Watson Wire

A Long Labor Day

Tuesday, September 06, 2011 |

For too many Central Texas families, this weekend was a long way from a holiday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the thousands of Central Texans who have lost their homes or evacuated from their neighborhoods, or who are still caring for and worrying about friends and family members in harm’s way.

I spent part of the weekend trying to assist volunteers, professional firefighters and many others who are working heroically to contain the fires and help people who’ve been affected by them. And this morning, I was briefed on the scope of this tragedy with the Governor and other officials.

Getting a briefing on the fires at Steiner Ranch this morning, with Governor Perry and Chief W. Nim Kidd of the state's Division of Emergency Management.

The pictures in the papers and on TV don’t convey the full devastation.  The fires have blackened tens of thousands of acres in Bastrop and Travis counties, destroyed thousands of homes and wiped out neighborhoods.
 
Even when everything is extinguished, it’s going to take a while for the region to recover.  At the same time, though, people are already coming together to help neighbors and strangers whose lives have been turned upside-down.
 
We’re fortunate to live in such a sympathetic, generous place.  That’s our strength, and it will remain our strength as we face, conquer and recover from this challenge.

 With Lake Travis Fire Rescue Chief Jim Linardos

If you want to help, go to the Central Texas Red Cross site here.  In Bastrop County, they're taking donations of food, clothing, bathroom supplies such as toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant and the like at Trinity Zion Church, 151 Shiloh, Bastrop, TX  78602.