Driving along the back roads of Hutchinson County in early summer, there is no visible destruction. Few would have guessed that just a few months before, the largest wildfire in Texas history engulfed this small Panhandle county, decimating some 1.2 million acres and taking the lives of thousands of cattle.
Now vibrant with green grass and fields covered in super blooms, the region has seemingly recovered from the Smokehouse Creek Fire. But as one resident aptly put it: “The land recovers a lot faster than the people.”
It is just one of many recent tragedies that now characterize the Texas Panhandle. During the past few years, the region has faced a series of disasters, with county government on the front lines of several events: deadly tornadoes, wildfires, flash flooding, extreme drought, and animal disease outbreaks.
Many struggle to bear the lingering thought of the next tragedy.
During late February, five wildfires engulfed the Panhandle, creating unprecedented challenges for those at the forefront of disaster management. The Smokehouse Creek Fire, ignited by a downed utility pole, quickly became the state’s largest wildfire within a day.
Although it wasn’t the first disaster for emergency personnel, it was easily one of the most daunting, said Hutchinson County Emergency Management Coordinator Jerry Langwell.
“It was really difficult even trying to manage – well not even manage but just trying to rein in the chaos a little bit,” he said. “The stress level of this kind of event is out the roof, and it definitely takes a toll on people’s mentality if their physical well-being is just exhausted.”
Over three weeks, firefighters from across the state and country worked tirelessly around the clock to extinguish the colossal blaze. It consumed everything in its path, destroying hundreds of structures and resulting in over 7,000 cattle deaths – in what is already suffering from severe drought.
“We wanted to be able to get out there and do more for the grasslands and cattle and structures, but people are more important,” Langwell said.
“But it’s also livelihood for these people. This is what they do and how they live; to say we don't have resources due to sheer size is tragic.”
At least three dozen wildfires have encroached on communities and ranches in the Panhandle since 2005.
In 2017, a downed power line ignited a wildfire in Pampa that scorched 135,000 acres and several ranches entirely. The Lefors East Fire was Texas's third-deadliest wildfire statewide, taking three lives including a couple trying to save cattle from a ranch in Gray County.
On Mother’s Day 2018, a wildfire ignited at Lake Meredith Harbor while Hutchinson County saw another destructive fire in 2014 which destroyed 224 structures during Double Diamond fire.
Additionally four out ten most destructive wildfires occurred here including both largest second-largest acreage-wise; Hutchinson County witnessed deadliest wildfire after East Amarillo Complex Fire led thirteen fatalities back-2006.
Inevitably counties strive diligently preventing wildfires says Langwell: implementing burn bans when land too dry maintaining landscapes within jurisdiction yet predominantly responsibility lies hands residents educating them properly about prevention methods especially proximity grasslands greater fuel source compared forests using controlled burns vehicle maintenance proper landscaping among ways prevent wildfires mentioned by him adding "Up here can burn million acres day-and-half unheard elsewhere."
Beyond scorching impact fires faced ice storms flooding extreme drought tornadoes recently each new disaster brings efforts protect community improvements towards early warning systems public alerts testament commitment safety approval funds every project requested including advanced notification systems like Everbridge reverse-911 installing twenty-seven outdoor sirens intended tornadoes weeks before recent fires used during disaster according him writing emergency plans previously involved contingencies now encompassing fluid plan adjusting situations citing example tornado crossing lake backyard days prior
Ochiltree County proves tornado myth wrong twice last year June EF-3 hit Perryton town transforming scene collapsed buildings rubble covering downtown square total three died over hundred injured rare event another EF-3 struck High Plains killing four Motley six days later only thrice multiple deadly tornados same year March EF-0 touched south damaging hospital Chief Deputy Wayne Floyd forefront recovery both experiences different according "We live pretty north big ice storms seventy mph winds prepared all" he noted after EF-3 staffers developed response plan hospital hit knew mobilize said as more tragedies occur meticulous planning includes mobile command center based vehicle medical personnel other teams ground managing emergencies especially rural areas miles primary center despite discouragement living prone place praised resilience desire unite help through times concluding “The people up here are some greatest world.”
