Part of the problem is Texas did not plan for this (even with a month or more of obvious warning about hot and dry). The northwest cannot send help because of the major files in Oregon. There is also one in north central WA. National fire map: http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/#
We have seen the news coverage of the fires down there. Best I can offer is to be safe, keep an eye on them and be prepared to leave quickly.
a suggestion: we have a minimum security prison in our community. The crews from there do lawn, garden and park maintenance. We like have them to those things for us. they also train and provide wildfire teams to fight forest fires in the area. About 2 years ago the state announced they plan to close the place and our community fought hard to keep it open because there are no other wildfire teams in this part of the state. We train wildfire teams to prepare for these events. Texas could learn.
Mary
The cold front has brought comfortable temperatures but VERY strong winds and VERY low relative humidities. Hundreds of homes, most in central Texas but some just north of the Houston area, have burned. VERY dangerous fire weather. Crews are coming from as far as North Dakota, and Austin has asked for ANYONE with fire experience to call and come help. No rain in the forecast for at least two weeks. I wish people would take it upon themselves to beat the living daylights out of anybody who flicks a cigarette butt. Maybe then someone would get the message. The fire north of Houston is in piney woods and is "crown hopping", spreading very fast. The wind is from the north so there will be smoke over the Houston area over the next few days, no doubt. Grimes, Walker and Montgomery Counties are just north and northwest of Houston. I drive through Montgomery on my way to Dallas/Ft. Worth and back. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8342579 http://www.khou.com/news/Wildfire-threatening-Renaissance-Festival-grounds-in-Grimes-County-129268548.html http://www.click2houston.com/news/29086323/detail.html http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/weather/110905-grimes-county-wildfire-evacuations Those fires are the ones closest to Houston. The one near Bastrop, in the central part of the state closer to Austin, has burned almost 500 homes so far (in TWO DAYS!). On Sep 5, 2011, at 10:35 PM, elcam84@xxxxxxxxx wrote:Well looks like hell is over and summer is starting. The other day it was 103 yesterday it was 95 and today it was about 83. Windows have been open all day and the first day in 4 months that the ac hasn't run. Took the cats out this morning and it was about 70 and it felt cold. They enjoyed being outside for more than 5 minutes and not constantly panting. Has been a very nice day. 60s tonight may have to turn the heater on :) it took a tropical stormm to help pull the cold front down but finally below 100 every day. And two days in a row under 100 and looks like 80s all week. Snow will be here in two weeks. We go straight from summer to winter. Finally got Geri motivated on a vacation. Looking at going to the dominican republic for a few day at an all inclusive. 550 for 4 or 5 nights for both of us. Only other cost will be the 35 a person entry and exit fees. Mexico is now 50 a person so will try to avoid going there. Anyway made some progress on the laundry room. Sanded the drywall and it's ready to texture. Only going to do the upper half of the wall. The ceiling will be bead board and the bottom half of the walls will either be bead board or a painted frame and panel. Will take pics when i get the texture sprayed on. Robert Adams Rules: Please play nicely with others. -List members page (text& pic links): http://www.myelcamino.net/eclist.htm -List members page (all pics): http://www.myelcamino.net/ec_list.htmRules: Please play nicely with others. -List members page (text& pic links): http://www.myelcamino.net/eclist.htm -List members page (all pics): http://www.myelcamino.net/ec_list.htm
Rules: Please play nicely with others. -List members page (text & pic links): http://www.myelcamino.net/eclist.htm -List members page (all pics): http://www.myelcamino.net/ec_list.htm
