Texas is battling a raging wildfire that has broken out in Bastrop, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. The fires have already scorched more than 100,000 acres of land and burned several hundred homes throughout Central Texas. Many communities have been evacuated as no end is currently in sight for the wildfires. The disaster is expected to add to the financial strain bearing down on the nation’s insurance industry, which is already reeling from two costly flooding disasters stemming from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Insurers are estimating that the…
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Slower Winds Bring Hope to Firefighters Battling Texas Wildfires
BOSTON, Sept. 6, 2011 – According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, fire crews in Texas have fought nearly 19,000 wildfires since the beginning of this year. Approximately 3.6 million acres-an area the size of Connecticut-have been consumed in the state, accounting for nearly half of all the acreage burned by wildfires in the entire United States this year. “The fires have been especially severe because of the 2011 southern United States drought that has persisted throughout the year,” said Dr. Tomas Girnius, senior research scientist at AIR Worldwide. “The…
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