By Jessica Faris
November 12, 2007

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders drew favorable comparisons to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for his leadership during the devastating wildfires that raged throughout southern California last month. His office cooperated with local, state, and federal officials to ensure adequate information and relief were delivered to the people of San Diego and surrounding communities during and after the conflagration.

Beginning October 21, nine fires burned throughout San Diego County. An estimated 1,666 homes and businesses were destroyed, 369,216 acres burned, seven deaths and 123 injuries reportedly caused from the fires.

Sanders regularly gave live televised news conferences, providing a reassuring presence throughout the ordeal while encouraging residents to be prepared to leave at a moments notice. He reminded residents to stay inside, avoid unnecessary cellular phone calls and leave freeway usage for emergency personnel and evacuating individuals. He also encouraged people to donate necessary goods to the evacuees at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium which housed an estimated 13,000 evacuees. The stadium shelter was run by San Diego city since the Red Cross was “maxed out” after setting up numerous shelters throughout the area. An estimated 27,000 evacuees stayed in local shelters.

Regarding the evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium, Sanders said that they felt “safe” and “cared for.” Supplies and volunteers poured in from surrounding areas, making sure food, baby supplies and other necessities were available.

Sanders announced in a press conference with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that his recovery package for wildfire victims was passed unanimously by the San Diego City Council on October 30. It includes waiving permit fees for demolishing and rebuilding homes that have burned down. It also provides vouchers for recycling and disposing of non-recyclable materials, as an incentive for homeowners to begin the process of rebuilding. Building permits for fire destroyed homes will also have the highest priority for future permit evaluation.

In September, before the fires, Sanders unveiled a new evacuation alert system, known as a reverse 911 system, which could call telephones and cellular phones with a pre-recorded emergency message. Officials estimated that it could call 240,000 households an hour. Within a month, the system proved invaluable, as San Diego officials estimate that over 500,000 people received evacuation alerts through the new system. The system was first approved after the Cedars fire of 2003 in the same region. Though that fire did not prompt so many evacuations it resulted in 16 deaths, more than twice the number reported for the recent fires.

The evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium was one of the most visible signs of successful leadership and cooperation, housing thousands of evacuees from October 22– 26. Thousands of volunteers offered their time, services and possessions at the city-run shelter. More food was provided than the evacuees could eat. There were designated areas for grief counseling and childcare, as well as free massages and acupuncture. Governor Schwarzenegger sent thousands of cots sent to the center so people had adequate places to sleep. The Governor toured the stadium Monday and Tuesday after its opening, praising Sanders for his calmness and hard work, saying that the mayor had shown “unbelievable leadership…always a step ahead of things, organizing things.”