Posted by (+2901) 4 years ago
This summer the cost of battling wildfires in Montana has varied on a daily basis from $300,000 to as much as $1.8 million according to state Budget Director Dan Villa* and we have burned through all the money the 2017 legislature allocated for fire suppression.
Senator Tester’s office calculated the amount of national resources that have been directed to the fires in Montana. They include:
- Over $190 million in federal money has been spent fighting wildfires
- Over 4,000 total personnel
- Approximately 250 engines
- Over 40 helicopters
Today the Billings Gazette published an opinion called, “More than trees go up in smoke.” I recommend reading it.
http://billingsgazette.co...6d8a5.html
In terms of climate change, last week Houston, sustained $100 billion in damages from Hurricane Harvey, who rained down 51 inches of wet destruction in less than a week.
This week, the biggest hurricane on record, Hurricane Irma, is about to hit Florida. One can only guess how much damage this extreme weather event will do, and how much it will cost to repair the damage.
Climate change is creating many nightmares for the people of the United States (and the world). There are things that can be done to mitigate climate change if our leaders will face the facts, listen to the climate scientists who have been sounding the alarms for years, and develop a strategic plan. Getting back in the Paris Accord would be a good first step.
Otherwise, we all are looking at what portends to be a very grim future.
* Source: US News and World Report, August 16, 2017
https://www.usnews.com/ne...ue-to-rage
Senator Tester’s office calculated the amount of national resources that have been directed to the fires in Montana. They include:
- Over $190 million in federal money has been spent fighting wildfires
- Over 4,000 total personnel
- Approximately 250 engines
- Over 40 helicopters
Today the Billings Gazette published an opinion called, “More than trees go up in smoke.” I recommend reading it.
http://billingsgazette.co...6d8a5.html
In terms of climate change, last week Houston, sustained $100 billion in damages from Hurricane Harvey, who rained down 51 inches of wet destruction in less than a week.
This week, the biggest hurricane on record, Hurricane Irma, is about to hit Florida. One can only guess how much damage this extreme weather event will do, and how much it will cost to repair the damage.
Climate change is creating many nightmares for the people of the United States (and the world). There are things that can be done to mitigate climate change if our leaders will face the facts, listen to the climate scientists who have been sounding the alarms for years, and develop a strategic plan. Getting back in the Paris Accord would be a good first step.
Otherwise, we all are looking at what portends to be a very grim future.
* Source: US News and World Report, August 16, 2017
https://www.usnews.com/ne...ue-to-rage