Is America Drying Up?

Making News

Criticism of Response to California Fires Mounts ()

Decreasing winds in Southern California are giving firefighters a chance to gain ground.  Some residents are being allowed to go home or to see what's left of their homes.  Others are still being evacuated. Damage estimates are at least a billion dollars in San Diego County alone. Tony Manolantos reports for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Guests:

• Tony Manolatos: Staff Writer, San Diego Union-Tribune

Links:

• Southern California Fire Report

Main Topic

Fires, Drought and Our Role in the Destruction They Cause ()

After a year with almost no rain in Southern California, almost a million people have been forced from their homes in just four days. The National Climate Data Center has reported that 43% of the country is in condition of moderate to extreme drought.  Although California's wildfires and evacuations have dominated this week's news, on the other side of the country, there's a kind of slow-motion disaster that has Georgia, Alabama and Florida competing for a dwindling supply of water. It's also hotter and drier than usual in Minnesota, the North East and the Mid-Atlantic. Is it a spell of strange weather or long-term climate change? Is it caused by global warming? Will industry, agriculture and residential development have to change to ward off future disaster?

Guests:

• Matt Kempner: Staff Writer, Atlanta Journal Constitution
• Peter Gleick: Co-Founder and President, Pacific Institute
• Jon Gertner: Contributing Writer, New York Times Magazine
• Frank Harmon: Architect
• Steve Doyle: Past President, California Building Industry Association

Links:

• Southern Nevada Water Authority
• The Law of the River
• Gertner's article on global warming and drought
• Kempner's article on water-saving efforts in Atlanta

Reporter's Notebook

Curses, Miracles and the World Series ()

The Colorado Rockies won 21 of their last 22 games this year, one of the hottest season-ending streaks in the history of baseball. They've had to wait eight days for tonight's World Series opener against the Boston Red Sox, who were behind Cleveland three games to one before winning the American League championship. The Red Sox were loveable losers for decades before they won the 2004 World Series. The Rockies had never won anything until they became this year's "miracle team." John Thorn is editor of Total Baseball: The Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball.

Guests:

• John Thorn: Baseball historian