Tempers flare among some evacuees
A town hall meeting quickly turned tense Sunday as fire evacuees demanded to know why there weren’t more firefighters on-scene and why their homes were left undefended, reports CBS Los Angeles.
The community meeting at Taft High School in Woodland Hills to update residents on the Woolsey Fire and Hill Fire lasted about three hours.
Some evacuees also demanded answers about why there wasn’t more communication when the fires broke out.
“Some of my neighbors have lost everything. And I’m not sure if my house is standing,” one woman said, pointing at officials. “Please answer that.”
CAL FIRE said, simply put, that the strain on resources has been enormous since so much of the state was under siege by flames and wind.
State Sen. Henry Stern tried to reassure the crowd, empathizing as he insisted he’s also a victim of the fires.
“I still don’t know if my home is standing. And I don’t know if my grandparents’ home is standing,” he said.
“When you’re in this position, you’re homeless,” Denise Pepper said. “There’s nothing. Thank God I have my husband and we have our two dogs. You know, so, whatever help you can get. You want answers now, you do.”
State and local fire, law enforcement and emergency management officials spoke to the public about the efforts in battling the blazes.
One question they couldn’t answer is if President Trump would free up federal funds
“Right now it’s pending,” said FEMA’s Veornica Verde. “But one of the things people can start to do now to start preparing is call their insurance company. Make sure they have that phone number and if they can, take photos of any damages.”
