I have evacuated my home three times due to wildfires: in 1993 during the Malibu/Old Topanga Fire, and twice in Santa Barbara from the 2017 Thomas Fire.
It’s a terrifying experience.
However, as destructive as those wildfires were, they paled in comparison to the calamity that is destroying Pacific Palisades and reigning havoc on Southern California: six wildfires burning simultaneously, hurricane-force winds of 99 mph, 2024 being the hottest year on record (to date), more than 100,000 people evacuated, more than 10,000 homes burned, a major urban community of more than 23,000 people destroyed, and at least 10 deaths.
As of this writing the fires are not contained and these numbers are growing.
This is not normal! Climate change has caused the intensity fueling the unprecedented destruction we are witnessing.
Santa Barbara County is not immune from wildfires or the high winds that whip them out of control.
Over the last 11 years, the county has experienced 15 major wildfires. Seven of these directly threatened the heavily populated Santa Barbara front country.
According to the county, wildfires now pose a significant threat to residents year-round, and a red flag warning issued for Jan. 7-8, 2025, brought with it 50 mph wind gusts.
The line between local and national issues in the context of climate change has vanished.
For example, some local environments are experiencing extreme heat waves and droughts, while others have changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods.
In some agriculture communities changing weather patterns are threatening food production.
Of equal importance to locally devastated communities is the national disaster assistance that has become an essential part of recovering from these climate disasters.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial aid for housing needs, rental assistance, home repairs and grants for mitigation measures to prevent future damage to victims of the Southern California fires.
Likewise, the Small Business Administration is providing disaster loans to homeowners and renters for repairing or replacing damaged property.
Yet, amid this disaster, some are politicizing it. Their attacks are based on disinformation aimed at Democrats: Gov. Gavin Newsom (failing to ensure enough water to fight the fires), Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ( slow to return to Los Angeles from Ghana) and Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley (her sexual preference).
There is no mention in these unfounded attacks of the environmental conditions (extreme heat, dry conditions, hurricane-force winds and low rainfall, i.e. climate change).
The reason this is so important to Santa Barbara and the Central Coast is that while there were 123 climate deniers in the 118th Congress, among the 90 newly elected members of Congress,18 have joined the climate-denying ranks.
And, beginning on Jan. 20, there will be a climate denier in the White House, President Donald Trump.
Their argument remains: “It gets warmer and colder, that’s called Mother Nature.” They are wrong!
What we are witnessing in Los Angeles County is Mother Nature dangerously out of control because of the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere warming our planet to unprecedented high temperatures.
Indeed, in December it reached 180 degrees in southern Iran; an unlivable temperature.
In this kind of natural and political environment, with the threat of a similar climate disaster to the one in Southern California befalling our community, the Central Coast will need a strong defender in Congress who understands the threat of climate change, its proximity to our communities, and how to ensure — should we need it — all federal aid available is sent to the Central Coast.
Fortunately, we have one: Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara.
On Earth Day in 2018 he introduced House Resolution 5552, the “Climate Change is Real Act,” restoring climate data to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
In 2022, the House of Representatives, passed HR 5118, the “Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act,” protecting front-line communities from the growing impacts of climate change.
In 2023, Carbajal introduced HR 5744, the “Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act,” to decrease carbon emissions by establishing a carbon fee, returning dividends to the people.
Carbajal has proven that he will not only stand up against the climate deniers, he will ensure that the Central Coast will receive the federal assistance needed to restore our communities.
In commenting on the Southland fires he said: “As hundreds of brave firefighters, first responders and forest rangers work around the clock to respond to the massive wildfires burning across California, I’m working in Washington to approve the federal policy changes that can help us prevent these increasingly destructive fires.”
Our Central Coast communities fortunate enough to have his representation should say “amen” to that.