Clean Up and Rebuilding Efforts In Fire-Ravaged Paradise, CA Have Come to a Standstill – Over Frogs

I’m sorry, but this is one of the most California things I have ever heard.

As you probably remember, the town of Paradise, California was burned to the ground during the Camp Fire last year. People lost absolutely everything.  “The fire destroyed over 18,000 buildings and killed 85 people. Authorities were unable to account for roughly 1,200 other people. The fire burned down the town of Paradise, and its 27,000 residents were forced to leave to find new homes or rebuild.”

Damages amounted at over 11 BILLION dollars.

Now, efforts to clean up the rubble, and attempts to recover and rebuild have come to a standstill – over endangered frogs.

According to Daily Caller:

Endangered frogs in California are making it difficult for state officials to decide on regulations that allow fire crews to clean up debris left from a deadly fire in the town of Paradise.

Clean-up crew have been barred, however, from entering approximately 800 sites because of frog species that have halted rebuilding and clearing efforts as state and federal seek an agreement on environmental guidelines, The Sacramento Bee reported Friday.

Now don’t me wrong – I’m a tree hugger at heart. I’m all about conserving and preserving our Earth. But COME ON. These people lost EVERYTHING – they deserve to be prioritized. Figure it out QUICKLY, California.

Cleanup on roughly 11,000 properties in Paradise, Concow and Magalia has been halted due to the lack of clarity in environment guidelines that will both achieve clearing and rebuilding efforts, and protect endangered species. “We are close to finalizing those plans. We are trying to balance the need to get these properties cleared as quickly as possible but also protecting our environment out there,” said Inland Region Administrator for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Eric Lamoureux, according to the Bee.

Lamoureux ALSO claimed that cleanup efforts haven’t been slowed or stopped by the finalizing of guidelines. That doesn’t appear to be the case.

Clear Creek resident Alicia Rock claimed that cleanup on her property was meant to begin on Tuesday but has been indefinitely postponed due to a lack of official guidelines. Rock’s home was destroyed in the fire.

“I have followed the process to a T. Now I am being held up,” she said. “Come on guys, you’ve had six months. You knew this was coming,” Rock said, according to the Bee.

EXACTLY.

The frogs aren’t a freaking SURPRISE. Why didn’t they plan for this to begin with?

Rock also called the situation “stupid” and said that officials should have prepared for what they knew would happen.

Rock alleges that she told state officials in early winter that debris from the fire was piling up in streams and creeks and that they should have thought ahead to prepare for the current situation dampening rebuilding efforts.

It’s all TYPICAL California bullcrap.

Chop FREAKING Chop, folks.