Deadly Tornadoes Slam Midwest

At least 11 tornadoes strike the Midwest

Kansas declares a state of emergency after an apparent tornado attack at Harveyville

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 29

[February 29, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,477 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• U.S. Midwest.   Aline of tornadoes pounded the Midwest, killing at least four people, injuring many and destroying/damaging hundreds of homes   in 4 states.
  • The first death was reported after a possible tornado hit a mobile home park in southwest Missouri, south of Buffalo, said the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
  • The storm system also knocked out power to all of Buffalo.
  • Branson and Lebanon in southwest Missouri were among the worst hit areas, with multiple injuries and “heavy damage” reported.
  • At least 11 tornadoes have been recorded by the Storm Prediction Center across Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, late Tuesday night .
  • Another tornado reportedly touch down in Indiana, and one in Kentucky.
• Illinois. At least 3 people were killed in Harrisburg, Ill., and dozens of homes were destroyed after a possible tornado swept through the area, a report said.

• Kansas.  Kansas governor has declared a state of emergency after an apparent tornado struck Harveyville (Wabaunsee County, southwest of Topeka).
  • At least 10 people have been injured, 4 of them criticall.
  • More than 40 percent of the town has been damaged.
  • Numerous trees and power lines were down.
  • The weather system was headed to Kentucky and Tennessee, said NWS.
• Indiana.   TORNADO REPORTED BY STATE TROOPER NEAR THE COMMUNITY OF NEWBURGH. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE CITY PROPER. RESCUE TEAMS ARE RESPONDING. (Source: SPC)

Related Links

• Tornado Alley Maps for June
• Nebraska Nuke Plant Remains Shut After Missouri River Flooding
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

•  Tornado Dead to Haunt Missouri Officials
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?

• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

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 

• Tornado Attacks Leave 100 Dead or Injured in Indonesia Posted on January 29, 2012
• State of Emergency Declared in Alabama Posted on January 24, 2012
• Deadly Tornado Season 2012 Begins Posted on January 23, 2012
• U.S. Tornado Forecast 2012 Posted on February 25, 2012

Flooding Destroys Thousands of Homes in Acre, Brazil

Thousands of homes destroyed, 1 in 5 people affected by flooding in Acre, Brazil

Major flooding in  Brazilian state of Acre (located SW of the Northern Region) has destroyed thousands of homes killing at least one person, and forcing a fifth of the state’s population of about 740,000  to relocate, officials said.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 28

[February 28, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,478 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Acre, Brazil.  Major flooding in Brazil’s state of Acre has affected about a fifth of the population, destroying thousands of homes and devastating infrastructure.
  • Flooding, caused by an abnormally intense rainy season, began more than a week ago in the Amazon basin.
  • The Acre River has burst its banks causing unprecedented flooding in Bolivia’s northern province of Pando, which borders Brazil, leaving the provincial capital, Cobija, completely inundated and obliterating dozens of villages, killing at a least a dozen people.
  • At least 45 suburbs of Rio Branco, capital of Acre, were submerged under floodwater, with more than 15,000 homes inundated by last week.
  • The Acre River has risen by about 18 meters above its normal levels, reports said.

Other Global Disasters

• Yunnan province, China.  Worsening drought and low rainfall in the last three years have dried up 273 rivers and 413 small reservoirs in Yunnan province, China, a report said.
  • More than 6.31 million people in 91 counties of Yunnan province in SW China have been affected by a persistent drought, with at least 3.1 million people and 1.55 million livestock short of drinking water, according to provincial civil affairs authorities.
  • “… more than 2 million mu (133,333 hectares) of forests and 8.2 million mu of corps having been affected.“

  • Severe drought is also posing fire risks in forest areas of SW China.

  • Some 47 percent of Yunnan province (24.7 million ha) is forested.
  • Yunnan is China’s No. 2 forested province.
  • “From Jan. 1 to Feb. 16, Yunnan saw 100 cases of forest fires. Of the total, six were serious or catastrophic forest fires, a spokesman with the Yunnan forest public security bureau said.”
• Sichuan Province, China.  Alarm bells should also be ringing in Sichuan province, SW China, as drought intensifies.

Most disturbing image of the day: A well or a mass grave?  Original caption: “Villagers wait for relief water next to a well, dug during a persistent drought in hopes of storing rainwater, at Yizi Vilage in the Renhe District of Panzhihua, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 22, 2012. The drought, striking the area since last year as a result of insufficient rainfall, has threatened the locals’ with limited access to drinking water. Measures are now being taken to relieve the pressures of water supply.” (Xinhua/Hai Mingwei). Image may be subject to copyright.

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 

• Emergency Declared in Bolivia’s Flooded Amazon Region   Posted on February 23, 2012

Lassa Fever Outbreak Kills Dozens in Nigeria

Forty fatalities including 2 medical personnel from Lassa fever outbreak

About 400 hundred cases of the acute viral illness have been detected in 12 Nigerian states sine Mid January,  said  the country’s Minister of State for Health, 10 percent of which were fatal.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 27

[February 27, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,479 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Nigeria.   An outbreak of Lassa fever, an acute viral illness, has sickened about 400 people in 12 Nigerian states, killing at least 40 including two medical workers, a report said.
  • The areas stricken by the recent outbreak are Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Taraba, Yobe, Ondo, Rivers, Gombe, Anambra, Delta and Lagos states.

Lassa Virus. Source: CDC

Arenavirus. Lassa fever is present in West Africa. The reservoir of Lassa virus are rodents and humans become infected through contact with the excreta of infected rats. While about 80% of the infections go with no symptoms, the remaining patients develop severe multi-system disease and up to 15% of the hospitalized cases may die. Early treatment with the antiviral drug ribavirin is effective, and infection is prevented through good hygiene conditions.  Source: European Center for Disease Prevention and Control

What is Lassa fever?

Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in West Africa. The illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria, West Africa. The cause of the illness was found to be Lassa virus, named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases originated. The virus, a member of the virus family Arenaviridae, is a single-stranded RNA virus and is zoonotic, or animal-borne.

In areas of Africa where the disease is endemic (that is, constantly present), Lassa fever is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. While Lassa fever is mild or has no observable symptoms in about 80% of people infected with the virus, the remaining 20% have a severe multisystem disease. Lassa fever is also associated with occasional epidemics, during which the case-fatality rate can reach 50%.

What are the symptoms of Lassa fever?

Signs and symptoms of Lassa fever typically occur 1-3 weeks after the patient comes into contact with the virus. These include fever, retrosternal pain (pain behind the chest wall), sore throat, back pain, cough, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, facial swelling, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and mucosal bleeding. Neurological problems have also been described, including hearing loss, tremors, and encephalitis. Because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and nonspecific, clinical diagnosis is often difficult.

What proportion of people die from the illness?

Approximately 15%-20% of patients hospitalized for Lassa fever die from the illness. However, overall only about 1% of infections with Lassa virus result in death. The death rates are particularly high for women in the third trimester of pregnancy, and for fetuses, about 95% of which die in the uterus of infected pregnant mothers [causing spontaneous abortion.] [Source: CDC]

Schmallenberg Virus Update:

• UK.  ” Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection has been identified on 74 farms. Five of the positive cases have been diagnosed in  cattle, 69 in sheep, and none to date in other species. So far, none of the affected farms have reported importing animals during 2011 from the affected areas in mainland Europe. Positive cases of SBV virus have now been identified on the Isle of Wight and in Wiltshire, West Berkshire and Gloucestershire. This is in addition to the counties in the east and south of England which have previously had cases identified, namely Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire and Cornwall,” AHVLA reported.
  • Some British farmers have reportedly lost 20 per cent of their lambs since the disease arrived in the UK early January.
• Germany.  “In Germany animals from 737 holdings have been tested positive for ‛Schmallenberg virus’ so far. The cases occurred in 47 cattle holdings, 653 sheep holdings and 37 goat holdings. Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (25 cattle, 236 sheep, 11 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (10 cattle, 104 sheep, 5 goat holdings), Hesse (1 cattle, 80 sheep holdings, 5 goat holdings), Schleswig-Holstein (5 cattle, 81 sheep, 1 goat holdings), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison, 3 cattle, 35 sheep, 4 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (1 cattle, 13 sheep, 5 goat holdings), Brandenburg (15 sheep holdings), Thuringia (24 sheep holdings, 2 goat holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (19 sheep holdings, 2 goat holding), Hamburg (1 cattle, 5 sheep holdings), Bavaria (13 sheep holdings), Saxony (20 sheep holdings), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (5 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saarland (2 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding) and Berlin (1 sheep holding),  FLI reported.
  
• Rest of Europe.   Updated figures for February NOT available. Estimates range from about 2,500 to 5,000 cases (about 2,000 affected farms) in the Benelux countries (Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands), France and Italy.
• [NOTE: In all probability, many more countries in Europe and elsewhere have been hit by the Schmallenberg virus, but the disease is not yet reportable and no stats are currently available.]

A suspected victim of Schmallenberg virus. Lambs infected with the virus are  either stillborn or have deformities so horrific they cannot survive. Image source: DWHC

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 

Schmallenberg Virus Links

• Schmallenberg Virus Hits 7 Countries Posted on February 22, 2012

Sixty Million Pakistanis Have NO Access to Potable Water

A third of 180 million Pakistani population lack clean drinking water

Sales of bottled water surge across Pakistan because of the “poor quality of drinking water supplied by the civic authorities,” a report said. However many of the mineral water brands are also contaminated.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 26

[February 26, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,480 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Pakistan.  Some 60 million Pakistanis, a third of the 180 million population, have NO access to potable water, according to a study.
  • Meantime, sales of bottled water are surging across the country because of the “poor quality of drinking water supplied by the civic authorities,” a report said. However many of the mineral water brands are also contaminated.
  • “The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has recently declared 16 out of these 69 brands of bottled water unsafe though a large number citizens prefer bottled water due to poor quality of drinking water being supplied by civic authorities.”
  • A large percentage of the “mineral water” bottled in Pakistan was found to contain estrogenic chemicals (Xenoestrogens), according to another study.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Hunan Province, Central China.   About 700 sinkholes have been reported in Yuejiaqiao Town, Yiyang City, in China’s Hunan Provinceas  in the past few weeks, a report said.
  • The cenotes caused by karst subsidence have damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, swallowing  farmlands and riverbeds and affecting about 1,200 people.

Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2012 shows a large sinkhole formed on a riverbed in Yuejiaqiao Town, Yiyang City, in central China’s Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Long Hongtao). Image may be subject to copyright. More images…

• Arabia.  A major sandstorm in the Arabian Peninsula blanketed Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Aravia, bringing visibility to near zero and  “turning  day into night,” local reports said.
  • The sandstorm also hit the Persian Gulf states, forcing the temperatures to as low as 4°C in UAE.

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 

• Image of the Day: Sandstorm in Saudi Desert  Posted on March 11, 2009

M6.8 Quake Strikes SW Siberia, Russia

Strong earthquake strikes E of Kyzyl, Russia

The quake, epicentered at 51.731°N, 95.921°E, struck at a depth of 11.7 km (7.3 miles) Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 01:17 PM local time. 

The mainshock was followed by at least one significant aftershock measuring 4.9Mw, which struck at a depth of about 10km.

A 6.6Mw quake struck the same area [51.839°N, 95.921°E ; 96 km  E of Kyzyl] on December 27, 2011 at 10:21:56 PM at a depth of 15 km, according to USGS records.

At least 2 large quakes measuring 8.4Mw struck the nearby volcanic fields, south of the region, in 1905.

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP.

ShakeMap

PAGER Earthquake Impact

Seismic Hazard Map

Taiwan Earthquakes

Continued…

Related Links

• Japan Earthquake Forecast Posted on February 14, 2012

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Worsening Drought Chokes China’s Yunnan Province

3 years of severe drought in Yunnan affecting 6.31 million people

More than 6.31 million people in 91 counties of Yunnan province in SW China have been affected by a persistent drought, with at least 3.1 million people and 1.55 million livestock short of drinking water, according to provincial civil affairs authorities.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 25

[February 25, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,481 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Yunnan Province, China.  More than 6.31 million people in 91 counties of Yunnan province in SW China have been affected by a persistent drought, which has lasted for three years, leaving at least 3.15 million people and 1.55 million livestock short of drinking water, according to provincial civil affairs authorities, a report said.

Original caption:  Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2012 shows cracked land in a pond at Fanglang Village in Malong County of southwest China’s Yunnan Province. A brutal drought has wracked the province since late last year, leaving at least 3.15 million people without sufficient supplies of drinking water as of Monday, according to government statistics. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang). Image may be subject to copyright. More Photos …

Original caption:  Pupils queue up to get water at a primary school in Luogong Village, Luliang County of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Feb. 21, 2012. Every pupil at the school can get 1.5 liter distributed water, which is carried from five kilometers away everyday. A severe drought has lingered in Yunnan for three consecutive years, disrupting the lives of 6.3 million people in the province this year. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang).  Image may be subject to copyright. More Photos … 

Other Global Drought Events

• Thailand.  The deepening drought in Thailand has spread to 15 of the country’s 77 provinces, officials said.
  • Ten of the drought stricken provinces are in the north:  Chiang Rai, Kampaeng Phet, Lampang, Lamphun, Nan,  Phayao, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sukhothai and Uttaradit.
  • The other 5 province are Chanthaburi and Chachoengsao (east), Loei ( northeast), Phetchaburi and Suphan Buri (central Thailand).
  • Some 6,768 villages in 109 districts within the 15 provinces are in drought.
    
  • Some 63 districts in 11 provinces were declared drought disaster zones on February 9, 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 

Global Drought 2012

• Worsening Texas Drought May Stay Many Years Posted on September 30, 2011
• Drought Declared in SE England‎ Posted on February 21, 2012
• HUNGER: States of Emergency Declared Across the Sahel Posted on February 20, 2012
• Ten Colorado Counties Declared Disaster Areas Posted on February 19, 2012
• Texas Drought Causes Urban Forest Die-off Posted on February 16, 2012
• Thailand Drought Deepens Posted on February 9, 2012

U.S. Tornado Forecast 2012

Theft of Intellectual Properties from FIRE-EARTH Discourages Tornado Forecast

Due to the theft of intellectual properties from FIRE-EARTH blog, the Moderators are reluctant to publish tornado forecasts for the 2012 season.

However, summaries of the major tornadic, and other extreme weather/ climatic events will be posted on the Blog, as they occur.

Related Links

• Tornado Alley Maps for June
• Nebraska Nuke Plant Remains Shut After Missouri River Flooding
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

•  Tornado Dead to Haunt Missouri Officials
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?

• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

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 

• Tornado Attacks Leave 100 Dead or Injured in Indonesia Posted on January 29, 2012
• State of Emergency Declared in Alabama Posted on January 24, 2012
• Deadly Tornado Season 2012 Begins Posted on January 23, 2012
• U.S. Tornado Forecast 2012 Posted on February 25, 2012

Deadly Tornado Hits Rome, Ga

EF-1 Tornado kills at least one, leaving a 3-mile swath of destruction in Floyd County, Georgia

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 24

[February 24, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,482 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Georgia, USA.   EF1 tornado with winds of about 95mph (153 km/hr) struck Rome (Floyd County), Ga., killing at least one personand devastating a vast area.
  • The twister damaged about 100 homes in Kingston Highway area, reports said.
  • This was the second time in recent months that Floyd County was hit by a tornado.
  • Tornado touched down in Floyd County at about 10:15pm Wednesday, just west of the Maplewood subdivision in Rome, and traveled 3.25 miles, SPC said.

The Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale – Quick Chart

EF0: 65 TO 85 MPH
EF1: 86 TO 110 MPH
EF2: 111 TO 135 MPH
EF3: 136 TO 165 MPH
EF4: 166 TO 200 MPH
EF5: Wind speeds greater than 200 MPH

Related Links

• Tornado Alley Maps for June
• Nebraska Nuke Plant Remains Shut After Missouri River Flooding
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

•  Tornado Dead to Haunt Missouri Officials
• The worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
• MEGA DELUGE 2011?

• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

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 

• Tornado Attacks Leave 100 Dead or Injured in Indonesia Posted on January 29, 2012

• State of Emergency Declared in Alabama Posted on January 24, 2012

• Deadly Tornado Season 2012 Begins Posted on January 23, 2012

Emergency Declared in Bolivia’s Flooded Amazon Region

Bolivians government declares a state of emergency in Amazon region following severe flooding

Flooding in the Bolivian Amazon region has left at least a dozen people dead and up to 10,000 families homeless.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 23

[February 23, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,483 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Bolivia.  Bolivians government has declared a state of emergency in the country’s Amazon region following severe flooding.
  • Flooding has left at least a dozen people dead and up to 10,000 families homeless.
  • The Acre River has burst its banks causing unprecedented flooding in the northern province of Pando, which borders Brazil, leaving the provincial capital, Cobija, completely inundated and obliterating dozens of villages.
  • The Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon regions have also been affected by widespread flooding caused by an abnormally intense rainy season.

• Acre, Brazil.  Sever flooding has affected up to 100,000 people in northern Brazil’s Acre state, making it the state’s second worst flooding on record.
  • At least 45 suburbs of Rio Branco, capital of Acre, are submerged under floodwater, with more than 15,000 homes inundated.
  • Forecasters say the region will receive even more rain this week.

Other Global Disasters

• Buenos Aires, Argentina.  A commuter train crashed at a Buenos Aires station, killing at least 50 people and injuring more than 600.

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 

Schmallenberg Virus Hits 7 Countries

SBV induces late abortion or birth defects in newborn livestock 

The virus has infected more than 1,200 cattle, sheep and goats in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the UK, as of posting

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 22

[February 22, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,484 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Northern Europe.  At least 7 northern European countries have reported more than 1,200 cases of Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) infections in cattle, sheep and goats.
  • Schmallenberg Virus is a new emerging livestock disease that was first detected in the town of Schmallenberg, North Rhein-Westphalia region, Germany.
  • SBV causes acute illness and induces late abortion or birth defects in the newborn livestock.
  • “This exotic virus may cause severe congenital damages in pregnant animals, as well as premature births and reproductive disorders. Calves that are not stillborn may suffer from serious brain and limb malformations,” a report said.
  • The virus is believed to be transmitted through arthropod vectors including mosquitoes, midges, ticks and sand flies.
  • A significant increase in reporting from the known affected countries is noted by the International Disease Monitoring section of UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
  • “Women who are, or who may be, pregnant are potentially at risk of acquiring certain infectious diseases from pregnant livestock including sheep. Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may risk their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections which can occur in some ewes,” UK’s  HPA said.

Source: UK DEFRA/HPA

Source:  DEFRA/HPA/IDM

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 

Sky Photo – 21 Feb 2012

Animated Cloud Formations

Related Links

• Sky Photos II
• Sky Photos

 

Drought Declared in Southeast UK

Larger areas of the UK face drought this year: DEFRA

England declares drought in more regions after months of low rainfall.  Drought is now affecting the country’s southeastern, eastern and parts of the Midlands. The river Kennet has stopped flowing near Lockeridge in Wiltshire, reports said.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 21

[February 21, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,485 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• England, UK.  As UK government declares drought in southeast England, the country’s top official responsible for  environment has warned that large parts of the country are facing an inevitable drought this summer even if the coming months bring heavy rainfall.
  • “Drought is already an issue this year with the south-east, Anglia and other parts of the UK now officially in drought, and more areas are likely to be affected as we continue to experience a prolonged period of very low rainfall,”  British Environment Minister has warned.
  • Meantime, the country’s Meteorological Agency has warned that ‘prolonged periods of heavy rainfall in the near future are unlikely.’
  • Groundwater levels in East Anglia are exceptionally low.
  • Rainfall in the Midlands, East Anglia and the south east in January was about 35 percent below normal.
  • East Anglia has experienced its driest-ever 5-month period from last September, the Center for Hydrology and Ecology reported.
  • The counties of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and large parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, as well as  west Norfolk are experiencing drought, while Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Kent, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Shropshire are extremely dry.
  • “Since June 2011, drought has affected Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, and west Norfolk. In February 2012 following a dry winter, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, London, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and the east of Gloucestershire are now in drought,” Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reported.
  • In contrast, northern England and Scotland have experienced their wettest winter in 100 years, reports said.

UK Groundwater Levels as of mid February 2012. BGS © NERC. Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency, 100026380, 2012.

Other Global Disasters

• New South Wales (NSW), Australia.   The government in the Australian state of NSW has extended a natural disaster declarations to the northern areas of Bourke and Tamworth, a report said.
  • The disaster declarations follow widespread flooding which has substantially damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure.
  • The following local government areas have already been declared disaster areas: Walgett, Brewarrina, Liverpool Plains, Gloucester, Upper Hunter, Ballina, Gunnedah, Moree Shire, Greater Taree, Gwydir, Narrabri, Tenterfield, Bellingen, Byron, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Inverell, Nambucca, Kempsey and Tweed Shire Council.
  • Flood evacuation orders may be issued later today.
• Western NSW.  Meantime, major flooding is occurring across the western portion of NSW, reports said.
  • Fooodwaters from Queensland and eastern NSW are heading west towards Brewarrina and Bourke (combined pop: ~ 4,000), where three swollen river systems converge.
• Southern NSW.   “Authorities received more than 300 calls for help as flash flooding hit Sydney and the New South Wales south coast last night,” a report said.
  • “Extraordinary rain. Terrey Hills had 61 millimeters in a hour, and Peakhurst had 26 millimeters in just ten minutes,” State Emergency Service spokesman 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 

Back-to-Back Australian Disasters

• Inland sea moving across NSW, Australia  Posted on February 10, 2012
• The state government in NSW (Aus)  has declared Gunnedah a disaster area

• Flooded Australia: Thousands Evacuated in 3 States
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Wildfire Consumes 1 Million Acres in WA

• Australia: 5 disaster areas declared in NSW following severe flooding

HUNGER: States of Emergency Declared Across the Sahel

10 million threatened by hunger as Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger declare states of emergency

Niger (pop: ~ 16million) is the worst affected country with almost half of its population left without enough to eat.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 20

[February 20, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,486 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• The Sahel, Africa. Ten million people are threatened by hunger across the Sahel, as Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger declare states of emergency.
  • “Nearly half of Niger does not have enough to eat.  The 5.4 million people struggling to stay alive are part of a wider crisis affecting at least 10 million people across the swath across Africa that borders the Sahara, known as the Sahel,” said a spokeswoman for Mercy Corps.
  • “This is the third time in the last decade the people of the Sahel have faced severe food shortages.”

Other Disasters

• Global.  Wildfires kill about 339,000 people each year, according to a new study.
  • The fires consume about 450 million hectares, an area half the size of Canada.
  • [Notes:
    •  In China alone indoor air pollution kills 2.2 million youths.
    • Urban air pollution kills about 2.4 million people globally each year, said The World Health Organization (WHO); however, the true figure may be 10 times as many.]
  • About 157,000 of the deaths caused by wildfires occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and 110,000 deaths in southeast Asia.
  • The study suggests a link between climate and wildfire mortality.
  • El Niño years, when the surface ocean temperature rises in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, claim an average of 532,000 lives, twice as many as the cooler La Niña years, averaging 262,000 deaths per year.

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: Recent Links

• Drought tightens grip on S. Mozambique Posted on January 16, 2012
• Niger Faces Food Shortages Posted on December 25, 2011
• Disaster Calendar 2011: Famine Spreads in Somalia Posted on August 4, 2011
• Worst drought in living memory gripping Horn of Africa Posted on June 29, 2011

Ten Colorado Counties Declared Disaster Areas

Continuing drought causes agricultural disaster in Colorado

Ten Colorado counties have been designated as agricultural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that began  October 1, 2011, and continues, USDA reported.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 19

[February 19, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,487 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Colorado, USA.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated ten counties in the state of Colorado as agricultural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that occurred from October 1, 2011, and continues.
  • Primary Disaster Area:  Lincoln County.
  • Contiguous Disaster Areas:  Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Crowley, Elbert, El Paso, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Pueblo and Washington counties.

Other Global Disasters

• Negros, Philippines. Death toll and the number of people missing from a strong earthquake, measuring 6.7Mw, and several significant aftershocks that struck Philippines Negros Region on February 6 has climbed to at least 113, the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
  • About 120 people were injured in the quakes.
  • The quakes destroyed more than 6,300 houses and damaged 9,200 others.
  • About 5,000 families are currently in evacuation centers, a report said.

• Yunnan province, China. A severe drought has destroyed or damaged about 400,000 hectares (~ one million acres) of crops in Southwest China’s Yunnan province, local reports said.
  • The direct economic losses is estimated at more than 600 million yuan.
  • The drought has affected about 6.3 million people in 91 counties in the province, reports said.
  • More than 2.4 million people and 1.55 million livestock are short of drinking water.

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

• Disaster declaration renewed in Texas
• Volcanic Emissions: Hawaii County Declared Disaster Area
• Indiana, Michigan and Washington Declared Disaster Areas

Tens of Thousands Displaced Amid Severe Flooding in Philippines

Floods and landslides plague Philippines Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao

Seven days of continuous rain has left dozens of municipalities deluged, as authorities declare a state of calamity in the town of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 18

[February 18, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,488 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Philippines.  Tens of thousands of people have been displaced amid severe flooding which has plagued three major regions in the Philippines.
  • Seven days of continuous rain have triggered floods and landslides that have swamped dozens of municipalities in large parts of the Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao.
  • The authorities have declared a state of calamity in the town of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, said a report.
  • “Meanwhile, Alert Level 1 was raised by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) Thursday over the the cities of Surigao, Butuan and the provinces of Dinagat, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island and other areas of Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) following the continuous rains that began last Saturday,” said a report.
  • Floods have severely affected at least 4,000 others in Regions VIII (Eastern Visayas), X (Northern Mindanao) and XIII (Caraga), with 3,000 moved to evacuation centers, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
  • Meanwhile, landslides occurred in dozens of villages in Leyte and Kahupian, burying several bridges, reports said.
  • At least 5 people have  been killed so far as a result of the extreme weather events, early reports said.
  • Heavy flooding in Daguitan River, Dulag, Leyte (Leyte Province is located in the Eastern Visayas region) caused power outages in many parts of the province, said the Philippines Information Agency, a government organization.

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

• Dozens Dead or Missing after Philippine Quakes  Posted on February 6, 2012
• Hundreds flee flooding in Mindanao, Philippines  Posted on January 15, 2012

• Typhoon WASHI Legacy Lingers  Posted on January 4, 2012
• 20,000 displaced in Philippines latest floods  Posted on December 27, 2011
• Philippines declares national calamity  Posted on December 20, 2011
• Typhoon WASHI: 1,650 dead or missing  Posted on December 18, 2011