I have posted several entries on climate and climate change on this diary. And now I am writing about the drought. A friend sent me a link to the Drought Impact Monitor, and this is a site where you as a private citizen, a business owner, rancher, farmer, state or city official can file a report regarding the impact of the drought in your area.
US Drought Monitor Page.
You can submit your report at this page: Submit a Report-Drough Impact Reporterr.
Be sure and check out the Help Page first. It will assist in understanding how to manage the categories in your report.
One of the biggest issues we face as a nation right now is that we lack the collective political will to face our climate change problems--at least when it comes to the Government and their lobbyists. More citizens filing these reports could help to mitigate that corrupting force that has blocked most attempts to deal with the immediate and long term issues of global climate change here in the US.
There is a perception that the average American doesn't care. A mass of reports would negate that assumption.
So if you are in one of the areas of the United States, suffering this widespread drought, and you have been directly impacted, I urge you to file a report. Perhaps if we let the powers that be know that we are paying attention, directly, that some good changes might be made some time soon in our collective future.
Take these links and pass them on!
Now if the drought has directly impacted you, I hope you share that in the comment section, or perhaps you come back with a link to your diary on the subject.
Today in Central Oklahoma, it is supposed to reach 114 degrees outside. Yesterday it got to 112.
That is stinking-hot.
I suggest taking the following actions:
Put extra dishes or bowls of water out for domestic animals and wildlife. Be on the lookout for animals or people who have heat stress, sometimes adult animals will abandon young in the heat because of a lack of food and water. so keep a Wildlife Rehab number/address handy.
Water your plants early in morning or late in evening.
Check to see if you are in a burn ban and be careful with open flames of any kind, including cigarette butts.
Check on elderly or disabled neighbors.
Let kids play in the morning or evening, because it's too hot to play during the day and they could burn themselves on park equipment in the hot summer sun.
Keep yourself hydrated with water. Get some electrolytes in you, if you are working in the heat, in addition to that water.
Oklahoma has now re-entered the category of Extreme Drought. Which is just awful for lots of different reasons.
Use Water wisely.
3:29 PM PT: Congress Stalls on Summer Drought Assistance:
http://abcnews.go.com/...
"The two houses passed different versions of the drought assistance and soon they’re off for a summer recess. An agreement on the drought assistance looks unlikely...“It’s important to remember that it’s not just farmers affected by this drought,” Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said. ”The consequences of this disaster impact all Americans from those living in the biggest cities to those living in the most remote areas of this country.”"
More people making reports on this widespread drought can create a paper trail that can be used as leverage to get our legislators to do their jobs.
Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 4:49 AM PT: Yesterday, in the late afternoon, I went outside to do my chores. One of my poor hens had died because of the heat.We left extra water out in containers in addition to their 3 gallon waterer, we put a mister under the bushes for them as well, which is supposed to cool things down under that bush by as much as 20 degrees. apparently it wasn't enough for this little chicken. I feel bad for anyone with large livestock or who do not have the gear to cool down their animals even a little bit outside.
Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 4:52 AM PT: Here's something you don't see every day: Oklahoma got so hot that our street lamp covers were melting. http://news.yahoo.com/...
"KFOR TV in Stillwater, Oklahoma is reporting that temperatures are so high that the street lamps have begun melting."
The report mentions that the dumpsters nearby were combusting. That's normal for composting material in this weather, and can start random fires.
Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 5:24 AM PT: Mississippi River very low:
http://www.cbsnews.com/...
Barges are running aground.
"The river is a superhighway for the nation's commodities. Barges transport 60 percent of U.S. corn for export, 45 percent of soybeans, 22 percent of gas, and 20 percent of coal. And one barge can move as much as 70 trucks."
Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 5:26 AM PT:
Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 5:52 AM PT:
Senator Bernie Sanders Challenges Senator Inhofe regarding Global Climate Change.
Fri Aug 03, 2012 at 8:19 AM PT: Another account of the drought from a blogger at FDL:
http://my.firedoglake.com/...
People are talking about this. And they should be. This will raise food and fuel prices, and animal feed prices as well. And it will hopefully force us to re-examine how we treat the natural resource of our water.