Thank you for taking the time to do this on one of the worst days of your life. It's inspiring, and your central message came across very clearly. It's something people need to understand. I so appreciate and admire you for doing it while you are still in complete shock.
I read a book by Jake Bittle called "The Great Displacement" about people being forced from their homes and their lives by natural events like hurricanes, floods and fires. One section was on the Santa Rosa fire of 2017 (Tubbs Fire). It was the first one which is of the type that you are describing. It, too, was fueled by hurricane level winds. Just like these fires, all the water in the world wasn't going to stop it or slow it much. It was the fire that jumped the 6-lane Highway 101 and burned down a K-mart and a lot of other businesses and a residential area thought to be safe from fire - Coffey Park. He tells the story of one of those Coffey Park families, and how they changed from a stable, middle-class one to economic basket cases of which they are were still trying to recover in 2024.
We are in the midst of witnessing the worst thing that has ever happened in the L.A. basin. It will change not just your life and the life of all the other people who lost - or will lose - their homes, but of the City, the State and maybe even the Nation in ways we cannot foresee. One can only hope that out of the ashes comes something good.
I just upgraded to Founding to help you to the extent I can. I'm devastated having listened to your report--can't even imagine how you were able to pull yourself together to file it.
Meghan, thank you for checking in. I was wondering how you were doing. Glad you and Hugo are safe. I’m sorry for what all of you are going through out there.
That you can be so eloquent during such a tragedy is remarkable and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing your voice and experience so we can understand the personal devastation beyond the news reports. I'm so sorry about your loss but grateful you are okay and your precious dog too.
Meghan, this is the most informative dispatch I’ve been able to find. I appreciate the details of what the lead up to evacuation was like because I can only imagine what my elderly friends in the Palisades dealt with (they are safe but I cannot contact them). I am so devastated for you and all the beautiful living creatures who are suffering from this. As usual, you treat even this most horrific of circumstances with balance and reason, and it is an incredibly welcome attitude. Thank you, and please take good care of yourself and Hugo.
The whole catastrophe is unspeakably awful. There's no schadenfreude to be gleaned from anyone losing their home, no matter how rich and famous they are. The callous commentary on some platforms is nothing less than appalling.
Australians are all to familiar with hot wildfire embers causing tremendous destruction many miles from the fire front. Many people living in fire-prone areas maintain wide vegetation breaks around their property, and have sprinkler systems on their roofs and about the perimeter to reduce the risk of ember-related fires.
To see this happening in suburban Los Angeles, though, is simply staggering. Good luck, LA. Australia is rooting for you.
Your description of your neighborhood was touching and captivating. And hearing how composed you are after your devastating loss is sobering. I am far away in France, but thinking of you, and I thank you for your words.
Wow. I'm so sorry this happened to you AND the woman who owns the house you're renting... and everyone else. (And the animals, as you mentioned. My heart cracked further at that.) I'm from LA and own a small unit in Santa Monica but moved last year to France, and all I can do is watch the news about LA... my beautiful, complicated hometown. My brother-in-law is a fireman, and needless to say, they're frustrated and angry at the cuts the city made to the fire budget last year. But as you note, all this will be discussed later. For now, the loss and the pain. I'm so, so sorry. Sending love all the way from France.
Thank you for taking the time to do this on one of the worst days of your life. It's inspiring, and your central message came across very clearly. It's something people need to understand. I so appreciate and admire you for doing it while you are still in complete shock.
I read a book by Jake Bittle called "The Great Displacement" about people being forced from their homes and their lives by natural events like hurricanes, floods and fires. One section was on the Santa Rosa fire of 2017 (Tubbs Fire). It was the first one which is of the type that you are describing. It, too, was fueled by hurricane level winds. Just like these fires, all the water in the world wasn't going to stop it or slow it much. It was the fire that jumped the 6-lane Highway 101 and burned down a K-mart and a lot of other businesses and a residential area thought to be safe from fire - Coffey Park. He tells the story of one of those Coffey Park families, and how they changed from a stable, middle-class one to economic basket cases of which they are were still trying to recover in 2024.
We are in the midst of witnessing the worst thing that has ever happened in the L.A. basin. It will change not just your life and the life of all the other people who lost - or will lose - their homes, but of the City, the State and maybe even the Nation in ways we cannot foresee. One can only hope that out of the ashes comes something good.
I just upgraded to Founding to help you to the extent I can. I'm devastated having listened to your report--can't even imagine how you were able to pull yourself together to file it.
Same!
Same. Sending all best thoughts to you Meghan, and to anyone else affected by this terrible devastation.
Meghan, thank you for checking in. I was wondering how you were doing. Glad you and Hugo are safe. I’m sorry for what all of you are going through out there.
This made me cry. Thank you for sharing this Meghan. ♥️
Made me cry, too. ❤️🩹
Me three
That you can be so eloquent during such a tragedy is remarkable and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing your voice and experience so we can understand the personal devastation beyond the news reports. I'm so sorry about your loss but grateful you are okay and your precious dog too.
Meghan, this is the most informative dispatch I’ve been able to find. I appreciate the details of what the lead up to evacuation was like because I can only imagine what my elderly friends in the Palisades dealt with (they are safe but I cannot contact them). I am so devastated for you and all the beautiful living creatures who are suffering from this. As usual, you treat even this most horrific of circumstances with balance and reason, and it is an incredibly welcome attitude. Thank you, and please take good care of yourself and Hugo.
I'm overwhelmed and so grateful for this outpouring of support. Thank you all so much. What a era we're entering into.
The whole catastrophe is unspeakably awful. There's no schadenfreude to be gleaned from anyone losing their home, no matter how rich and famous they are. The callous commentary on some platforms is nothing less than appalling.
Australians are all to familiar with hot wildfire embers causing tremendous destruction many miles from the fire front. Many people living in fire-prone areas maintain wide vegetation breaks around their property, and have sprinkler systems on their roofs and about the perimeter to reduce the risk of ember-related fires.
To see this happening in suburban Los Angeles, though, is simply staggering. Good luck, LA. Australia is rooting for you.
Your description of your neighborhood was touching and captivating. And hearing how composed you are after your devastating loss is sobering. I am far away in France, but thinking of you, and I thank you for your words.
Devastating news. I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry to hear this, Meghan. I'm glad you're safe, but sorry for all that you lost.
Wow. I'm so sorry this happened to you AND the woman who owns the house you're renting... and everyone else. (And the animals, as you mentioned. My heart cracked further at that.) I'm from LA and own a small unit in Santa Monica but moved last year to France, and all I can do is watch the news about LA... my beautiful, complicated hometown. My brother-in-law is a fireman, and needless to say, they're frustrated and angry at the cuts the city made to the fire budget last year. But as you note, all this will be discussed later. For now, the loss and the pain. I'm so, so sorry. Sending love all the way from France.
Take good care! Thank you for updating us. As a former resident of Santa Monica and West LA, I am watching and listening
breathlessly. If you want to come to Austin, Tx I have an extra room. Sounds silly to say, but ai am sincere.
Meghan I am so sorry for your loss.
I can't begin to imagine what your going through.
Stay safe.
💔
Meghan, I am so so sorry.