I don't know how much coverage this is getting on national news, but we're currently living in a tinderbox here in Central Texas. The winds from TS Lee whipped through this part of the country this weekend, and that combined with a historically devastating drought and 80 days over 100 degrees this summer sparked wildfires that are still burning out of control.
Bastrop County (about 30 miles east of Austin) started burning Sunday morning. Last I heard they have lost 25,000 acres to the fire, and it still is not contained. Approximately 500 houses were completely burned, hundreds more damaged, and thousands of people are now homeless and have lost everything.
All around Austin fires have been springing up for the last 2 days. About 7 miles south of me in Steiner Ranch (nice suburban lake-side community) they lost 25 homes and evacuated 4000 people who are just returning today. It took them a very long time to contain the fire, as most state resources were tied up in Bastrop. They had the one city helicopter dropping water, but it had to split its time between Steiner and the other fire that started 7 miles north of me in Leander, where 11 homes were destroyed. 15 miles further south there were another 20 houses and 5000 acres of woodlands destroyed, similar story about 15 miles west of here.
It's just so dry... and has been so hot... we are 16 inches below average rainfall for the year, and have experienced the hottest summer ever recorded (beat the record for days over 100 degrees by 2 whole weeks). There is no rain in the forecast, and the weather-experts are predicting extreme drought conditions until at least November.
If you are the praying sort, please remember Austin and our neighbors in your prayers. Please send up a little extra positive energy for the firefighters who have been battling hard for several days now, and who will have to continue for several more.
If I can get this link to work, this is a picture overlooking downtown Austin. The giant cloud of smoke and ash in the background is the Bastrop fire - over 30 miles away.
(photo credit to Deanna Roy - deannaroy.com)
~krashnash
Bastrop County (about 30 miles east of Austin) started burning Sunday morning. Last I heard they have lost 25,000 acres to the fire, and it still is not contained. Approximately 500 houses were completely burned, hundreds more damaged, and thousands of people are now homeless and have lost everything.
All around Austin fires have been springing up for the last 2 days. About 7 miles south of me in Steiner Ranch (nice suburban lake-side community) they lost 25 homes and evacuated 4000 people who are just returning today. It took them a very long time to contain the fire, as most state resources were tied up in Bastrop. They had the one city helicopter dropping water, but it had to split its time between Steiner and the other fire that started 7 miles north of me in Leander, where 11 homes were destroyed. 15 miles further south there were another 20 houses and 5000 acres of woodlands destroyed, similar story about 15 miles west of here.
It's just so dry... and has been so hot... we are 16 inches below average rainfall for the year, and have experienced the hottest summer ever recorded (beat the record for days over 100 degrees by 2 whole weeks). There is no rain in the forecast, and the weather-experts are predicting extreme drought conditions until at least November.
If you are the praying sort, please remember Austin and our neighbors in your prayers. Please send up a little extra positive energy for the firefighters who have been battling hard for several days now, and who will have to continue for several more.
If I can get this link to work, this is a picture overlooking downtown Austin. The giant cloud of smoke and ash in the background is the Bastrop fire - over 30 miles away.
(photo credit to Deanna Roy - deannaroy.com)
~krashnash
I'm so sorry for that 
Please be safe my friend 
