The three following links concern the disaster going on in South Dakota and surrounding areas today. Apparently they now name storms as they do hurricanes. The horrific winter storm that hit that area dumping up to four feet of snow with 70 mph winds was named Altus or Blizzard Altus. The third link provides an opportunity to help those in need similar to what happens after hurricanes. The second link provides some very well thought out answers to typical questions from those unfamiliar with the livestock industry in wideopen ranch country. The first link is a video primarily consisting of still photography of still horses, cattle and sheep. Still dead, that is. Don't look if you wilt at the sight of an animal that has suffered for any reason. In this case, nature's unpredictability and ferocity.
http://prettywork.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/questioning-cattle-deaths-in-south-dakota/
Cow, that's Tragic indeed,
these winter storms were on the news here in Belgium, but they were only talking about power failures in the towns and cities. I was not aware of the disaster for the ranchers. I understand they have a hard time now.
Winter seems very early this time, this weekend the weather forecast speaks about major snowfall for the Alpes, 1 meter off snow for some areas over 2 days. I may hope the cattle, sheep and goats are save there! I don't think the number of animals is so huge as in the states ...
Hope for a mild winter ... but the damage is already done.
Christof.
I saw something on a news link the other day about some 100K cattle already dead and still dieing by the hundreds daily. That's tough. But... if they butcher and pack them quick enough they shouldn't be too tough. [tongue in cheek]
Then again... give me a good tater field and a healthy supply of eggs and I'll be eating steak and eggs and hash browns for the rest of my life! Just keep a few dairy cows so I can make some butter. Now put me with all that next door to a Budweiser brewery and a good whiskey distillery and I'd believe I would have died and gone to heaven and God really does like me!!
All jokes aside, I've been through some really nasty blizzards and they ain't fun. I remember one year in the late 70s (77 I think) while working for Dad at the pharmacy we had to take a supply of meds and stuff out to a nursing home outside of town. Dad kept an emergency line to the house so we got the call. No way to drive there. All the roads were either shut-down by state patrol or just simply impassible. Cross winds were about 60mph and gusts up to 90 and temps was already down around -10(F) ambient. Visibility was about 10 feet max. I volunteered to make the run - on snow-mobile of course. I had the arctic suit on and all strapped up like Gumby and headed out. It was only about a 4 mile ride but really slow going. Once I left the town limits and headed cross-country I had nothing to rely on except that I had been to that place no less than about a thousand times before. The place was only several hundred yards outside of town but in those conditions it might as well been several hundred miles. I made it there in about an hour. Dad waited at the store to hear from the home. I remember coming in with the stuff and my snow-mobile suit started crackling from thawing out. They wouldn't let me leave and stuffed me full of nursing home food and hot chocolate. After about an hour I headed out and without a load to carry or a care, I went and had me some fun. Neither Dad or the State patrol were too happy about that but they didn't really say much except they were all glad I was fine. I guess it was one of those moments that it was good to be young and dumb and full of ... whatever. I wasn't worried about me. I was worried about those folks out at the home and stranded.
Sorry to ramble once again. I have no one else to tell these stories to.
E
FYI, naming of storms is something the weather channel took upon themselves. I suppose we'll see whether it catches on.
