Drought Affects nearly One Billion Trees in California

Ecological catastrophe: 29 million trees dead, 58 million more on the brink

New research by a Carnegie research team has revealed that up to 58 million large trees in California has experienced “severe canopy water loss between 2011 and today due to the state’s historic drought.”

The U.S. Forest Service says more than 29 million trees in California forests have already died.

“In addition to the persistently low rainfall, high temperatures and outbreaks of the destructive bark beetle increased forest mortality risk.”

The team used laser-guided imaging spectroscopy tools that are mounted on the Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) to measure the full impact of the drought on California’s forests, and combined the CAO data with satellite data starting 2011.

The team’s advanced tools showed that about 41,000 square miles (10.6 million hectares) of forest containing up to 888 million large trees experienced measurable losses of canopy water between 2011 and 2015.  Of this group, up to 58 million large trees reached water loss thresholds that the scientists deemed extremely threatening to long-term forest health.”

Should drought conditions persist, the team concluded, there would be substantial changes to already significantly weakened forest structures and ecosystems in the near future, given the severity of the exiting conditions.

Progressive forest canopy water stress in the state of California from 2011 to 2015. Credit: Greg Asner

DISASTER DIARY – DECEMBER 31, 2015

Major to record flooding continues over parts of Mississippi River Valley: NWS

Major flooding is occurring or forecast on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers & tributaries in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky, with record flooding at several locations. Major flooding is also occurring on the Arkansas River & tributaries in Arkansas. Floodwaters will move downstream over the next couple of weeks, with significant river flooding expected for the lower Mississippi into mid-January. Read More…

More flooding is forecast for Missouri and Illinois were on Thursday as rain-swollen rivers overflowed their banks, inundating vast areas, washing out hundreds of homes and leaving thousands of people displaced.

Flood Warnings were in effect in at least 16 states, as of posting. The Mississippi River, North America’s third longest, is forecast to crest early next week in Thebes, Illinois, at 14.48 meter, more than 0.46 cm above the 1995 record, said NWS.

Tornadoes, flooding and extreme rain have killed dozens of peephole in the southern and central U.S. since last week.

Yemen: Humanitarian catastrophe worsens

Conflict continues to devastate the lives of men, women, and children in Yemen. Eighty-two per cent of Yemen’s population requires some form of humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs or protect their fundamental rights. After nine months of intensified conflict the severity of needs, among the most vulnerable populations, has deepened and the lack of a political solution will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, UN said.

Ongoing air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition and conflict on the ground makes humanitarian activities, including the transportation of goods, difficult and, at times, dangerous.

Over one million migrant/ refugee sea arrivals reach Europe in 2015

Some 1,000,573 people have reached Europe across the Mediterranean, mainly to Greece and Italy, in 2015 including 3,735 who were missing, believed drowned, according to the latest figures released by UNHCR.

Mass evacuations in three Australian towns as bushfires reignite

Thousands of residents and tourists were evacuated on Thursday from three regions along the scenic Great Ocean Road in southern Australia as hot, windy weather reignited  bushfires that destroyed 116 homes on Christmas Day.

The fires, which started by lightning 12 days ago, have consumed more than 2,500 hectares, and threatened to re-intensify amid record warm temperatures and high winds.

“The local community has listened to the best of advice and will leave their homes because on such a challenging day, with that fire still active, so close to them, it’s not safe for them nor is it safe for those who have been called on to protect them,” Victoria state Premier said

Colombia issues ‘Red Alert’ over record low river levels

Colombia has issued a red alert after water levels dropped significantly in the Magdalena River, the country’s main waterway, and Cauca River, another key river, said a report.

Hundreds of towns and cities across the country rely on the two rivers for water.

“The Magdalena River presents the lowest levels since 1973. The level is 45 centimeters, when it should be 134 centimeters,” said President Santos.

Drought Plunges Lesotho into Emergency

More than 650,000 people face hunger in Lesotho’s worst drought in decades. Struggling from two successive crop failures, the mountain kingdom has been pushed into a state of crisis by low rainfall across much of southern Africa.

Impact of flooding in northern Argentina

The number of families impacted by the flooding in the north and central parts of the Argentina is growing.

• More than 25,000 people have been affected by the overflow of the Uruguay and Paraná Rivers, according to the latest estimates.

• At least 1,900 inhabitants of Concordia have been evacuated due to historic river flooding in the city.

• Over 15,000 people have been affected in Concordia, a number that includes 2,000 evacuees and over 9,000 people that have abandoned their homes and are living with family or friends.

Hundreds evacuated from BP oil platforms in North Sea

Some 235 workers were evacuated from BP’s oil platforms in the Vallhall oilfield in the Norwegian North Sea after a 110-meter monster barge drifted near the major oilfield uncontrollably, local media reported.

Fatality on board COSL rig in North Sea

Statoil and COSL say one worker was killed an at least two others injured as a result of the “breaking wave” that hit the drilling rig COSL Innovator.

“COSL Innovator is under contract to Statoil at the Troll field in the North Sea, west of Bergen. The rig had been taken off the well as a result of the bad weather before the incident occurred. The breaking wave also caused some damage to the rig’s accommodation module.”

The rig is being evacuated, and the evacuees are being flown ashore, according to a statement posted on Statoil website.

Historic Flooding: MO Gov. Activates National Guard

DISASTER DIARY – DECEMBER 30, 2015

State of Missouri devastated by heavy rains, historic flooding

Extreme weather has devastated the State of Missouri killing at least 13 people, with the death toll exceeding 50 across southern and central U.S.

In response to historic flooding in parts of Missouri, Gov. Nixon has  activated the Missouri National Guard to support emergency response personnel. The Guard’s responsibilities will include providing security and preventing looting in evacuated areas.

The mobilization follows a state of emergency declaration in Missouri due to heavy rain and flooding.

As a result of this severe and prolonged storm system, river levels in some locations are predicted to exceed the historic crests during the Great Flood of 1993, according to a statement released by the governor’s office.

“As rivers rise to record levels, we are continuing to support Missouri communities and protect public safety during this historic flooding event,” said Gov. Nixon.

Flooding has already led to the evacuation of West Alton and caused hundreds of road closures across Missouri, including in St. Louis and all lanes of I-44 at Jerome near Rolla.

At least 13 flood-related deaths have been reported in Missouri, 12 of which were caused by vehicles being swept from flooded roadways.

“Highest Flood Records in History”

Forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS) officials predict the Mississippi River at the Chester gauge, across the river from Perry County, will crest at 49.7 feet on Friday – matching the previous record set in 1993. In addition, the Mississippi River at Thebes south of Cape Girardeau is expected to crest at 47.5 feet on Saturday, nearly two feet above the previous record. Other rivers are also predicted to reach historic highs. For example, the Meramec River at Valley Park is forecast to crest at a record 42 feet.

Up to 15 million people across 9 states in the Midwestern United States were under flood warning, as of posting.

Eureka, MO completely cut off

The city of Eureka [pop: 12,000] located along Interstate 44 in St. Louis County, Missouri, is completely cut off by flood waters.

Additionally, floodwaters have swamped multiple other cities and towns including the cities of St. Louis and Pacific.

Thousand evacuated as Storm Frank hits UK

In the UK, Storm Frank has pummeled parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland leaving more severe floods in its wake, said a report.

“Scotland bore the brunt of the bad weather with hundreds of homes evacuated in the Borders towns of Dumfries, Hawick and Peebles.”

Severe flood warnings remain in place in several areas, following record-breaking rains. “The heaviest fell in Capel Curig in Wales, which had 1,000mm (39 inches) of rain, well above its December average of 300mm (12 inches).”

Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma

Oklahoma Declared Federal Disaster Area

Oklahoma Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (DR-4247)

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma in the areas affected by severe winter storms and flooding during the period of November 27-29, 2015.

The hardest hit areas include the counties of Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Grady, Grant, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Logan, Major, Oklahoma, Roger Mills, Washita, and Woods.

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

Federal Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government has proclaimed 43 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4247] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory so far this year. Additionally, the government has issued two Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3373, and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations [FM-5084 to FM-5117] for the year to date.

Major Disaster Declarations Since October 2015

• Major Disaster Declared for Idaho [DR-4246] December 28, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas [DR-4245] November 26, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in Alaska [DR-4244] October 31, 2015
• 2ND Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4243] October 22, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared for Washington [DR-4242] October 16, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in South Carolina [DR-4241] October 6, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Historic Flooding Underway: Town Evacuated

Mandatory evacuation order issued for West Alton, Missouri

The U.S. Coast Guard has closed a large section of the Mississippi River near St. Louis due to flooding.

• Historic flooding is underway.
• Up to 12 inches of rain since Monday have inundated a vast area in southern and central U.S.
• Water has topped the Consolidated North County Levee on the Mississippi River protecting the town of West Alton [pop: 550] in St. Louis-area, Missouri. The town is located at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
• The mayor has ordered a mandatory evacuation order.
• The Mayor had previously urged the resident to evacuate voluntarily.
• Multiple sections of major highways including Highway 94 are compromised, and have since been closed.
• Multiple rivers are expected to crest higher than the records set in December 1982 and Summer of 1993 including the Bourbeuse River at Union, MO and the Mississippi River at Chester, IL.

Significant Earthquake Strikes Near Edmond, Oklahoma

M4.3 Strikes 8km ENE of Edmond, Oklahoma

Centered at 35.682°N, 97.396°W the event occurred at a depth of 8.0 km (4.9 mi), reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 4.3Mw
Location: 35.682°N, 97.396°W
Time: 2015-12-29 11:39:19 (UTC)
Nearby Cities

• 8km (5mi) ENE of Edmond, Oklahoma
• 22km (14mi) S of Guthrie, Oklahoma
• 26km (16mi) NNE of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Gas Well Blowout at Porter Ranch, California Sickening Residents

Monster Gas Leak Spewing up to 50,000 kg/hr of  powerful GHG

The massive gas leak at a natural gas storage well at Aliso Canyon storage field in Northridge, California, operated by SoCalGas, has released about 75,000 metric tons of methane since it was discovered on October 23, 2015.

The leak is currently spewing about 33,000 – 50,000 kg/hr of the GHG, which is said to be the equivalent of a quarter of the state’s total methane emissions from all sources.

The emissions are making the residents sick. Thousands of the residents have experienced nausea, dizziness, vomiting, nosebleeds, and headaches among other symptoms from the hazardous gas.

Some 6,500 families have filed for help, but only about 2,250 have since been relocated, with another 100 or so staying with family or friends.

New video shot with a highly specialized Optical Gas Imaging camera shows time-lapse image of Southern California Gas Co.’s Aliso Canyon gas leak. Video depicts an ominous cloud of methane gas flowing down from the gas well over the community of Porter Ranch. The video shows the gas cloud at 60x speed. For more information visit: http://porterranchlawsuit.com/

Relocating Schools

The Board of Education took action last week to expedite the temporary relocation of Castlebay Lane Charter and Porter Ranch Community School, comprising a total of about 1,900 students, due to disruptions in teaching and learning caused by the methane leak in Aliso Canyon.

“When classes resume after the winter break, the 770 students in grades K-5 who attend Castlebay Lane will be relocated to Sunny Brae Avenue Elementary in Winnetka. Porter Ranch Community School, which has 1,100 students in grades K-8, will relocate to Northridge Middle School. Portable classrooms and available space at the host schools will be used to house the Castlebay Lane and Porter Ranch students, teachers and staff.”

SoCalGas in Aliso Canyon, outside of Los Angeles, has released the following in its latest report on the blowout.

Relief Well  [BPesque?]

Efforts to drill the relief well are progressing. Crews are actively working on Phase 3 of a 5 phase process. This potentially time consuming phase is critical to the overall success, and encompasses positively identifying the leaking well with active magnetic ranging technology. Once identified, the relief well will follow the leaking well to more than 8,000 feet deep and intercept it near its bottom. Once we intercept the well, we will pump heavy mud and fluids into the leaking well to stop the flow of gas from the reservoir and into the well. Once the flow of gas has been stopped, we will pump cement into the bottom of the well to permanently seal it. The drilling process continues around the clock, and is expected to be completed by late February to late March.

As of December 27, we have successfully located the leaking or target well using the active magnetic ranging tool and are preparing to resume drilling.  We have currently drilled approximately 3,800 feet of measured depth.  From this point on, we will be interchanging drilling and ranging equipment as needed to increase the precision of the relief well in relation to the target well’s location and to follow it down at the appropriate distance, angle and orientation.

We are also initiating a secondary relief well as backup to our ongoing drilling of the primary relief well. Grading of the drilling pad for the secondary well should be complete in early January.  At that point a drilling rig will be moved in and set up.  Drilling is slated to begin in late January.

Massive Snowstorm Prompts State of Emergency Declaration in New Mexico

DISASTER DIARY – DECEMBER 28, 2015

Up to 20 inches of snow with drifts of 10 feet hit SE part of NM

Gov. Martinez has declared a state of emergency in New Mexico, mobilizing the National Guard to rescue hundreds of stranded drivers.

Officials have closed I-40 indefinitely, with stretches of the interstate also closed in Texas and Oklahoma, said local reports.

“This is a dire situation, especially the eastern half of the state where the storm has hit hardest and continues to dump snow,” said Martinez . “We monitored the situation throughout the night and activated the National Guard to assist stranded motorists.

Martinez has described the extreme weather events as a “serious situation” and asked New Mexicans to stay off the roads until the conditions improve.

“Someone may look out the winter in Albuquerque or Santa Fe and say, ‘It doesn’t seem that bad,’ but it is extremely bad,” Martinez said. “I cannot express how serious the situation is. The southeastern part of the state has 16 to 20 inches of snow with snow drifts of 8 to 10 feet.”

Missouri Declares a State of Emergency

Gov. Nixon has declared a state of emergency in after rain, flooding and flash flooding across Missouri severely impacted the state. Nixon has warned that residents avoid water-covered roads and avoid travel at all if possible.

Meanwhile, St. Louis region became the wettest year ever at the weekend with 58.14 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The previous record of 57.96 inches was set in 2008. More rain is expected across the region.

Weekend flash floods killed at least 13 people in Missouri and Illinois, while the death toll across southern and central US climbed to about 50 after days of severe weather.

Disaster in Texas

Powerful tornadoes killed at least 11 people in Greater Dallas Area, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes and uprooting thousands of trees.

Gov. Abbott declared a state of emergency for Collin, Dallas, Ellis and Rockwall counties, and declared concurrently the four counties as disaster areas.

NWS has issued tornado warnings for Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas, also warning that a “historic blizzard” could hit Texas and Oklahoma with about 16 inches of snow.

States of Emergency in Oklahoma 

Oklahoma has also declared a states of emergency. The state of emergency proclaimed by Gov. Fallin on Nov. 29 will remain in effect, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said.

The following forecast is also issued by NWS:

Major Storm System Bringing Ice, Heavy Snow, Severe Weather, and Flooding from The Gulf Coast to New England

A major storm system will continue to bring a plethora of impacts including heavy snowfall, ice, heavy rainfall, flooding, and severe weather today and tonight. The low pressure system will move toward the Great Lakes region on Tuesday shifting the winter storm threat into Upstate New York and New England.

Meanwhile, the high temperatures are expected to continue in eastern US, with Washington DC reaching 70ºF (21ºC) on Sunday.

Major Disaster Declared for Idaho

Idaho Declared Federal Disaster Area

Idaho Severe Storm and Straight-line Winds (DR-4246)

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Idaho in the area affected by a severe storm and straight-line winds on November 17, 2015.

The hardest hit areas include the counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

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

Federal Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government has proclaimed 42 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4246] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory so far this year. Additionally, the government has issued two Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3373, and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations, [FM-5084 to FM-5117] for the year to date.

Major Disaster Declarations Since October 2015

• Major Disaster Declared for Texas [DR-4245] November 26, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in Alaska [DR-4244] October 31, 2015
• 2ND Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4243] October 22, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared for Washington [DR-4242] October 16, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in South Carolina [DR-4241] October 6, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Deadly Fires Destroy Hundreds of Homes in South Africa

Fires kill a dozen people, destroying hundreds of homes and displacing 1,300 people

Another deadly fire, fourth in a year, has left 1,300 residents homeless in the Mandela Park area situated in the Imizamo Yethu settlement, said a report.

“Hout Bay residents pleaded for help on Sunday after the fourth fire in a year broke out at the Imizamo Yethu informal settlement.”

“There have been four fires…  The people that lost everything a month ago, they have now lost everything again…” said Hout Bay Civic Association secretary.

Related Links

• Nearly 100 displaced by Marlboro shack fire

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – December 27, 2015

Powerful storm system brings tornadoes and flooding, killing at least 8 in Dallas, Texas

Death toll from a week of severe weather in the southern United States has now climbed to at least 26, with hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged by tornadoes, and flooding.

At least 6 tornadoes touched down in Dallas, Ellis and McClain counties on Saturday, according to the reports received by the storm prediction Center.

Meanwhile, forecasters have warned a “historic blizzard” could hit Texas and Oklahoma with up to 41cm of snow.

Dangerous Weather Continues Through Sunday Across the Middle of the Country

A variety of dangerous weather conditions will continue across the middle of the country through Sunday. Blizzard conditions will stretch from the High Plains of west Texas into northwest Oklahoma and Kansas. Hazardous ice accumulations will occur in Oklahoma. Dangerous flooding will extend from north Texas to central Illinois. Thunderstorms and a few tornadoes are possible in Texas. [NWS]

UK homes evacuated after ‘unprecedented’ flooding

Police have advised hundreds of people to evacuate near the River Ouse and River Foss in York, as floods threaten thousands of properties, said a report.

Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings are in place for England, Wales and Scotland, including more than 20 severe warnings—indicating danger to life.

UK PM David Cameron has called the flooding “unprecedented” and the situation for many as “incredibly serious” in an emergency conference call, promising more troops.

Super gonorrhea ‘could become untreatable’

“Gonorrhea is at risk of becoming an untreatable disease due to the continuing emergence of antimicrobial resistance,” the UK Chief Medical Officer has warned.

The warning follows the detection of a highly drug-resistant strain of the infection in the north of England in March.

The strain can resist the antibiotic azithromycin, which is normally used alongside another drug, ceftriaxone.

The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can mutate and develop new resistance, so we cannot afford to be complacent, said a UK health official.

North of England ‘super gonorrhea’ outbreak triggers nationwide alert

‘Highly resistant’

“This azithromycin highly resistant outbreak is the first one that has triggered a national alert,”  a consultant in sexual health based in Bristol, told the BBC News website.

“If this becomes the predominant strain in the UK we’re in big trouble, so we have to be really meticulous in making sure each of these individuals has all their contacts traced and treated.”

In 2011, Japan reported a case of complete resistance to cephalosporin-class antibiotics, which included the main treatment ceftriaxone.

About 35,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported in England in 2014, an increase of almost 20% compared with the previous year. It is the second most common sexually transmitted disease in the UK after chlamydia.

Emergency declared as train carrying sulfuric acid derails in NW QLD

A freight train carrying 200,000 liters of sulfuric acid has derailed east of Julia Creek in NW Queensland, Australia.

The locomotive and all 26 carriages derailed at 10:20am about 20km east of the outback town, prompting authorities to declare an emergency and impose a two-kilometer exclusion zone around the crash site.

Disaster Diary – December 26, 2015

Severe weather threatens tens of millions of people across the U.S.

State of Emergency Declared in Alabama amid a “unique, significant rainfall event.”

Alabama Gov. Bentley has declared a state of emergency as floodwaters continue to bury homes, businesses and public infrastructure across the state in what a senior meteorologist called a “unique, significant rainfall event.”

“This isn’t the typical end of December weather,” said a meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham, Alabama. “This is a unique, significant rainfall event for this time of year. We get some severe weather this time of year, but to get this much rainfall this time of year is not typical.”

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received three unconfirmed reports of tornadoes striking JEFFERSON and TUSCALOOSA  counties.

Meanwhile, NWS forecast a strong storm system would be moving from Rockies to Plains this weekend.

A storm system will strengthen this holiday weekend as it moves from the Rockies eastward through the Plains. A dangerous winter storm is forecast across portions of N.M., Tex. and Okla. where blizzard conditions are possible. Severe storms and heavy rain are possible in parts of the Gulf Coast region through the southern Plains to Ohio Valley on Saturday and Sunday where flooding is possible.

Further east, severe weather and flooding can be expected from east Texas to portions of the Mississippi Valley. Travel conditions will be hazardous in many locations through Sunday.

Dozens of Warnings, Advisories and Watches for severe weather are in effect across the U.S., as of posting.

 

Major wildfire burning uncontrollably, forcing mass evacuations, highway closures in SoCal

The massive blaze is devouring brush along PCH north of Ventura, threatening dozens of homes.

• Mandatory evacuations have been imposed for the Solimar Beach community.
• Campers were forced to evacuate at Emma Wood State Park.
• Faria Beach Park campground was under voluntary evacuation.
• Multiple section of Highway 101 and PCH were forced to close.
• The fire grew to about 1,000 acres, as of posting.

Contributed photo/Johnny Corona/via VCS. A Ventura County Fire helicopter drops water on the Solimar Fire early Saturday morning.

 Deadly floods Displace 150,000 in Latin America

States of Emergency declared in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. 

Deadly flooding have forced about 150,000 people from their homes in Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, prompting the authorities to declare states of emergency in multiple regions across the three countries.

At least 10,000 people were evacuated in Entre Rios province, and twice as many may need to be evacuated,  as floods threatened Concordia [pop: 170,000] located on the banks of the Uruguay River, the worst affected area, said the mayor, calling the deluge “the worst flooding in 50 years.”

“In November and December, the Rio de la Plata river basin in Argentina’s northeast received between 150 and 300 millimeters more rain than is typical for the period, the farm industry ministry said in a statement.,” AFP reported.

Death toll from flood related incidents in the affected areas stood at about a dozen, as of posting.

 

Great Ocean Road fire: Christmas Day blaze destroys 116 homes in Victoria

The massive bushfire in Victoria, Australia has destroyed at lease 116 homes, said a report.

“The fire, which has so far burned more than 2,200 hectares, is not yet under control.”

UK flood warnings: Homes evacuated amid record rain

At least 15 severe flood warnings are in effect and scores of homes have been evacuated, as record – heavy rain lashes parts of the UK, with Lancashire and Yorkshire counties bearing the brunt of flooding, said a report.

The UK Met Office has also issued two severe weather warnings, meaning danger to life, for rain in the two counties.

The UK Environment Agency has warned as much as a month’s rainfall would likely fall in one day in some areas.

Every river in Lancashire has exceeded record levels, the Agency said. The flood sirens have been activated in several towns/villages.

• Several rivers have burst their banks, and homes in Ribchester and Whalley, Lancashire, have been evacuated.
• Meanwhile, more than 300 flood alerts and warnings are in place across England, Scotland and Wales.
• The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued more than 10 flood warnings, in the Scottish borders and Tayside areas, as well as a number of flood alerts.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service warned: “A severe flood warning means danger to life. It doesn’t mean ‘come and have a look’! Please don’t come to visit Whalley or Ribchester now.”

“The village is under siege really,” a Ribchester resident told the BBC, describing the situation as “pretty grim,” with many homes at risk of flooding.

“The routes to the south are cut off and the route to the north, to Longridge, is under threat.”

A resident in Whalley said the situation was “a million times worse” than a fortnight ago when floods also hit.

“There are no more sandbags anywhere. People are panicking. That’s my business and my home, it’s a double whammy.”

• The River Calder burst its banks in Mytholmroyd in the Calder Valley.
• Hebden Bridge town centre was one of the areas hit by floods on Boxing Day.
• Flood sirens sounded in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire.

Capel Curig in north-west Wales received the most rainfall in the 24-hour period to 09:00UTC Boxing Day, with a total of 168mm, the report said.

Up to 120mm of rain could fall over the most exposed sites in northern England on Boxing Day – with the average rainfall for the whole of December in the North West being 145mm, said Met Office forecasters.

Floods Minister Rory Stewart told BBC Radio: “As the rain falls, the rivers respond very quickly. Certainly what we’ve seen is rainfall levels that nobody’s ever seen before.”

 

M5.4 Earthquake Strikes DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE

Magnitude:  5.4mb [http://www.emsc-csem.org/]
Region: DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE
Date/time: 2015-12-26 11:00:53.2 UTC
Location: 35.46 N, 27.42 E
Depth: 45km
Distances:

• 329 km S of İzmir, Turkey [pop: 2,500,603]
• 207 km E of Irákleion, Greece [pop: 137,154]
• 131 km SW of Ródos, Greece [pop: 56,128]
• 19 km E of Kárpathos, Greece [pop: 2,243]

Testimony: Witness location : Rhodes (Greece) (130 km NE from epicenter)

Today’s earthquake was very noticeable! Our Light fixtures in the living room, which are made of hanging crystals, like a Church Bell, they were moving horizontal ways creating really strong sound that is hard to miss, even being inside another room of the house. The Christmas Tree was also “dancing” in some ways but, Thank God, nothing fall from any wall, and no damage was occurred because of this earthquake.

Strong Earthquake Strikes Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan

M6.3 quake strikes NE Afghanistan

Centered at 36.500°N, 71.132°E, about 280km NE of Kabul, Afghanistan the event occurred at a depth of 203.4km, reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 6.3Mw
Location: 36.500°N, 71.132°E – 41km WSW of Ashkasham, Afghanistan
Depth: 203.4km
Time: 2015-12-25 19:14:47 UTC
Distances:

• 40 km SW of Ishqoshim, Tajikistan [pop: 26,000]
• 85 km SE of Fayzabad, Afghanistan [pop: 44,421]
• 280km NE of Kabul, Afghanistan [pop: 3.73 million]
• 280 km N of Peshāwar, Pakistan [pop: 1.22 million]

Recent Events in Hindu Kush Region

• Deadly Hindu Kush Earthquake – Update October 27, 2015
• Deadly Earthquake Strikes N. Afghanistan October 26, 2015

4 Towns Evacuated as Bushfire Consumes Homes in Victoria, Aus

Blaze destroys homes, threatens towns in SE Australia

A major bushfire burning uncontrollably along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road has destroyed at least 50 homes, forcing evacuations and burning thousands of hectares, said a report.

More than 300 firefighters are battling the blaze overnight but are being hindered by the heavily forested terrain.

“The towns of Wye River, Grey River, Kennett River and Separation Creek have been evacuated, with only four people choosing to stay behind to protect their homes.

“Residents and holidaymakers were also urged leave Lorne and Allenvale, with Torquay and Geelong the safest options.”

 

UK Army deployed in Cumbria amid new flooding fears

Forecasters have warned heavy rain may cause flooding in the region later on Friday for the fourth time this month, with rivers already high and ground saturated, said a report.

“Rain will spread across Wales and northern England through the course of Christmas Day, reaching southern parts of Scotland during the early hours of Boxing Day, with prolonged spells forecast for south Cumbria.”

The county has already shattered the record for wettest December since records began in 1910.

Thousands of properties were affected when Storm Desmond brought a record amount of rainfall to Cumbria during the weekend of 5-6 December.

Four days later, further rain led to more flooding, and some parts of the county were inundated for a third time in a month on Tuesday after another deluge.

In addition to Cumbria, flood alerts have also been issued across other parts of the UK, with about three dozen flood warnings in place from Wales to Scotland as the effects of Storm Eva take hold, said the report.

Disasters/ Significant Events – Dec 25, 2015

Brazil warns against pregnancy amid surge in ZIKV birth defects

States of Emergency have been declared in six  Brazilian states after a surge in the number of suspected microcephaly among the newborn linked to Zika virus (ZIKV).

In Pernambuco State, about 1,000 cases have been reported. In Rio de Janeiro, about 400 pregnant women are suspected of having Zika infection. About 3 dozen related infant deaths are being investigated. 

Brazilian health authorities are advising would-be parents not to get pregnant, especially in the country’s northeast. The advice follows research that have linked the potentially deadly virus Zika, a mosquito-borne infection, to newborn microcephaly—a neurological disorder that can result in a severe birth defect in which the brain fails to develop properly and the head is much smaller than normal.

“Microcephaly can be caused by genetic factors, infections, or injuries. In recent years, there have been between 150 and 200 cases in Brazil per year. As of 30 November, more than 1,200 cases had been reported in 10 states, all of which have also reported Zika virus infections, says Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, head of the flavivirus laboratory at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”

However, the number of suspected infections have now doubled to more than 2,400  cases and spared to 20 Brazilian states (compared with 147 cases last year).

 

Storms kill at least a dozen, injure dozens more, leave trails of destruction across the U.S. South

Gov. Haslam approved the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s recommendation to go to a Level III State of Emergency, after storms moved across the state Wednesday night, killing at least two people.

Gov. Deal declared a state of emergency in Georgia for Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties through January.

“Following severe weather that resulted in flooding, damage to roads and properties and downed trees, the state is working to ensure the affected counties have access to the resources necessary for response efforts,” said Deal.

Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency in seven Mississippi counties after storms pummeled the state late Wednesday..

Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Prentiss and Tippah counties have all reported damage,  at least six dead and more than 40 injuried.

• Macon County North Carolina issued a state of emergency after the storm caused severe flooding across the area.

• An unknown number of people were injured after the storm overturned planes at a local airport northwest of the state, said reports.

A large tornado, one of at least 3 dozens, landed in Mississippi and raked along a 240-km trail to Tennessee.

SPC received hundreds of severe weather reports including 39 tornadoes, as of posting. Tornadoes left trails of destruction across multiple states: Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Illinois.

 

Beijing air pollution worsens significantly

Air pollution index (AQI) in China hit a high of 592 on Friday and persisted at 562, as of posting.

[The EPA’s revised breakpoints for the upper end of the hazardous air pollution band, AQI of 401 – 500, is equivalent to PM2.5 concentration of 350.5 – 500 μgm−³ averaged over a 24-hour period.  —Editor]

There’s apparent confusion among officials concerning the severity and duration of the smog events, on the one hand, and the extent of willpower exercised by government to shoo away the potentially deadly pollution, on the other. The official news agency, Xinhua, wrote:

Even though Beijing has lifted the red alert for severe pollution, the capital city will remain in haze for a few more days. [How dare smog worsens “even though” the authorities have downgraded the pollution warning to the lowest level. Ed.]

The Beijing municipal heavy pollution emergency response headquarters issued a blue alert for heavy pollution in the city on Thursday afternoon, saying smog will hit central Beijing and southern suburbs on Thursday night. It called on residents in these areas to take protective measures.

“Red” represents the most severe warning level on China’s four-tier warning system,  followed by orange, yellow and blue.

In addition to Beijing, at least 50 other cities in northern and eastern China have issued air pollution alerts for potentially deadly smog this week.

 

 

Earth Begins Responding to Reckless 2ºC Plan

Sent by a contributor

Background: Asked the planet about 2ºC plan before singing Kumbaya?

Deadly storms leave trails of destruction across southern and central U.S.

A massive storm system, described as “particularly dangerous,” packing high winds and spawning dozens of tornadoes, raked through the southern and central United States, killing about a dozen people and injuring dozens more.

SPC received hundreds of severe weather reports including 29 tornadoes, as of posting. Tornadoes, high wind and hail left trails of destruction across multiple states: Alabama,  Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

At least five people were killed in Mississippi, two in Tennessee and one in Arkansas, and dozens more injured across a large region spanning about 10 states, authorities said.

“The devastation is just unreal,” a police spokesman in Mississippi told reporters.

Deadly Tornadoes: State of Emergency Declared in Tennessee

Gov. Haslam approved the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s recommendation to go to a Level III State of Emergency, after storms moved across the state Wednesday night, killing at least two people.

At least four tornadoes touched down in Middle Tennessee, two in Wayne County, one in Perry County and one near the Smith/DeKalb County line, according to preliminary data received by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC).

“In Lutts, a lot of damage, some people trapped in a mobile home, some people trapped in a storm shelter, and houses and structural damage,” said Wayne County Sheriff. “We have a lot of injuries and we’re dispatching ambulances there now.”

SPC received hundreds of severe weather reports including 29 tornadoes (24 filtered), as of posting. Tornadoes left trails of destruction across multiple states: Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Illinois.

NWS Forecast:

The storm system that produced the severe weather outbreak on Wednesday will continue to move east on Thursday, but has diminished in strength. Isolated severe thunderstorms will still be possible from the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi Valley, with a more concentrated threat across parts of Alabama and Georgia.

Dozens of Severe Weather Warnings, Advisories and Watches are currently in effect including Blizzard Warning, High Wind Warning, Storm Warning, Winter Storm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Special Marine Warning, Avalanche Warning, Flood Warning, Gale Warning, Heavy Freezing Spray Warning, Hazardous Seas Warning, Tornado Watch…

 

 

Crop Disasters Declared in Five U.S. States

Drought destroys crops in 53 counties across five states

Drought has destroyed or damaged crops in at least 53 counties across five states: California, Maine, Massachusetts New Hampshire and Vermont.

Disaster Designation # 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 33 counties in California as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a drought that occurred during the period of Jan. 2, 2015, and continuing. Those counties are:

California: Alameda, Fresno, Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Los-Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Napa, San-Benito, San-Bernardino, San-Francisco, San-Luis-Obispo, San-Mateo, Santa-Barbara, Santa-Clara, Santa-Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura

Disaster Designation # 2

USDA has also designated a total of 20 counties across four states—New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought that occurred during the period of Jan. 2, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

New Hampshire. Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford and Sullivan.

Maine. York County.

Massachusetts. Essex, Franklin, Middlesex and Worcester.

Vermont. Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Windham and Windsor.

All counties listed above were designated crop disaster areas on Dec. 23, 2015.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands]: Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations have been due to drought so far this year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings. See blog content.]

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

ii. The counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia December 19, 2015

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Hazardous Smog Smothering Much of Northern China

‘Red alert’ for dangerous air pollution extends to more areas in N. China

China’s Hebei Province and the port city of Tianjin saw their first-ever air pollution red alerts Wednesday, said a report.

Red alert is the most severe in China’s four-tier warning system, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Hebei province, which is home to six of the ten most polluted Chinese cities in November, issued its first red alert for smog Tuesday noon.

The cities of Baoding, Handan, Langfang and Xingtai had already issued red alerts before the provincial-wide alert came into effect, said the report.

On Monday night, Tianjin also issued its first red alert for air pollution, which will last from 0:00 a.m. Wednesday to 6:00 a.m.Thursday, according to a government statement.

During the red alert, only half of the cars will be allowed on the roads; “enterprises and public institutions will adopt flexible working hours and large outdoor activities and construction work will be suspended.”

Particle pollution contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems, because they can get deep into your lungs, and some may even get into your bloodstream. Source: EPA

Additionally, schools will also cancel classes. “Key polluting industries will cut production as continuous cleaning operations are conducted in the city’s downtown areas.”

Beijing was hit with severe air pollution on Tuesday, with pollution levels expecting to reach grade six on a six-grade pollution gauging system in the southern part of the city later in the day, according to Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center (BMEMC).

“Affected by increased humidity and temperature inversion, the density of PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers used to measure air quality) may exceed 500 micrograms per cubic meter on Tuesday,” the report quoted an environmental expert from BMEMC.

PM2.5 reached a two-day high of  506 micrograms per cubic meter in Beijing as of 4:00 p.m Tuesday, according to http://aqicn.org/city/beijing/.

Heavy smog has hit the country’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region on three occasions since late November. Low wind speed, high humidity and unfavorable wind conditions are the main causes of the smog…

Other parts of north China also experienced some of the worst smog so far this year starting Saturday.

• Orange, yellow and blue alerts have been issued in cities in the provinces of Henan, Shandong and Liaoning.

• The PM2.5 level was 248 micrograms per cubic meter in Shenyang as of 7:00 p.m Tuesday.

Poor visibility caused by heavy fog and smog, affected the trains on high-speed rail linking Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning, and the coastal city of Dalian. The trains were forced to reduce speed to 200 km/hr down from the normal 300km/hr, the report quoted the Shenyang railway bureau as saying

• Some 15 highways in Liaoning Province were either completely or partially closed, according to the local transportation department.

• In addition, 15 highways in Liaoning Province were either completely or partially closed, according to the local transportation department.

 

Reno Rattled by Earthquakes

Coming to a city near you…

M4.4 quake strikes 12km S of Reno, Nevada

Centered at 39.429°N, 119.789°W the event occurred at a depth of 9.6km, reported USGS/EHP.

The event was one of a cluster of at least 8 earthquakes to strike the area starting at 06:22:36UTC on Wednesday (2015-12-23).

People reported feeling the earthquake throughout the city, from South Reno to Northwest Reno. The Nevada Seismological Laboratory recorded the epicenter at about 500m north of Steamboat Ditch, and 5km south of  Reno–Tahoe International Airport (west of I-580), said local media.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 4.4Mw
Location: 39.429°N, 119.789°W
Depth: 9.6km
Nearby Cities:

• 11km (7mi) S of Reno, Nevada
• 12km (7mi) SSW of Sparks, Nevada
• 18km (11mi) S of Sun Valley, Nevada
• 25km (16mi) SSW of Spanish Springs, Nevada
• 29km (18mi) N of Carson City, Nevada

Initial Cluster

• 2.5 11km SSE of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 08:29:20 UTC 8.5 km
• 3.1 10km SSE of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 07:05:36 UTC 9.5 km
• 2.9 11km SSE of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 06:59:05 UTC 8.1 km
• 2.8 11km SSE of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 06:58:15 UTC 9.5 km
• 4.4 12km S of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 06:46:07 UTC 9.6 km
• 3.1 11km S of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 06:45:49 UTC 9.8 km
• 3.0 11km SSE of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 06:36:30 UTC 9.4 km
• 3.2 11km SSE of Reno, Nevada 2015-12-23 06:22:36 UTC 9.8 km

One Million

1,000,000+ migrants and refugees cross into Europe

The number of migrants and refugees crossing into Europe by land and sea this year has passed one million, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

Myanmar: Precursors to genocide
Violence since 2012 has killed scores and left 140,000 trapped in displacement camps that have been described as open air prisons. More than 1 million face persecution in Myanmar and nowhere in the world are there more known precursors to genocide.

Boko Haram violence forces one million children out of school – U.N.
Violence targeted by the terrorist group Boko Haram has shut down than 2,000 schools in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, forcing more than one million children out of school, “leaving them prey to abuse, abduction and recruitment by armed groups,” said the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF on Tuesday.

Extreme Weather Events and Storms

Extreme weather events and storms on the lower end of intensity scales regularly affect at least a million or people across African, Asian, Pacific and South American countries.

Air Pollution
Smog caused by coal consumption is expected to kill an estimated one million people in China in 2015.

Flooding
“From the onset of the rains in mid-December 2014 through mid-January 2015, the country received continuous rainfall that led to the worst flooding in many years,” said Malawian President Peter Mutharika. “The floods affected about 1.1 million people. It damaged people’s property and public infrastructure and at least 64,000 hectares of crop fields throughout the country. 101 people were killed and 172 people were reported missing.”

Mortality 2015 and Crude Death Rate
Total number of deaths in 2015 is estimated at 57.6 million. The estimate is based on the 2014 crude death rate of 7.89 deaths per 1,000 and global population of 7.3 billion.

In 2015, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) will be responsible for about two-thirds of all deaths globally.

In 2012, more than half (514) of each 1,000 deaths were caused by the following 10 conditions:

Source: WHO, 2012. [Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe.]

More than One Million

Cancer
The most common cancers in 2015 are projected to be breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectum cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma of the skin, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid cancer, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, endometrial cancer, leukemia, and pancreatic cancer.

In 2015, an estimated 1,658,370 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 589,430 people will die from the disease.

Cancers figure among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012 [latest data available -WHO.]

• Tobacco use was the most important risk factor for cancer causing around 20% of global cancer deaths and around 70% of global lung cancer deaths.
• Cancer causing viral infections such as HBV/HCV and HPV are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries (2).
• More than 60% of world’s total new annual cases occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. These regions account for 70% of the world’s cancer deaths

The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic: 78 Million people infected
Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 78 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 39 million people have died of HIV. Globally, 35.0 million [33.2–37.2 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2013. An estimated 0.8% of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

• The 39 million people have died from AIDS-related causes so far, including 1.2 million in 2014.
• An estimated 2.0 million individuals worldwide became newly infected with HIV in 2014. This includes over 220,000 children
• About 17.1 million people are unaware they have the virus and an estimated 22 million do not have access to HIV treatment, including 1.8 million children.
• The vast majority of people living with HIV are in low- and middle-income countries, with sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected region, with 25.8 million people living with HIV in 2014.
• Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for almost 70 percent of the global total of new HIV infections.
  According to WHO, Exit Disclaimer an estimated 34 million people have died from AIDS-related causes so far, including 1.2 million in 2014.

Background: On June 5, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publish a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), describing cases of a rare lung infection, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), in five young, previously healthy, gay men in Los Angeles. All the men have other unusual infections as well, indicating that their immune systems are not working; two have already died by the time the report is published. This edition of the MMWR marks the first official reporting of what will become known as the AIDS epidemic.

Parkinson’s disease
As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, with 60,000 diagnosed with the disease each year. Worldwide, an estimated 10 million people are living with Parkinson’s.

 

U.S. Police Killed 1,152 People This Year

Epidemic of Police Homicide Spreading

U.S. police have killed at least 1,152 people throughout the country between  January 1 and December 15, 2015. About one in four of the people was killed by police departments in one of America’s largest 60 cities, according to a report.

“An unarmed black person living in these cities was 6x more likely than an unarmed white person to be killed by police. An unarmed black person was almost as likely as an armed white person to be killed by police.”

Key Findings:

• In 2014, 1 in 3 U.S. police killings happened in the 100 largest cities.
• Black people were 21% of the population and 40% of people killed by police in these cities.
• Most unarmed people killed by police in major U.S. cities were black (56%). Fewer than 1 in 5 (19%) were white.
• An unarmed black person living in these cities was 6x more likely than an unarmed white person to be killed by police. An unarmed black person was almost as likely as an armed white person to be killed by police.
• The Police Homicide rate for black men in 17 cities is higher than the U.S. homicide rate. Black men in these cities have a higher chance of being killed by police than the average American has of being killed by anyone.
• Black men in six cities face a higher chance of being killed by police than the average American has of being killed in a car accident.

Excerpts from the report:

59 of the nation’s largest 60 city police departments killed civilians in 2015. Some killed at much higher rates than others:

• Bakersfield, Oklahoma City, Oakland, Indianapolis Metropolitan, Long Beach, New Orleans, St. Louis Metropolitan, and San Francisco Police Departments killed people at the highest rates in 2015.

• Rates of police killings differed sharply among police departments. For example, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department killed over 7x more people per capita in 2015 than did Philadelphia Police Department.

• Of the 60 police departments reviewed, only Riverside Police Department did not kill anyone in 2015.

Black people were more likely to be killed by America’s largest city police departments:

• Police departments disproportionately killed black people, who were 41% of victims despite being only 20% of the population living in these cities.

• 41 of the 60 police departments disproportionately killed black people relative to the population of black people in their jurisdiction.

• 14 police departments killed black people exclusively in 2015, 100% of the people they killed were black. For only 5 police departments were 100% of those killed white.

Full report is available HERE.

Japanese Firm Mishandles Deadly ‘Biological Warfare’ Toxin

Criminal pharma firm previously embroiled in HIV scandal

Japan’s health ministry is investigating the pharmaceutical firm Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (aka, Kaketsuken) over its suspected mishandling of a potentially deadly toxin botulinum that can be used for biological warfare.

The botulinum toxin (BTX) is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and several other related species. It is also produced commercially for medical, cosmetic, and other uses. BTX is the most poisonous biological toxin known to science, natural or synthetic, and can cause a severe flaccid paralytic disease in humans and other mammals, with a lethal dose of as little as 1.3 nanogram per kilogram (ng/kg) in humans.

The firm was found to be in violation of the official transportation rules on at least four separate occasions since 2007, said the ministry spokesman.

HIV-contaminated blood products
Kaketsuken was illegally manufacturing blood products for about 40 years, while falsifying documents to allow it to take shortcuts.

“The company was sued in 1989 by HIV-infected hemophiliacs for receiving tainted products. The lawsuit wasn’t settled however until 1996, when both the government and the Kaketsuken-linked companies paid 45 million yen (370,000 U.S. dollars) to each plaintiff,” said a report.

“Kaketsuken’s malpractice caused 2,000 hemophiliacs to contract HIV from unheated blood products but their systematic falsification of documents continued long after the settlement, the panel found.

“Kaketsuken is one of Japan’s oldest manufacturers of blood products and vaccines.”

Bushfires Plague Australia

Wildfires consume thousand of acres, 15 homes in Victoria, Australia

About 900 firefighters responded to dozens of grass and bushfires across the state of Victoria on Sunday amid hot, dry and windy conditions from South Australia that pushed into New South Wales.

Extreme heat caused some of Victoria state’s worst fires burning out of control over the the weekend.

On Sunday, “more than 6,000 people in the Indigo Valley were texted emergency alerts when they were told it was too late to leave, and to instead take shelter.”

“[The fire] closed the Hume Freeway for hours, saw hundreds of cars backed up on the Hume Freeway, in 40 degree temperatures, not a nice place to be,” said Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner.

“[We had] multiple fires across the state but our fire crews did a fantastic job to pull up, we had the potential to have this morning many, many fires.”

A fire in Scotsburn killed more than a thousand sheep, five horses, 12 homes, 30 sheds and much of the fencing in the area, he said.

On Monday, dozens of warnings and alerts were in effect across the country including multiple fire warnings in New South Wales & ACT, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Lakes Worldwide Rapidly Warming

Climate change rapidly heating up lakes globally

Climate change is rapidly heating up the lakes, threatening freshwater supplies and ecosystems globally, according to a comprehensive study spanning six continents, said a report.

The research, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, was carried out by  more than 60 scientists and was announced at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

Ice on Lake Vortsjarv in Estonia. Ice-covered lakes warm faster than those with open water. Credit: T. Noges

“Our knowledge of how lakes are responding to global change has been lacking,” said the program director in the Division of Environmental Biology at the National Science Foundation, which funded the research. “That has made forecasting the future of lakes—and the life and livelihoods they support—very challenging. These newly reported trends are a wake-up call to scientists and citizens, including water resource managers and those who depend on freshwater fisheries.”

Lakes warming faster than oceans or atmosphere

Lakes are warming an average of 0.61 degrees Fahrenheit each decade, which greater than the both the warming rate of oceans and atmosphere.

“Lakes are important because society depends on surface water for the vast majority of human uses—not just for drinking water, but manufacturing, energy production, irrigation and crops,” said paper co-author Stephanie Hampton of Washington State University. “Protein from freshwater fish is especially important in the developing world.”

The team monitored more than 235 lakes for at least 25 years. That’s a fraction of the world’s lakes, but those contain more than half the world’s freshwater supply.

Various climate factors are linked with the warming trend, which is melting the ice in the lakes earlier. Additionally, many areas, receiving less cloud cover, are exposed to more sunlight.

Temperatures in both northern climates and tropical regions are rising faster than the average, researchers said. Northern lakes are warming 1.3ºF, per decade. Tropical lakes are warming 0.95ºF, per decade.

Warm- and cold-water lakes equally important

Warm-water lakes such as the African Great Lakes, home to one quarter of the planet’s freshwater supply and a major source of fish for food, are undergoing  less dramatic temperature increases, “but their waters may have already nearly reached the highest temperatures fish can tolerate,” Hampton said.

Report is posted HERE.

Massive Landslide Destroys Many Buildings in Shenzhen, China

China landslide: Dozens of buildings collapse in Liuxi Industrial Park in Shenzhen

A massive landslide hit an industrial park in Shenzhen City in south China’s Guangdong Province Sunday morning, destroying dozens of apartment blocks and other buildings. Authorities fear multiple casualties.

The landslide occurred in the Liuxi Industrial Park in Guangming New District in northwest section of Shenzhen, said a report.

Up to a 1,000 people have been evacuated, and several injuries reported. Dozens of people remain missing.

“The soil that caused the landslide had been dug up over the past two years in construction work and was piled up in the park,” said the report.

In November, a landslide in Zhejiang province killed dozens of people.