Intense Weather Conditions Pose Major Risks
Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
EAST TEXAS – It’s hard to believe, but statistically, last year’s summer was even worse – with hotter and drier days lasting even longer than this year. That’s small comfort to residents, ranchers and gardeners who watch their land dry to a crisp brown and keep an eye out for any puffs of smoke along the horizon.
The big fire at the sawmill in Kennard over the weekend (see related story in today’s edition) only highlighted the risk the area faces when it comes to dry, brittle trees, winds and no water in the sky or on the ground.
Like most of the state, Houston County and surrounding counties are all under burn bans, causing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a disaster declaration for 191 counties throughout the state.
“The State of Texas continues working with local officials to respond to critical wildfire activity across the entire state,” said Abbott. “I issued a disaster declaration to surge the deployment of additional resources and assistance to 191 counties currently experiencing dangerous wildfire conditions. As we continue to respond to wildfire conditions across the state, Texas is ready to provide any additional resources and aid to impacted communities. I commend the bravery and service of the hundreds of emergency personnel and firefighters who have swiftly responded to the wildfires to protect their fellow Texans and communities. Texans are encouraged to remain weather-aware and heed the guidance of state and local officials.”
The declaration puts state resources at the disposal of local governments, including everything from heavy equipment, paramedics and ambulance staff to Blackhawk helicopters with firefighting capabilities from the Texas National Guard.
Closer to home, Houston County Office of Emergency Management’s Heath Murff is working with local fire departments to keep resources surging where needed and at the same time, spread around the county to answer additional calls as needed.
Murff said the notice of the burn ban is essential, hoping everyone by now understands burning is a no-no.
“Right now, we are seeing very few calls on burn-ban violations – there have been some and we have issued some citations and will continue to do so.”
Murff said the increased activity is usually due to much more mundane, every-day situations which require locals to heighten their awareness of their activities and surroundings.
“Dead trees and limbs falling on power lines is a big problem,” Murff explained. “Mechanical fires – from machinery hitting a rock in a field and causing a spark or sparks caused by wheels or blowouts – we’ve had a combination of incidents and all it takes now it one little spark.”
Houston County Weather Guru and The Messenger’s in-house expert on weather issues Dan McElhany said this is a typical summer pattern but there may be some good news coming in the forecast.
“Unfortunately, this is a pretty typical summer pattern over East Texas,” McElhany said. “As long as this high pressure system is in place – and it has been since the third week of June – and we just can’t seem to get rid of it. As long as that’s in place, it suppresses any thunderstorm activity or any kind of tropical development. This happens every summer, almost without fail.”
“We actually have a cool front coming through the next day or two with a chance for some showers. But about 80% of the people won’t get a drop, but it will also cool us off about 10 degrees,” McElhany continued. “That’s only going to be temporary and then we’ll go back to the heat again. But we do have some indications that somewhere around the end of August, maybe starting as early as the 20th, this high pressure is going to move on off to the northeast of us and that should open the gates for some more normal kind of weather, with some shower activity.”
Murff said vigilance is the best way to keep a tiny spark from devastating our area.
“I think people are finally realizing the seriousness of it. It’s been over over 50 days since we’ve had any measurable rainfall. And then before that, it was another 20 days, so we’re on a pretty long streak here. Drought, coupled with triple-digit temperatures, low humidity and high winds – it’s just a recipe for disaster,” Murff noted.
As The Messenger has reported, much of the equipment needed to keep the fires away is in place, with a few exceptions. The biggest need is for local men and women to step up and fill those trucks and work the equipment.
“Everybody’s in the same boat – we’re short on manpower,” Murff pointed out. “If we have the equipment, we may not have the personnel to operate it. So we’re calling anybody and everybody and as soon as we can release them, we’re trying to get them back home to their districts to cover their response area. We’ve been fortunate we haven’t had multiple fires in different parts of the county all at the same time.”
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
