Major Disaster Declared for the U.S. State of Montana

Montana Declared Federal Disaster Area

Montana Severe Winter Storm and Straight-line Winds (DR-4271)

• Incident period: April 15, 2015 to April 16, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on May 24, 2016

The federal government has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Montana in the areas affected by a severe winter storm and straight-line winds during the period of April 15-16, 2016.

The areas that are worst affected by the extreme weather events include the counties of in Glacier, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, and Toole.

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

Major Disaster Declarations (2016)

• Major Disaster Declared for the State of Arkansas [DR-4270] May 7, 2016
• Texas Severe Storms and Flooding [DR-4269]
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4268] March 26, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Pennsylvania [DR-4267] March 24, 2016

• Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding [DR-4266]  March 17, 201
• Major Disaster Declared for Delaware [DR-4265] March 17, 201
• Louisiana Disaster Declaration Expanded March 17, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: New Jersey [DR-4264] March 15, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: Louisiana Severe Storms and Flooding March 14, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Virginia [DR-4262] March 8, 2016
• Major Disaster Declarations for DC and Maryland [DR-4260, DR-4261 ] March 5, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Georgia [DR-4259] February 27, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oregon [DR-4258] February 19, 2016

• Major Disaster Declared for Alaska [DR-4257] February 18, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma [DR-4256] February 12, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas  [DR-4255] February 10, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Arkansas [DR-4254] February 6, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Louisiana (EM-3376) February 6, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Washington [DR-4253] February 3, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Idaho [DR-4252] February 2, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Alabama [DR-4251] January 23, 2016
• Oklahoma Oak Grove Fire (FM-5118)
• Major Disaster Declared for Missouri [DR-4250] January 22, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared in Michigan [EM-3375] January 17, 2016
• 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
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Drought Severely Affects Malawi and Zimbabwe

Severe food shortages in southern Africa worsening dramatically

Severe drought said to be related to El Nino weather pattern is affecting southern and eastern Africa. Drought follows extreme rain events and severe flooding that had previously inundated parts of the region.

“The crisis has affected some 32 million people in Southern Africa alone, and experts say they expect new assessments to rise to nearly 50 million people in early June.”

Africa’s breadbasket is empty

The UN World Food Program estimates that 16 million people in southern Africa are affected by the El Nino phenomenon, and that’s not counting the drastic increase of numbers in South Africa. Seven of the country’s nine provinces have been declared disaster areas. The government has channeled the equivalent of 55 million euros towards emergency aid. A country which normally produces so much corn that it can provide for the needs in neighboring Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland is now forced to import huge quantities.

Hunger in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe declared a state of emergency back in February. Owing to the drought, today almost one out of three Zimbabweans is dependent on aid. In the past twelve months, rain precipitation was about half that of the previous year.

The situation is particularly dire in the Mudzi district in northeastern Zimbabwe, on the border with Mozambique. Over 85 percent of the population there is dependent on food aid.

Malawi plagued by extreme drought

Malawi is also suffering from extreme drought. Prices for staple foods like corn, beans and rice, have risen steeply. People this year have less than five percent of the amount produced in recent years at their disposal. More than half of the country’s population of 15 million is now dependent on aid. Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika declared a state of emergency in April and called on the world to help.

Mozambique: Drought in the south, floods in the north

Most water sources in the country have dried up. Much of the water that can still be found is salty. Animals are dying and the harvest will be even more meager than last year. A total of 600,000 Mozambicans are dependent on emergency aid. Authorities expect the number to increase significantly in the next couple of weeks. Rita Namucho, spokesperson for the country’s national water utilities, is very worried about the situation in Combumune: “For the last few months it has been possible to cross the river on foot. This is unusual because we are still in the rainy season.”

Meanwhile, recent rains in the north have destroyed 3,500 houses. “Many people drowned in the floods,” director of the Mozambican Center for Civil Protection told DW. Mozambique is one of the ten countries of the world hardest hit by climate change.

Angola’s government ‘is looking away‘

In Angola, the areas most affected by drought are the southern provinces of Cunene and Huila. DW correspondents have reported about people dying of hunger in an area inhabited by some three million people.

Read more…

 

M5.4 Earthquake Rattles Crete

ABL

Earthquake strikes S of Palaikastron, Crete

Centered at 34.74ºN, 26.20ºE the quake struck at a depth of 25km, emsc-csem reported.

“I was kneeling on the floor when there a tremor which became more violent shaking the house then it tailed off. It felt like it lasted about 90 seconds,” said a witness living in Stavrochori about 44km NW from epicenter.

“Sitting in chair, facing East, I was moved left to right, four or five times,” said another witness living in Elounda about 72km NW from epicenter.

Magnitude Mw 5.4
Location: 34.74 N, 26.20 E (Crete Region, Greece)
Depth: 25km
Date time: 2016-05-25 08:36:14.0 UTC
Distances:
416 km S of İzmir, Turkey [pop: 2,500,603]
116 km SE of Irákleion, Greece [pop: 137,154]
67 km SE of Ágios Nikólaos, Greece [pop: 10,799]
40 km SE of Makry Gialos, Greece [pop: 4,204]
Source: emsc-csem

TTC

M4.1 quake strikes Utah

Magnitude: 4.1Mw
Location: 40.486°N, 110.647°W
Depth:14.2km
Time: 2016-05-25 13:01:07 UTC
Distances:

• 41.0 km (25.5 mi) NNW of Duchesne, Utah
• 89.0 km (55.3 mi) ENE of Springville, Utah
• 90.0 km (55.9 mi) ENE of Provo, Utah
• 90.0 km (55.9 mi) SSE of Evanston, Wyoming
• 109.0 km (67.7 mi) ESE of Salt Lake City, Utah