A year ago, L.A. was drowning. More rain had fallen since anyone could remember (though we do have short memories regarding weather). There was no extended media hype & prediction of the disastrous weather like in 1997 when the news predicted - and hyped -1998's El Nino conditions.
But last year, on February 21st, it was the sinkhole in Sun Valley that gripped our City. It was one year ago that Rory Shaw, a city engineer known for his dedication to his job and the City, was swept into the hole and died as he worked to secure it. (Later that week, two more Public Works employees died while at work, but this time it was at the hand of a co-worker who came to the maintenance yard with an AK-47.)
Weather and death - two topics the media in L.A. loves to cover. If this was a modern trend, I'd be concerned; but on February 21, 1941, nature showed its power. On that day 65 years ago, the L.A. Times heralded what would be a familiar headline: "Four dead as torrential rains cripple Southland traffic."
This weekend, we were told about a storm that was coming into the area. Like 1997, there was hype but, unlike 1998, no real effects.
It goes to show a truth about L.A.: the weather is news, even if it doesn't happen.
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