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In 2011, Texas experienced its worst drought in 1,000 years; without a doubt the most economically devastating disaster in our history. Economic losses to Texas agriculture were estimated to be in excess of $8 billion. The wild fires (over 31,00) that followed destroyed some 4 million acres of ranch and timber land, 3,000 homes and almost 3,000 structures. The wild fire acreage accounted for 50% of all fires nationally. Timber losses due to drought and fire in East Texas added an additional $1.6 billion in lost wood products, with an estimated economic impact on the region of over $3 billion. In 2015, Texas experienced the worst floods in 200 years, with $27 million in property damage (still accruing) and over 30 lives in Texas and the Mexico border.

In 2012, Chronic Wasting Disease was discovered in a mule deer sample from the Trans Pecos region just south of the New Mexico border; where deer had been infected for a number of years. In July, 2015 a two-year old whitetail buck in a Medina County breeding facility tested positive for the malady. The appearance of CWD in this herd, not only is devastating to the owners, but also to the hunters, landowners, outfitters and providers of goods and services to the deer hunting industry in our state. 

What do these events have in common? Whenever disaster strikes, Texans band together and get the problem solved. We do not whine, we do not complain, we do not ask for handouts, and we certainly do not look to government for solutions. We put on our boots and go to work! Every time disaster strikes, we recover and become stronger!

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