U.S. Drought Getting Deadlier
Posted by feww on June 27, 2011
Drought Conditions to Worsen: FIRE-EARTH
Drought Conditions in the Southern U.S. Continue to Fuel Wildfires
Drought conditions are destroying or causing extensive damage to crops in the southern United States, fueling wildfires that have consumed about 8 million acres, so far this year, killing wildlife and farm animals alike, destroying thousands of homes and leaving tens of thousands of people displaced in at least a dozen states.
In the past 3 days States of Emergency have been declared in at least 87 counties spanning three states of Kansas, Oklahoma and North Carolina.
Kansas Drought
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated 25 more Kansas counties as disaster areas due to crop damage caused by the ongoing drought.
Oklahoma Drought
Drought conditions and raging wildfires in Oklahoma prompted the Lt Gov to declare a state of emergency for 33 counties in that state.
North Carolina Drought
On Friday, N.C. Gov. declared a state of emergency in 29 counties due to drought conditions and raging wildfires.
- State of Emergency Declared in 29 North Carolina Counties
- State of Emergency Declared for 33 Oklahoma Counties
- Disaster Declared in 25 More Kansas Counties
U.S. Drought Map for June 21. Compared with the previous week (see below) the latest drought map show worsening drought conditions, in all categories (C0 -C4) throughout the stricken areas.
Note: US Drought Monitor defines drought as “a protracted period of deficient precipitation resulting in extensive damage to crops, resulting in loss of yield.”
U.S. Drought Map for June 14, 2011 included for comparison. (See above).
The Drought Monitor Report
According to the Drought Monitor report, 70 percent of Texas experienced “exceptional drought,” the worst level of drought, over the period June 17 – June 24, 2011.
Also 91 percent of the sate was stricken by either exceptional or “extreme” drought, the second-worst category.
Arizona was experiencing exceptional or extreme drought in 70 percent of its land up by 3 percent from the previous period.
Louisiana saw exceptional drought rising to 65 percent of the state, a near three-fold increase, and Oklahoma 35 percent, up from about 8 percent previously.
Drought Monitor Maps showing classification changes for selected time periods. Source: National Drought Mitigation Center/UNL. Click images to enlarge.
Drought Conditions to Worsen
FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show an exceptional worsening of drought conditions in the southern and western United States through October/November 2011.
External Links
- Texas Wildfires Could Cost $500 Million
- The cost of wildfires in Arizona soars to more than $100 million
- “Right now, Georgia can’t afford any more wildfires”
- Cost to battle Duckett Fire estimated at $5.2 million
Related Links
- Massive Pender Fire Killing Many Animals
- U.S. Wildfires News and Blame Games
- WARNING: Global Disasters – June 21, 2011
- North America Fire and Smoke Hazards – June 20
- Wildfires Raging in Arizona, Alaska, NC, Georgia, Texas …
- U.S. Wildfires – June 21 Update
- U-S Drought: Mega Disaster Unfolding
Fire Earth 
Leave a Reply