The Largest Natural Disaster In American History (Until The Next One)
The Jennings Creek Fire suggested that we're not ready for our new climate reality. The Los Angeles Wildfires and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus's comments about them proved it.
We are not even three months removed from the Jennings Creek Fire. But because memories are short, here is a reminder of what happened:
-The fire consumed over 5,000 acres and required the assistance of firefighters from all over New York State (and beyond).
-Some of our local politicians, including Woodbury Town Supervisor Kathryn Luciani, State Senator James G. Skoufis, and South Blooming Grove's de facto co-mayor, Yitzchok "Isaac" Ekstein," treated the fire like a photo-op before it was even contained and after one man died.
-Despite smaller fires, all with the potential to ignite, appearing on the Town of Monroe - Town of Tuexedo border, New York State Senate Candidate and Town of Monroe Board member Dorey Houle only provided updates on the fire to her friends on Facebook. Town of Monroe Supervisor Tony Cardone provided no updates at all. Residents depended entirely on one brave volunteer firefighter who provided updates on Facebook for real-time news and information, including wh…