I am beginning to believe that southern California is the most dangerous place in the world to live.

Fire destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of property, including homes and businesses. People fought valiantly alongside first responders to save their belongings and those of their neighbors. Their heroism has become the stuff of legend.

The infamous Santa Ana wind died down eventually, giving firefighters a chance to extinguish the flames.

Now we have this: torrential rain and mudslides that have torn through Santa Barbara County.

It poured off of mountainsides into neighborhoods. It ripped homes off their foundation. It buried homes, motor vehicles and, tragically, people.

How do the rest of react to these tales of despair and misery?

It breaks our hearts. I am trying only to imagine how one copes with the threat of such devastation, let alone how they deal with its actual consequence.

We are going to hear about more heroism in the days to come as we watch this region seek to fight against these irresistible forces. It won’t make me feel any better about the misery that has overwhelmed our fellow Americans.

I am left only to pray for those who are coping with the tragedy that has swept over them.