I'm becoming picky about this. In this post by Glenn Reynolds the reporter in the story says that the area looks like a war zone.

As a journalistic, advertising, PR kind of gal I'd say you don't want to describe the effects of a natural disaster that way in a time that you are making war.

(It might also help if you've ever seen a war zone. Interestingly enough, of all the things my brother threw away, he kept his Army uniform. He is an authentic Vietnam Vet. I have some letters. He wasn't on the front lines. But he did weigh about 140 at the time.)

Not that there's much ultimate difference.

Just sayin'.