Disaster Declared for 61 Counties in 5 States

Drought and winterkill spell disaster for 61 counties across the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 61 counties in five states as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the worsening drought, and winterkill.

Drought Disaster

USDA has designated a total of 5 counties in Idaho as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the worsening drought.

The latest disaster designations, issued on July 10 include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

Winterkill: Disasters  Caused by Extreme Weather Events

USDA has further designated as disaster areas a total of 56 counties  in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of heavy rainfall followed by freezing temperatures and multiple periods of thawing and refreezing, resulting in winterkill that occurred between January 1 and May 15, 2013 in 56 counties.

Related Links

• Disaster Declared for 140 Counties in 10 States July 4, 2013
• U.S. Drought Expands for 4th Week July 11, 2013
• US: Drought Disaster 2013 [Index Page]

Disaster Declared for 140 Counties in 10 States

USDA declares agricultural disasters in 140 counties in ten states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 140 counties in ten states as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought (85 counties), and the combined effects of excessive rain, excessive snow, and multiple periods of thawing and refreezing (55 counties).

Drought Disaster

USDA has designated a total of 85 counties in seven state—California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming—as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.

The latest disaster designations, issued on July 3 include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

Winterkill: Disaster caused by Extreme Weather

USDA has further designated as disaster areas a total of 55 counties  in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of excessive rain, excessive snow, and multiple periods of thawing and refreezing, resulting in winterkill that occurred Jan. 1 – May 21, 2013.

 

Drought Turning Texas Parched Dry

Stop Squeezing Nature to YOUR Death!

Drought is transforming Texas into a large dry parched land

Texas is the most drought-stricken state in the country. Waterways across south-central Texas are drying up, and there’s no telling how much longer the supplies will last. Water levels are down significantly in lakes, rivers and wells throughout Texas.

US Drought Map [As dated]

State of Texas

Drought statistics released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that 77 of Texas’ 254 counties are in extreme or exceptional drought, the two most severe categories, which makes Texas the only state in the continental U.S. falling in those categories.

Climatologists expect the harsh drought conditions to continue for at least another 5 weeks.

Some 230 Texas public water systems are under mandatory water restrictions, covering areas in and around Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Another 70 have urged customers for voluntary cutbacks.

Farmer Michael Schaefer of St. Hedwig, Texas, says small ears on his yellow field corn show the effect of drought. ‘‘It’s pretty bad…and the 105-degree temperature doesn’t help either,’’ Schaefer said. Photo: John Davenport/Zuma Press. Image may be subject to copyright.

“In the bone-dry San Antonio-Austin area, the conditions that started in 2007 are being compared to the devastating drought of the 1950s. There have been 36 days of 100 degrees or more this year in an area where there are usually closer to 12.” AP reported.

“Among the most obvious problems are the lack of water in Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan near Austin, two massive reservoirs along the Colorado River that provide drinking water for more than 1 million people and also are popular boating and swimming spots. Streams and tributaries that feed the lakes have ‘all but dried up,’ according to the Lower Colorado River Authority.”

The water level in Lake Travis is down 54 percent, with all but one of the 12 boating ramps closed because they are too far from the edge of the water, “and the last may go soon. The receding waters have even revealed old stolen cars shoved into the lake years ago, authorities said.”

Related Links:

• Drought and Deluge

• CO2e Links Page
• World CO2 Emissions
• Carbon Footprint of Your Dollar
• New York Cognitive Dissonance

• Reduce Harmful Emissions by Wealthy Individuals
• First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities