Dear Rotarians,
 
The wildfires that swept across the Texas Panhandle beginning on March 6 left in their wake tragic human losses as well as about 440,000 acres of charred land in eight counties, hundreds of miles of burned fences and uncounted number of dead or injured animals as reported by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
 
Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster for Gray, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts and Wheeler counties. 
 
The governor has also asked the United States Department of Agriculture for a Secretarial Disaster Designation to activate the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Loan Program to help eligible ranchers and farmers rebuild and recover from losses sustained by the week’s blazes.  “This week’s wildfires have had a devastating impact on a significant portion of the Texas Panhandle,” Abbott said in a news release.
 
Many Rotarians from across the state have been asking what they might do to help.  
 
The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension in Gray County has set up a fund and are very graciously accepting monetary donations, cash, check or money orders.  Checks and money orders may be made payable to :
 
                 Lefors Voluntary Fire Department  (in memo line “rancher wildfire relief”)
 
All monetary donations can be mailed to:
 
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Gray County
12125 E. Frederic
Pampa, TX 79065
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this tragic wildfire.
 
In Rotary Service,
Susan Brints
District Governor 2016-17
Rotary District 5730
806.781.1753 cell