December 23, 2005
Texas is about to finish 2005 as the 10th driest year on record. We have not had any significant rain since the first week of August. Central Texas is over -9 inches for the year. 155 out of 274 counties in Texas are in Severe/Extreme Drought conditions, and have burn bans in place, meaning no outdoor burning of any kind.
Here in the greater Waco area, we normally see 2-3 house fires per WEEK on the news. Since Thanksgiving we have been seeing 2-3 house fires per DAY in the greater Waco area. Not to mention the fact that we have a lunatic arsonist on the loose here in my county. This arsonist is burning up what little grazing the ranchers have left, not to mention scores of hay bales, and a couple of barns. The wonderful sheriff's department says they can't afford to patrol the more rural areas of the county where the arsonist like to strike. So we have to fend for ourselves.
The ranchers are selling their cattle as fast as they can get them to market. Many farmers are already out of hay, and most others will be running out in January. There is no winter wheat or oats for the cattle to graze on, as there has been no rain to sprout it.
I know there are many more important things for you to talk about, but please let the people know what we are going through. This has been an eye opening experience for me from the survival standpoint as I have always worried about water supplies in a drought condition. I now know which creeks are still running, and which are dry. Now I know I will have to modify my bugout locations in a emergency.
Please keep us in your prayers, and thank you for all that you do for us.
TG