Important Announcement: State of Washington

Stay Tuned for Important Announcements on Washington State

Starting 2014, FIRE-EARTH Blog will release important announcements concerning the state of Washington.

Stay Tuned!

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – Nov. 30, 2013

SHAME ON YOU!

An entire generation of Syrian children are becoming casualties of the Saudi-supported terrorist war in the country, with the UN refugee agency calling the situation as “a shameful milestone of conflict.”

More than half of the 2.2 million Syrian refugees are children, young people aged 17 or under, as the country faces losing an entire generation, warns UNHCR.

Some 75 per cent of the refugee children are under the age of 12.

“Too many have been wounded physically, psychologically or both. Some children have been drawn into the war—their innocence ruthlessly exploited,”  said UNHCR in a report.

Many of those not at school go out to work for long hours and for low pay from as young as seven years old.

As many as 300,000 living in Lebanon and Jordan could be without formal education by the end of 2013, said UNHCR.

Thousands of children in Jordan and Lebanon are living without one or both of their parents, or with no adult caregivers at all.

Philippine Mega Disaster:  Death toll rises to 5,632 with 1,759 others missing and  26,136 injured

Death toll from Super Typhoon HAIYAN climbed to 5,632, after 34 bodies were recovered in central Tacloban city since Thursday, said the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The number of people missing also rose to 1,759, with 26,136 others reported injured due to HAIYAN [ locally known as YOLANDA.] Read more…

Another day of massacre in Iraq leaves at least 55 dead

At least 55 people were killed  on Friday as sectarian violence continues to spiral in Iraq.

Most of the victims were targeted individuals who had been snatched  from their homes in Baghdad and neighboring towns, and executed,  authorities said.

Police discovered 18 corpses early morning, including four policemen, an army major and two tribal chiefs, dumped in farmland near the town of Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad.

More than 8,000 people have been killed in Iraq, so far this year.

Mozambique airliner carrying 34 people vanishes

A passenger plane carrying 34 people vanished from radar screens over northeast Namibia en route from Mozambique to Angola on Friday, said the Mozambique Airlines .

The Embraer 190 with 28 passengers and six crews failed to arrive at the Angolan capital Luanda, authorities said.

Ukraine riot police break up pro-Europe demonstrations

Ukrainian riot police used batons and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of pro-Europe protesters on Saturday following a night of violence in the capital Kiev after President Yanukovich decided against a landmark pact with Europe. Read more…

Police helicopter crashes into Glasgow “pub”

At least three people were killed and dozens of other injured after a police helicopter crashed into a busy pub in Glasgow, Scotland.

Scottish authorities have declared a major incident after a police helicopter with a crew of three came down on the roof of a public house with an estimated 120 people inside.

55 found HIV positive in tests for blood donation in Japan

Some 55 of the 782 cases of new HIV infections confirmed across Japan between January and September 2013 were detected in tests for blood donors, according Japan’s health ministry.

Among every 100,000 blood donors, 1.4 people tested positive for HIV this year, the ministry’s data show. The rate is 1.8 times the nationwide ratio for HIV carriers detected last year.

Earlier this month, blood donated from an HIV-infected man was given to 2 people, one of whom became infected, said NHK.

The health authorities have not revealed the criteria for the test. It’s unclear what percentage of the donors are tested for HIV, given the latest infections.

Death Toll Rises in Super Typhoon HAIYAN

Philippine Mega Disaster:  Death toll rises to 5,632 with 1,759 others missing and  26,136 injured

Death toll from Super Typhoon HAIYAN climbed to 5,632, after 34 bodies were recovered in central Tacloban city since Thursday, said the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The number of people missing also rose to 1,759, with 26,136 others reported injured due to HAIYAN [ locally known as YOLANDA.]

Total number of people affected by the Super Typhoon is put at just under 11 million [U.N. estimate is about 13.5 million,] with the number of displaced revised down to about 3.9 million.

The number of houses destroyed or damaged has increased to 1,168,909 units including 582,827 units completely flattened, according to NDRRMC SitRep No. 48, released today.

The total cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture [the estimate excludes cost of rebuilding homes] is pegged at over PhP30.6 billion [$1=43.77 Philippines peso] with about PhP15.6 for infrastructure and PhP15 billion for agriculture in Regions IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, and CARAGA, said the report.

State of National Calamity

The Philippine President issued Presidential Proclamation No. 682 declaring a state of national calamity on 11 November 11, 2013.

Extent of Crop Damage

“High winds, heavy rains and localized floods destroyed houses and infrastructure, including irrigation facilities, and resulted in losses of the main staple rice paddy, sugarcane and coconut crops, as well as livestock, poultry and fisheries,” said the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

HAIYAN destroyed about 153,500 hectares (ha) of rice paddy, maize and other high value crops, including 77,500 ha of rice and 21,000 ha of maize crops, it added [figures are rounded to the nearest 100.]

Philippines imports of rice are to increase by 20 percent next year to 1.2 million metric tons, said FAO.

FIRE-EARTH Disaster Models

On November 9, 2013, FIRE-EARTH Models estimated the impact of Super Typhoon HAIYAN in the Philippines as a magnitude 6.2 catastrophe on the FEWW Disaster Scale, indicating large-scale regional destruction with up to 40,000 casualties.

• FIRE-EARTH Disaster Models estimate the total cost of damage at more than $5billion.

FIRE-EARTH and MSRB  2004 Forecast

In 2004,  our team forecast an 80-90 percent increase in the total power dissipated annually by tropical cyclones  in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by 2015.

• Storms will continue to get stronger (develop greater average intensities) and survive at high intensity for longer (take more time to dissipate peak energy) resulting in substantial increases in storm-related losses in the near future.

Super Typhoon HAIYAN: Chronology of Disaster

Super Typhoon HAIYAN (locally known as YOLANDA) made its first landfall in the early morning of 8 November in Guiuan, Eastern Samar province. HAIYAN made subsequent landfalls in Tolosa south of Tacloban City, Leyte province, Daanbantayan and Bantayan Island, Cebu province, Conception, Iloilo province and Busuanga, Palawan province.

Related Links

• Super Typhoon HAIYAN: WE TOLD YOU SO! November 20, 2013
• Super Typhoon HAIYAN Disaster: 4 Pct of Philippine Population Displaced November 17, 2013
• Global Disasters/ Significant Events – November 18, 2013 November 18, 2013
• 4.24 Million Displaced in Super Typhoon HAIYAN November 23, 2013

Police Declares Major Incident After Chopper Crashes in Scotland

Police helicopter crashes into Glasgow “pub,” multiple fatalities likely

Scottish authorities have declared a major incident after a police helicopter with a crew of three came down on the roof of a public house with an estimated 120 people inside.

The helicopter fell from the sky “like a stone,” according to eyewitnesses.

“Given an incident of this scale we must all prepare ourselves for the likelihood of fatalities,” said Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.

A police insignia could be seen on the wreckage of the helicopter.  Source: Police photo via BBC.

“I was just a few yards away and I arrived on the scene outside the pub a few seconds after the impact. No-one knew what it was but you saw the pandemonium of the people trying to get out of the pub,” Jim Murphy, a  member of parliament told BBC, describing the aftermath as a “horrific scene.”

“It was almost like slow motion. Like other people you just do what you can to help.”

“As you stood there you could see the helicopter embedded in the roof and sticking out the top of the roof and you knew it was something really serious.”

Pipeline explodes near Hughesville, MO

Panhandle Eastern pipeline explosion in MO, forces evacuations

A 30-inch natural gas pipeline ruptured in western Missouri Friday causing a massive explosion and fire that was visible for 12 miles, authorities said.

“I was just about to go to bed when I heard a boom. It didn’t sound right so I stepped outside and could see the glow from the fire,” said Pettis County Sheriff Kevin BondBond. “There was a big fireball.”

“Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co.’s 30-inch natural gas pipeline that runs through Pettis County experienced a release yesterday (November 28) at approximately 11:55 p.m., just north of the rural community of Hughesville. There were no injuries; however, there were some families in the area evacuated as a precautionary measure. We are working with the local emergency responders to make sure the needs of any of those who were impacted are taken care of,” said Panhandle Eastern spokesperson in a statement.

Another rupture in the Panhandle Eastern pipeline in Cooper County in August 2008  caused about $1 million in damages, according to a report.

Related Links

• Mass Evacuations Ordered as Pipeline Spews 2,000 Tons of Fuel November 29, 2013

• Global Disasters/ Significant Events – Nov. 23, 2013 November 23, 2013

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/29/3786168/gas-pipeline-ruptures-explodes.html#storylink=cpy

Earthquake No. 19 Strikes N. Texas

STAY TUNED for Important Announcements Concerning the State of Texas Starting Late 2014

M3.1 Strikes near Reno, Texas

Earthquakes in the Stable Continental Region

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake, the 19 to strike northern Texas in the past 24 days,  occurred at 06:39 UTC November 29, 2013 .

• Magnitude: 3.1Mw
• Event Time: 2013-11-29 06:14:10 UTC [2013-11-29 00:14:10 UTC-06:00 at epicenter]
• Location: 32.899°N 97.626°W
• Depth: 5.0km (3.1mi)
• Nearby Cities
  • 6km (4mi) SW of Reno, Texas
  • 7km (4mi) W of Azle, Texas
  • 22km (14mi) NE of Weatherford, Texas
  • 22km (14mi) NW of White Settlement, Texas
  • 285km (177mi) S of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Texas and Oklahoma Earthquakes Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP

Texas Earthquakes Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP

List of Texas Earthquakes measuring 2.5Mw or greater since November 6, 2013 [Excludes No. 19, listed above.]  Source: USGS/EHP – Prepared by FIRE-EARTH Blog – Nov. 29, 2013.

Induced Seismicity

As is the case elsewhere in the world, there is evidence that some central and eastern North America earthquakes have been triggered or caused by human activities that have altered the stress conditions in earth’s crust sufficiently to induce faulting. Activities that have induced felt earthquakes in some geologic environments have included

• Impoundment of water behind dams, 
• Injection of fluid into the earth’s crust,
• Extraction of fluid or gas, and
• Removal of rock in mining or quarrying operations.

In much of eastern and central North America, the number of earthquakes suspected of having been induced is much smaller than the number of natural earthquakes, but in some regions, such as the south-central states of the U.S., a significant majority of recent earthquakes are thought by many seismologists to have been human-induced. Even within areas with many human-induced earthquakes, however, the activity that seems to induce seismicity at one location may be taking place at many other locations without inducing felt earthquakes. In addition, regions with frequent induced earthquakes may also be subject to damaging earthquakes that would have occurred independently of human activity. […] —USGS

Related Links

• Two More Quakes Strike North Texas November 29, 2013

• Oil Drilling Likely Caused Texas Earthquake Posted on May 17, 2009
• M3.3 Quake Strikes Azle, Texas Posted on November 25, 2013
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Mass Evacuations Ordered as Pipeline Spews 2,000 Tons of Fuel

Massive pipeline leak prompts mass evacuations in SW China

About 2,000 tons of gasoline escaped  at a high-speed railway construction site after a construction tower collapsed snapping a pipeline in SW China’s Guizhou Province.

The pipeline damaged in the incident is owned by Sinopec, the country’s largest oil refiners,  said a report.

“Three people have received medical treatment, and more than 110 are working to repair the broken pipe and clear the site, which is about 30 meters from the Shanghai-Kunming railway and has residential houses nearby.”

The local government has ordered mass evacuations of residents within a two kilometer radius of the incident site, and rail authorities have suspended train services.

Pipeline explosions last Friday killed 55 people and left 145 others injured, with nine additional passersby reported as missing in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. Source: NEWS.CN. More images ...

Other Sinopec Pipeline’s Deadly Explosions

Meantime, the China PetroChemical Corporation (Sinopec) announced it had suspended two company executives following the deadly pipeline explosions last Friday

The blasts killed 55 people and left 145 others injured, with nine additional passersby reported as missing in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province.

Related Links

• Global Disasters/ Significant Events – Nov. 23, 2013 November 23, 2013

Two More Quakes Strike North Texas

STAY TUNED for Important Announcements Concerning the State of Texas Starting Late 2014

18 Earthquakes strike North Texas in 23 Days

16 of the quakes measure greater than M2.5 with the largest two recorded as magnitude 3.6Mw.

More than 80 minor shocks have occurred in the built-up areas of Johnson, Ellis and Parker counties in the last five years.

In May 2001, after a 3.3Mw shock occurred in Northern Texas, FIRE-EARTH Blog said: Texas quake likely caused by oil and natural gas drilling activities

Map of N. Texas Earthquakes – 30 day shocks measuring 2.5 or greater as of November 29, 2013. Source: USGS/EHP

Details of the Latest Events

Event near Jacksboro, Texas

• Magnitude: 2.8Mw
• Event Time: 2013-11-28 08:41:07 UTC
• Location: 33.020°N 98.209°W
• Depth: 5.0km (3.1mi)
• Nearby Cities
  • 22km (14mi) SSW of Jacksboro, Texas
  • 25km (16mi) NNW of Mineral Wells, Texas
  • 48km (30mi) NW of Weatherford, Texas
  • 63km (39mi) WNW of Azle, Texas
  • 278km (173mi) SSW of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Event N of Mineral Wells, Texas

• Event Time: 2013-11-28 07:58:36 UTC
• Location: 32.955°N 98.131°W
• Depth: 5.0km (3.1mi)
• Nearby Cities
  • 16km (10mi) N of Mineral Wells, Texas
  • 38km (24mi) NW of Weatherford, Texas
  • 55km (34mi) W of Azle, Texas
  • 66km (41mi) WNW of White Settlement, Texas
  • 284km (176mi) SSW of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

List of Texas Earthquakes measuring 2.5Mw or greater since November 6, 2013.  Source: USGS/EHP – Prepared by FIRE-EARTH Blog – Nov. 29, 2013.

Texas and Fracking

Oil and gas drilling rigs are moving ever closer to populated areas in Texas, causing air quality problems for the residents. “Today there are over 12,000 gas wells in the Barnett Shale surrounding the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In addition to the wells, infrastructure such as compressor stations are springing up near the drill sites, adding to air quality problems. In towns like DISH, TX – where 11 high-pressure gas pipelines and their associated compressor stations all converge – residents have reported serious health impacts and severely degraded air quality.” —EarthJustice

See also:

• Fracking Damage Cases and Industry Secrecy
• A sampling of some of the high profile incidents related to the U.S. oil and gas drilling

Related Links

• Oil Drilling Likely Caused Texas Earthquake Posted on May 17, 2009
• M3.3 Quake Strikes Azle, Texas Posted on November 25, 2013
• FEWW Earthquake Links

It All Happens in a Flash

“Safety-related action” automatically shuts down South Korea’s nuclear reactor

The auto shutdown at the 587-megawatt Kori No. 1 reactor occurred on Thursday raising the tally of nuclear reactors closed to six and increasing the probability of power blackouts this winter, Reuters reported.

The reactor was commissioned in 1978, and had recently returned online after a 180-day overhaul, the report said.

South Korea’s peak demand could exceed 81,000 MW this winter, some 5,000 MW short of total supply capacity, according to industry data.

Of the other 5  nuclear reactors currently offline, three are shut due to fake safety certificates,  a fourth awaiting a license extension beyond its 30-year life span, and a fifth is shut down for maintenance until 2014.

The Kori Nuclear Power Plant is located in Gori, near Busan (metro population: 8.2 million), South Korea’s second largest metropolis after Seoul. It is owned and operated by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, a subsidiary of KEPCO.

Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. Source: KNHP [KHNP is a subsidiary of  Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), accounting for about 40% of South Korea’s electric power supply, both nuclear and hydro.

Fake Parts, Bogus Cetificates

South Korean nuclear regulators discovered about a thousand more fake parts supplied for their nuclear plants with bogus quality certificates in 2012.

• In November 2012, eight companies were found to have submitted 60 fake  certificates that covered more than 7,000 parts mostly used in the two reactors that were reportedly shut.

• S. Korean government is planning an additional 11 nuclear reactors, to add to its existing fleet of 23.

• About 12,500 tons of nuclear waste filled more than 70 percent of the country’s  storage capacity at reactor sites, as of June 2012.

Related Links

• Probability of a Nuclear Disaster – by Country
• Nuclear Power

• S. Korea: Nuclear Waste Storage Facility Reaching Full Capacity Posted on November 20, 2012
• Japan Underestimating Nuclear Fallout Risks: U.N. Posted on November 27, 2012

Mass Evacuations Ordered as Cyclonic Storm LEHAR Approaches India

UPDATE @ 13:00UTC – LEHAR has weakened to a tropical depression with winds of about 50km/h, bringing moderate rains as it made landfall near the city of Machilipatnam, officials said. NO significant damage expected.

Thousands in low-lying coastal areas evacuated as Cyclone LEHAR raced toward east India

LEHAR [“wave” in Hindi,] which was downgraded from its earlier classification as a “very severe” cyclone to cyclonic storm, was packing sustained winds of about 75km/h, gusting to about 95km/h, as of 02:30UTC on Thursday, November 28, 2013.

“We remain geared to evacuate around 250,000 people in seven districts as per our earlier plans,” said the  vice chairman of India’s disaster management agency on Wednesday. “The evacuation will begin later tonight or even early tomorrow morning in some places based on local conditions, including the beginning of rainfall.”

Cyclonic Storm LEHAR – Water Vapor [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] Satellite image – recorded at 01:30UTC on November 28, 2013. Original Image Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

Earlier Image recorded at 05:30UTC on November 27, 2013.

LEHAR – Water Vapor [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] Satellite image – recorded at 05:30UTC on November 27, 2013. Original Image Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

LEHAR, the third significant storm to hit east India since October, is expected to cause more damage than Cyclone HELEN.

Cyclone HELEN struck the Andhra Pradesh coast last Friday, forcing thousands of evacuations, killing at least six people and causing significant  damage to crops.

In October, Cyclone PHAILIN destroyed or damaged more than 500,000 mud houses, killing dozens of people, ruining 1.3 million hectares of crops and leaving more than 12 million homeless.

IMD Bulletin No.: BOB07/2013/34 [Dated: 28-11-2013 @ 5;00 IST]

The cyclonic storm ‘LEHAR’ over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestward with a speed of 15kmph during past six hrs and lay centred at 02:30 hours IST of today, the 28th November 2013 over the westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 15.0ºN and longitude 83.5ºE, about 280 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam and 250 km south-southeast of Kakinada. It would move west-northwestwards, weaken further and cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Machillipatnam as a deep depression around today, the 28th November afternoon.

This post will be updated throughout the day …

 Related Links

• LEHAR Closing in on Indian Coast November 27, 2013
• Cyclonic Storm LEHAR Strikes Andaman Islands November 25, 2013
• Tropical Cyclone HELEN Striking East India Coast November 21, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale
• Satellite Imagery

Crop Disasters Declared for 28 Counties across 4 States

Severe storms, excessive wind, rain and hail cause crop disaster in four states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 28 counties across four states as agricultural disaster areas in three separate disaster declarations.

Disaster Declaration No. 1

Montana: Glacier County, which includes the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, together with the counties of Flathead, Pondera, and  Toole have been declared crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by several severe storms and hail that occurred June 18 – September 30, 2013.

Disaster Declaration No. 2

USDA has designated a total of 17 counties in three states–Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin– as crop disaster disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rainfall that occurred April 1 – August 5, 2013.

Those counties are

• Iowa: Allamakee, Cerro Gordo,  Floyd, Bremer, Clayton, Hancock, Winnebago, Butler, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek, Chickasaw, Franklin and Mitchell counties.
• Minnesota: Houston County.
• Wisconsin: Crawford and Vernon counties.

Disaster Declaration No. 3

USDA has also designated seven counties in Oregon as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive wind, rain, and hail that occurred August 25, 2013.

Those counties are: Jefferson, Crook, Linn, Wasco, Deschutes, Marion and Wheeler counties.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas Nov. 27, 2013.

“Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that Congress has not funded the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.These are SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage,” said USDA.

Crop Disaster 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared 3,954 county-level agricultural disaster areas across 44 states, so far this year.

The crop disasters for year 2013 include losses and damages caused by

• DROUGHT
• FLOOD
• Flash flooding
• Excessive rain, moisture, humidity
• Severe Storms, thunderstorms
• Ground Saturation
• Standing Water
• Hail
• Wind, High Winds
• Fire, Wildfire
• Heat, Excessive heat
• High Temp. (incl. low humidity)
• Winter Storms, Ice Storms, Snow, Blizzard
• Frost, FREEZE
• Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tropical Storms
• Tornadoes
• Volcano
• Mudslides, Debris Flows, Landslides
• Heavy Surf
• Ice Jams
• Insects
• Tidal Surges
• Cold, wet weather
• Cool/Cold, Below-normal Temperatures
• Lightning
• Disease

Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA between January 9 and November 20, 2013.

Recent Federal and Agriculture Disaster Declarations

• Illinois Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013
• Nebraska Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared for South Dakota November 9, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in North Dakota November 1, 2013

• North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area October 31, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013
• Blizzard Kills 80,000 Cattle in S. Dakota October 14, 2013
• New Mexico Declared Federal Disaster Area October 2, 2013

• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 194 Counties in 13 States September 20, 2013
• N. Colorado Declared as Federal Disaster Area September 14, 2013
• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 138 counties in 14 States
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Hundreds of Homes Evacuated after Ohio Railcar Leak

Flammable liquid spill from derailed train forces mass evacuation

Hundreds of homes will remain evacuated in Willard, Ohio after a train derailment damaged a railcar that spilled flammable liquid, according to CSX Corp, AP reported.

The damaged car reportedly leaked more than 26,000 gallons of styrene monomer, a highly flammable chemical used to make plastic products.

Willard (population: 6,300) a small city in northern Ohio is located about 65 miles southwest of Cleveland.

CSX Corp owns the railroad company CSX Transportation that serves most of the U.S. East Coast.

LEHAR Closing in on Indian Coast

LEHAR Intensifies to a Strong Cat. 1  Storm Force

Cyclone LEHAR was packing sustained winds of about 140km/h, gusting to 170km/h, as of 06:00UTC, November 27, 2013.

LEHAR was located about 910km ESE (114 degrees) of Hyderabad, India tracking WNW (295 degrees) at about 20km/h, as of as of 06:00UTC, November 27, 2013. [Estimate is based on FIRE-EARTH Models, with data supplied from various satellites.]

LEHAR – Water Vapor [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] Satellite image – recorded at 05:30UTC on November 27, 2013. Original Image Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

The maximum significant wave height generated by the storm is currently about 9 meters.

The storm could intensify marginally before making landfall. The storm surge, rainfall and winds associated with LEHAR could cause significant damage, especially in low lying areas.

LEHAR has been designated as a “very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS)” by India’s Meteorological Department (IMD), and is forecast to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast near Machillipatnam about 12:00pm on Thursday, November 28, 2013.

LEHAR’s Projected Path according to IDM.

Cyclones PHAILIN and HELEN

In October, Cyclone PHAILIN destroyed or damaged more than 500,000 mud houses, killing dozens of people and ruining 1.3 million hectares of crops.

Cyclone HELEN struck the Andhra Pradesh coast last Friday, forcing thousands of  evacuations, killing six people and  causing significant  damage to crops.

LEHAR would be considerably stronger than HELEN on landfall.

This post will be updated throughout the day …

 Related Links

• Cyclonic Storm LEHAR Strikes Andaman Islands November 25, 2013
• Tropical Cyclone HELEN Striking East India Coast November 21, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale
• Satellite Imagery

Sperm Whale Explodes!

Faroe Islanders watch in horror as the  carcass of a beached sperm whale explodes

Was it something the poor animal ate?

GMO Linked to Gluten Disorders Affecting 18 Million Americans – Report

Genetically Modified Foods Likely Trigger  Gluten Sensitivity: IRT

The Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) has released a new report linking  genetically modified (GM) foods and gluten-related disorders.

A team of experts suggests that GM foods may be an important environmental trigger for gluten sensitivity, which affect about 18 million Americans.

Based on a variety of data provided by the  U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Act records, medical journal reviews, and international research, “the authors relate genetically modified foods to five conditions that may either trigger or exacerbate gluten-related disorders.”  The conditions include the serious autoimmune disorder, Celiac Disease:

1. Intestinal permeability
2. Imbalanced gut bacteria
3. Immune activation and allergic response
4. Impaired digestion
5. Damage to the intestinal wall

“Although wheat has been hybridized over the years, it is not a genetically modified organism (GMO), which can only be created by a laboratory process that inserts genetic material into plant DNA,” according to the report.

GMO food crops currently being grown for commercial consumption include soy, corn, cotton (oil), canola (oil), sugar from sugar beets,  zucchini, yellow squash, Hawaiian papaya, and alfalfa, says the report.

“Most GMOs are engineered to tolerate a weed killer called glyphosate (Roundup®). They contain high levels of this toxin at harvest. Corn and cotton varieties are also engineered to produce an insecticide called Bt-toxin.”

“The Bt-toxin in corn is designed to puncture holes in insect cells, but studies show it does the same in human cells. Bt-toxin may be linked to leaky gut, which physicians consistently see in gluten-sensitive patients,” said Jeffrey Smith, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology.

Expressing concern about Roundup®, Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist at MIT said: “Glyphosate is a patented antibiotic that destroys beneficial gut bacteria. An imbalance of gut flora commonly accompanies Celiac Disease and other gluten-related disorders.”

Dr. Tom O’Bryan, internationally recognized expert on gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease, said: “The introduction of GMOs is highly suspect as a candidate to explain the rapid rise in gluten-related disorders over the last 17 years.”

Emily Linder MD said: “Based on my clinical experience, when I remove genetically modified foods as part of the treatment for gluten sensitivity, recovery is faster and more complete. I believe that GMOs in our diet contribute to the rise in gluten sensitivity in the U.S. population.”

Full report is posted at  http://responsibletechnology.org/media/images/content/Press_Release_Gluten_11_25.pdf

Related Links:

• Monsanto’s Pesticides Causing Cancer, Birth Defects in Argentina
• Monsanto Chemical Found in Euro Urine
• GM Genocide: Relieving farmers of hardship and misery! [IMAGE  WAS REMOVED BY WORDPRESS. REINSTATED by FIRE-EARTH on NOVEMBER 27, 2013.]
• The GM genocide: Thousands of Indian farmers are committing suicide after using genetically modified crops
• An Assault on Japanese Farmers

Nor’easter Spawned by Deadly Thanksgiving Storm

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Nor’easter brings heavier rain, heavier snow, sleet and high winds

Winds of up to 63MPH forecast in parts the affected area, as thousands of flights are cancelled and thousands more delayed.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain hit large areas in the northeast, dumping several inches of snow across Pennsylvania.

Hazardous travel conditions prevail throughout vast regions in the northeast.  NWS has issued the following forecast:

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Wednesday, November 27, 2013. Source: NWS/CRH. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH Blog.

Heavy snow is forecast from the Tennessee Valley to western New England, with freezing rain possible across the Appalachians and western Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast through Wednesday. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is forecast across parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, with severe thunderstorms possible for parts of the coastal Southeast this evening.

Moderate to heavy rain continues to move over the southeast and
The middle Atlantic while light snow continues from Ohio eastward
Through central New England.

Winter Storm Warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect
for a large area from the Tennessee and Ohio valleys eastward
across the Appalachians to the interior mid-Atlantic region, the
lower Great Lakes as well as interior New England.

Flood watches are in effect for portions of the northwest
Carolinas and portions of the northeast.

Related Links

• Deadly Thanksgiving Storm Moves East November 26, 2013

Illinois Declared Federal Disaster Area

Major Disaster Declared for Illinois

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Illinois in the area affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes on November 17, 2013.

The 15 counties worst affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes are Champaign, Douglas, Fayette, Grundy, Jasper, La Salle, Massac, Pope, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Will, and Woodford.

The White House declaration  makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the disaster areas, said U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said FEMA in a statement.

Disaster Declared in 13 Illinois Counties

Last week, Gov. Quinn declared a total of  13 counties in Illinois as disaster areas after tornadoes tore through the state, killing at least 6 people and leaving hundreds of others injured. A total of 85 twisters (confirmed by SPC), including two EF4 tornadoes,  which pack 166 mph to 200 mph winds, touched down in the US heartland destroying or damaging hundreds of homes.

Recent Disaster Declarations

• Nebraska Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared for South Dakota November 9, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in North Dakota November 1, 2013

• North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area October 31, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013
• Blizzard Kills 80,000 Cattle in S. Dakota October 14, 2013
• New Mexico Declared Federal Disaster Area October 2, 2013

• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 194 Counties in 13 States September 20, 2013
• N. Colorado Declared as Federal Disaster Area September 14, 2013
• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 138 counties in 14 States
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Nebraska Declared Federal Disaster Area

Major Disaster Declared for Nebraska

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska in the area affected by severe storms, winter storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of October 2-6, 2013.

Areas worst affected by the severe storms, winter storms, tornadoes, and flooding are the counties of Adams, Dawes, Dixon, Howard, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thurston, and Wayne.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said FEMA in a statement.

Recent Federal Disaster Declarations

• North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area October 31, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013

• N. Colorado Declared as Federal Disaster Area September 14, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared for South Dakota November 9, 2013
• New Mexico Declared Federal Disaster Area October 2, 2013

• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 194 Counties in 13 States September 20, 2013
• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 138 counties in 14 States
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – Nov 26, 2013

​US releasing 50% more methane than EPA reported: Study

The United States has been releasing 50 percent more methane, a greenhouse gas, than previous EPA estimates, according to a new study released by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

The new study estimates the US released 49 million tons of methane into the air in 2008, or  more than the 32 million tons, which is 1.5 times higher than that estimated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The figure is also 1.7 times higher than the estimate released by international Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), a rubber-stamp outfit set up by the European Commission.

Methane is produced in a several ways including leaks during oil and gas exploration and refining, growing rice and livestock manure. Most of the U.S. methane is released in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with about 21 times greater heat-trapping ability per molecule than carbon dioxide.

The atmospheric concentration of methane has more than doubled since preindustrial times, climbing from about 700ppb to 1,826 ppb in 2012.

Methane has a boiling point of −161°C (−257.8°F) at one atmosphere, and is flammable only in concentration range of 5–15% in air.

Greedy Amazon Working Employees to the Bone

An undercover employee had to walk 11 and collect orders every 33 seconds.

An expert said such working conditions could cause “mental and physical illness,” reported BBC.

“Amazon reported UK sales of £4.8 billion [$7.8] last year. It employs around 20,000 staff in the UK during the Christmas period. On the company’s busiest day in December last year, 3.5million items were ordered by customers.”

The undercover reporter was employed as a “picker” collecting orders from 800,000 sq ft of storage. Because he worked night shifts his pay before tax rose from the daily rate of £6.50 [$10.53] per hour to £8.25 per hour.

 

This post will be updated throughout the day …

Deadly Thanksgiving Storm Moves East

Deadly ice storm claims at least 13 lives across the U.S.

A major storm system moving across the U.S. has caused at least 13 deaths including four in Oklahoma, four in Texas, three in California and one each in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as numerous road accident injuries.

The massive storm dumped at least 35cm of snow on Sunday in many mountain regions of Colorado and Utah, as well as significant amounts on  parts of Arizona and Texas.

The system has forced more than a thousand flight cancellations across  southern U.S.

US Composite Satellite Image – Nov 26, 2013 at 00:30UTC. Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni

U.S. Weather Forecast

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple severe weather Warnings, Watches and Advisories including Ice Storm Warning, Winter Storm Warning, Storm Warning and Flood Warning for a large portion of the country.  The following are highlights of their latest forecast Valid 00UTC Tue Nov 26 2013 – 00Z Thu Nov 28 2013

• Sleet/freezing rain possible from the Southern Appalachians to parts of Northern New England
• Snow is possible from Eastern Ohio Valley/Central Appalachians to the Lower Great Lakes
• Heavy rain possible from the Central Gulf Coast to New England
• Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average from the Central Appalachians to the Central/Western Gulf to the Upper Midwest
• A complicated storm will develop over the Central Gulf Coast and move to the Mid-Atlantic by Wednesday.
• Another storm over the Central Gulf Coast will move northeastward to Mid-Atlantic and combined with the energy from the Great Lakes. The developing storm will produce moderate to heavy rain over the Central Gulf Coast and expand into the Southern/Central Appalachians by Tuesday morning. The moderate to heavy rain will move eastward to the Southeast/Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, expanding into Northern New England by Wednesday morning. Showers and thunderstorms will develop along the Central Gulf Coast and move eastward to the Southeast by Tuesday night, moving offshore by Wednesday morning.

M3.3 Quake Strikes Azle, Texas

STAY TUNED for Important Announcements Concerning the State of Texas Starting Late 2014

Shallow quake strikes 7km (4mi) W of Azle, Texas

The quake measuring 3.3Mw, centered at 32.897°N 97.628°W, about 10km ESE (255 degrees) of Pelican Bay, struck at a shallow depth of 5.0km (3.1mi) on Monday at 01:43am local time.

The shock was latest in a series of 16 earthquakes to hit North Texas this month.

More than 80 minor shocks have occurred in the built-up areas of Johnson, Ellis and Parker counties in the last five years.

USGS Community Internet Intensity Map – Northern Texas.

Related Links

• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Global Disasters/ Significant Events – Nov. 22, 2013

Cyclonic Storm LEHAR Strikes Andaman Islands

LEHAR strikes Andaman Islands with winds of about 110kmph gusting to 140kmph

The cyclone is expected to dump more than 25cm of rain over Andaman and Nicobar Islands en route to Andhra Pradesh coast, east India.

LEHAR is forecast to strike Andhra Pradesh state, India’s east-central coastline on the Bay of Bengal, near 18.3N, 84.1E on November 28.

Cyclonic Storm LEHAR. VI/INFRARED [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] satellite image recorded at 00:30UTC on November 25, 2013. Original image sourced from: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

Cyclonic Storm LEHAR. VI/INFRARED [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] satellite image recorded at 11:30UTC on November 25, 2013. Original image sourced from: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

 LEHAR V. PHAILIN

Super Cyclonic Storm PHAILIN. VIS/IR Satellite Image recorded at 01:30UTC on October 11, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

LEHAR Projected Path Superimposed on SST Schematic in Bay of Bengal. Timed at 11:30UTC on November 25, 2013. CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

On Friday, November 22, Cyclone HELEN struck coastal  Andhra Prades, killing at least 6 people, destroying or damaging about 170,000 hectares of crops, and forcingthe authorities to evacuate 25,000 people.

In October, Cyclone PHAILIN destroyed or damaged more than 500,000 mud houses, killing dozens of people and ruining 1.3 million hectares of crops.

Point of No Return

In 2004¹,  our team forecast an 80-90 percent increase in the total power dissipated annually by tropical cyclones  in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by 2015.

Storms will continue to get stronger (develop greater average intensities) and survive at high intensity for longer (take more time to dissipate peak energy) resulting in substantial increases in storm-related losses in the near future.

[1. First draft posted by MSRB on Internet on February 26, 2005]

This post will be updated throughout the day …

Mass Evacuation Ordered as Mt SINABUNG Put on Red Alert

18,000 people evacuated as Sinabung activity intensifies

Mt Sinabung’s latest explosive eruption has prompted the authorities to raise the volcanic alert to the highest level, “siaga,” or “red alert,” according to Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center.

The alert level was raised from “orange” or “level III ” to the highest level “red” or “level IV” by PVMBG on Sunday, as the authorities evacuated an additional  11,618 residents from 19 villages and expanded the evacuation zone to a 5-km exclusion  zone from 3 km previously.

“This is Sinabung’s highest level of activity. The intensity of the eruptions continues to increase,” said Hendrasto, head of PVMBG.

Villagers evacuate to a safe area, as Mount Sinabung ejects ash into air at Aman Teran village in Karo district, Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, November 24, 2013. Credit: Reuters/YT Haryono. More images…

As of 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, Sinabung was continuing to eject an 8-km high column of smoke and ash into the air, he said.

Some 6,000 villagers had already been evacuated from the 3-km exclusion zone, about 90 km from Medan, capital of North Sumatra province.

The North Sumatra health has distributed 180,000 face masks, medicine and 4 tons of baby formula to relief posts in Karo regency, reported Jakarta Post.

Mt Sinabung erupted explosively again on November 12, 2013 for a second time in 9 days. Image credit: CRIonLine via Xinhua. More images…

Approximate location of Sinabung is marked  on the map by FEWW. Mount Sinabung is one of Indonesia’s 130  active volcanoes

Sinabung Volcano: Summary of Details

Country: Indonesia
Region: Sumatra
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Holocene
Last Known Eruption: Unknown [1600?]
Summit Elevation: 2,460m
Latitude: 3.17°N Longitude: 98.392°E
Source: GVP

Sinabung is located in Group K Volcanoes

Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog. Click image to enlarge.

The PVMBG categorizes Sinabung as a type A volcano, or those that have erupted since 1600. Type B volcanoes have not erupted since 1600 but show signs of activity, and type C are those that have not erupted in recorded history.

Mount Sinabung ejected tephra into the air as seen from Tanah Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Dedy Zulkifli). Image may be subject to copyright.

Indonesian Volcanoes

Indonesian Volcanoes have been responsible for a number of cataclysmic explosions in modern history.

An 1888 lithograph of the 1883 violent explosion of Krakatau.

Based on their models, our colleagues at EDRO forecast that the collapse of Singapore may occur as a result of volcanic activity on the island of Sumatra. However, they have not disclosed any further detail.

Chronology of Recent Eruptions

• A Second Indonesian Volcano Erupts Posted on November 19, 2013
• 22 Indonesian Volcanoes Remain on High Alerts Posted on November 16, 2013
• Sinabung Volcano Explodes Posted on November 3, 2013
• Thousands Flee Mount Sinabung Eruption September 16, 2013

• Sinabung Erupts Again August 30, 2010
• Mount Sinabung Erupts  August 29, 2010
• Sinabung Erupts Again – Strongest Explosion to Date September 7, 2010

• Mount Merapi Eruption Satellite Image November 16, 2010
• Merapi’s latest eruption the deadliest so far  November 5, 2010
• Mt Merapi Erupts Again, 70,000 Evacuated November 1, 2010

• Mount Sinabung Erupts  August 29, 2010
• Sinabung Erupts Again  August 30, 2010
• Sinabung Erupts Again – Strongest Explosion to Date September 7, 2010
• Sinabung Getting More Serious September 7, 2010

Syria Terror: Children “Targeted by Snipers”

“Stolen Futures: The hidden toll of child casualties in Syria”

Some 11,420 children aged 17 and under were killed in the Syrian conflict: 7 out of 10 by explosive weapons, 1 in 4 by bullets—Oxford Research Group.

Between March 2011, when the “conflict” began, and end August 2013, at least 11,420 were recorded killed in Syria. Some 764 children were summarily executed, 389 were killed by sniper fire and more than 100—including infants—were tortured, according to the report.

“128 children were recorded killed by chemical weapons in Ghouta on 21 August, 2013.”

Overall, a total of 113,735 civilians and combatants were killed during the report period.

10 year-old Issa carries a mortar shell in a weapons factory for the “Free Syrian Army” in Aleppo, September 7, 2013. Image Credit: REUTERS/Hamid Khatib

Related Links

• Syria Refugees Top 2 Million Posted on September 3, 2013
• Destabilization of Middle East Intensifies Posted on August 26, 2013
• Drought Driving Syria to Collapse Posted on September 11, 2010

Tens of Thousand Displaced by Flooding in Thailand

Disaster zones declared in southern Thailand amid deadly flooding

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in southern Thailand as severe floods destroy or damage many thousands of homes, killing about a dozen people, and leaving vast tracts of crops spoiled.

Authorities have declared a state of disaster in 8 provinces including Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Trang.

Hundreds of villages have been evacuated in Narathiwat, reportedly the hardest hit province.

The main reservoir in Tha Chana district had been filled to capacity and was overflowing, sending down a surge of floodwater and prompting warnings about potentially deadly landslides, officials told the Bangkok Post.

Meantime, 3-meter high waves have been pounding the Gulf of Thailand, officials said.

Recent Flood Toll in Thailand

October 2, 2013. Deadly floods affected 32 of Thailand’s 77 provinces killing at least 23 people, affecting 2.85 million others and forcing at least 15,000 people to abandon their homes, said the Thai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department. By October 17, the death toll had climbed to at least 68, and flooding had affected 359 districts in 46 provinces across the north, northeastern and central regions, leaving 230,000 families displaced, the Ministry of Interior reported.