In fire's path, lessons learned

One major bonus for FEMA in this disaster, say observers, is that Mr. Paulison is a 30-year firefighting veteran.

"No disrespect to previous FEMA chiefs, but Paulison understands the dynamics of fire and has been able to model FEMA into a better reactionary force because of it," says Reynolds.

But some critics have a different view, saying the San Diego episode shows that FEMA is too reactionary, and has given up on its earlier goal of preventing disasters rather than responding to them.

"The Bush administration and the federal government have still moved away from the FEMA approach of the '90s," says R. Scott Fosler, senior fellow at the University of Maryland who has studied FEMA. "That [approach] was to get both states and federal government to stop just responding to emergencies and instead look at why they occur and limit the liability ahead of time."

But he adds that "FEMA has learned from its past and now has people of responsibility that have professional expertise."

Although that expertise has contributed to smoother fire, evacuation, and shelter operations around San Diego, it is less so with federal operations outside the state, says Carson.

"It was wonderful that California called for additional help early and that the state drove fire engines from northern California," says Carson. "But if they had loaded firefighters and engines into US military planes on large scale, they would have been available way earlier."

Later stages of FEMA's effectiveness – how it handles fire claims and reimbursements – have not yet been assessed as officials continue to cope with fires that are still days from being put out.

Damage assessments are beginning to trickle in. Property damage in San Diego County alone is expected to total at least $1 billion, according to officials there Wednesday.

As of press time 16 wildfires have destroyed some 1,500 homes and burned nearly 600 square miles in the seven-county region. One person has been confirmed dead.

But at Qualcomm stadium on Tuesday, disarray was not in evidence.

"This is a very sad and hard time for me, but this is pretty well organized," says Michelle Christian, who fled her home in Ramona on Saturday night, taking her 18-month-old son and her dog to the stadium.

And Jennifer Dillon said she was grateful for clowns and face painters who roamed the stadium grounds, helping to make kids laugh. Booths were set up in every corner offering "everything from free phone calls to any place in the country to insurance claims help," she says.

But she still is a bit on edge about politician and government promises.

"I just hope that the promises to rebuild actually happen or I don't know what I'll do," she says.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) of California says since she was a state official during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, FEMA has improved in getting out in front of problems and learning how to coordinate.

"The important difference between FEMA during Katrina and now is that they have actually learned to bring people together as a team," says Senator Boxer.

On Tuesday, President Bush declared a federal emergency for seven counties, which will hasten disaster-relief efforts. He is scheduled to tour the disaster area on Thursday with Governor Schwarzenegger.

• Gordon Lubold contributed from Washington, and AP material was used in this report.

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