Hurricane Katrina Survivor Evacuates Again, This Time Due to Los Angeles Wildfires
WPBN: After being forced to evacuate during Hurricane Katrina, a woman who had previously resided in New Orleans was forced to do so again due to the wildfires in Southern California.
“People use the saying that it is like an apocalypse, it is like a movie set in Los Angeles,” Danielle Lovell-Walsh told WGNO.
This is a nightmare that is real life, not a movie being filmed in Los Angeles.
“It’s very frightening, I can’t sleep, I can’t rest and I’m always on high alert,” Lovell-Walsh stated.
The Sunset Fire, which broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, was the inferno that posed a threat to her residence.
“It was just this glow, and I could see the flames. I opened my front door and it was right there, so I started knocking on my neighbor’s doors,” she added.
There were thousands of citizens who were compelled to leave their homes because they were afraid that the rapidly spreading fire might spread into residential areas.
Evacuating was a situation that Lovell-Walsh, who had previously called New Orleans home, felt all too familiar with. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she was one of the people who had to leave their homes prematurely.
She also voiced her concerns on the looting that occurred after Hurricane Katrina, something she herself had experienced. Los Angeles authorities have reported that they have made many arrests in connection with the alleged looting that took place.
“It can bring back a lot of memories. I was shaking, and I couldn’t believe it was that close. It felt very similar to a hurricane situation, and you know it is coming in and you’re watching it,” she stated.
Also, Lovell-Walsh wishes to provide the people of New Orleans with an understanding of the magnitude of the fire that is located close to her house.
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The wildfire ended up charring at least 43 acres, and its flames were visible across Hollywood before it was totally contained on Thursday afternoon.
The majority of the evacuation orders that were generated by the fire were rescinded within a few hours, and Lovell-Walsh was able to return home without incident before the fire was completely contained.
In spite of this, she expresses that she does not believe that she is in a safe place.
“I slept with my shoes on, my car’s still packed, my gas tank is still full, and I’m still ready to go at a moment’s notice,” Lovell-Walsh stated. “We’re still nervous about fires and nervous about a lot of the hot spots, I still have to be reminded to take care of myself, and I’m trying.”
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According to officials from the Southern California Fire Department, as of Sunday, four fires—the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst—have devoured around 62 square miles of land, which is an area that is greater than San Francisco.
In the Los Angeles area, fire workers are at a crucial stage in their endeavor to contain the largest of the flames, the Palisades and the Eaton fires. However, wind conditions are forecast to intensify this week, so the situation is projected to become much more dire.