Wildfire Politics Grip State as Disasters Hit Elsewhere

by Ben Philpott
May 10, 2011
18 Comments

Gov. Rick Perry has unsuccessfully tried to get a meeting with President Barack Obama, who will be visiting Texas today, to discuss the federal government's denial of a wildfire disaster declaration in Texas. But how do this year's natural disasters in Texas stack up against others in the country?

Since November, 9,600 Texas wildfires have charred 2.4 million acres across the state. As of Monday, the Texas Forest Service was battling seven major wildfires. One of the largest so far, in Rock House, has burned 315,000 acres and 24 homes.

"That may not seem like ...

Full Story

Comment Policy

The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your user name will be displayed. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Sign-Up

Comments (18)

May 10, 2011 @ 10:22 a.m.

Deborah Sisco

Perry is against federal interference in Texas...Obama is just taking him at his word! The republicans keep talking about fiscal responsibility but don't like it when applied to a red state.
May 10, 2011 @ 10:54 a.m.

Robert McSpadden

Just trying to retrieve some federal tax money.
May 10, 2011 @ 11:26 a.m.

Conor Kenny

This is a pretty worthless story. This sort of "he said, she said" story is below the standards of the Tribune. We don't need to be informed of the argument, we need some clue as to who is full of it.
May 10, 2011 @ 1:34 p.m.

Conor Kenny

I should have been gracious enough to add that it is only the high standard of stories by Philpott and the Trib that makes the relative shallowness of this story stand out. I'm quite sure there will be a follow-up story explaining what disaster status actually does and if it would actually help in the wildfire designation, which is the information the public needs to evaluate whether this is a legitimate grievance against Obama or just posturing.
May 10, 2011 @ 1:52 p.m.

Adam Silva via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Typical Rick Perry: Attack the federal government and then turn around and ask it for money.
- + Reply
May 10, 2011 @ 1:57 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

There is a formula for federal diaster funding that has been in place before Obama became president. Perry fails to disclose this important detail.
- + Reply
May 10, 2011 @ 2:02 p.m.

Dale Curry

If Ricky the Liar was so concerned about getting some face time with OUR PRESIDENT, then perhaps, he should have accepted the invitation to meet his plane. So, it is obvious that Perry could give a rat's you know what about the fires, and is using this for political fodder. Rick Perry is a liar and a fraud
May 10, 2011 @ 2:23 p.m.

Sherry Hightower via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Y'all are both smoking the funny pipe. Don't you think Perry knows the formula for applying? He has been Gov longer than O has been "president". Obama is petty and small. Texans will remember this come the election. We'll make damn sure the voters don't forget.
- + Reply
May 10, 2011 @ 2:34 p.m.

Pat Gazzoli via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Didn't ya'll run an earlier story about Perry not being able to find time for Obama?
- + Reply
May 10, 2011 @ 2:48 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

It has nothing to do with how Perry applies but if the Texas wildfires qualify as a federal diaster. Obama doesn't determine this--FEMA does. Perry wants more funding than he is qualified to get--Bush adm. too.
- + Reply
May 10, 2011 @ 3:22 p.m.

Karen Cummings

Was Bush being petty and small too?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3455325.html
May 10, 2011 @ 3:30 p.m.

Dale Curry

@ Karen Cummings

In reagards to Katria, Bush was too little and way too late. Though I fail to see the relevance of Bush's failed Katrina responses to the question Of Rick Perry turing the wildfire tragedy into the latest political football.
May 10, 2011 @ 3:54 p.m.

Rich Bailey via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Perhaps I'm mistaken but I seem to recall that Gov. Perry recently announced the purpose of the Rainy Day Fund was for natural disasters. Given the total damage to date is a quarter-billion dollars I'm wondering why the Governor doesn't just take it out of the $9.6B in the fund. (Or was the Governor not being truthful about the reason for the ESF?)
- + Reply
May 10, 2011 @ 4:26 p.m.

Sam Underwood via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Theres alot of hard-workin folks who lost it all when a wildfire came thru. Would be nice if a gov would help them out. Instead they choose to help people who are in this country illegally. Its all bout votes. You help a few hundred people get a new house that was destroyed in a fire you might get a few hundred votes next election. But if you go to El Paso and tell the illegals your gonna help em you may get a few thousand votes. Its all about the votes for all politicians. rep or dem.
- + Reply
May 10, 2011 @ 7:47 p.m.

Diane Holloway via Texas Tribune on Facebook

The Federal Government has given Texas LOTS of money for fire-fighting this season. Let's ask Governor Perry where the hell it is!!
- + Reply
May 11, 2011 @ 10:11 a.m.

sssdddd

I deposited a Rick Perry in my commode yesterday.

I do not know anyone who would want to meet with Rick Perry, what a stinky affair.

I guess there is a price to pay for running off at the mouth.

I wonder if Rick is wanting to secede Texas to Mexico, afterall there are almost enough Mexican votes to send our state packing to Mexico.
May 11, 2011 @ 10:31 a.m.

Conor Kenny

I humbly submit that the unresolved "he said, she said" nature of this piece elicits the kinds of comments we've seen here. When the facts of a dispute are left uncovered, only name-calling remains. Time for a follow-up piece on 1) what the procedures are for declaring a disaster area; 2) were normal procedures followed; and 3) would a disaster declaration actually help at all or are existing grant programs actually doing everything Perry says he wants the feds to do.

Without answering these questions, all we have is name-calling.
May 11, 2011 @ 10:37 a.m.

sssdddd

One thing to realize is if you are in a fire disaster area you will smell the smell of smoke.

Rick should visit Houston sometime. Here in Houston I can report the only smoky smell is from Whataburger.

Seems like if there is no smoke there is no fire.

It seems at times this Rick Perry character is as nutty as Al Gore.