Katrina Victims Respond to SoCal Fires

In an event reminiscent of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, several large wildfires blazed throughout southern California this week, causing nearly one million people to evacuate their properties. Southern California’s San Diego county, one of the areas hardest hit, suffered nearly one billion dollars worth of damage alone; the area contains several houses of the rich and famous, with epic mansions overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

On Thursday, several victims of Hurricane Katrina were able to empathize with these newly homeless Californians.

“It’s just… mmph… it’s just horrible. Hooo, it’s bad. Lawd, ain’t that horrible?” Victoria Jackson, 32, remarked, slapping her friend Vivian Turnbull, 30, on the shoulder.

“Mm-hmm” Turnbull agreed, as the two of them turned away and shrieked and slapped each other on the back, apparently overcome with emotion.

Katrina displaced hundreds of thousands of New Orleans residents, many of whom are just now returning to their homes. Richard Jefferson, 45, was one of those citizens.

“Hee hee hee… uh… uh huh, huh,” a coughing Jefferson said. He asked for a minute to compose himself. “Yep, those poor Malibu folks… they’re gonna have it real rough, rebuilding their homes, losing all their possessions,” a smiling Jefferson said, no doubt smiling at the hope his story and the stories of others like him give the embattled citizens of San Diego and surrounding counties.

“Well, at least they have a large stadium that they can stay in for the time being, right?” asked Jefferson. “A large, steaming hot, unsanitary, lawless stadium, but a stadium!” he said, grinning at the prospect of these people having a place to stay. When informed that Qualcomm Stadium, serving as a temporary home for those displaced by the fires, was being serviced by 1,200 volunteers and had 96 working bathrooms as well as functioning air conditioning, Jefferson’s expression turned sour.

“What… what the fuck?” he asked, before walking away.