One of the worst natural disasters to hit Texas in more than a century didn't happen all at once, yet it has caused as much physical destruction as a raging storm -- if not more -- and is likely to severely harm the state's economy for many years. The drought of 2011 was the worst one-year drought on record in Texas, according to data from the National Weather Service and Texas A&M University. It ravaged much of the state's agriculture, livestock and timber industries, and its decimation of cattle herds and cash crops could cause a significant rise in costs for food, clothing and other items.
Through the first 11 months of the year, rainfall in Texas was 46 percent below its normal 26 inches, the weather service reported, and the summer's seemingly endless heat wave was even hotter than Oklahoma's Dust Bowl year of 1934.And the drought isn't going out with the old year, either. About 70 percent of the state is still experiencing "exceptional drought," and climatologists say the parched conditions are likely to be around at least through summer 2012 and perhaps longer.Texas' agriculture sector has lost about $5.3 billion, according to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The largest one-year drop in the number of cattle in the state -- more than 600,000 head -- occurred last year. Many farmers and ranchers, with dried up ponds, no grass for grazing and no money to buy feed, shipped livestock out of state or sold them for slaughter.The cotton industry, which employs about 38,000 and accounts for around $6 billion in economic activity in West Texas alone, produced 60 percent to 75 percent fewer bales last year. Less production ripples through to suppliers and service industries, from the forklift driver to the tractor salesman who loses income.In December, the Texas Forest Service said the drought had destroyed up to a half-billion trees, many of them in the Piney Woods region of East Texas, where producers of wood and paper products make up one of the state's largest employment sectors. Not included in those figures are the trees killed by wildfires that swept much of the state in 2011.Because droughts are "natural" disasters, people can't do much to prevent them. Public and private responses can help deal with the losses. Beyond federal and state disaster aid, for instance, residents from others states donated thousands of bales of hay to Texas ranchers, and truckers volunteered time and equipment to haul water.But Texans can also mitigate the damage resulting from the lack of rain, scorching temperatures and raging winds that whip wildfires.Despite recent measurable precipitation in North Texas, lake levels remain far below normal. As a result, many cities in the region continue with outdoor water restrictions. While area officials say most residents and businesses have been complying with the twice-a-week watering limitations, it's imperative that all residents know the policies in their town and abide by them.Some cities, including Fort Worth and Dallas, are planning to open swimming pools, build parks and plant grass and shrubbery in roadway medians. Municipalities must also heed watering restrictions and even limit themselves to xeriscaping -- using native plants that don't require lots of irrigation -- for public landscaping projects.Good safety habits -- avoiding outdoor burning, not tossing lit cigarettes from car windows -- can prevent the massive grass and brush fires that naturally accompany a dry season. Those might seem like small things, but their impact could be huge.Nature has a way of restoring itself, but humans must do their part -- including being patient, because nature takes her sweet time.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
