E COLI CONSERVATIVES HIT HOME
I'm no stranger to the unique aspects of living in Texas. This story threw even jaded old me into a tailspin.
I planned to stay with my mom for a few days this weekend. I love to drive through Texas. You never know what will happen next. I was especially excited to drive through the tropical depression named Erin, although it turned out to be mild compared to the adventure I expected. I was confident that Erin would be the adventure of this trip. Wrong.
Don't get me wrong. It's always memorable when you have to shield yourself behind a metal column from the high velocity rain bullets while pumping diesel in the few places that offer it. This story isn't about fuel insecurity, or the global warming powered wind velocity, or the amount of flooding rain received, or the 7 deaths blamed on Erin. This story is about the water itself inside of Erin.
I get into town just after noon to warnings not to BRUSH MY TEETH with city water. Bathing is even a risk I'm told. The water here is contaminated with e coli. Restaurants and residents are told to boil the water because the water isn't safe to drink. Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.
South Texas, because of Republican oversight, can no longer wag tongue at any importing country for their environmental practices. The Gulf of Mexico appears putrid and squalid as if the whole shoreline is drowning in e coli sewage. And that’s exactly what it is, e-coli sewage. So look into this if you plan on visiting and bathing in any of our beaches. Under heavy weather conditions, the water is carried far inland. Check this and this out.
Rain here should now be labeled a biohazard. The dumping of waste and toxic chemicals into our waterways and coastal regions has reached Chinese proportions. To make matters worse, the danger is not even reported in a timely manner needlessly risking the health of the citizens here.
I remember as a boy, when Government kinda worked. A hurricane would blow through and the day afterwards city crews would be hard at work making us all feel warm and secure. Today, any gust of wind carrying noxious water is all it could take to wipe out your family. Heck of a job George.
Be advised: I see reasons to belive the entire warm gulf stream is in this peril clear out to Scottland.
Watch Dean come into the gulf on the GOES Visible Gulf Java Applet Loop
If you live along the coast you may find this mobile web link helpful: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.wml
Finally, be advised that NOAA is seeking comments as to the value of high frequency alert notices in the Pacific. If you have a boat you may want to know about this planned cut back.
UPDATE: Kathleen Hartnett White, chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, has announced that she would depart when her term expires Aug. 31.
Storm Track:
NOTE:This post will update automatically as Dean approaches landfall
