Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue declares state of emergency

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue on Saturday declared the northern region of Georgia in a state of emergency as its water resources dwindled to dangerously low level.Appearing on CNN, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue says North Georgia's drought sets a state record.He also sent a letter to President Bush, asking him to declare north Georgia a major disaster area."I have declared an emergency in 85 of Georgia's counties due to the threat of water supply in the northern part of our state," Perdue said on the shore of receding Lake Lanier."Drought is a natural disaster. We are experiencing the single worst drought in North Georgia's history."CNN reports that the rainfall in the area is about 15 inches below normal for the year. Lake Lanier, the main water source for the Atlanta area's 5 million residents, is nearing historically low levels.Perdue said the state would seek an injunction forcing the Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the flow of water from the lake."The Corps is sending 3.2 billion gallons of water downstream out of Georgia reservoirs every day," Perdue said. "That's enough to fill three-and-a- half Olympic-size swimming pools every minute."The Corps -- under an agreement reached in the 1980s with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- releases 5,000 feet of water per second from the dam between the manmade lake and the Chattahoochee River.The released water is used by power plants in Florida and Alabama and helps keep endangered mussels and sturgeon alive."What we've learned from this is what a blunt weapon the Endangered Species Act has become, where some obscure bureaucrat in Fish and Wildlife and some obscure judge can decide that mussels are more important than our children and grandchildren," said U.S. Rep. John Linder, R-Georgia, who spoke after Perdue at Saturday's news conference.CNN reports that Georgia has banned outdoor water use in the region, but Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle warned the lack of drinking water is a situation "we cannot conserve our way out of."Perdue blasted what he called the "silly rules" governing the water situation, noting that even if the state got replenishing rains, it could not by law conserve those and must release the water to run downstream."We are also mired in a frustrating manmade disaster of federal bureaucracy," Perdue said. "The actions of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Fish and Wildlife Services are downright dangerous, and Georgia cannot stand for this negligence."

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tonny from belgiumOct 20th, 2007 - 17:20:23

Meanxhile in the Midwest today thousands of houses have been destroyed by tornados ,many americans have lost their homes and livelihood .Climate change is only starting but already starting to affect the lives of many americans as the president and the neocon minions keep pretending no particular measures need to be taken in the immediate future .Praying won't help,every delay will be paid tenfold .Don't trust any repuvblicans on this issue you will pay deerly for trusting those that pretend there is no danger.

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WilliamOct 20th, 2007 - 18:08:56

For once I disagree with Tonny. The tornadoes in the midwest are an event that has been going on for millenia. There is no indication that there are more or that they are getting worse. It is just people's awareness of them that makes it seem that this isn't the case. That plus the hype of american media that cannot live without a disaster somewhere. I was affected by a flood once. The media reports must have been about someplace else. What they were reporting was not happening. In other words, they manufactured a disaster. As for global warming, I can hardly wait. Our temperatures this year are 5 degrees below normal. We also have 50% more rain this year. I too have experienced tornadoes. An F-4 scale, bordering on an F-5 is an awesome thing, you discover how truely insignificant you really are. And that you have control over absolutely nothing of significance. In life, we are just along for the ride. The Georgia Governor is just making noise and whining for public consumption. Blame someone and make it appear that you are doing something. Typical politician.

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SharonOct 25th, 2007 - 16:19:38

Sonny wants to do away with those 'silly' fish and wildlife regulations. Meanwhile, 5 of the 40 largest water consumers on the Chattahoochee are 'recreational' (i.e., golf courses), and some are private clubs. It's nice to know where his priorities are.

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