Much of the state remains at considerable risk for wildfires through this week, largely because of higher-than-usual temperatures and drought conditions. More than 40% of the state is suffering extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Nearly the entire state is in some form of drought, with much of the Panhandle, High Plains and west central Texas most at risk.
Nearly 123,000 acres in Texas have burned in March alone, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. Earlier this month, more than 54,000 acres burned in Eastland County, between Fort Worth and Abilene. A sheriff’s deputy died while trying to rescue others from that blaze.
A fast-moving fire forced Medina County residents near Medina Lake to evacuate on Saturday, according to the San Antonio Express-News. That blaze reportedly started with a vehicle fire and quickly covered nearly 1,000 acres.
Climate change is playing a role in this hot and dry spring, John Nielsen-Gammon, the state climatologist, told the Texas Tribune.
“There are enhanced chances of warmer-than-normal weather for literally the foreseeable future because of the combination of La Niña and climate change,” Nielsen-Gammon said.
La Niña is a weather pattern that occurs in the Pacific Ocean. It typically brings colder, wetter weather to the Northwest and drier, hotter conditions in Texas and the South.
INSURANCE TIPS AFTER SPRING STORMS
It’s spring storm season.
More than two dozen tornadoes swept through Central and East Texas early last week, damaging about 1,000 homes from Round Rock, north of Austin, to Gilmer in Northeast Texas. The Texas Department of Insurance is available to provide contact information for insurance companies to homeowners and businesses and can also help with questions about how to file a claim. Its Help Line —800-252-3439 — is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
TDI advises folks to report property damage as soon as possible to their insurance agent or company. Other tips:
Take pictures and video of the damage. Don’t throw away anything until the insurance adjuster tells you.
Make temporary repairs, such as covering broken windows and removing standing water.
Don’t make permanent repairs before the adjuster sees the damage.
TPW AWARDS $12.5 MILLION IN PARK GRANTS
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission last week awarded more than $12.5 million in grants to enhance and expand outdoor recreational spaces at 26 community parks statewide. The money is provided on a 50/50 match and is used to create more nature trails, native gardens, playgrounds, dog parks and athletic fields.
Money was awarded in three categories: cities with more than 500,000 population, cities with less than 500,000 population and towns of less than 20,000 population. A complete list of grant recipients can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases.
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email: [email protected].
