The latest survey of drought conditions nationwide showed more than a third of Texas is now experiencing an extreme drought. Water wells and ponds are running dry in Tom Green County in West Texas. Their herds can't survive more than two or three days without water, so ranchers like Bill Butts are forced to sell the cattle early or buy water from people. Butts knows what it's like to be forced out of business by the drought. And water supplies are running low in the cities too.
Political leaders say a drought is just like any other weather disaster.
It slowly demoralizes the individuals, the victims a little more each day. There has been the usual clamor for more hotlines and government aid, but what victims of this drought really need is more rain. There is none in the forecast here.