Tectonics Update – January 28

Large Quake Measuring about 8.3Mw Could Strike Near Iwaki, Japan: FIRE-EARTH

FIRE-EARTH Models show that a large earthquake measuring up to 8.3Mw could strike within a 50 km of Iwaki, Japan.

Forecast Details

• Magnitude: Up to 8.3Mw 
• Position: 50km radius of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
• Probability of Occurrence
  • Feb – May 2012: 74%
  • Jun -  Nov 2012: 68%
  • Dec 2012 – Dec 2015 : ~ 50%
  • Jan – Apr 2016: >70%
• Probability of Event occurring onshore: 60%

For future UPDATES see comments section below.

Previous Forecasts

• TOKYO AREA QUAKE WARNING Posted on March 16, 2011
• Fire-Earth Quake Forecast: Japan Earthquakes
• MEGA QUAKE STRIKES NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU
• Tectonics Update – March 10
• Strong Earthquake Strikes East of Honshu, Japan Posted on June 13, 2010
• M6.5 Strikes East Coast of Honshu, Japan Posted on July 5, 2010
• Honshu Earthquake Warning Posted  on November 10, 2010

Related Links

• Japan Earthquakes, Disasters: Recent History and FIRE-EARTH Forecasts

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

States of emergency declared in Bulgaria

“Code Red” remains amid Bulgaria’s deadly blizzards

Powerful blizzards and extreme cold prompt Bulgarian authorities to declare states of emergency in dozens of districts and municipalities.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 27

[January 27, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,510 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Bulgaria. A countrywide “Code Red” warning, which was earlier issued by the Bulgarian authorities, remains activated, reports said.
  • States of emergency have also been declared in the districts of Pazardzhik, Ruse,  Smolyan and Sofia as well as the municipalities of Batak, Godech,  Ivanovo, Lisichevo, Lovech,  Svoge, and Velingrad, the Ministry of Interior has announced.
  • Bulgaria was hit by powerful blizzards, with heavy snow blocking roads and leaving thousands of people without electricity, a report said.
  • The country will be hit by an historic cold snap over the next week, forecasters said, with the wind chill factor dropping to -20ºC.
  • “Bulgaria was thrown into chaos during the first days of the new year as heavy snow and torrential rains cut off electricity, stranded people, cars, buses and trucks,” the report said.
  • The freezing weather has caused at least four deaths this month.

Other Disasters

• Victoria, Australia.  Health authorities in the Australian state of Victoria have reported an outbreak of bird flu at two farms.
  • To contain the outbreak, more than 10,000 ducks will have to be culled, a report said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Thousands of Chinese displaced amid deep freeze

Hundreds of thousands of people affected by heavy snow and freezing weather in central China

Snowstorms have destroyed hundreds of homes leaving  thousands of people homeless in the mountainous regions of central China’s Hunan Province.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 26

[January 26, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,511 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Hunan Province, China.  Multiple snowstorms have destroyed hundreds of homes and left thousands homeless in the mountainous regions of central China’s Hunan Province.
  • The storms have also destroyed thousands of hectares (acres) of crops causing millions of dollars in damage, Chinese official media reported.

Other Disasters

• Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.  The Longjiang River in southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has been severely polluted after a mining company discharged large amounts of industrial effluent containing cadmium into the waterways
  • Authorities in Hechi City, where the discharge occurred, have confirmed that the cadmium-rich pollutants were discharged by a local mining company.
  • Excessive cadmium levels, measuring at least three times the “official limit,” were detected in the river earlier this month, which killed many fish and prompted concerns over drinking water.
  • The local fire department has dumped more than 80 tons of aluminum chloride into the Longjiang River to “neutralize” the contamination.
  • Cadmium is a carcinogen. The metal is used to manufacture pigments and batteries and in the metal-plating and plastics industries.
    
  • “The incident caused panic buying of bottled water in Liuzhou city at the lower reaches of the river over the past few days,” said a report.
  • Liuzhou city supermarkets have run out of bottled water.

The main sources of cadmium in the air are the burning of fossil fuels such as coal or oil and the incineration of municipal waste.  The acute (short-term) effects of cadmium in humans through inhalation exposure consist mainly of effects on the lung, such as pulmonary irritation.  Chronic (long-term) inhalation or oral exposure to cadmium leads to a build-up of cadmium in the kidneys that can cause kidney disease.  Cadmium has been shown to be a developmental toxicant in animals, resulting in fetal malformations and other effects, but no conclusive evidence exists in humans.  An association between cadmium exposure and an increased risk of lung cancer has been reported from human studies, but these studies are inconclusive due to confounding factors.  Animal studies have demonstrated an increase in lung cancer from long-term inhalation exposure to cadmium.  EPA has classified cadmium as a Group B1, probable human carcinogen. (Source: EPA)

• Pakistan. More than 100 people have died from the tainted heart medicine in the Pakistani city of Lahore, the health ministry said.
  • The heart medication was provided to patients free of charge by the state-run Punjab Institute of Cardiology.
• South Island, New Zealand.  At least 82 of the 99 whales beached at the Farewell Spit on January 23 have died or were killed by the Department of Conservation in New Zealand, a report said.
  • “Department of Conservation (DoC) area manager John Mason said the remaining 33 whales were shot in the head with a high calibre rifle shortly after the decision to put them down at 8.15am today.”

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

• Whale of a Story
• Noise from Oil Exploration, Tourist Boats Kills 150 Whales

Flooded Australia: Thousands Evacuated in 3 States

Torrential rains continue to cause havoc in Queensland, NSW and NT

Gold Coast prepares for evacuations as heavy downpour forces the release of water from Brisbane’s largest dam.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 25

[January 25, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,512 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Queensland, NSW and NT, Australia.   Heavy rainfalls in Queensland have caused extensive flooding, which is exacerbated by the release of water from Brisbane’s Wivenhoe dam, the largest in the area.
  • Residents in the Gold Coast are being evacuated as forecasters predicted strong storms on Wednesday pm.
  •  The water level in Hinze Dam, Gold Coast City’s main water supply, has risen by at least 3 meters in less than 48 hours, reports said.  
    
  • Gold Coast City Council activated the Disaster Co-ordination Center.
  • The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) have evacuated thousands of people and ordered many more in several areas to evacuate.
  • Thousands of people in remain isolated.
  • “Darwin and surrounding areas have been hit by wild weather since Tuesday. Strong wind gusts have knocked down trees and caused power cuts,” a report said, with wind gusts of up to 93kmh recorded at Darwin Airport.
  • Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning, with the possibility of flash flooding throughout the Darwin-Daly and northern Arnhem districts.
• Western Australia.  Multiple bushfire continue to ravage Gascoyne region in Western Australia.
  • Month-long blazes have consumed more than 600,000 hectares, which includes grazing land, and destroyed  infrastructure in the region.
  • The State Government has so far rejected calls to declare the fire-ravaged area a disaster zone, a report said.

Other Global Disasters

• Virginia, USA.The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared 20 counties and 4 independent cities in Virginia as agricultural disaster areas because of losses caused two separate disaster conditions.
  • Disaster Conditions No. 1: Craig, Frederick and Page counties have been designated primary natural disaster areas because of losses caused by excessive heat that occurred May 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2011.
  • The following 12 counties have been declared disaster areas because they are contigous: Alleghany, Giles, Montgomery, Rockingham, Botetourt, Greene, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Clarke, Madison, Roanoke and Warren.
  • The independent city of Winchester has also been declared a disaster area.
• West Virginia. The following counties in West Virginia have also been declared disaster areas because they’re contiguous: Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Monroe, Jefferson and Morgan
• Virginia.  Prince George County has been designated as a primary natural disaster area because of losses caused by Hurricane Irene that occurred from Aug. 27-28, 2011.
  • The following counties and cities in Virginia were also declared as disaster areas because they’re contiguous:
    • Counties: Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Surry and Sussex;
    •  Independent cities: Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Wildfire Consumes 1 Million Acres in WA

State of Emergency Declared in Alabama

Alabama Declares a State of Emergency in All 67 Counties

Deadly tornadoes and severe storms leave at least 2 dead, more than a hundred injured and hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 24

[January 24, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,513 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Alabama, USA.Gov. Bentley has declared a state of emergency in all 67 counties after deadly tornadoes and severe storms left at least 2 dead, more than a hundred injured and hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged.
  • Heavy rains has intensified  flooding across North Alabama.
  • Chilton County: WKLF RADIO STUDIO DESTROYED … AND 302 FOOT TRANSMISSION TOWER WAS TOPPLED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 22 AND COUNTY ROAD 37. (Source: SPC)
  • Butler County: DAMAGE TO METAL BUILDING WITH ONE INJURED NEARBY. (Source: SPC)

US Tornado Map Jan 23, 2012. (Source: SPC)

US Tornado Map Jan 22, 2012 -UPDATED. (Source: SPC)

Southern U.S. Wintertime Tornado Outbreak

Several damage surveys were completed today in the wake of a tornado outbreak in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama last night. Most of the damage surveyed so far has been rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating considerable damage with wind speeds reaching between 111 and 135 mph. However, the tornado that passed through Clay, Alabama, which is just north of Birmingham has been rated an EF-3. This tornado produced significant damage and was capable of wind speeds between 136 and 165 mph. (Source: NWS)

• The Storm Prediction Center received 23 tornado reports, 118 high wind reports and 35 large hail reports from Sunday’s outbreak:
• Arkansas: 10 tornado reports
• Alabama: 9
• Mississippi:  2
  • NWS STORM SURVEY DETERMINES AN EF-2 TORNADO WITH MAX EST WINDS OF 120 MPH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE IN EXTREME NE BOLIVAR COUNTY. PATH LENGTH 3.75 MI. (NWS)
• Tennessee: 1
• Kentucky: 1
  • TORNADO BEGAN AT HAZEL KY TO NEW PROVIDENCE KY. 100 YRDS WIDE AND 5.6 MILES LONG. PK WND 95MPH. PROPERTY DAMAGE 50K. HUNDREDS OF TREES UPROOTED/SNAPPED. HOUSE WITH SHIN. (NWS)
• Georgia: 2 tornadoes struck Macon and Dooly Counties Saturday, NWS said.

Tornadoes have destroyed or damaged about 500 homes throughout the region and uprooted/snapped thousands of trees.

Other Global Disasters

• Papua New Guinea (PNG). A massive landslide has completely buried two villages in PNG.
  • “The landslide is about a kilometer long and about 300 meters wide. There are people buried underneath and a number of them are from what I have heard, children.” Local MP Francis Potape has told Radio Australia.
  • At least 40 people are reportedly missing, reports said.
  • The landslide occurred near Exxon-Mobil’s liquefied natural gas project in the new Hela Province, blocking the main road and stopping work at the site and a nearby airfield.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

• Washington declares a state of emergency amid deadly ice storm
• Massive snowstorm in the Northwest closes schools, halts transportation

• Deadly Tornado Season 2012 Begins

Deadly Tornado Season 2012 Begins

More than 21 tornadoes sweep across AR, TN, KY, MS and AL, killing at least 4 and destroying many homes

A line of strong storms swept across the Southeast spawning deadly tornadoes.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 23

[January 23, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,514 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• US Southeast.  A line of strong storms swept across the Southeast spawning deadly tornadoes.
  • At least 21 tornadoes were reported in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, SPC said.
  • Twisters have killed at least 4 people in Alabama, destroying or damaging dozens of buildings, trapping residents in their homes and felling trees and power lines.
  • The storms also brought hail and damaging winds to the region.
  • Winds of up to 70mph struck both Memphis and Little Rock areas causing damage to building, and funnel clouds were spotted near Little Rock, NWS reported.
  • SPC received a total 173 reports of tornadoes, strong winds and hail, as of posting.

US Severe Weather Map. Source: SPC

• Arkansas:
  • Dallas County -2 HOUSES DAMAGED ON HIGHWAY 8 NORTHWEST OF FORDYCE. NO INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME.
• Alabama:
  • At least 4 people were killed and scores of others injured as storms pummeled Jefferson County, causing “significant damage.”
    
  • Chilton County – MAJOR STRUCTUAL DAMAGE REPORTED IN MAPLESVILLE WITH PEOPLE TRAPPED IN HOMES
  • Jefferson County – MAJOR STUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED NEAR THE 500 BLOCK OF U.S. HIGHWAY 31 IN FULTONDALE.
  • ST Clair County – MAJOR STRUCTUAL DAMAGE REPORTED ON OLD SPRINGVILLE ROAD. INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME
  • Jefferson County – MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED IN TRUSSVILLE WITH MULTIPLE TREES DOWNED.
  • Jefferson County – TREES DOWN AND DAMAGE TO HOMES NEAR BALBOA COURT.
  • Jefferson County – SEVERAL HOMES DESTROYED IN THE PARADISE VALLEY AREA IN CLAY. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
  • Jefferson County – PAWNEE VILLAGE ROAD COMPLETELY IMPASSIBLE IN TARRANT.

Other Global Disasters

• Fiji.  About a 1,000 people have been evacuated amid severe flooding in Fiji.
  • The worst affected areas are the northern island of Vanua Levu, and parts of Viti Levu, the largest of Fiji islands and where the capital Suva is located.
  • “In Labasa most of the crops were damaged due to the flooding, they also experienced some strong winds. We have heard that a lot of families have moved to the evacuation centres. Most of the roads were flooded yesterday in Vanua Levu and Vitu Levu as well today. Some of the bridges were damaged, especially in Vanua Levu. And we have just received a report that the river level in Nadi town is rising,” a local meteorologist said.
  • The Fiji Meteorological Service forecast heavy rain to continue over much of Fiji until Wednesday, causing more flooding in low-lying areas throughout the country, a report said.
  • “People living along coastal areas that have been flooded will have to be very careful. During the high tide in the evening, water levels will rise. It they need assistance they should contact the authorities available. If they should move, I suggest they start moving now because the next high tide will be at 6 in the morning. Now both times for these high tides occur in the dark and it will be dangerous if they don’t start moving now.”

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

• Washington declares a state of emergency amid deadly ice storm
• Massive snowstorm in the Northwest closes schools, halts transportation

Cruise Ship Disaster: 12th Body Recovered

Thousands of tons of fuels and raw sewage aboard Costa Concordia could cause environmental disaster

The body of the 12th victim of Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster, a woman reportedly wearing a life jacket, was recovered by divers searching inside the stricken vessel.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 22

[January 22, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,515 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Tuscany, Italy.  The body of a woman, who was wearing a life jacket, was recovered by divers searching inside the capsized Costa Concordia. She was the 12th victim of the disaster.
  • At least 20 others are still missing and up to 70 people injured, six of them seriously, after the 290-meter-long, 115,000-ton cruise ship struck a rock off Tuscany’s Giglio island on January 13 and capsized.
  • The giant ship is shifting precariously on an undersea ledge and could slide down to a depth of about 110 meters.
  • The Italian government declared a state of emergency in the area around the wreck on Friday.
  • The vessel is carrying more than 2,400 tons of heavy diesel fuel and lubricating oils.
  • Both the sewage and fuels aboard the ship pose major environmental threats to the area.
    
  • Costa Concordia is owned and operated by Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of American-British Carnival Corporation & Plc, the world’s largest cruise ship operator.
  • Some 3,207 passengers and 1,024 crew members were on board when the ship hit a reef off Isola del Giglio.
  • Some liquid was leaking from the ship last week, but it was unclear whether it was fuel, sewage or other substances, reports said.
  • The ship’s captain insists the rock that tore through Costa Concordia’s hull wasn’t present in the disaster area where  he had previously navigated the ship.
  • Industry experts believe the ship is a constructive total loss, as the cost repair and salvage would exceed the  replacement value, estimated at US$570 million.
    
• IF Nature Had a List of Extreme Dislikes

Other Global Disasters

• Kano, Nigeria.Death toll has climbed to at least 178 following last week’s bombing and gun attack on the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
  • “A coordinated series of bomb blasts and shooting sprees mostly targeting police stations on Friday sent panicked residents of Nigeria’s second biggest city of more than 10 million people running for cover,” a report said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Hunger Plagues Indigenous Community in N Mexico

Widespread hunger strikes indigenous Tarahumara following historic drought

The worst recorded drought in Mexico’s history has severely affected more than 2.5 million people, destroying about 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres) of cropland in 7 northern states.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 21

[January 21, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,516 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Chihuahua State, Mexico. The worst recorded drought in more than 70 years has severely affected 2.5 million people, destroying about 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres) of cropland in 7 northern states.
  • The worst affected people are the Tarahumara (Rarámuri).
  • An estimated 60,000 Tarahumara have been impacted and 90 percent of the local bean crop has failed.
  • The Organized Front of Indigenous Organizations earlier reported that community members were committing suicide because they were unable to feed their children.
  • “The indigenous women, when they don´t have anything to feed their children for four or five days, get very sad and that sadness is so great that up to the end of December [2011], 50 men and women threw themselves off cliffs … or hanged themselves,” said the group´s director Ramón Gardea.
  • The Interior Ministry has denied reports of mass suicides among the Tarahumara communities.
  • The Mexican Red Cross said the widespread hunger was a “food emergency.”

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

State of Emergency Declared in Washington

Washington declares a state of emergency amid deadly ice storm

A deadly ice storm swept across the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) following record snowfalls.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 20

[January 20, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,517 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Washington, USA.    Washington’s governor declared a state of emergency following the deadly “Snowmageddon” and ice storm, which swept across PNW killing at least 2 people and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of people in the region.
  • At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a new daily snowfall record of 6.8 inches was set, shattering the previous record of 2.9 inches set in 1954, reports said.
  • “Authorities called for voluntary evacuations of the town of Mapleton, Oregon, which has about 1,000 residents, and some nearby areas because expected flooding,” a report said.

U.S. Weather Warnings Map. Source: NWS

U.S. Composite Satellite Image  (Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni)

Other Global Disasters

• Nevada, USA. Gov. Brian Sandoval has declared a state of emergency after a massive wildfire, fanned by 82-mph winds, burnt thousands of acres near Reno, killing at least 1 person, destroying more than 2 dozen homes and forcing the authorities to evacuate over 10,000 people.
• Oregon, USA.Extensive flooding has forced the Governor to  declare a state of emergency in Marion, Coos, Benton, and Lincoln counties.
  • More counties will likely be added as conditions worsen, he said.
  • The city of Salem has activated its Emergency Operations Center due to flooding.
  • The combined impact of snowmelt and torrential rains have flooded communities across Oregon.
  • “The return of severe winter weather has overwhelmed communities across our state,” the Governor said. “My priority is to ensure the safety of all Oregonians and their properties. With this emergency declaration, I have directed all available state resources to help affected counties in any way possible.”
  • Benton County, Or.Officials have declared Benton County a disaster area. “Flooding and landslides beginning January 18 in the area due to heavy rains and melting snow from a recent snow storm have created high water conditions,” the officials said in a statement. “A preliminary assessment shows damage to roads and homes and closed roads resulting in isolated areas of the county.”
    • “Rising creeks flooded much of Marion and Linn counties, including the communities of Turner and Scio, where hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes and businesses,” said a report.
• Hawaii.  Hawaii County in Hawaii has been declared a Primary Natural Disaster Area by USDA.
  • The disaster declaration follows losses caused by drought that occurred from January 1, 2011, and continues.

• Tennessee, USA. USDA has declared 13 counties in Tennessee as agricultural disaster areas.
  • The disaster declaration follows losses caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred June 1 – October 20, 2011.
  • Primary Disaster Areas:  Henry and Williamson Counties.
  • Contiguous Disaster Areas: Benton, Cheatham, Dickson, Marshall, Carroll, Davidson, Hickman, Maury, Rutherford, Stewart and Weakley counties
• Kentucky, USA.The following counties in the neighboring state of Kentucky were also added to the disaster list because they’re contiguous.
  • Calloway and Graves counties.
• Tennessee, USA.  Seven counties in Tennessee have been declared agricultural Disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rain, high winds, hail and flooding that occurred June 21 – December 5, 2011.
  • Primary Disaster Areas:  Claiborne and Union counties.
  • Contiguous Disaster Areas: Anderson, Campbell, Grainger, Hancock and Knox counties.
• Kentucky, USA. The following counties in the neighboring state of Kentucky were also added to the disaster list because they’re contiguous: Not Specified.
• Virginia, USA. The following counties in the neighboring state of Virginia were also added to the disaster list because they’re contiguous: Lee County.
• Mozambique. Flooding in Mozambique has left at least 5 people dead and made hundreds of others homeless.
  • Tropical depression DANDO, the first to strike Southern Mozambique in nearly 30 years, brought heavy rain and strong winds with gusts of up to 120km, dumping more than 250mm of precipitation over much of the south.
  • The winds and flooding have damaged thousands of homes schools and businesses in Gaza Province, and hundreds more in the capital Maputo.
  • Hundreds of people have lost their home and thousands more have been evacuated.
  • The Mozambican authorities have issued a Red Alert for the southern part of the country, which covers the capital Maputo, Matola city, Many districts in Maputo province, and the coastal areas in Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the National Meteorological Institute (INAM) said.
• USA. Violent sex crimes committed by active U.S. Army soldiers have nearly doubled in the past five years, according to a US Army report.
  • The crimes are blamed, in part, on the trauma of war.
  • Of the 2,811 violent felonies reported in 2011, about a half were violent felony sex crimes, and most were committed in the United States.
  • List of the top five violent felony offenses committed by soldiers in 2011:
    1. Aggravated assault
    2. Rape
    3. Aggravated sexual assault
    4. Forcible sodomy
    5. Child pornography.
  • “One violent sex crime was committed by a soldier every six hours and 40 minutes in 2011.”

Billion-dollar disasters of 2011 [Updated]

Extreme drought, heat waves, floods, unprecedented tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, wildfires and winter storms set  a record 14 weather and climate disasters in 2011 each causing  at least $1 billion in damages.

1. Groundhog Day blizzard (January 29-February 3, 2011)
2. Tornadoes  in Midwest/Southeast (April 4-5, 2011)
3. Tornadoes in Southeast/Midwest  (April 8-11, 2011)
4. Tornadoes in Midwest/Southeast (April 14-16, 2011)
5. Tornadoes in Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest (April 25-28, 2011)
6. Tornadoes in Midwest/Southeast (May 22-27, 2011)
7. Tornadoes and severe weather in Midwest/Southeast (June 18-22, 2011)
8. Drought and Heatwave in Southern Plains/Southwest (Spring-Fall, 2011)
9. Mississippi River flooding (Spring-Summer, 2011)
10. Severe weather in the Rockies and Midwest (July 10-14, 2011)  added Jan. 19, 2012
11. Flooding in the Upper Midwest (Summer 2011)
12. Hurricane Irene (August 20-29, 2011)
13. Wildfires in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona  (Spring-Fall 2011)
14. Tropical Storm Lee (Early September, 2011)  added Jan. 19, 2012)

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

WA State Emergency Operations Center Activated

Massive snowstorm in the Northwest closes schools, halts transportation

Washington activates the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to winter storm conditions throughout the state.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 19

[January 19, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,518 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Washington, USA. Officials have activated the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to winter storm conditions throughout the state of Washington, a report said.
  • “Heavy snowfall throughout the state has snarled transportation, and created health and safety issues, according to a press release.”
  • “County emergency operations centers have been activated in King, Pierce, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor counties as well as in several cities including Seattle and Kent. “
  • Gov. Gregoire may declare a state of emergency later today.
  • Hundreds of car accidents have have been reported in Pierce, Spokane and Thurston counties.
  • Storm cut power to hundreds of thousands of customers throughout the Northwest.

• Oregon, USA. More than 2 feet of snow covered the Oregonian town of Vernonia (Pop: ~ 2,300) causing a major power outage that affected the entire town and prompted the officials to declare a state of emergency.
  • The town officials are also concerned about the possibility of flooding after the massive snowfall, a report said.

• Pacific Northwest, USA. A major winter storm is affecting the NW United States with heavy snow, torrential rains and powerful winds. The storm is currently growing in size, intensity and spreading to Central Rockies, NWS reported.
  • Heavy snows are forecast in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado as well as parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Nebraska, the report said.
  • Extreme Cold Warnings have been issued for the northern states from the Dakotas to Iowa and Minnesota, while Flood Warnings are in place for parts of southern Indiana.
  • “Green Bay and northeastern Wisconsin are forecast to see the Arctic air move in tonight. By late tonight and early Thursday morning, wind chills are expected to range from around 25 degrees below zero in the central and north-central parts of the state to about 15 below to the east.”
  • “Flood Warnings are currently in effect from coastal northwestern California into coastal Oregon. High
    Wind Warnings and wind advisories are in effect across western Oregon. Hazardous Seas Warnings have been issued along the Oregon coast. Avalanche Warnings and watches are in effect for the Washington and Oregon Cascades.”
  • In the St. Paul area of south-central Minnesota temperatures will drop way below zero with 25-30 mph winds creating wind chill factors of 30-35 below zero, NWS said.
  • In southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northern Iowa wind chill values will drop to about 30 degrees below zero.
  • Severe weather reports to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center for Thursday included notice of 14 tornadoes, 99 high wind reports and 6 reports of large hail. “Mostly EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes were reported in Jefferson, Floyd and Clark counties in Indiana; Tippah and Marion counties in Mississippi; and Jefferson County, Kentucky.”

  
  Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Map (filtered).

• North Carolina, USA.North Carolina Gov. Perdue has declared Burke and Rutherford counties disaster areas following the severe storms and tornadoes that left a trail of destruction on January 11.
  • Storms barreled across the state leaving at least 15 injured, destroying dozens of homes and damaging scores of others in the two counties.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Wildfire Consumes 1 Million Acres in WA

Western Australia’s Government urged to declare massive fire a ‘natural disaster’

Massive blaze, which was started by lighting on December 28, has so far burned about 1 million acres (400,000ha) in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region, a report said.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 18

[January 18, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,519 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Gascoyne Region, Western Australia. A massive blaze, which was started by lighting on December 28, has so far consumed about 1 million acres (400,000ha) of bush and of grazing land in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region, a report said.
  • The fire has destroyed or damaged fences, water points and thousands of acres (hectares) of grazing land.
  • Some areas are said to be severely affected with many ranchers loosing their livelihood.
  • “However, there are people up there, there’s people who earn their living up there and their means of earning a living is being totally destroyed by this fire,” said the spokesman for Pastoralists and Graziers Association.
  • Gascoyne region,  located in the north west of Western Australia, is one of the nine regions of Western Australia and has 600 km of Indian Ocean coastline.

Other Global Disasters

• Badakhshan province, Afghanistan. The death toll has climbed to at least 30 after an avalanche buried large parts of Zich (population: 70,000) in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province, said a report.
  • Dozens of people have been injured, many of them critically.
  • It’s not yet known how many people have been buried by the avalanche.
  • Heavy snow has covered the entire region blocking roads and highways, the report said.
  • At least 4 major avalanches have been reported in Eshkashim, Kohistan, Raghistan and Yawaran regions of Badakhshan province.
  • A massive avalanche has buried an entire village in Eshkashim region, the report said.
• Indonesia. Major flooding has inundated thousands of homes in three districts across Banten province, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
• A section of the Jakarta-Merak highway has been washed away by floodwaters, reports said.
  • Large parts of Lebak, Pandeglang and Serang, districts near the Ciujung Rivers were submerged under as much as five meters of floodwater.
  • About 15,000 homes in nearly 100 villages spread over 29 subdistricts have been inundated, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

TDR-TB Outbreak in India

Totally drug resistant (TDR) TB infections strikes India

At least a dozen people in India are infected with a strain of tuberculosis disease that is totally resistant to all antibiotics.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 17

[January 17, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,520 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Mumbai, India. At least 12 patients have acquired an “incurable” [Totally Drug-Resistant, TDR] form of the tuberculosis infection, and three have died, doctors at a Mumbai hospital reported.
  • Previously, cases of partially drug-resistant TB have been reported worldwide, and multidrug resistant (MDR) TB strains in China, Iran, Italy and Russia.
  • “We know one patient transmitted it to her daughter,” a researcher at the Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Center in Mumbai told New Scientist. “It’s estimated that on average, a tuberculosis patient infects 10 to 20 contacts in a year, and there’s no reason to suspect that this strain is any less transmissible,” he warned.
  • TB is one of the world’s major killers among infectious diseases, claiming about 1.45 million lives from nearly 9 million reported cases in 2010, a death rate of about 1 in 6.
  • Drug-resistant TB strains are rising worlwide.
  • Some 110,000 cases of MDR-TB were reported in India in 2006.
  • TDR-TB cases were first reported in Italy in 2007.
  • “It’s very worrying, but kind of inevitable, given the gradual emergence of resistance,” said a TB researcher at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “It’s like watching a slow-motion horror movie unfold.”
  • The London 2012 Olympics and similar mass gatherings, “can be a hotbed of diseases from across the world, public health experts have warned.”

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Drought tightens grip on S. Mozambique

High temperatures and drought destroying crops in southern Mozambique

Two southern Mozambique provinces of Gaza and Inhambane are plagued by worsening drought and high temperatures, following earlier deluge. 

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 16

[January 16, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,521 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Mozambique. Continued worsening drought and heat are destroying crops in two provinces of Gaza and Inhambane [combined population: ~ 3 million] in southern Mozambique.
  • In Massangena, the worst-hit district in Gaza Province in southwest of the country, farmers are facing extreme hardship.
  • In December 2011, famine was reported in Magude District of Maputo Province and  in six districts of Gaza province, where malnutrition in both adults and children became widespread and continues.
  • In contrast, the northern and central regions of the country are experiencing excessive rains which are threatening to ruin the crops, Radio Mozambique reported.
  • Heavy rains ruined the second harvest season in 2010, and the first season in 2011, followed by the onset of a severe drought in 2011.
  • “We first had much rainfall destroying crops, now the drought is destroying crops,” the Administrator of Magude, was quoted as saying.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• Typhoon WASHI Legacy Lingers
• Philippines declares national calamity

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Hundreds flee flooding in Mindanao, Philippines

Flooding strikes towns in 2 Mindanao provinces forcing hundreds of Filipinos to abandon homes

Torrential rains triggered more floods swamping several towns in two southern provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, and forcing hundrdes of residents to evacuate.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 15

[January 15, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,522 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Mindanao, Philippines.Flooding struck towns in 2 southern provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, and forcing hundrdes of residents to evacuate, authorities said.
  • Dozens of villages in the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, Laak, and New Corella in Davao Del Norte were completely submerged by as much as 1 meter (3.3 feet) of floodwater.
  • Heavy rains could continue through next week, forecasters said.
  • In December, more than 5,000 people were evacuated after tropical storm WASHI [“Sendong”] flooded towns in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.
• Negros Oriental, Philippines.Health officials in the Philippines Central Visayas [Region VII] have declared a leptospirosis outbreak [Weil's syndrome] in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental province, following a sharp rise in the infectious disease.
  • At least two dozen people have been killed and hundreds of others infected following a leptospirosis outbreak in the Northern Mindanao cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan,  the local Department of Health reported.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• Typhoon WASHI Legacy Lingers
• Philippines declares national calamity

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Declared in North Dakota

Agricultural disaster declared in 22 of 53 ND counties

Multiple disasters caused by extreme weather events including spring snowstorms, frosts and freezes in late spring and early fall, excessive rain, flooding, ground saturation, landslides, strong winds, hail, tornadoes, unseasonably cool spring temps, scorching summer heat and weather-related insects and crop diseases, USDA reported.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 14

[January 14, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,523 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• North Dakota, USA.  USDA has declared 22 of 53 North Dakota counties as agricultural disaster areas due to extreme weather events including spring snowstorms, frosts and freezes in late spring and early fall, excessive rain, flooding, ground saturation, landslides, strong winds, hail, tornadoes, unseasonably cool spring temps, scorching summer heat and weather-related insects and crop diseases, which occurred from January 1, 2011, and continues.
  • The following ND counties have been designated as Primary Disaster Areas: Adams, Bowman, Burleigh, Logan, Morton, Slope and Stark.
  • ND counties designated as contiguous disaster areas include Billings, Hettinger, Mercer, Dunn, Kidder, Oliver, Emmons, La Moure, Sheridan, Golden Valley, McIntosh, Sioux, Grant, McLean and Stutsman.
  • “North Dakota farmers have experienced several disaster conditions over a long period of time, which have caused major losses to a wide variety of crops such as corn, wheat, sunflowers, dry beans, pasture and forage crops,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
• Montana. Fallon County in the neighboring state of Montana has also been designated as a disaster area because it’s contiguous.
• South Dakota. Corson, Harding and Perkins counties in SD have also been added to the disaster declaration because they’re contiguous.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar