Burn Bans/Drought/Fires/Water Supply
Monthly Change in Drought Monitor Classification
Burn Bans
August 1, 2011 – Burn Bans were on the rise across the state.
KUHF Houston, David Pitman, August 1, 2011.
August 19, 2011 – A record-breaking 250 counties in Texas were under a burn ban.
The Houston Chronicle, August 19, 2011.
August 2, 2011 – Low lake levels lead to a find of Columbia shuttle debris in East Texas.
The Houston Chronicle, Eric Berger, August 2, 2011.
August 4, 2011 – Texas reached the record of the worst one-year drought ever.
My San Antonio, Eric Berger, August 4, 2011.
August 6, 2011 – The worst one-year drought was estimated to have cost $7 billion in damages.
Temple Daily Telegram, Cristina Waits, August 6, 2011.
August 7, 2011 – The drought provided researchers with valuable and ample data concerning dry-resistant crops in the High Plains.
My Plainview, Richard Porter, August 7, 2011.
August 10, 2011 – Experts from Texas A&M University provided tips on how to handle the drought and heat wave.
Texas A&M University, August 10, 2011.
August 14, 2011 – East Texans prayed for rain and relief from the drought.
KYTX, Courtney Friedman, August 14, 2011.
August 15, 2011 – The town of Robert Lee faced extinction as they battled the devastating drought.
My San Antonio, Allan Turner, August 15, 2011.
August 16, 2011 – The current drought evoked memories from the dire drought of the 1950s.
Localized USA, August 16, 2011.
August 25, 2011 – Kendall County officials have declared a disaster situation due to the drought.
KSAT San Antonio, August 25, 2011.
Fires
August 8, 2011 – Crews battled a blaze in Burnet County.
The River Cities Daily Tribune, Daniel Clifton, August 8, 2011.
August 13, 2011 – The Ranger Hill Fire was halted by rain near Strawn.
Abilene Reporter News, August 13, 2011.
August 17, 2011 – The heat made fire fighting more dangerous in the Rio Grande Valley.
KRGV Rio Grande Valley, August 17, 2011.
August 18, 2011 – Smith County folks struggled against the numerous fires.
KETK Tyler, Ben Hill, August 18, 2011.
August 22, 2011 – Numerous wildfires spawned in Hays County.
Hays Free Press, August 22, 2011.
August 25, 2011 – Lightning and high winds sparked fifteen wildfires in Lufkin.
The Lufkin News, Jessica Cooley, August 25, 2011.
August 26, 2011 – Six wildfires popped up in Groesbeck when a thunderstorm passed through the area.
KWTX Waco, Brittany Semadeni, August 26, 2011.
August 28, 2011 – Firefighters waged war against an intense grassfire in Converse while enduring record temperatures.
WOAI, Lauren Lea, August 28, 2011.
Water Supply
August 1, 2011 – Lake Houston water levels dropped dramatically.
Houston KUHF, Carrie Feibel, August 1, 2011.
August 3, 2011 – Cotton farmers began to transfer from irrigation to supplement in Lamb County.
KCBD, Abby Reed, August 3, 2011.
August 5, 2011 – Boerne faced stage three water restrictions because of the lack of rain.
The Boerne Star, August 5, 2011.
August 9, 2011 – A reverse osmosis treatment plant provided Wichita Falls with up to 20% of its water this summer.
Times Record News, Hannah Hofmann, August 9, 2011.
August 11, 2011 – West Texans turned to sewage treatment plants for renewable water sources.
KLTV West Texas, August 11, 2011.
August 12, 2011 – The TCEQ temporarily suspended the water rights of river users in the San Saba and Llano Basins.
KUT, Erika Aguilar, August 12, 2011.
August 13, 2011 – Water wells ran dry in Brenham.
Brenham Banner-Press, Allison Smith, August 13, 2011.
August 16, 2011 – Officials transferred 50 million gallons of Lake Conroe water to Lake Houston.
KVUE, Lisa Chavarria and Allison Triarsi, August 16, 2011.
August 19, 2011 – A groundwater emergency was declared in Caddo Parish.
The Houston Chronicle, August 19, 2011.
August 25, 2011 – Angelina County received a proper dose of precipitation.
The Lufkin News, Melissa Crager, August 25, 2011.
August 27, 2011 – Texarkana pursued its residents to conserve water supplies.
The Houston Chronicle, August 27, 2011.
August 31, 2011 – Two towns in Lavaca County continued their voluntary water restrictions.
The Victoria Advocate, August 31, 2011.
Agricultural Impacts
August 3, 2011 – The De Leon Peach and Melon Festival provided sweeter-than-ever melons this year because of the drought.
Abilene Reporter News, Jeremy Goldmeier, August 3, 2011.
August 5, 2011 – The latest crop report explained the dire needs across the state.
Times Record News (Wichita Falls), August 5, 2011.
August 6, 2011 – Cattle ranchers endured a terrible dilemma of selling all of their livestock.
The Jacksonville Daily Progress, Karla Clark, August 6, 2011.
August 8, 2011 – The timber industry in East Texas suffered long-term losses.
The Jacksonville Daily Progress, Lauren LaFleur, August 8, 2011.
August 10, 2011 – The drought evaporated an Evergreen girl’s 4-H project and the hopes of a scholarship for college.
Eastex Advocate, Cassie Gregory, August 10, 2011.
August 11, 2011 – Grasshopper populations have boomed in the dry, sparse conditions.
The Jacksonville Daily Progress, Karla Clark, August 11, 2011.
August 14, 2011 – A new drought and wildlife website was made available to the public to use as a resource.
My Plainview, Steve Byrns, August 14, 2011.
August 17, 2011 – The latest agricultural report indicated a net $5.2 billion in losses to the drought.
The Austin-American Statesman, Farzad Mashhood, August 17, 2011.
August 18, 2011 – Vineyards and wineries gusted well with the consistent heat this summer.
KLTV, Annette Falconer, August 18, 2011.
August 20, 2011 – West Texas cotton farmers were slammed by the drought.
My San Antonio, Loren Steffy, August 20, 2011.
August 21, 2011 – South Texas cotton growers hoped for a better outcome, and they may get it.
Plainview Herald, August 21, 2011.
August 23, 2011 – Peach and grape production was slammed this year in the face of weather.
The Houston Chronicle, William Pack, August 23, 2011.
August 24, 2011 – The peanut crop in Texas dwindled this summer.
San Angelo Standard Times, Jerry Lackey, August 24, 2011.
August 26, 2011 – Drought was the underlying focus of the Cattle Conference in Big Country.
Times Record News (Wichita Falls), Hanaba Munn, August 26, 2011.
August 27, 2011 – New drought-resistant agricultural technology was unveiled at Texas Tech University.
Fox 34 Lubbock, Jessica Miller, August 27, 2011.
August 28, 2011 – Wheat farmers, in the High Plains, observed unyielding crops as the harvest deadline approached.
Amarillo Globe News, Kevin Welch, August 28, 2011.
Inclement Weather
August 13, 2011 – Heavy thunderstorms provided precipitous relief for North Texas.
Abilene Reporter News, Greg Kendall-Ball, August 13, 2011.
August 22, 2011 – Fort Worth played a major role in becoming a “Weather Ready Nation” for severe weather.
NBC 5 DFW, Kevin Cokely, August 22, 2011.
August 28, 2011 – La Nina predictions were posted in Amarillo as a dry, warm winter seems to be in the cards.
Connect Amarillo, Kyndel Lee-Bates, August 28, 2011.
Flooding
August 11, 2011 – Severe storms brought heavy rains and flooding to Lubbock.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Adam Young, August 11, 2011.
Heat
August 1, 2011 – A Killeen newspaper shared the dangers of the deadly heat this summer.
Killeen Daily Herald, August 1, 2011.
August 3, 2011 – The heat proved to be fatal as the death toll rose to thirteen in Dallas.
KERA Dallas, BJ Austin, August 3, 2011.
August 6, 2011 – Heat indices soared across Texas as Heat Advisories were put into effect.
KXAN Austin, Natalie Stoll, August 6, 2011.
August 7, 2011 – Austin broke its heat record with twenty-two consecutive 100-degree days.
The Austin-American Statesman, Patrick George, August 7, 2011.
August 10, 2011 – In Temple, the heat interfered with Blood Drives.
KWTX Waco, Brittany Semadeni, August 10, 2011.
August 12, 2011 – City officials declared a Level 2 heat advisory for San Antonio.
My San Antonio, Don Finley, August 12, 2011.
August 14, 2011 – Houston tied its previous record of consecutive triple-digit days.
The Houston Chronicle, Eric Berger, August 14, 2011.
August 19, 2011 – Fort Bend was under a Heat Advisory for several days.
Fort Bend Now, August 19, 2011.
August 21, 2011 – Students in the Big Country headed to school in triple-digit heat.
KTXS Abilene, Julie Phillips, August 21, 2011.
August 29, 2011 – San Antonio witnessed three consecutive days of record-breaking temperatures.
My San Antonio, Eva Moravec and Melissa Stoeltje, August 29, 2011.
August 30, 2011 – Tips were provided to properly handle medication in the heat.
Baylor College Medicine, Graciela Gutierrez, August 30, 2011.
August 31, 2011 – El Paso saw record heat this summer.
NBC 9 El Paso, Stephania Jimenez, August 31, 2011.
Hurricanes
August 7, 2011 – A Seguin reporter recollected an important interview with hurricane research pioneer, Dr. Robert H. Simpson.
Seguin Gazette, Forrest Mims III,, August 7, 2011.
August 17, 2011 – The TWIA offered useful tips for hurricane preparedness this season.
The Progress (Anahuac), August 17, 2011.
August 22, 2011 – Hurricane Irene twisted through the Bahamas and towards the East Coast.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, August 22, 2011.
August 31, 2011 – A tropical system in the Gulf is expected to be name-worthy.
KTRE East Texas, Brad Hlozek, August 31, 2011.
Severe Weather
August 13, 2011 – Lightning and hail caused outages in El Paso.
El Paso Times, Alex Hinojosa, August 13, 2011.
August 14, 2011 – A lightning strike sparked a house fire in East County.
The Montgomery County Courier, Jennifer Bell, August 14, 2011.
August 18, 2011 – Lightning canceled a high school football scrimmage in Huntsville.
The Huntsville Item, Gene Schallenberg, August 18, 2011.
August 24, 2011 – Severe storms left at least 72,000 homes and businesses without power in northern Houston.
KHOU Houston, Allison Triarsi and Vicente Arenas, August 24, 2011.
Other Climate Impacts
August 8, 2011 – A Weatherford paper signaled a rise in violence and extreme behaviors along with the increasing temperatures.
The Weatherford Democrat, Margarita Venegas, August 8, 2011.
August 9, 2011 – The State Climatologist gave his input on the possible recurrence of La Nina this winter.
Bellaire Examiner, Robert Burns, August 9, 2011.
August 20, 2011 – San Antonio mayor declared a Climate Awareness Month.
The Current, Greg Harman, August 20, 2011.
Air/Water Quality
August 5, 2011 – Houston reduced its ozone watch days as the air quality avoided summer threats.
KUHF Houston, David Pitman, August 5, 2011.
August 10, 2011 – Mold crept in on a Fort Bend high school during the summer months.
The Fort Bend Sun, Cory Stottlemyer, August 10, 2011.
August 20, 2011 – Algae infested Lake Texoma as water levels plunged.
KTEN Texoma, Erin Conrad, August 20, 2011.
August 29, 2011 – An ozone watch was forecasted for the Houston area.
KHOU Houston, August 29, 2011.
Animals/Aquatic Life
August 4, 2011 – The drought drove in unwanted pests into unsuspecting homes.
ABC 25, Christine McCarthy, August 4, 2011.
August 11, 2011 – The Austin bat population was severely affected by the drought in Central Texas.
KXAN Austin, Jarrod Wise, August 11, 2011.
August 15, 2011 – Snake bites increased in East Texas due to the extreme temperatures.
KYTX Tyler, Andy Taylor, August 15, 2011.
August 19, 2011 – Horse rescues were on the rise this summer.
KBTX Bryan, Daniel Armbruster, August 19, 2011.
August 26, 2011 – The drought portended to push the Barton Springs salamanders to extinction.
The Austin-American Statesman, Marty Toohey, August 26, 2011.
August 28, 2011 – The health issues were raised concerning West Nile Virus amidst the drought.
KERA Dallas, Sam Baker, August 28, 2011.
August 30, 2011 – A mysterious massive fish kill was reported in Grapevine and rain was a possible suspect.
WFAA Dallas-Ft. Worth, David Schechter, August 30, 2011.
Construction
August 21, 2011 – Corpus Christi voted on a renovation of the weather-deteriorated courthouse.
Corpus Christi Caller Times, August 21, 2011.
August 25, 2011 – Regents approved to build a new UTMB Hospital in Houston in the wake of Hurricane Ike.
The Houston Chronicle, Harvey Rice, August 25, 2011.
Economics
August 2, 2011 – ERCOT issued a power emergency for Texas.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, Jessamy Brown, August 2, 2011.
August 3, 2011 – The price of beef rose as a result of the drought.
KCBD Lubbock, Tiffany Pelt, August 3, 2011.
August 6, 2011 – A/C Repair companies were overwhelmed by the increased demand in North Texas.
NBC 5 DFW, Amanda Guerra, August 6, 2011.
August 9, 2011 – Texans’ wallets succumbed to the outrageous electric bills this summer.
KYTX Tyler, Jennifer Heathcock, August 9, 2011.
August 16, 2011 – Food prices were expected to rise over the coming year.
Your News Now Austin, Bonnie Gonzales, August 16, 2011.
August 23, 2011 – Recent hurricanes were believed to cause a surge in storm insurance.
Reuters New York, August 23, 2011.
August 23, 2011 – As agriculture waned across the state, many non-profits have suffered in the drought.
The Jacksonville Daily Progress, Lauren LaFleur, August 23, 2011.
August 30, 2011 – Hurricane Irene was expected to have an impact on gas prices.
Fuel Fix, Dan McGraw, August 30, 2011.
Homes/Gardening/Trees
August 4, 2011 – Texans received energy conversation tips from this article.
KLTV Tyler, Elizabeth Thomas, August 4, 2011.
August 5, 2011 – Crepe Myrtles were a popular landscaping choice because of their drought-resistant attributes.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, August 5, 2011.
August 12, 2011 – Master Gardeners trained folks on how to garden during the drought in Huntsville.
The Huntsville Item, Matthew Jackson, August 12, 2011.
August 15, 2011 – Drought landscaping tips were provided for Corpus Christi residents.
The Corpus Christi Caller Times, Liz Worden, August 15, 2011.
August 17, 2011 – Trees experienced a parched death in Southeast Texas amidst the drought.
The Houston Chronicle, Robert Stanton, August 17, 2011.
August 24, 2011 – Artificial grass became a huge hit this summer in the DFW.
WFAA Dallas-Ft. Worth, Jim Douglas, August 24, 2011.
August 26, 2011 – A Corpus Christi horticulturist surveyed the need to re-mulch all the plants suffering under heat stress.
Corpus Christi Caller Times, Michael Womack, August 26, 2011.
Hunting/Fishing
August 7, 2011 – Hunters geared up as the waterfowl expectations set the bar high.
The Houston Chronicle, Shannon Thompkins, August 7, 2011.
August 12, 2011 – Hunting and fishing was threatened by a drought-withered habitat.
The Lake Houston Observer, Stephen Thomas, August 12, 2011.
August 16, 2011 – Dove hunting was expected to be good this year because of the drought.
KXAN Austin, August 16, 2011.
August 29, 2011 – A Central Texas Game Warden proposed to limit the hunting this season.
Seguin Gazette, Jessica Limmer, August 29, 2011.
Recreation/Leisure/Athletics
August 1, 2011 – The heat dominated the first day of high school football practice in North Texas.
DFW Varsity, Travis Detherage, August 1, 2011.
August 2, 2011 – Volunteer cyclists delivered hot meals to the homebound in Austin.
KXAN Austin, Denise Smith, August 2, 2011.
August 9, 2011 – A Lubbock man created a humorous situation out of a dire circumstance.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, August 9, 2011.
August 15, 2011 – The Lufkin Zoo used icy treats to keep the animals cool in the heat.
The Lufkin News, Steve Knight, August 15, 2011.
August 21, 2011 – Stylish trends dominated the summer scene.
The Rice Thresher, Brittney Xu, August 21, 2011.
August 22, 2011 – Leander ISD combated the heat and budget cuts as classes began.
KVUE Austin, Quita Culpepper, August 22, 2011.
August 23, 2011 – The Highland Village Balloon Festival was successful in the daytime heat.
Lewisville Leader, Chris Roark, August 23, 2011.
August 27, 2011 – Batfest survived the scorching temperatures in Austin.
The Austin-American Statesman, Kate Alexander, August 27, 2011.
August 29, 2011 – Keller schools coped with the heat by providing entertainment indoors.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, August 29, 2011.
August 30, 2011 – Artificial football fields in Wylie were putting out higher numbers for temperatures than ever before.
Reporter News (Wylie), Garner Roberts and Carl Kieke, August 30, 2011.
August 31, 2011 – The University of Texas at Arlington cancelled its 22nd annual Oozeball Tournament due to concerns for water waste.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, August 31, 2011.
Roads/Traffic/Travel
August 2, 2011 – State parks witnessed large crowds this summer, despite the drought.
Cherokeean Herald, August 2, 2011.
August 4, 2011 – Heat caused the roads to buckle in DFW.
KDFW Dallas-Ft. Worth, James Rose, August 4, 2011.
August 18, 2011 – Car batteries met their match against the summer heat in East Texas.
News Journal, August 18, 2011.
August 20, 2011 – Some drivers believed that the heat was helping.
WOAI San Antonio, Mireya Villarreal, August 20, 2011.
August 24, 2011 – More “road gators” were placed on the highways this summer to clean up the vehicle debris.
ABC 25 Waco, Noel Brennan, August 24, 2011.
August 27, 2011 – At DFW International Airport, fifty-two flights departing for the East Coast were cancelled because of Hurricane Irene.
The Houston Chronicle, August 27, 2011.
