D is for Drought and Dust Storm

My theme for my 2015 A to Z Challenge came from my Disaster Crime series. Disasters are a theme in each story, so it got me thinking about all the disasters that occur from natural disasters to manmade disasters.
Today’s disasters are...DROUGHTS and DUST STORMS
A DROUGHT is an extended period of time (months to years) when a region goes without rain and experiences a decline in its water supply. During this time, the land dries up, grasses die and trees wither. Wildlife and livestock also parish. Without water, people suffer dehydration, hunger (due to no crops), and diseases. There is also a great risk of wildfires.
FACT: In 2005, parts of the Amazon experienced its worst drought conditions in 100 years, and in 2011, Texas lived under a drought emergency for the whole calendar year.
Image from Wikipedia
Brought in Australia 
A DUST STORM (also known as sandstorm or haboob in Arabic) occurs when strong winds lift loose sand and dirt from dry land and blow it over a region for hundreds of miles with wind speeds of at least 25 mph.
Image from Wikipedia
Sandstorm in Iraq Image from Flickr
FACT:Dust can be lifted as high as 20,000 feet.
Dust storms resemble giant walls of dirt that become blinding and suffocating. Sand pelting your skin can also be painful. If you ever see a dust storm coming or are caught in one, it would be best to pull over to the side of the road or find some kind of shelter. If your outdoors when one hits, lie down and cover your head/face.
FACT:Dust storms usually last a few minutes, but afterward everything is covered with dust and sand, which can still be in the air, making breathing difficult.
Image from Wikipedia
Sydney, Australia
WRITING TIP:If you write about cowboys in Texas or Australia, or soldiers in Iraq, throwing in a dust storm could be an exciting addition to your story that’ll give your readers an idea about what the conditions are like in those places of the world.

QUESTION: Have you ever been in a drought or dust storm?If so, what was it like?

Disasters:A: AvalancheB: Blizzard and BlackoutC: CycloneD: Drought and Dust Storm

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