The latest from the Bastrop Fire in Austin and Obama's finally noticed.
Crews making headway on Bastrop fire; victim ID'd as Austin city workerBASTROP — Bastrop wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of houses and thousands of acres continued to burn Wednesday, but firefighters say they are making progress battling the blaze.
Officials said Wednesday that they have contained 30 percent of the larger Bastrop fire, which has so far annihilated about 800 houses and 34,000 acres, according to the Texas Forest Service.
Rescuers have begun conducting house-by-house searches for potential fire victims, but so far, the death toll remains at two.
Authorities identified one of the two victims as Michael Troy Farr, a 48-year-old City of Austin employee who was found Tuesday at his home on Hudson Drive near Smithville. Farr, an electrician who had worked for the city since 2003, worked in the building services division.
[snip]
Meanwhile, federal support may soon be on its way.
President Barack Obama telephoned Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday afternoon to offer condolences about the wildfires and pledge federal help with firefighting and recovery, the White House said.
Obama reached Perry in California, where the governor was preparing for Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate. After hanging up, Obama directed officials to ensure that they are "making all resources available" to Texas, the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the press office said.
Though the Bastrop blaze remains largely uncontained, firefighters have had success managing other Central Texas fires, including those in Steiner Ranch, Spicewood and Leander.
Along with the search for additional victims in Bastrop, officials with FEMA began an assessment with local officials of the fire damage...............
Central abd Northern PA are hurting pretty badly. It ain’t over. Some deaths, roads buckling, trees down, power out. I am high in the mountains so I don’t usually see the kind of really bad stuff that hits everywhere else.
So obama finally gave Texas a second thought. Funny he made it just under the wire before the debate last night. Thank G-d for small favors, I guess.
Will be checking back later for updates. Prayers up. Stay safe.