Thursday, April 19, 2007

Let the whining begin

As much as I have whined about rain (or lack there of) it still doesn't change the fact that it is not coming down. Not only has it effected our trees---we lost some-- but it has also effected our ability to raise our livestock. Purchasing hay SUCKS.
I hate it when people around here say "oh I am so glad it isn't raining this weekend---we want to go to the park". Do people not realize that, whether they are vegetarian or meat eater, that ALL food is effected by rain---or lack there of??

Now we are making the news. Albeit--somewhat local news, and I am not talking about the 30 thousand acre fire in south Georgia near Okefenokee swamp that all are talking about.
From what I gather---it's so bad they are going down to the state capital to see what can be done. I don't know----maybe the state government can buy us some rain.

Here's a clip from a local paper that explains briefly our problem.

Northwest Georgia is driest part of state

Severe drought conditions have developed across the northwest and southeast portions of the state with rain deficits for the year of up to 11 inches in some parts.

The driest areas of the state include Floyd, Polk, Chattooga, Walker, Dade and Catoosa counties in Northwest Georgia and the counties lining the most southeast corner of the state, according to state climatologist David Stooksbury. LaFayette in Walker County is seeing the biggest rain deficit for the year so far 11.27 inches below average, he said.

The conditions developed despite storms that dumped up to 3 inches of rain on parts of Georgia over the last week.

The Greater Rome area has seen 10.03 inches year to date, more than 11 inches under the average year-to-date total through April. April alone usually brings an average of 4.81 inches to Rome. So far this April, only 1.36 inches has fallen.

There’s a 30 percent chance of rain in Rome today, according to the National Weather Service..

“It’s been dry since the first of the year, and I don’t see much promise for conditions to improve,” Stooksbury said.

The state remains under partial outdoor water bans. Outdoor watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at odd-number addresses and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at even-number addresses.

The state drought response committee is scheduled to meet today at 1 p.m. at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in Atlanta to discuss conditions and further action.




Maybe someday---the very reason I moved to Georgia (rain and trees) will occur again with regularity. Until then it's purchased hay for us and watching our grass not grow. Great if you don't want to mow now isn't it? Sucks when you raise animals.

By the way it's also been extremely extremely windy too---very odd for here---so it makes it even more dry dry dry.

1 comment:

Robbyn said...

I had no idea things were that dry...wow

I'll be praying that rain does come your way and give your animals and land some relief!