Deadly Avalanches Hit Afghanistan and Pakistan

• CJ Members
• EAC
• OC Teams

Hundreds of people killed or injured as heavy snow, deadly avalanches bury parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan

• Details are available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – March 7, 2015

Death toll from severe weather in Afghanistan rises to at least 308

Some 182 districts in 20 provinces have been affected by heavy snow, avalanches and flooding, which have killed at least 308 people, injured 187 others and completely destroyed 4,776 houses, government sources said.

The number of casualties is expected to  rise, with more severe weather forecast for northern and central Afghanistan.

Worsening Food Insecurity and Water Shortages in Ethiopia

Pocket areas that received inadequate seasonal rainfall in 2014 and/or had a poor harvest due to flooding or crop disease will remain vulnerable in early 2015.

Food insecurity is worsening in belg/gu/ganna/sugum rain-receiving areas, as the dry season reaches its peak. Delayed rains and the expected below-average seasonal rainfall will impact belg planting, as well as water and pasture availability in pastoralist areas, said UN OCHA.

Refugee Crisis

Ethiopia hosts the largest refugee population in Africa with 656,199 registered refugees including 251,545 South Sudanese refugees, 196,000 new arrivals in Gambella since mid-December 2013, and 125,000 Eritreans.

33,000 new Eritrean arrivals registered in 2014 (including unaccompanied minors).

Deadly Avalanches Bury Afghan Villages

Hundreds Killed in Afghanistan Avalanches

Hundreds have been killed in recent avalanches in Afghanistan and the number is expected to rise, according to the authorities.

At least a dozen avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall this week, have buried multiple villages across several provinces in Afghanistan.

Panjshir province, north of Kabul, is said to be the worst hit area, with about 200 lives lost.

Hundreds of people remain cut off, with roads buried under heavy snow.

 

 

 

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – October 18, 2014

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC DISASTERS
DEADLY CYCLONE
DEADLY HURRICANE
DEADLY BLIZZARD
CROP DISASTERS
STATE TERRORISM
US COVERT WAR
SCENARIOS  888, 887, 785, 444, 200, 111, 100, 071, 070, 066, 047, 027, 024, 023, 04, 02
.

Cyclone HUDHUD: At least 41 dead, tens of thousands of homes destroyed

Death toll from cyclone HUDHUD has climbed to at least 41 in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, with tens of thousands of homes flattened and large swathes of crops destroyed.

Moisture carried north into Himalaya by the cyclone caused severe snowstorms in Nepal unleashing avalanches around Annapurna, the world’s 10th-highest peak (8,090m), killing at least 39 hikers, injuring nearly 200 others and leaving more than 50 missing, as of posting.

US carries out its 400th drone attack in Pakistan

US has carried out at least 400 drone strikes in Pakistan since 2004, killing about 2,400 people, but only 4% of drone victims in Pakistan were al Qaeda members, said a report.

“Only 704 of the 2,379 dead have been identified, and only 295 of these were reported to be members of some kind of armed group,” reported the  Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

US drone strikes and other US covert actions are currently being conducted in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia, said the report.

Hurricane GONZALO Slams into Bermuda

GONZALO slammed into Bermuda with winds of about 180 km/h ( category 3 hurricane) cutting power to tens of thousands of customers, and causing what is believed to be widespread damage across the 53-km² Island.

Roads are blocked by fallen trees and downed utility poles, with serious damage across the island caused by powerful winds and flooding, the Royal Gazette reported.

In 2003, Hurricane FABIAN, also a Category 3 storm, raked the island, causing about $300 million in damage.

GONAZALO caused destruction in the Caribbean earlier, killing at least one person in St. Maarten, according to reports.

States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …

A NOTE to our readers, if any, in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin as well as everyone else who knows someone in those states:

Send a copy of this post to your state governor and ask them whether they were/are allowed to receive FIRE-EARTH forecasts…

.

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
ENERGY EMERGENCY
.

UNPRECEDENTED Winter Storm in Deep South Spawned by Massive Arctic Front

Massive air mass from North Pole continues to create life-threatening wind chills levels as high winds push the brutal cold across the U.S. upper Midwest, forcing officials in numerous states to close schools, offices, road and river traffic.

About 4,000 flights have been canceled and thousands more delayed within, into, or out of the United States Sunday through Tuesday according to flightaware.com

STATES of EMERGENCY

The governors in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota and  Mississippi  have declared states of emergency due to the threats posed by unprecedented winter storm and or propane and other heating fuel shortage. Other states  could also declare states of emergency as the life-threatening conditions continue.

Louisiana: Gov. Jindal declared a state of emergency Monday, his third proclamation in two weeks, ordering the closure of state agencies in 45 parishes.

He urged Louisianians to stay off the roads over the next few days ahead of a bitter winter storm expected to bring snow, sleet and icy conditions to the state.

“The most dangerous things, the things that worry the weather experts the most, are the accumulations of ice,” said Jindal.

Alabama: Gov. Bentley declared a state of emergency in Alabama on Monday ahead of winter storm expected to batter the state with snow and ice Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This is not a normal event,” said Bentley, having earlier disclosed that “polar vortex has increased the number of deaths throughout the nation.”

Minnesota: Gov. Dayton declared a state of emergency for Minnesota in response to a critical shortage of propane and other home heating fuel supplies statewide.

“We’ve had some trucks here from Minnesota going all the way to Texas to get propane,” said Roger Leider, executive director of the Minnesota Propane Association (!)

The entire Midwest is experiencing a propane shortage

The supply shortage in the upper Midwest has caused delivery delays and reduced delivery amounts for propane customers in at least 33 states, including ALL Midwestern states, and  D.C., as of posting .

• Propane shortage
• DOT – Current Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

Mississippi: Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency for 36 southern counties in Mississippi ahead of the unprecedented winter storm.

The counties covered by the emergency proclamations are: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George. Greene, Hancock. Harrison, Hinds, Jackson. Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jasper, Jones, Lamar. Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Newton, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, and Wilkinson.

On January 7, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

FIRE-EARTH Models show more Extreme Weather Events could wreak havoc across North America in the coming days and weeks.

• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America

Satellite Animation

• Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Animation – 7 day movie

U.S. Weather Hazards Map for January 28, 2014 @ 02:27UTC. Source: NWS. Click to Update…

NWS Forecast: Arctic Blast Drops Temperatures Across the North and Northeast; Will Bring Winter Storm to the Deep South Tuesday and Wednesday

Rare winter storm expected to impact the Deep South and Southeast. Temperatures will continue dropping behind an arctic boundary heading towards the southern U.S. Windy conditions will make temperatures across the northern Plains and Northeast feel as cold as -30F in some locations. On Tuesday, accumulating snow, sleet and ice will make for hazardous travel conditions from South Texas to the Carolinas.

Alaska

Avalanches blocked the road to the coastal town of Valdez leaving about 4,000 residents  cut off to road traffic from the rest of the state, officials said on Monday, reported Reuters.

Related Links

• Arctic Front Spawns Major Winter Storms in Deep South  January 28, 2014
• Life Threatening Wind Chills Sweep U.S. Midwest January 27, 2014
• Arctic Air Surging through Central U.S. January 27, 2014
• Polar Déjà vu January 22, 2014
• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America January 7, 2014

Energy Emergency

• Wisconsin Declares State of Emergency over Extreme Cold, Fuel Shortage January 26, 2014
• Louisiana Declares 2nd State of Emergency due to Dangerous Cold January 25, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared for Louisiana January 24, 2014

• Energy Emergency Declared for Alabama January 24, 2014
• Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 22, 2014
• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014

Arctic Front Spawns Major Winter Storms in Deep South

A NOTE to our readers, if any, in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin as well as everyone else who knows someone in those states:

Send a copy of this post to your state governor and ask them whether they were/are allowed to receive FIRE-EARTH forecasts…

.

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
ENERGY EMERGENCY
.

States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …

Louisiana: Gov. Jindal declared a state of emergency Monday, his third proclamation in two weeks, ordering the closure of state agencies in 45 parishes.

He urged Louisianians to stay off the roads over the next few days ahead of a bitter winter storm expected to bring snow, sleet and icy conditions to the state.

“The most dangerous things, the things that worry the weather experts the most, are the accumulations of ice,” said Jindal.

Alabama: Gov. Bentley declared a state of emergency in Alabama on Monday ahead of winter storm expected to batter the state with snow and ice Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This is not a normal event,” said Bentley, having earlier disclosed that “polar vortex has increased the number of deaths throughout the nation.”

Minnesota: Gov. Dayton declared a state of emergency for Minnesota in response to a critical shortage of propane and other home heating fuel supplies statewide.

A “sun dog” atmospheric phenomenon appears over a farm in southern Minnesota, January 27, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Eric Miller  [A sun dog, aka, parhelion, is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright patches of light in the sky, usually on a halo around the sun. EDITOR]

Mississippi: Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency for 36 southern counties in Mississippi ahead of the unprecedented winter storm.

The counties covered by the emergency proclamations are: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George. Greene, Hancock. Harrison, Hinds, Jackson. Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jasper, Jones, Lamar. Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Newton, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, and Wilkinson.

On January 7, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

FIRE-EARTH Models show more Extreme Weather Events could wreak havoc across North America in the coming days and weeks.

• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America

U.S. Weather Hazards Map for January 28, 2014 @ 02:27UTC. Source: NWS. Click to Update…

NWS Forecast: Arctic Blast Drops Temperatures Across the North and Northeast; Will Bring Winter Storm to the Deep South Tuesday and Wednesday

Rare winter storm expected to impact the Deep South and Southeast. Temperatures will continue dropping behind an arctic boundary heading towards the southern U.S. Windy conditions will make temperatures across the northern Plains and Northeast feel as cold as -30F in some locations. On Tuesday, accumulating snow, sleet and ice will make for hazardous travel conditions from South Texas to the Carolinas.

Alaska

Avalanches blocked the road to the coastal town of Valdez leaving about 4,000 residents  cut off to road traffic from the rest of the state, officials said on Monday, reported Reuters.

Related Links

• Propane shortage
• DOT – Current Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

• Life Threatening Wind Chills Sweep U.S. Midwest January 27, 2014
• Arctic Air Surging through Central U.S. January 27, 2014
• Polar Déjà vu January 22, 2014
• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America January 7, 2014

Energy Emergency Related Links

• Wisconsin Declares State of Emergency over Extreme Cold, Fuel Shortage January 26, 2014
• Louisiana Declares 2nd State of Emergency due to Dangerous Cold January 25, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared for Louisiana January 24, 2014

• Energy Emergency Declared for Alabama January 24, 2014
• Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 22, 2014
• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014

ConocoPhillips Alaska Head Killed in Avalanche

Since nature protects Earth against external threats, does it follow that it’s also on-guard for threats from within?

The president of ConocoPhillips Alaska, Jim Bowles, was killed in an avalanche near Spencer Glacier.

Jim Bowles, president of ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc., who was killed in an avalanche on Saturday, seen taking to reporters at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday Dec. 3, 2008 where Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced an agreement between the state of Alaska and the oil industry to extend the federal export license for the LNG plant on the Kenai Peninsula. Steven Hinchmann, senior VP of worldwide production for Marathon Oil Corp. , back, left, Tom Irwin Department of Natural Resources commissioner, and Gov. Sarah Palin, right, listen in the back. On the campaign trail, Palin says repeatedly that America must tap its own natural gas and oil reserves to become energy independent. But she has pushed the federal government to allow a liquefied natural gas plant to continue exporting to Asia, the only such plant in the United States that sends the product overseas. AP Photo/Al Grillo. Image may be subject to copyright. See Fair Use Notice.

Another employee of the company who was part of the snowmobiling party was missing and presumed dead, Alaska State Troopers said, Reuters reported.

Mr Bowles’s body  was recovered on Saturday, trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters was reported as saying.

“Bowles was pulled from the avalanche debris and CPR was given for about 30 minutes before they stopped the effort,” Peters said.

Mr Bowles, 57, is believed to have been with “a group of about a dozen snowmobilers when the avalanche hit the Grandview wilderness area on the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage.”

The missing man was identified as Alan Gage, “presumed buried, presumed dead,” Peters said. “Gage was a member of ConocoPhillips’ capital projects team.”

Bowles became the president of ConocoPhillips Alaska in 2004.  “ConocoPhillips is Alaska’s largest oil producer and one of the two major oil-field operators on the North Slope.” Reuters reported.

An Oil Rig in Alaska. Source. Mineral Management Services.

On Friday (Feb 12), Fire-Earth warned “the ongoing seismicity and the prospect of enhanced volcanic activity in Alaska bode ill for the oil companies that are operating in the face of the fragile ecosystems in the region.”

Related Links:

• Alaska Shaking and Rattling Like a Popcorn Pan
• Earthquake Monitoring Centers and EQ links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links
• Powerful Quake Strikes Queen Charlotte Islands Region
• Two Powerful Quakes Strike Fox Islands, Alaska

• Jupiter’s ‘Protective Role’ Revisited
• Jupiter Bombarded

Image of the Day: Austrian Avalanche

Aerial view of an avalanche in Eisenerz, Austria

Aerial view of an avalanche in the town of Eisenerz in Austria’s Styria province February 25, 2009. No injuries were reported. REUTERS/www.fotoflieger.at. Image may be subject to copyright.

Avalanches, rapid flows of snow down mountain slopes, result from either natural triggers or human activity. Avalanches can mix air and water with the descending snow. Powerful avalanches have the capability to entrain ice, rocks, trees, and other material on the slope; however avalanches are always initiated in snow, are primarily composed of flowing snow, and are distinct from mudslides, rock slides, rock avalanches, and serac collapses from an icefall. In mountainous terrain avalanches are among the most serious objective hazards to life and property, with their destructive capability resulting from their potential to carry an enormous mass of snow rapidly over large distances. —Wikipedia.