Global Disasters/ Significant Events – June 14, 2013

UPDATE: Black Forest Fire Destroys 379 Homes

At least 379 homes have been destroyed and 9 others damaged as of 1:10 a.m. Friday, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office reported.

At least 38,000 people have so far been evacuated,  while residents of 2,000 more homes in Colorado Springs have been told to be ready to evacuate.

Black Forest could  see a high of 90-95 degrees Friday.

Meantime, Colo. Gov. has signed an Executive Order declaring Disaster Emergency due to Black Forest Fire, following a verbal declaration on June 11, 2013.

Royal Gorge Fire

The Royal Gorge Fire in Canon City, 55 miles SW of Black Forest, has incinerated 48 of the Royal Gorge Park’s 52 buildings, damaged the park’s 955 feet suspension bridge above the Arkansas River, and destroyed an aerial tram, reports said.

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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Severe Weather Forecast: Central Plains, Upper Midwest, Northern Florida

The NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a risk of severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening for parts of the central Plains and Upper Midwest, from extreme eastern Colo. across northern Kan., eastern Neb. and extreme northwestern Mo., into western Iowa, southwestern Minn., eastern S.D. and extreme southeastern N.D. There is also a risk of severe weather across parts of northern Fla.

Meantime, a series of severe storms on Thursday cut electricity to about half a million homes and businesses in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states. The worst affected areas were the Carolinas, said Duke Energy Corp, the largest power company in the U.S.

Duke has warned its customers to prepare for a ‘multi-day’ outage in the storm-hit areas, said a report.

The storms left at least 2 people dead, one in Rising Sun, Maryland and the other in Richmond, Virginia.

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Chemical Plant Explosion and Fire

An explosion and fire at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, Louisiana has killed at least one person and injured 77  others on Thursday.

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Image of the Day: Sandstorm in W. India

A humongous sandstorm sweeps across Bikaner, Rajasthan, western India, June 13, 2013. (Xinhua/Stringer). More images…

Colo. Fire Turns Deadly, Most Destructive in State’s History

Black Forest Fire consumes 18,000 acres destroys at least 360 homes, kills 2

The most destructive fire in Colorado’s history continued spreading Thursday, forcing the authorities to issue mandatory evacuations for 38,000 people living in 13,000 homes across 70 square miles.

The blaze had burned at least 18,000 acres in heavily wooded hills, devouring more than 360 homes NE of Colorado Springs, as of Thursday afternoon.

Colorado Springs, state’s second-largest city, has also put more than 2,000 people on evacuation notices.

The vast destruction wreaked by the Black Forest Fire already surpasses  last year’s Waldo Canyon fire, which destroyed 347 homes and killed two people.

And the worst may yet to come, as this fire seems capable of destroying at least  1,000 homes.

Black Forest Strikes Back: “Load your family, and pets and GO NOW”

An aerial view of a destroyed house and vehicles in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Rick Wilking

“All we can do is fight,” said Gov. Hickenlooper after visiting residents who had been rehoused in a high school.

“We’re not confident that if the winds changed and pushed the fire to any one of our boundaries that it could be held,” said El Paso County Sheriff Maketa. “Load your family, and pets and GO NOW.”

• Black Forest Fire Map
• Initial Home Assessment

Drought Disaster Areas

Meantime, six Colorado counties were declared drought disaster areas by the USDA on Wednesday.

Red Flag Warnings

Red Flag Warning are currently in effect for portions of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, California and Hawaii.

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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

West Virginia Gov.  Tomblin has declared a state of emergency in Roane County following the damage caused by severe thunderstorms and flash flooding in the area.

Related Links

• Wildfires, Violent Weather Continue Attacking America June 13, 2013
• Colorado Wildfires Burn Dozens of Homes, Force Thousands to Flee June 12, 2013