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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Texas drought costing billions in losses
While much of the South in inundated with water, Texas is suffering from one of the worst droughts in recent history. Last week, the level of drought rose a staggering 22%, putting the level at 48%. There have been more than 9,000 wildfires throughout the state, causing damage to some 400 homes and burning 2.2 million acres of land. Texas officials are seeking aid from the federal government to help mitigate the expected $3 billion in losses because of the severe drought. Farmers across the state are reporting damage to…
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