http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/files/2011/09/Texas-fires-9-8-11-color-640x490.jpg
BASTROP - TENSIONS FLARE, OBAMA DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER, PERRY A NO SHOW
yee haw . ...
Gov. Perry is a no-show at wildfire press conference
Posted on September 10, 2011 at 6:09 pm by Peggy Fikac in Campaign 2012, Gov. Rick Perry
Gov. Rick Perry, who was scheduled to be in Bastrop today to see and talk about the latest on the wildfires, didn't show up.
His office had sent out two advisories about his media availability. The second one gave a new location for the event.
But when the cameras started rolling, Perry wasn't there.
His staff said he was in Austin, stymied by the logistics of showing up after the location was changed.
Reporter Hollie O'Connor was on the scene and talked to Perry staffer Allison Castle, who said, "Our intention was for him to be here. The location we had was not open yet, so we weren't able to get all of you into that area, and so we were working with officials to find an alternate location, and I think you all got the change of plans as we were trying to solidify things, so again, due to logistical issues, we weren't able to get him here. We didn't want to hold y'all up."
"We had all the local officials here and were able to provide the afternoon update with chief (Nimm) Kidd giving you up the update from the state."
Castle didn't say exactly why he couldn't make it to the new location.
Perry just got back to Texas after a California campaign swing.
http://blog.chron.com/rickperry/2011/09/gov-perry-is-a-no-show-at-wildfire-press-conference/
Tensions flare in Bastrop
By Hollie O'Connor, STAFF WRITER
Updated 11:48 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2011
BASTROP - Emotions ran high Saturday as the most destructive wildfire in Texas history ravaged the area for a seventh day.
After spending nearly a week wondering whether his home had been destroyed, George Gaydos got the news Saturday: His house had burned down.
But Gaydos - who has been living at a hotel with his wife, two children and father since fleeing nearly a week ago - still can't return to see what is left.
Fire crews made progress Saturday fighting the Bastrop wildfire, but concerns over still smoldering hot spots have kept thousands from going home.
Tensions flared during a news conference Saturday as some residents shouted questions at county officials, demanding to know when they could return to their homes. But the room erupted in cheers when Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald confirmed that President Barack Obama had issued a major disaster declaration for Texas, allowing FEMA to start releasing funds to victims.
Gov. Rick Perry was expected to appear Saturday afternoon in Bastrop to comment on the disaster declaration but canceled. Spokeswoman Allison Castle cited "logistical reasons," noting that the site of the conference was moved hours before the event.
As of Saturday's briefing, 622 structures were confirmed destroyed. The fire was 40 percent contained.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Tensions-flare-in-Bastrop-2164852.php
In Rick Perry's Texas, Firefighters Forced To Pay For Gear, Engine Fuel
First Posted: 9/9/11 07:56 PM ET Updated: 9/11/11 09:44 AM ET
WASHINGTON -- In Texas, firefighters aren't just battling the wild fires raging around Austin and Houston. The state's first responders have also had to deal with budget cuts affecting everything from fuel purchases to hoses and air tanks.
In some cases, fire officials say, firefighters have had to pay out of pocket for basic necessities like proper protective gear and fuel to get them to the scene. One fire department that battled the blazes in Bastrop County had to pay for a hose, recalled Bastrop City Fire Chief Henry Perry, speaking to The Huffington Post during a break from working the wild fires.
"That fire department has been on this fire every day," he said. "Before this fire, they were having to buy stuff out of their own pocket." Perry said he knows of at least one other department whose firemen had to pay for equipment maintenance and engine fuel.
Earlier this week, HuffPost reported that Gov. Rick Perry, the GOP front-runner for president, had signed off on millions in firefighting cuts as part of the state's most recent budget legislation. The Texas Forest Service's funding has gone from $117.7 million in the 2010-2011 budget years to $83 million in the 2012-2013 budget years.
Severe cuts have also hit assistance grants to volunteer fire departments throughout Texas. The grants decreased from $30 million per year in 2010 and 2011 to $13.5 million per year in 2012 and 2013. These are cuts that firemen are now dealing with.
snip...see full article here ;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/09/rick-perry-fire-department-cuts-texas-wild-fires_n_956307.html
BASTROP - TENSIONS FLARE, OBAMA DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER, PERRY A NO SHOW
yee haw . ...
Gov. Perry is a no-show at wildfire press conference
Posted on September 10, 2011 at 6:09 pm by Peggy Fikac in Campaign 2012, Gov. Rick Perry
Gov. Rick Perry, who was scheduled to be in Bastrop today to see and talk about the latest on the wildfires, didn't show up.
His office had sent out two advisories about his media availability. The second one gave a new location for the event.
But when the cameras started rolling, Perry wasn't there.
His staff said he was in Austin, stymied by the logistics of showing up after the location was changed.
Reporter Hollie O'Connor was on the scene and talked to Perry staffer Allison Castle, who said, "Our intention was for him to be here. The location we had was not open yet, so we weren't able to get all of you into that area, and so we were working with officials to find an alternate location, and I think you all got the change of plans as we were trying to solidify things, so again, due to logistical issues, we weren't able to get him here. We didn't want to hold y'all up."
"We had all the local officials here and were able to provide the afternoon update with chief (Nimm) Kidd giving you up the update from the state."
Castle didn't say exactly why he couldn't make it to the new location.
Perry just got back to Texas after a California campaign swing.
http://blog.chron.com/rickperry/2011/09/gov-perry-is-a-no-show-at-wildfire-press-conference/
Tensions flare in Bastrop
By Hollie O'Connor, STAFF WRITER
Updated 11:48 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2011
BASTROP - Emotions ran high Saturday as the most destructive wildfire in Texas history ravaged the area for a seventh day.
After spending nearly a week wondering whether his home had been destroyed, George Gaydos got the news Saturday: His house had burned down.
But Gaydos - who has been living at a hotel with his wife, two children and father since fleeing nearly a week ago - still can't return to see what is left.
Fire crews made progress Saturday fighting the Bastrop wildfire, but concerns over still smoldering hot spots have kept thousands from going home.
Tensions flared during a news conference Saturday as some residents shouted questions at county officials, demanding to know when they could return to their homes. But the room erupted in cheers when Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald confirmed that President Barack Obama had issued a major disaster declaration for Texas, allowing FEMA to start releasing funds to victims.
Gov. Rick Perry was expected to appear Saturday afternoon in Bastrop to comment on the disaster declaration but canceled. Spokeswoman Allison Castle cited "logistical reasons," noting that the site of the conference was moved hours before the event.
As of Saturday's briefing, 622 structures were confirmed destroyed. The fire was 40 percent contained.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Tensions-flare-in-Bastrop-2164852.php
In Rick Perry's Texas, Firefighters Forced To Pay For Gear, Engine Fuel
First Posted: 9/9/11 07:56 PM ET Updated: 9/11/11 09:44 AM ET
WASHINGTON -- In Texas, firefighters aren't just battling the wild fires raging around Austin and Houston. The state's first responders have also had to deal with budget cuts affecting everything from fuel purchases to hoses and air tanks.
In some cases, fire officials say, firefighters have had to pay out of pocket for basic necessities like proper protective gear and fuel to get them to the scene. One fire department that battled the blazes in Bastrop County had to pay for a hose, recalled Bastrop City Fire Chief Henry Perry, speaking to The Huffington Post during a break from working the wild fires.
"That fire department has been on this fire every day," he said. "Before this fire, they were having to buy stuff out of their own pocket." Perry said he knows of at least one other department whose firemen had to pay for equipment maintenance and engine fuel.
Earlier this week, HuffPost reported that Gov. Rick Perry, the GOP front-runner for president, had signed off on millions in firefighting cuts as part of the state's most recent budget legislation. The Texas Forest Service's funding has gone from $117.7 million in the 2010-2011 budget years to $83 million in the 2012-2013 budget years.
Severe cuts have also hit assistance grants to volunteer fire departments throughout Texas. The grants decreased from $30 million per year in 2010 and 2011 to $13.5 million per year in 2012 and 2013. These are cuts that firemen are now dealing with.
snip...see full article here ;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/09/rick-perry-fire-department-cuts-texas-wild-fires_n_956307.html