Monster Storm: States of Emergency Declared across US East

Threat of ‘potentially crippling winter storm’ prompts states of emergency in and GA, NC, TN, VA, PA, MD, DC…

Deadly winter storm could impact 80+ million people – Blizzard Warnings issued

An area of low pressure centered over the southeastern U.S. will continue developing into a major winter storm which will impact a large portion of the East Coast from the southern Appalachians through the Mid-Atlantic states from Friday into the weekend. Snowfall totals may exceed 2 feet in portions of these areas, including the Baltimore and Washington D.C. metropolitan areas. -NWS-

Previous Bulletin:

A potentially crippling winter storm is anticipated for portions of the mid-Atlantic Friday into early Saturday. Snowfall may approach two feet for some locations, including the Baltimore and Washington, DC, metro areas. Farther north, there is uncertainty in snowfall for the New York City-to-Boston corridor. Farther south, significant icing is likely for portions of Kentucky and North Carolina. -NWS-

 

• NOR`EASTER TO IMPACT THE AREA WITH SNOW AND WIND LATE FRIDAY INTO SUNDAY MORNING

• IMPACTS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAVEL DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS LIKELY. SECONDARY AND TERTIARY ROADS MAY BECOME IMPASSABLE. STRONG WINDS MAY DOWN POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS.

Residents from North Carolina to New York have been told to stay indoors, and stock up on food and other necessities, as the monster storm arrives.

The National Weather Service put Washington DC and Baltimore under blizzard warnings from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.

Blizzard warnings also issued for the following areas:

THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY, COASTAL PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY, AND LONG ISLAND

At least four weather-related fatalities were reported, with two drivers killed in North Carolina, one in Tennessee and a pedestrian killed in Maryland, as of posting.

Deadly Swine Flu Sweeps Much of Russia, Neighboring Countries

Deadly swine flu hits 49 Russian regions

Dozen of swine flu cases, including fatalities, have been registered in 49 Russian regions including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea and Sevastopol and in neighboring countries, said a report.

Report Highlights

At least 14 lethal swine flu cases have reportedly been registered across Russia since December 2015.

Swine flu (subtype H1N1 of influenza A virus) is common among pigs. Transmission of the virus from animals to humans is not common and does not always lead to human flu, often resulting instead in the production of antibodies only. However, when it does develop in humans, it carries a higher risk of fatality than the common flu.

Moscow. Swine flu in Moscow in the current epidemic season is responsible for 21 percent of all influenza cases in the city.

• 147 people in Moscow were confirmed as infected with the swine flu virus, as of January 20.

Other Regions. New cases of swine flu were registered in seven Russian regions:  Kaliningrad, Samara, Vologda, Sakhalin, Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Primorye.

• In Kostroma, the only registered case was fatal.
• Four people were diagnosed with swine flu in the westernmost Russian region of Kaliningrad, regional authorities announced on Thursday.
• Seven people infected with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus in Crimea.

As of January 18, at least 27 fatalities caused by swine flu have been registered across Russia.

Ukraine. Authorities will impose a quarantine, starting January 23, in an attempt to stem the spread of swine flu across the country.

Georgia. The infection has killed at least three people in the mountainous Caucasus region. Georgia’s health workers were put on high alert on Wednesday, following a surge in influenza and acute viral respiratory infection cases.

Armenia. As of January 20, at least 18 fatalities have occurred from complications of swine flu. However, the Armenian health authorities do not consider the spread of swine flu in the country as an epidemic outbreak, said the report.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160122/1033527252/swine-flu-russia.html

Major Disaster Declared for Missouri

Missouri declared Federal Disaster Area

Missouri Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4250)

• Incident period: December 23, 2015 to January 09, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on January 21, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of December 23, 2015 to January 9, 2016.

The areas that were hardest hit by the disasters include the counties of Barry, Barton, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster, and Wright.

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 45 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4249] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory for 2015 disasters including three for Washington. Additionally, three Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3374 including one for WA, and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations [FM-5084 to FM-5117] including 12 for the state have been issued.

Major Disaster Declarations Since October 2015

• Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4249] January 16, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4248] January 5, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Missouri [EM-3374] January 3, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma [DR-4247] December 30, 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

Strong Quake Strikes Pacific Coast of Mexico

M6.6 earthquake occurs SW of Guadalajara

Centered at 18.841°N, 106.954°W [420 km SW of Guadalajara, Mexico; pop: 1.7 million] the event occurred at a depth of 10.0 km, reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 6.6Mw
Location: 18.841°N 106.954°W
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2016-01-21 18:06:59
Nearby Cities:

215km (134mi) SW of Tomatlan, Mexico
255km (158mi) W of Cihuatlan, Mexico
267km (166mi) SW of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
275km (171mi) SW of Ixtapa, Mexico
825km (513mi) W of Mexico City, Mexico