I don't know enough about the Guard and how stretched it is right now.
I grew up in San Bernardino County, not far from the fires now burning near the 15 Freeway. While my family down there is not currently at any risk, the fire has been very much on my mind. But I wonder: is California getting enough help from its National Guard? Schwartzanegger has sent 1500 members of the Guard to help with the fires. But is it enough? Is that as many members of the Guard that we need, or is that all we can spare that aren't in Iraq?
What do people know about the situation in California? What are the facts here?
As I said, I do not know a lot. Here's something from either today or yesterday, from ABC News:
Hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians have been evacuated since the start of the California wildfires, scrambling to leave quickly while collecting their loved ones and pets. With so many homes destroyed, many of them have nowhere to go.
San Diego now has 13 shelters open, and five are already filled to capacity. Qualcomm Stadium, home of the NFL's San Diego Chargers, is the largest facility housing stranded residents. It's the middle of the NFL season, and the stadium is beginning to get crowded, but officials say no one will be turned away.
From what I've read, something like a half million Californians have been forced from their homes, an incredible number. Like the situation two years ago in New Orleans, many of these people need emergency shelter. This appears to be the main function of the Guard in the fire: to help with the massive logistics needed to handle tens, or even hundred thousands of people, currently refugees from the fire.
Evacuees seeking shelter from the inferno are sleeping in hallways and eating off of cardboard tables. Ester Francis fled to her son's home when her own home was evacuated, but came to Qualcomm after his home was in danger. Francis now lives in the corner of the end zone, but is happy to be safe.
"It is a wonderful feeling to see all these people from different lifestyles all living together," Francis said.
And the 90-year-old said she can take living in an end zone as long as needed.
"It is a matter of being flexible," she said.
Overnight, the National Guard delivered thousands of cots, and today, thousands of volunteers began pitching tents and handing out food.
The biggest concern right now is proper sanitation, with more than 10,000 people in this one shelter alone.
I'm guessing that because the areas evacuated are so very large, that it will also be necessary to have public safety people (which would likely include National Guard) to keep these areas secure to prevent looting.
Schwartzenegger has dispatched around 1500 Guardsman, according to this account:
More than 1,500 California National Guard men and women as well as various types of equipment continue to provide assistance with the Southern California wildfires.
There are 1,110 Army National Guard soldiers and 400 Air National Guard soldiers, "responded swiftly to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's call with various air and ground assets that are providing security, transportation, and humanitarian support by assisting local authorities," Guard officials say.
The California National Guard has a total of six UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and two UH-1 helicopters that are being utilized to combat the fires in Southern California. One CH-47 Chinook has departed Stockton with a four-man crew for Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos for missions to be determined.
The California National Guard most recently transported approximately 300 soldiers and equipment using California and Nevada Air National Guard C-130s. The soldiers are currently conducting operations throughout the region fulfilling humanitarian missions.
Also, Air Guard C-130 Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS) are enroute to provide firefighting support. (Two MAFFS from the Wyoming Air National Guard and two MAFFS from the North Carolina Air National Guard).
The UH-60 Blackhawk and the Firehawk are capable of fire suppression missions as well as personnel transport in and out of dangerous and hard to reach locations.
The California National Guard maintains its own operations center staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to ensure constant awareness of potential emergencies and provide rapid response if our assistance is needed.
"The California National Guard is actively engaged in responding to the wildfires in Southern California by providing assistance to local authorities and to the citizens of the affected communities," said Maj. Gen. William H. Wade II, the Adjutant General of the California National Guard.
"We continue to do this through air assets and personnel and equipment on the ground. The CNG is proud of its ability to respond rapidly to those citizens affected by this horrible disaster."
The California National Guard is experienced in executing firefighting response missions, and recently conducted its annual three-day large-scale interagency wildfire training exercise near Fresno in May with Cal Fire and the USDA Forest Service.
Are the people we need even available? If you know something, please tell.