The Drought Monitor and this NASA photograph were rendered the same day. The effects of the drought is more than obvious. The lack of action by the USA Congress to due to Republican priorities in regard to climate is more than obvious.
Drought is a long term problem. This is not something that happened over night or in the last few months. Every USA agency and environmental interest in the country has been speaking to this for years if not decades.
Drought worsens crop damage, raising world food, fuel worry (click here)
July 16, 2012|Andrew Stern | Reuters
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Corn and soybeans in the U.S. Midwest baked in an unrelenting heat wave on Monday with fears rising of big crop losses that will boost food and fuel prices and cut exports and aid from the world's top shipper of the key crops.
The condition of the nation's corn and soybeans as of Sunday deteriorated even more than grain traders had feared, and the U.S. Agriculture Department cuts its weekly corn crop condition rating by the biggest amount in nearly a decade.
Health Hazards of Heat Waves, Wildfires, and Other Extreme Weather (click here)
Posted July 17, 2012
...tens of millions of people are vulnerable to extreme heat.
Now that climate change is making potent heat waves more commonplace, these numbers will only continue to rise. NRDC recently released a report concluding that an additional 33,000 heat-related deaths will occur by 2050 as a result of climate change.
The summer of 2012 has already delivered one record-breaking event after another, from wildfires to freak storms. This barrage of destruction has prompted more meteorologists and mainstream media outlets to finally make the connection between extreme weather and climate change.
But in the midst of all the intense coverage, a quieter, more personal story has been lost: the many ways extreme weather threatens our health....
Seasonal firefighters win federal health benefits (click here)
July 17, 2012
WASHINGTON—The White House says about 8,000 temporary firefighters and their families will get access to federal health insurance following a petition drive bolstered by this year's historic fire season in the West.
President Barack Obama says the nation has been inspired by the heroism of firefighters battling deadly wildfires this summer. Obama says he has directed his administration to ensure the firefighters "can count on the care and protection they need."
The temporary firefighters weren't covered by federal health insurance because under federal rules, temporary seasonal employees can't buy into federal insurance plans.
Members of a South Dakota-based hotshot crew who fought wildfires this year launched a petition drive seeking the health benefits and gathered more than 125,000 signatures.
The cost of an unaddressed Climate Crisis is high and this is only two locations.
Posted: Jul 17, 2012 12:03 PM by Kirsten Bennett
Updated: Jul 17, 2012 12:32 PM
Updated: Jul 17, 2012 12:32 PM
DENVER (AP) - Insurers estimate that Colorado wildfires that destroyed over 600 homes are responsible for at least $449.7 million in damage.
The figure released Tuesday by the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association is based on claims filed so far for houses lost at the High Park Fire in Larimer County and the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs. It also includes claims for personal belongings and cars lost and living expenses in the fires' aftermath but not commercial losses. It's expected to grow as claims are processed.
Waldo Canyon accounted for the bulk at $352.6 million while High Park homeowners have filed for $97.1 million in damages.
Association spokeswoman Carole Walker said there were more homes without insurance and a greater variety of property values in the High Park burn area than in Colorado Springs.
Waldo Canyon accounted for the bulk at $352.6 million while High Park homeowners have filed for $97.1 million in damages.
Association spokeswoman Carole Walker said there were more homes without insurance and a greater variety of property values in the High Park burn area than in Colorado Springs.
