We read about the number of deaths due to COVID-19, or about the wildfires in the west, and it is hard to wrap our heads around the numbers and impact.
So, I decided to make some maps to show what it would look like if these catastrophes had happened just in Kentucky. Perhaps this will help us to conceptualize the devastation caused by these two concurrent, ongoing traumas.
Deaths from COVID-19
As a nation, we are closing in on 200,000 dead from COVID-19. In Kentucky, we have been fortunate to have a governor who follows the science and takes the actions necessary to keep us safe, so our deaths have been kept lower than other states.
But what would 200,000 deaths be like in Kentucky? Here’s one way to look at that.
Each of the greyed-out sections of the map represents approximately 200,000 people. Imagine if every person in one of those collection of counties, from the oldest to the most recent newborn, got sick and died. That’s one way of visualizing 200,000 dead from the pandemic.
Acres burned in the western wildfires
The wildfire situation in the western states of California, Oregon, and Washington is exceptionally bad, and may be getting worse. Two of the largest wildfires may merge this weekend, becoming a “super fire.”
As of a few days ago, the fires had burned approximately 5,300 square miles in those three states. (It is surely more, perhaps much more, by the time you read this.) Not just trees and plants, but buildings, homes, cars – everything in the path of the wildfires is destroyed.
But again, 5,300 square miles sounds like a lot, but it’s hard to visualize. Perhaps this map will help.
Every one of the orange areas is approximately 5,300 square miles of land. Imagine a fire in any one of those locations that wound up destroying everything in the counties in orange. Imagine the number of families suddenly homeless. Imagine the businesses destroyed. Imagine the possible loss of life.
Final thoughts
We are living in stressful, overwhelming times. But sometimes, it is hard to grasp just how bad some things are. So, as you hear the news about the pandemic, or the wildfires, keep the people dealing with these things in your thoughts — and prayers, if you pray — and remember that we have to stick together to get through this.
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