34 TX Communities Have 3 Months' Water; 12 45 Days; Past 43 Mos. Driest Ever In Panhandle
Like California, Texas is on the verge of an epic drought that can devastate the state's livestock and agriculture industries and force consumers to ration water in the next several months. Moreover, the threat of dust storms and wildfires continue to grow as the drought continues into the Spring and Summer.
About 90 percent of Texas is currently under drought conditions, and the state's northern panhandle and southwest regions are experiencing 'catastrophic' conditions. Northern Texas is already nine inches behind in rainfall for this year. This historic drought began in October 2010. In northwest Texas, which includes the panhandle, the past 43 months are the driest in recorded history.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is keeping tabs on where the water is scarce enough to draw concern. It has found that 34 communities could run out of water within three months. Moreover, a dozen municipal areas are reporting that they have 45 days or less of water.
Fast-moving fires are already starting to move through Texas, destroying homes and forcing residents to flee. In the panhandle, more than 300 firefighters recently contained a fire that raged for five days. Fanned by 40-mph winds, the fire destroyed more than 200 homes, displacing 700 people. Almost 2,600 acres have burned.
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http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/texas-drought-spawning-fires-and-dust-bowl-conditions
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