Texas Burns as the Rest of the Country Drowns

First Texas was parched—now it’s burning. Still in the grips of its worst drought since the 1950s, Texas is grappling with violent wildfires that have already destroyed more than 1,000 homes and killed two people. While more than 3.6 million acres of Texas have been scorched since the drought tightened last November, over the weekend authorities responded to 63 new fires, the worst of which burned just east of the capital of Austin. Texas Governor Rick Perry was forced to leave the Presidential campaign trail on Monday, returning home from South Carolina to help oversee the rescue efforts.

Speaking from Steiner Ranch outside Austin, Perry surveyed the damage:

These fires are serious and widespread, and as mean as I have ever seen, burning more than 1,000 homes since this wildfire season began. Texas appreciates the resources and support we continue to receive from across the state and across the country to fight these fires, and the efforts of the brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect Texans’ lives and property. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are impacted by these fires.

More from TIME: Parched Earth

Obviously the lingering drought and brutally high temperatures throughout much of the state—poor Austin has had over 70 consecutive days above 100 F this summer—has primed Texas for an inferno. Ironically, though, the fires have been stoked by nearby Tropical Storm Lee, which dumped rain on the Gulf Coast even as its winds spread fires in neighboring Texas. That’s left those in the path of the wildfires virtually homeless, lucky to escape with their lives:

In Bastrop, a town of about 6,000 people along the Colorado River, huge clouds of smoke soared into the sky and hung over downtown Monday.

When winds picked up, flames flared over the tops of trees. Helicopters and planes loaded with water flew overhead, and firefighters along a state highway outside the city converged around homes catching fire.

“Waiting is the most frustrating thing,” said Gina Thurman, 47, choking back tears as she sat by herself in the shade on a curb outside Ascension Catholic Church, one of several shelters in the area. “You’re sitting there and you don’t know anything but your house is probably burning.”

Rick Blakely was among about 30 people sleeping on cots at the church. The 54-year-old said he was in a state of shock and “not expecting anything to be standing” when he returned to his home.

“I just don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said.