US battles epic drought, little relief in sight

As California battles wind-whipped wildfires, vast areas of the United States are struggling with an epic drought that has millions of people fearing their taps could run dry.

In the southeastern United States, farmers are struggling with failing crops, environmentalists warn of impending disaster and three states are locked in battle over the use of a rapidly dwindling manmade lake.

“Nearly half of the Southeast is in extreme drought and water supplies have reached critical levels in some cities,” says Michael Halpert, head of forecast operations at the official Climate Prediction Center.

In California, a week of infernos destroyed hundreds of houses and businesses, forced 300,000 people to flee their homes.

Many parts of the state have experienced record low rainfalls this year as temperatures shot to all-time highs, leaving vast swaths of parched countryside at the mercy of fires propelled by powerful winds. Meteorologists fear a dry winter will prolong the drought in many of the affected regions.

The worst hit is the southeastern state of Georgia, that is largely under level four, or “extreme” drought. Officials say this is the worst drought the state has experienced since 1892, if not in history. Much of Georgia has been placed under a state of emergency, and Governor Sonny Perdue has requested federal aid.

Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday, AFP