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Blocking information, hacking websites and twisting the facts concerning harm inflicted to Earth by humans are major crimes against nature, punishable by drought, famine, disease...
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This caution also extends to the UN organizations (e.g., FAO, WHO…).
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Drought destroys crops in 5 states and Puerto Rico
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 80 counties across five states—California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—and 8 municipalities in Puerto Rico as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought.
Crop Disaster Areas – Designation #1
Idaho: Adams, Boise, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Custer, Gem, Idaho, Latah, LemhiLewis, Nez Perce and Valley counties.
Montana: Lincoln, Missoula and Ravalli counties.
Oregon: Wallowa County.
Washington: Asotin, Pend Oreille and Whitman counties.
Crop Disaster Areas – Designation #2
Oregon: Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Polk, Tillamook, Washington and Yamhill counties.
Oregon: Hood River, Multnomah and Wallowa counties.
Crop Disaster Areas – Designation #4
Puerto Rico: Aibonito, Arroyo, Cayey, Coamo, Guayama, Patillas, Salinas and Santa Isabel municipalities.
Crop Disasters 2015
Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 1,692 counties, or county equivalents, across 26 States: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
USDA has also designated 8 additional municipalities in Puerto Rico as drought disaster areas.
About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.
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.
v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on August 5, 2015 .
Super Typhoon HAIYAN left 6,848 dead or missing, destroyed or damaged 1,112,731 houses
The official death and damage toll in the aftermath of Super Typhoon HAIYAN continues rising.
Source: SitRep No. 36 released by Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMC) November 23, 2013. [$1 = 43.8 Philippine pesos – FIRE-EARTH Blog]
[Note: Official estimates for the total cost of damage has been amended to PhP22.34billion] which is more realistic than their previous estimates.]
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.
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.
“We are still receiving reports of massive damage to communities across our state” —IL Gov. Quinn
Sunday’s deadly storms killed at least six people and injured scores of others, while damaging and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and cutting power to tens of thousands of residents.
The counties declared disaster areas are Champaign, Grundy, LaSalle, Massac, Tazewell, Washington and Woodford, according to the Disaster Proclamation issued by Gov. Pat Quinn’s office on Monday.
“Although we are still receiving reports of massive damage to communities across our state, we want to make sure people are getting the assistance and resources they need as quickly as possible,” said the governor. “As we pray for the families of those who have lost their lives and others who are injured, the state of Illinois will do everything necessary to help these communities recover.”
A large swarm of storms brought destructive winds and tornadoes to Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.
Illinois took the brunt of the ferocious weather system, which spawned a total of 76 confirmed tornadoes, and 451 storm reports.
Washington (Population: 16,000), a small city in Tazewell County, about 140 miles southwest of Chicago, was the hardest hit area, with up to 500 homes damaged or destroyed, according to reports. of 16,000.
EF4 Tornadoes
Two of the deadly twisters were rated EF-4 tornadoes, reported the National Weather Service (NWS).
EF4 tornadoes pack destructive winds of between 166 and 260 mph (267 – 322kph), and can leave well-constructed houses leveled, blowing away structures with weak foundations blown away some distance; throwing cars and generating large missiles.
F4 F touch down in IL November 17, 2013.
Tacloban City, Philippines or the State of Illinois?
IL deadly tornadoes aftermath – Image credit: Natalie Martinez
Powerful tornadoes tore through large swathes of Illinois on Sunday. Image credit: @WCL_Shawn
Latest Weather Forecast
Strong winds in the Northeast and across the Great Lakes will subside today as the powerful storm system responsible for yesterday’s severe weather continues to move farther away into Canada. Meanwhile, another storm system will move into the Pacific Northwest bringing rain and mountain snow. NWS
“You don’t need temperatures in the 80s and 90s to produce severe weather [since] the strong winds compensate for for the lack of heating,” said a forecaster at NWS. “That sets the stage for what we call wind shear, which may produce tornadoes.”
Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
Fujita-Pearson Tornado Scale
F-0 [39%]
40-72 mph, chimney damage, tree branches broken
F-1 [35%]
73-112 mph, mobile homes pushed off foundation or overturned
F-2 [20%]
113-157 mph, considerable damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted
F-3 [5%]
158-205 mph, roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown
Two dozen dead or missing, hundreds evacuated as extreme weather batters Sardinia
At least a dozen people were killed, more than a dozen others reported missing and hundreds evacuated after storms tore through the Italian island of Sardinia late Monday.
Powerful storms and torrential rains submerged roads sweeping cars and destroying several bridges, as rivers burst their banks inundating hundred of home and businesses reported local media.
The township of Olbia (Population: 57,000), located northeast of the island, was the hardest hit area.
Heavy rains were buffeting both northern and southern Italy with high winds and flooding reported in coastal areas, officials said.
Massive floods triggered by extreme rain events hit the island of Sardinia, Italy (Image Credit: AP/Diego Manunta). The city was destroyed by the “apocalyptic” storm, with several dead and several missing. Olbia mayor Gianni Giovanelli told reporters.
PHAILIN could be deadlier than 1999 ODISHA Cyclone
PHAILIN officially became a Super Cyclonic Storm short time ago, as forecast by FIRE-EARTH, packing sustained winds in excess of 250km per hour.
Super Cyclonic Storm PHAILIN. VIS/IR Satellite Image recorded at 01:30UTC on October 11, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.
Super Cyclonic Storm PHAILIN
Time: 04:00UTC on October 11, 2013
Movement: WNW – 285 degrees @ 10km/hr
Position: Near 16.1ºN, 88.4ºE
Max Sustained Winds: 260km/hr[Super Cyclonic Storm]
Max Wind Gusts:320km/hr
Estimated Landfall Location and Time: Near Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India at about 11:00UTC on October 12, 2013. [NOTE: JTWC forecast landfall position: Near 18.95ºN 84.66ºE ]
Source: FIRE-EARTH, JTWC and others
On October 10, 2013 FIRE-EARTH forecast that PHAILIN could become a super storm.
Super Cyclonic Storm PHAILIN – Projected Path as of 04:30UTC on October 11, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.
FIRE-EARTH Forecast
PHAILIN is expected to strengthen further [sustained wind of 270-275km/hr, wind gusts of up to 330km/hr ] and would likely make landfall with super cyclonic force.
The potentially deadly storm WILL impact East India’s entire coastline, as well as most of Bangladesh.
Other Details/ News
Indian authorities have issued a cyclone high alert for nine coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Mass evacuations are underway.
All 14 coastal districts in Odisha have been put on high alert, five of them – Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur – expected to be worst hit.
Andhra Pradesh government has put the navy, army and air force on standby for emergency and relief operations.
The 1999 Odisha Cyclone [aka, Cyclone 05B, and Paradwip]
The 1999 Odisha cyclone was the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit India since 1971. The Category Five super storm made landfall just weeks after a category 4 storm had hit the same region.
The deadly cyclone hit India on October 29, 1999 with sustained winds of about 250km/hr, killing an estimated 15,000 people and carving a path of destruction.
[NOTE: Google is not listing most of the images posted on FIRE-EARTH, or delay listing them for several days until they’ve lost their immediate relevance. Editor]
Estimated $1 Billion worth of damage to fruit crops in Chile due late frost
Chile declared a state of emergency on Thursday after a late frost caused widespread damage to fruit crops in the country’s central region, potentially hitting wine production, reports said.
The frost has caused substantial agricultural losses, said Chilean Agricultural Minister in a press release. Exporters have estimated the losses at about US$1billion dollars.
“These frosts are the worst that agriculture has faced in 84 years, impacting the area from Coquimbo to Bio Bio,” said the national agricultural society.
Temperatures have dipped to as low as minus 8 degrees Celsius below zero (18ºF) since the start of spring in the southern hemisphere, destroying much of the crops in Chile’s central O’Higgins region, a major fruit and wine producing area.
Some growers have lost up to a half of their fruit crops including grapes, peaches, nectarines, kiwis, apricots, almonds and avocados as well as vegetables, which will result in hiring far fewer farmhands.
“Fruit and wine are some of Chile’s largest industries after copper. Fruit exports were worth $4.3 billion in 2012 and wine exports were valued at $1.8 billion, according to government figures. Agriculture Minister Luis Mayol said 30 percent of the fruit that Chile exports has been affected,” said a report.
The frost has damaged up to 61 percent of stone fruit crops, 57 percent of almonds, 48 percent of kiwi crops and 20 percent of table grapes, said the report.
However, most crops have not yet reached full flower and the exact extent of damage is not yet known, according to a major exporter.
The Chilean government says about 50,000 jobs may have been lost in the wine industry, said a report.
The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of June 26 to July 11, 2013.
Most of the losses and damages caused by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding have ocurred in the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Fayette, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Lawrence, Venango, and Wayne.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said FEMA.
Extreme rains from WUTIP to exacerbate flooding in Indochina Peninsula
Typhoon WUTIP is currently a Cat 2B and expected to intensify to a Cat 3B hurricane force, headed directly toward Vietnam.
Typhoon WUTIP (TY 20W)
Current position: Near 16.7ºN, 111.5ºE(05:32UTC on Sunday, September 29, 2013)
Movement: 17 km/hr, 260 degrees
Max Sustained Winds: 175 km/hr (expected to increase to 195 km/hr)
Max Wind Gusts: 225 km/hr (expected to increase to 245km/hr)
Typhoon WUTIPVisible/Water Vapor Satellite Image, with the projected path superimposed. Image recorded at 05:32UTC on Sunday, September 29, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.
Typhoon WUTIP. Visible/Shortwave IR Satellite Image recorded at 04:32UTC on Sunday, September 29, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.
Flood Disaster in Thailand
The deputy PM responsible for flood management has assured the public that a scenario like the 2011 devastating floods in which all major dams in Thailand reached full capacity would not happen. Unless, off course, there’s more heavy rain in the north!
“He said the major dams in Thailand are now at half of its capacity and can contain more than 10,000 million cubic meters,” said a report.
He said earlier that the flood situation this year was “not worrying,” and that it’s “under control,” adding that “Bangkok would be 100 percent safe unless there is more heavy rain in the North for a couple of days.”
Deep Freeze Ends Growing Season in Nevada Counties
The growing season has ended for White Pine, Southern Lander and Southern Eureka counties, said NWS.
Temperatures dipped into the 20s across the majority of Southern Lander/Eureka and White Pine counties on Friday, killing most tender vegetation in these areas.
Light freezes have also occurred in other forecast zones including Northern Lander, Northern Eureka, Southeastern Elko and northern Nye counties. Growing season in isolated areas in these counties may have also ended.
-oOo-
Dozens drown as Nigeria boat sinks
At least 48 people drowned and more that 100 others are reported missing after a boat sank on the River Niger in central Nigeria late Friday, according to local reports.
The boat may have been overloaded, carrying more that two and a half times the number of passengers allowed, reports said.
-oOo-
Dozens Still missing after refugee boat sinks
“More than 30 people were still missing two days after a boat carrying asylum seekers to Australia sank off the Indonesian coast, killing 22 people including seven children,” Indonesian security officials said.
-oOo-
Dozens killed in Mumbai building collapse
Death toll reached 60 on Sunday in the collapsed apartment building in India’s financial capital of Mumbai, officials said. Some 33 others were rescued from the building’s wreckage.
The five-story building, which collapsed on Friday, was the third deadly cave-in of a Mumbai structure in six months, said a report.
“In April, at least 72 people died when an illegally constructed building fell. Two months later, a three-story structure collapsed, killing at least 10 people, including five children.”
-oOo-
Giant Hornets Kill Dozens in China
Attacks by swarms of giant hornets in Shaanxi province, central China, has left at least 28 people dead and up to a thousand others injured, many of them seriously, according to reports.
Terrorized victims have described being chased by large swarms of hornets for hundreds of yards and stung as many as 200 times over several minutes.
The insects have a highly toxic sting that can lead to anaphylactic shock and kidney failure, according to experts.
It’s believed that the swarms are populated mainly by the Asian giant hornet or Vespa mandarinia, which grows up to 50mm (2 ins.) long with a 6mm sting.
Experts have previously suggested that warmer temperatures in the region may be responsible for hornets breeding more successfully.
-oOo-
Wisconsin Gov Signs Emergency Declaration for Buckling I-43 bridge\
A span on the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge in Green Bay shows signs of buckling Wednesday in this view looking west. Gov. Scott Walker signed an emergency declaration Friday that makes federal funds available for repairs. Photo credit: Jim Matthews/ jsonline.com
-oOo-
German Town Evacuated after Gas Explosion
The entire town of Hartenhausen (population: ~ 3,000) near Ludwigshafen in central Germany was evacuated on Saturday after a major gas explosion injured 16 firefighters and shattered windows. The blast was so powerful it could be heard up to 30 kilometers away, AP reported.
-oOo-
50 Nigerian students killed in armed attack
At least 50 Nigerian students have been killed in an armed attack, AP reported. The attack occurred at an agricultural college in northeast Nigeria’s Yobe State. Gunmen broke into the college dorm at night and shot students as they slept. The authorities have blamed the Boko Haram [“Western education is forbidden”] group.
-oOo-
Bomb blasts kill 39 in Peshawar, NW Pakistan
Two bomb explosions in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar killed 36 people and wounded more than 100 on Sunday, authorities said.
The victims included 12 members of a family who were shopping at the blast sites, according to local officials.
The powerful blasts destroyed about 20 buildings and many vehicles in nearby streets.
The Peshawar twin blasts were the third major terrorist in the city over the past 8 days. A twin suicide bomb attack on a Christian church on September 22 killed more than more than 80 people. On Friday September 27, a bomb planted on a bus carrying local government employees exploded killing at least 19 people.
-oOo-
Iraq Violence: Death Toll for September Reaches 1,079
At least 30 more people were killed in Iraq Saturday and Sunday, as of posting, in the cities of Arbil, Baghdad, Baiji, Basra, Falluja Mosul, Mussayab, Muqdadiya and Tikrit by bombs, AEDs, IEDs and gunfire, raising the death toll for September to 1,079 so far.
Death toll for 2013 has exceeded 6,000 and is expected to climb higher.
The quake has killed at least a dozen people and injured more than two dozen others, after it destroyed several houses in Nokjo district of Awaran, Baluchistan, according to early reports.
Meantime, death toll from an earlier earthquake that struck the region on September 24 has reached 515, with about 1,000 others injured, according to local officials.
The earlier quake, which was followed by several significant aftershocks, destroyed thousands of homes in villages near the epicenter, affecting more than 300,000 people in the sparsely populated region.
This earthquake was an aftershock which occurred approximately 30 km to the NNE of the September 24, 2013 M7.7 event, according to USGS/EHP.
EQ Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FIRE-EARTH Blog.
EQ Details [USGS/EHP]
Event Time: 2013-09-28 07:34UTC
Epicenter: 27.263°N, 65.587°E
Depth: 14.8km (9.2mi)
Nearby Cities
96km NNE of Awaran, Pakistan
135km NNW of Bela, Pakistan
811km ENE of Muscat, Oman
Tectonic Summary
The September 28, 2013 M6.8 earthquake in south-central Pakistan occurred as the result of oblique-strike-slip motion at shallow crustal depths. This earthquake is an aftershock located approximately 30 km to the north-northeast of the September 24, 2013 M7.7 event, which struck with a similar faulting mechanism. As with the September 24 event, the September 28 earthquake mechanism and location are consistent with rupture within the Eurasia plate above the Makran subduction zone. The event occurred within the transition zone between northward subduction of the Arabia plate beneath the Eurasia plate and northward collision of the India plate with the Eurasia plate. … Makran subduction zone has produced large devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.Read more…
The powerful typhoon has killed at least 25 people in south China’s Guangdong province, authorities said.
Previously, officials said the typhoon had also claimed more than a dozen lives in the neighboring Fujian province.
USAGI, the 19th and the most powerful typhoon to hit China so far this year, made landfall Sunday night with wind gusting up to 180 km/h.
The powerful typhoon has affected more than 3.56 million people in Guangdong province alone, forcing at least 226,000 people out of their homes, Xinhua said.
“The typhoon has also caused 7,100 homes to collapse and resulted in direct economic losses of 3.24 billion yuan (529.5 million U.S. dollars).”
“Thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas and border police in Yunxiao County are rushing to repair two embankment sections that were damaged by strong waves.”
On Sunday, thousands of flights in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hong Kong and Macao were canceled or delayed, and shipping between Fujian and Taiwan was suspended.
Hong Kong was hit by severe winds and torrential rain, forcing schools and businesses to close, but the territory escaped a direct hit by the typhoon.
Tropical Storm MANUEL, which has battered southwestern Mexico, has now intensified into a category one hurricane approaching northwestern Mexico and threatening more destruction.
MANUEL and INGRID, the first twin storms to hit Mexico within one day since 1958, have killed at least 80 people across Mexico.
About 60 people are now reported missing after a landslide buried a village in the southwestern Mexico.
“Very powerful” landslide
The Mexican President Nieto said at least 58 people were missing after a massive landslide buried the village of La Pintada in the southwestern Guerrero state.
“It doesn’t look good, based on the photos we have in our possession … [it was a] very powerful landslide.]
MANUEL is expected to dump up to 15 inches of rain in the state of Sinaloa, which could cause deadly flash-floods, according to forecasters.
Meantime… looters ransacked the flooded Mexican beach resort of Acapulco on Wednesday … read more
Thousands evacuated in Mexico as heavy rains trigger deadly flooding, mudslides
Heavy flooding reported in the State of Oaxaca in SW Mexico as Storm MANUEL and Hurricane INGRID pounded the region, killing at least two dozen people and prompting authorities to issue multiple warnings and urging residents to prepare for flash floods and mudslides.
Torrential rains have destroyed highways and bridges in Veracruz state, as INGRID moved closer to making landfall, and MANUEL was Less than 80 miles off shore.
INGRID was located about 80 miles northeast of Tampico, Mexico, as of posting, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h, said the National Hurricane Center.
Governor Martinez Declares Statewide Disaster for New Mexico
Floods have forced scores of evacuations in Eddy, San Miguel and Sierra counties, said the NM governor.
Widespread flooding has damaged numerous roads, bridges and public infrastructure in many areas throughout the state.
Governor Susana Martinez has signed an Executive Order declaring a State of Disaster throughout New Mexico due to flooding from recent rain storms.
“Through this Executive Order, I have directed state government resources to ensure the well being of everyone affected by these heavy storms,” Governor Martinez said.
“As the heavy rains continue, I encourage all New Mexicans to continue to pay attention to your local weather forecast and be aware of warnings wherever you are.”
Dams that divert water from La Union, NM, south of Las Cruces, burst yesterday, leaving many roads completely washed out. (Photo courtesy Mario Delgado, Janet Ortiz).More images…
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2013-031
DECLARING A DISASTER STATEWIDE DUE TO FLOODING
WHEREAS, numerous New Mexico counties and Native American jurisdictions have been severely impacted by historic, record-breaking rainfall that started on September 9, 2013, and is continuing;
WHEREAS, heavy rains have caused flooding in many areas throughout the state;
WHEREAS, flooding has caused evacuations by air and ground of hundreds of individuals in Eddy, Sierra and San Miguel Counties;
WHEREAS, flooding has damaged many roads, bridges and public infrastructure;
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Guadalupe, Eddy and Sierra County intend to make emergency declarations;
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service is predicting continued heavy rain that will continue the threat of flooding into the weekend of September 14-15, 2013;
WHEREAS, this disaster requires immediate action to preserve the peace, health, and safety and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the State of New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, this disaster is of such magnitude as to be beyond local control and requires the resources of the State to avoid or minimize economic or physical harm and to take action necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Susana Martinez, Governor of the State of New Mexico, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New Mexico, do hereby declare a State of Disaster to exist in state of New Mexico due to flooding beginning September 9, 2013, through the day the Governor’s Authorized Representative determines to be the end of the emergency period. Read more…
Flooding in Las Vegas, NM
Flooding in Las Vegas has forced authorities to evacuate everyone who lives along Gallina Creek.
“Storm runoff racing through Las Vegas has forced the evacuation of homes and closed bridges in the city,” said a report.
“A massive amount of rain has fallen in that area and the mountains above the city as the relentless storms that have pounded New Mexico since Tuesday continue.”
Gallinas Creek outside Las Vegas was flowing at about 1500 cubic feet per second (CFS) Friday, up from 3cfs on Tuesday, according to a local report [@MattGrubs.]
Widespread flooding triggered by EREs affect hundreds of thousands in Guatemala
Dozens of rivers including Slaves, Motagua, Chixoy, The Passion, St. Peter and Usumacinta have flooded causing widespread deluge as forecaster warn of more torrential rains to follow, said the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED).
The authorities have issued an “orange alert” for destructive flooding in several regions.
Source: Guatemala’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED).
“In the last 48 hours in Jalapa department, some 783,000 people were affected and dozens of homes damaged,” according to a translation of bulletin issued by CONRED.
In the week to September 12, 2013, CONRED said it had responded to 39 incidents of landslides; 38 incidents caused by an earthquake on Friday September 06; 14 flood-related incidents, 4 slides, and one incident of collapse that affected more than 200,000 people nationwide.
Federal Disaster area declared for Fort Collins, northern Colo.
Thousands more evacuations have been ordered for the northern neighborhoods of Fort Collins.
The Poudre River is flowing at a rate of about 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), 100 times its normal flow, flooding significantly through Fort Collins and is expected to rise.
Officials have urged thousands of people to take shelter in dozens of the northern neighborhoods of Fort Collins.
Severe flooding has forced officials to close bridges, schools, and city offices in Fort Collins and Loveland, Colo.
Colorado State Patrol troopers took this photo on I-25 near Highway 34 in Larimer County at 7:30 on Friday, September 13, 2013.
A flood warning posted on the city of Fort Collins website read: “Poudre River has reached capacity and is flooding. The flooding on the river is of much greater severity than earlier reports. Travel is discouraged. For your safety, please avoid areas near the river. All bridges that cross the Poudre River are closed. Do NOT attempt to drive through floodwaters.”
The Big Thompson River is flowing at more than 9,000 cfs, the highest level since the Big Thompson flood of 1976, officials said.
“The city of Loveland has essentially been divided in two by the flow of the Big Thompson River,” said Tom Hacker, public information officer for the city of Loveland.
“There is no river crossing that is open in Loveland at this time. Any transit going from North to South in Loveland is impossible.”
4 Dead, 176 Missing
As of Friday evening, the death toll from the worst floods to hit Colorado in living memory had climbed to at least four with 176 others still unaccounted for.
Largest Storm in History
“It’s got to be the largest storm that I can imagine in the state’s history,” said Governor John Hickenlooper at a news conference.
Colorado Emergency Declaration
Meantime, the White House declared an emergency exists in the State of Colorado and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on September 11, 2013, and continuing.
The declaration is in response to the threat of catastrophe in the counties of Boulder, El Paso, and Larimer, said the WH statement.
On Friday, Governor Hickenlooper declared a disaster emergency for 14 counties.
Fire Destroys New Jersey Shore Boardwalk, Dozens of Businesses
New Jersey Gov. Christie declared a state of emergency on Thursday as fire crews worked to contain a massive blaze that has ravaged a large section of the boardwalk along the New Jersey Shore, devouring dozens of nearby businesses, according to reports.
Hundreds of fire crews have been deployed to tackle the blaze in the Seaside Heights area which became a six-alarm fire in less than two hours, destroying large sections of a landmark that was recently restored following the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.
“I feel like I want to throw up… After all the effort and time and resources that we’ve put in to help the folks of Seaside Park and Seaside Heights rebuild, it’s just unthinkable.” WCBS quoted Christie as saying.
The massive blaze began in Kohr’s Frozen Custard near the boardwalk in Seaside Park, and rapidly spread over seven blocks. About 50 businesses were destroyed, said NJ.com.
Wildfire destroys or damages Tens of homes, threatens another 300 strucures near Happy Valley
A wildfire in Northern California’s Shasta County has destroyed 80 structures and damaged at least 30, many of them homes, and is threatening another 300 structures near the rural community of Happy Valley, about 150 miles north of Sacramento.
The fast-growing Clover Fire, which began about 13:00 PDT on Monday, had rapidly grown to about 7,400 acres (11.6 square miles) by early morning Tuesday.
Mandatory evacuations are in place for hundreds of homes, and many residents have been advised to leave their homes.
Some 1,129 fire personnel have been deployed, and the fire was 40% contained as of posting. The cause is under investigation, said Cal Fire.
Clover Fire Incident Information [Cal Fire]
Last Updated: September 10, 2013 @ 07:20 PDT
Date/Time Started: September 9, 2013 12:32 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Shasta-Trinity Unit
County: Shasta County
Location: off Cloverdale Road, Happy Valley
Acres Burned – Containment: 7,400 acres – 40% contained
Structures Threatened: 300
Structures Destroyed: 80 structures destroyed & 30 structures damaged
Evacuations and Road Closures: Click HERE
Injuries: 4
Cause: Under investigation
Total Fire Personnel: 1129
Total Fire Engines: 107
Total Fire crews: 36
Total Airtankers: 6
Total Dozers: 7
Total Water Tenders: 18
Wildfires destroy homes, injure fire crews and force mass evacuations in west Sydney.
At least 59 bush and grassfires are raging across New South Wales (NSW), including 40 uncontained blazes, with more than 500 firefighters and 200 fire engines on the ground, said NSW Premier.
The fires have forced the authorities to evacuate scores of homes and a University of Western Sydney (UWS) campus following a power outage that affected the entire Richmond area.
Additionally, more than 300 students from St Paul’s Grammar School In Castlereagh were evacuated to Penrith’s Whitewater Park after an emergency warning was issued for a fire threatening properties on nearby Devlin Street, said a report.
Intense heat from a wildfire sets a truck on fire near Londonderry Road, West Sydney. Photo credit: Nick Moir/ via the Age.
The heat was so intense firefighters were forced to abandon their trucks when they became surrounded by bushfires in Sydney’s western suburbs, said a report.
The bushfire season has come early to Sydney area, with out-of-control fires devouring the city’s west, reports said.
Wildfire near Mt. Diablo forces dozens of evacuations
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for about 75 homes in Morgan Territory Road in unincorporated Contra Costa County on Sunday, September 8, due to a fast moving wildfire.
The so-called Morgan Fire rapidly burned out of control, consuming at last 800 acres, and threatening homes and other structures in the area.
Photographer Mike Oria photographed the Morgan Fire response from Brentwood, Calif., on Sunday evening, Sept. 8, 2013. (Courtesy of Mike Oria Photography)/ via Mercury News.More images…
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UK govt to close air pollution monitoring stations to cut costs
Environmentalists have accused UK govt of covering up pollution figures as it plans to shut down some 600 stations across England to cut costs, said a report.
Government advisers have estimated that one type of pollutant – miniscule particles from diesel engines, fossil fuel power stations and other sources – is killing 29,000 people a year in the UK, and costing health services about £16bn.
But European air pollution limits meant to protect health are being breached in urban areas across the country, with the highest levels in London. According to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the limits for the toxic exhaust gas, nitrogen dioxide, were exceeded in 40 of the UK’s 43 air quality zones in 2010. Read more…
Air pollution in London is comparable to that of Beijing, says the Clean Air in London think tank. Source: Clean Air in London)
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Davis-Besse License Renewal Likely: NRC
Federal regulators say there are no safety issues that would preclude a license renewal for Ohio’s Davis-Besse pressurized water reactor.
The plant operator, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co., is seeking a 20-year license extension for the 35-year-old, 889-megawatt nuclear plant located on the SW shore of Lake Erie east of Toledo.
A number of serious incidents have occurred at the plant including
On March 5, 2002, workers discovered a football-sized hole in the reactor vessel head, which was caused by corrosion.
Erosion ate a large hole in the 35-year-old Davis-Besse’s 150-mm thick steel reactor head.
On September 24, 1977, the reactor shut down because of a disruption in the feedwater system.
On June 9, 1985, the main feedwater pumps, used to supply water to the reactor steam generators, shut down.
On June 24, 1998 an F2 tornado struck the plant, damaging the switchyard, and disabling access to external power supplies.
In January 2003 the plant’s intranet was infected with the slammer worm, which resulted in a five hour loss of safety monitoring at the plant.
On January 20, 2006, the plant operator acknowledged a series of safety violations, and entered into a deferred prosecution plea with the U.S. Department of Justice concerning the March 2002 incident
On October 22, 2008 a tritium leak was accidentally discovered during an unrelated inspection.
In 2010 the plant experienced problems with the replacement head.
In October 2011 after the plant was shut down for maintenance workers discovered a 30 foot long hairline crack in the concrete shield building the surrounds the containment vessel.
In 2012 the reactor coolant pump seal developed a pinhole leak.
A final decision on the operating license renewal is expected next September.
About 1.8 million people live within an 80-km radius of the nuclear plant.
Disaster President Declares Missouri Major Disaster Area
The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri due to severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that occurred during the period of August 2-14, 2013.
The worst of the losses and damage occurred in Barry, Camden, Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Laclede, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Osage, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Shannon, Taney, Texas, Webster, and Wright counties.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments, said FEMA.
Other Federal Disaster Declarations for Missouri
The State of Missouri was also declared a Major Disaster Area on July 19, 2013 due to severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred during the period of May 29 to June 10, 2013 in Barton, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Chariton, Clark, Howard, Iron, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Maries, Marion, Miller, Montgomery, Osage, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Sullivan, Texas, and Webster counties.
Monster Wildfire devours 246,350 acres, including more than 50,000 acres in Yosemite National Park
RIM FIRE has become the 3rd largest wildfire in California history after burning at least 246,350 acres (997km², or 385mi²), including about 7 percent of Yosemite’s backcountry. The fire was reportedly 80 percent contained as of posting.
Top 4 Largest Wildfires in California History
Rim Fire information may change until the fire is contained. Source: Cal Fire.
Fire Update [Inciweb]
Fire activity is expected to intensify Friday as unburned areas within control lines are consumed on the Rim Fire. Hotter and drier weather conditions will persist through Sunday increasing the chance of spotting of embers across containment lines.
RIM FIRE Wildfire – Flames & Sunset, South Flank. Credit: USFS/Mike McMillan
RIM FIRE Wildfire
Cause: Under Investigation
Date of Origin: Saturday August 17th, 2013
Location: Groveland Range District, Stanislaus NF
Total Personnel: 3,634
Size: 246,350 acres
Percent Contained: 80%
Estimated Containment Date: Friday September 20th, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM
Park and Forest Closures, Road Closures, Evacuations and Advisories click HERE
Late growing season drought intensifies in Iowa, neighboring states: Report
Severe drought in Iowa increased to 32.07 percent up from 22.4 percent a week earlier, with 63.24 percent of the state covered in moderate drought or worse.
“After such an ideal start to the growing season, the past two months have been much drier than usual, with temperatures slowly increasing,” said David Miskus of U.S. Drought Monitor.
Precipitation in central Iowa and northern Missouri was only 5 to 25 percent of normal, and as little as a tenth of an inch of rain.
Iowa recorded its warmest week since July 2012, with highs of 104 degrees Fahrenheit at Des Moines and Fort Madison on Aug. 30.
Iowa experienced its seventh driest August in 141 years of records, following the ninth driest July.
Crop and pasture conditions began to deteriorate rapidly once heat was added to the dryness.
Small areas of severe drought also showed up in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin this week.
Drought also expanded or intensified in Mississippi, Oklahoma and on the Hawaiian island of Maui, during the week.
The portion of the drought-stricken areas in the U.S. corn belt increased from 45 to 52 percent during the week ending September 3, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s meteorologist Brad Rippey, the report said.
Soybeans in drought also increased in the last week, from 38 to 42 percent.
Corn and soybeans in drought bottomed out in July at 17 and 8 percent, respectively.
Cattle in drought increased one percent to 53 percent.
“Given that U.S. producers planted an estimated 97.4 million acres of corn and 77.2 million acres of soybeans in 2013, current drought figures suggest that more than 50 million acres (nearly 80,000 square miles) of corn and some 32 million acres (more than 50,000 square miles) of soybeans are presently being affected by drought,” Rippey said.
“According to USDA, nearly one-sixth of the U.S. corn (16 percent) and soybeans (15 percent) were rated in very poor to poor condition on September 1. A year ago, near the height of the Drought of 2012, very poor to poor ratings stood at 52 percent of the corn and 37 percent of the soybeans.”
As Midwest continued to dry out, parts of the Southwest and West saw scattered improvements from the monsoon season.
Overall, the portion of the contiguous United States in moderate to exceptional drought crept up to 50.09 percent from 50.04 percent a week earlier.
The total land area in moderate drought increased to 17.69 percent, up from 16.67 previously.
The area in exceptional drought shrank to 1.25 percent, down 0.07 percent from last week.
Exile inevitable for America’s first climate refugees: Report
The impact of climate change is more intense in the far north, where temperatures are warming faster than the global average, causing rapid thawing of the sea ice, melting the permafrost and forcing residents of remote Alaskan areas out of their villages, said a report.
Some 184 Alaskan villages, or 86% of all native communities, are at risk because of climate change.
It cost $100 to $400 million just to relocate one village [See full report.]
ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES: Most Are Affected by Flooding and Erosion, but Few Qualify for Federal Assistance—GAO
Approximately 6,600 miles of Alaska’s coastline and many of the low-lying areas along the state’s rivers are subject to severe flooding and erosion. Most of Alaska’s Native villages are located on the coast or on riverbanks.
Aerial View of Flooding in Aniak (c. 2002). Source: Alaska Division of Emergency Services
Locations of 184 Native Villages Affected by Flooding and Erosion. Source: GAO.
Permafrost (permanently frozen subsoil) is found over approximately 80 percent of Alaska. It is deepest and most extensive on the Arctic Coastal Plain and decreases in depth, eventually becoming discontinuous further south. In northern Alaska, where the permafrost is virtually everywhere, most buildings are elevated to minimize the amount of heat transferred to the ground to avoid melting the permafrost. In northern barrier island communities, the permafrost literally helps hold the island together. However, rising temperatures in recent years have led to widespread thawing of the permafrost, causing serious damage. As permafrost melts, buildings and runways sink, bulk fuel tank areas are threatened, and slumping and erosion of land ensue. —GAO.
FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”
FIRE-EARTH Population Model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.
Fire Earth 