Disaster_Accident

APTOPIX Western Winds_Lea.jpg

Keith Curo of Pasadena, Calif., stops to look over the damage caused by a fallen tree at a Shell gas station on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, in Pasadena. Some of the worst winds in years blasted through California overnight, with gusts up to 97 mph. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

20111201-112717-pic-943299435.jpg

Miller and Smith is building 60 single-family homes on 5,084-square-foot sites at the Manor Homes at Madison Crescent in Gainesville. The Sydney model, with 2,765 square feet, is priced from $374,990.

20111130-205927-pic-253553082.jpg

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Kenneth Ellerbe said Wednesday that his staff-scheduling plan "will not reduce services one bit," adding that "safety is not an issue." (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

20111127-163031-pic-80624632.jpg

David Barfield checks the drought-stricken saplings at his Christmas tree farm in New Caney, Texas. Only a handful of the 500 saplings he planted have survived this year's drought and summer heat wave. (Associated Press)

Food And Farm Christm_Live.jpg

David Barfield checks a dying tree Nov. 8, 2011, at his Christmas tree farm in New Caney, Texas. This year's historic drought has killed thousands of trees on Barfield’s farm and across Texas and Oklahoma. (Associated Press)

Arizona Plane Crash_Live.jpg

John Kinder, a member of the Posse of Pinal County Sheriff Department, secures a road on Nov. 24, 2011, while a search and rescue team works around the clock at the Superstition Mountains east of Apache Junction, Ariz., where small plane crashed the previous evening. All passengers aboard were killed, including a pilot father and his three children traveling for Thanksgiving. (Associated Press/The Arizona Republic)

ARIZONA.jpg

A brush fire burns at the scene of an aircraft that crashed in the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction, Ariz., on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011. The small plane with three adults and three children on board crashed into the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix on Wednesday, and there was no sign of survivors, authorities said. (AP Photo/Tim Hacker East Valley Tribune)

20111123-160752-pic-777019562.jpg

Pulte Homes is building 133 single-family homes at the Reserve at Fair Hill in Olney. The Westford model, with 2,934 square feet, is priced from $684,990.

20111122-225004-pic-898080906.jpg

Owner Daniel Snyder (center) waits with linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (97) and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe to give out turkeys at the Redskins' annual Harvest Fest Tuesday at FedEx Field.

20111122-190007-pic-43024248.jpg

Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, asked for the government report that found that illegal immigrants caused a large percentage of the wildfires that have scarred areas of the Southwest along the border with Mexico. (Associated Press)

20111121-191838-pic-51261639.jpg

An aerial view shows a boat crossing an area of the oil spill in an offshore field operated by Chevron at the Bacia de Campos in Rio de Janeiro. (Associated Press)

SKINS_COWBOYS08

** FILE ** Washington Redskins wide receiver Jabar Gaffney (10) hauls in a 16-yard touchdown in front of Dallas Cowboys free safety Gerald Sensabaugh (43) during second quarter action. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

SKINS_COWBOYS03

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) crosses the goaline with Washington Redskins free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (20) on his back for the first score of the game. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

SKINS_COWBOYS02

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) hauls in a 22-yard touchdown reception in front of Washington Redskins free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (20) and cornerback DeAngelo Hall (23). (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

20111120-202539-pic-62022726.jpg

Detroit strong safety Chris Harris celebrates his interception of a pass by Carolina quarterback Cam Newton during the fourth quarter. The Lions trailed the Panthers 24-7 before rallying to win 49-35. (Associated Press)

20111120-195931-pic-111520180.jpg

A 19th-Century child's watery gravesite is visible in Bluffton, Texas, because the water level of Lake Buchanan has been receding as drought shrinks the state's largest inland lake. "Most people in Texas probably didn't realize what was under these lakes," says a Texas historical commission official.

20111120-174056-pic-79905107.jpg

The crest level from two major floods is marked on the side of the Wilmington, Vt., Police Department building. Many of the town's businesses were severely damaged by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene this summer and have not reopened. (Associated Press)