California

There are some things like hurricanes, tornados and earth quakes that cannot be controlled but other disasters are caused by bad policies. The recurring forest fires in California followed by mud slides can be minimized with proper government planning. California's forests haven't been adequately cleared due to a combination of factors including environmental concerns, bureaucratic barriers, and opposition from certain environmental groups who have historically resisted logging and controlled burns, leading to a buildup of undergrowth and dead trees which contribute to large, destructive wildfires when conditions are dry. The backstory: The intense flushing of water from the Delta to the Bay – rather than by pumping to Central Valley farms, storage facilities, and southern California communities – is driven by a 2019 legal document known as an “Incidental Take Permit.” California sends billions of gallons of water into the ocean each year, especially during heavy rainfall events. In 2023, nearly 95% of water that collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta flowed into the Pacific Ocean. The recent loss of 12,000 homes due to fires has caused the governor to request $40 billion dollars to help rebuild. California has wildfires every year, and the number of fires has been increasing. The fire season is getting longer and starting earlier, with some fires occurring year-round.