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Posted by feww on March 10, 2017
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: cattle death, Colorado, Kansas, major disaster, Oklahoma, Red Flag Warning, Texas, wildfire | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 11, 2015
Gov. Hickenlooper has issued an Executive Order declaring a state of disaster emergency due to the Gold King Mine release and resulting impacts to downstream waters.
Workers employed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) triggered a breach at the Gold King Mine outside Silverton in San Juan County on August 5, 2015. The breach released a plume of more than three million gallons of water containing potentially harmful contaminants into Cement Creek, which flowed into the Animas River and continued downstream, according to a statement released by the governor’s office.
Elements contained in the plume turned the water a striking mustard-yellow, and graphic images of the discolored water have contributed to community concern about river impacts and water quality. The Southern Ute Tribe, the counties of La Plata and San Juan, the City of Durango, and the Town of Silverton all declared disaster emergencies, highlighting the gravity and severity of impacts to Cement Creek, the Animas River, the San Juan River, and downstream waters. Local authorities have closed the affected rivers to all uses, causing significant local economic impacts. The extreme flow rate of the plume caused significant damage to the Cement Creek stream bed resulting in sedimentation uptake and downstream deposits in both Cement Creek and the Animas River. All of these impacts require emergency action by the Southern Ute Tribe, the State of Colorado, and local officials to avert loss of life, injury, danger or damage, including but not limited to unknown economic, financial and natural resources impacts. The full Executive Order is attached here.
The Executive Order will last for 30 days unless extended by the governor.
Massive waste spill “accidentally released” by EPA investigators turns river in Colorado bright orange. Image source: Earth Justice
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: Animas River, Colorado, Disaster Emergency, Gold King Mine, Hickenlooper, wastewater | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 8, 2015
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), together with the state Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, were reportedly investigating an abandoned mine on Wednesday when they “unexpectedly triggered a large release of mine waste water into the upper portions of Cement Creek [a tributary of the Animas River,]” said San Juan County health officials.
The waste spill from Gold King Mine turned water in the river bright orange.
Massive waste spill caused by EPA investigators turns river in Colorado bright orange. Image source: Earth Justice
EPA has advised nearby residents to keep away from the contaminated river pending the results of official tests.
“The primary environmental concern is the pulse of contaminated water containing sediment and metals flowing as an orange-colored discharge downstream,” said EPA spokesman.
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: Animas River, Cement Creek, Colorado, EPA, Gold King Mine, mining waste, wastewater | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on March 5, 2015
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 69 additional counties in 10 states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought.
Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 863 counties across 16 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
All of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.
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 February 25, 2015.
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: Arizona, california, Colorado, crop disaster, drought disaster, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma, US Drought 2015, USDA, Utah | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on October 17, 2014
Those counties are Otero, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Las Animas and Pueblo.
Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 2,667 counties across 41 states. Most of those designations are due to drought.
Those states are
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. Counties may have been designated 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 October 15, 2014.
Posted in Climate Change, environment, global disasters, significant events | Tagged: Climate Disaster, Colorado, crop disaster, crop disaster declaration, hailstorm, USDA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on October 10, 2014
Losses and damages caused by heavy rains, flooding and hail that occurred from Aug. 22, 2014, through September 24, 2014
Posted by feww on October 4, 2014
Losses and damages caused by severe freezes that occurred from December 4, 2013, through May 15, 2014
Posted in Climate Change, environment, global disasters | Tagged: Colorado, crop disaster, crop disaster declaration, extreme rain event, Extreme Weather and Climate Disaster, freeze, Montana, oregon, USDA, Utah, Washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on July 3, 2014
The disaster designations are as follows:
Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared at least 2,081 separate crop disasters across 29 states. Most of those designations are due to the worsening drought.
Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
ii. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
iii. Counties may have been designated 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 July 2, 2014.
California Drought Disasters
Other Drought Disaster Links
Posted in Climate Change, environment, Global Disaster watch, global disasters | Tagged: California drought disaster, Colorado, crop disaster, Drought, drought disaster, Idaho, Texas, US Drought, US drought 2014, USDA, Utah, Washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on June 26, 2014
The disaster designations are as follows:
Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared at least 2,019 separate crop disasters across 29 states. Most of those designations are due to the worsening drought.
Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
ii. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
iii. Counties may have been designated 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 June 25, 2014.
California Drought Disasters
Related Links
Posted in Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, global disasters | Tagged: Colorado, crop disaster, Drought, drought disaster, Texas, US Drought, US drought 2014, USDA, Utah | 2 Comments »
Posted by feww on June 2, 2014
The evacuation orders covered a 4-mile radius of from Cougar Trail and Fourmile Canyon Road, said the state Office of Emergency Management, adding that an evacuation center had been opened at the Huerfano County Community Center in Walsenburg.
The so called Four Mile Canyon fire, located on the northwest side of the canyon, had zero containment Sunday evening, KRDO television in Colorado Springs reported.
Posted in Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, significant events | Tagged: Colorado, Drought, Mass Evacuation, SCENARIO 101, wildfire | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on May 29, 2014
The mudslide in western Colorado is estimated to be about 6km long, up to 800m wide and 30m deep in some places.
Three people are reported missing after they went to check on damage from an initial slide near the edge of the Grand Mesa National Forest on Sunday.
The massive mudslide occurred May 25, 2014 near the Grand Mesa National Forest, close to the town of Colburn, in western Colorado.
Posted in Global Disaster watch, Significant Event Imagery, significant events | Tagged: collapse, Colorado, Grand Mesa National Forest, Landslide, mudeslide | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on May 22, 2014
Drought disaster designations are for the following states:
Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared at least 1,757 separate crop disasters across 24 states. Most of those designations are due to the worsening drought.
Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
ii. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
iii. Counties may have been designated 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 My 21, 2014.
California Drought Disasters
Posted in Climate Change, environment, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, significant events | Tagged: Colorado, crop disaster, Drought, drought disaster, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, USDA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on February 11, 2014
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi declare States of Emergency ahead of yet another severe round of winter storm. More states are expected to follow suit.
Alabama: Gov. Bentley has declared a state of emergency ahead of yet another round of winter storm forecast to hit the state. The state of emergency is effective 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.
“Alabama recently experienced a winter weather situation two weeks ago, and we are again bracing for more winter weather to impact the state over the coming days,” said Bentley.
Local Area Emergency for Marshall County
All roads in Marshall County are covered with 2 inches or more of
accumulation of snow and sleet. Road reports from throughout the County indicate that all roads are becoming extremely dangerous to impassible.
Louisiana: Gov. Jindal on Monday declared his fourth State of Emergency for severe weather during the past five weeks.
The governor has ordered state offices closed in 19 parishes, in the central and northern parts of the state. The parishes are Avoyelles, Bienville, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, Union, Vernon, Webster, and West Carroll.
Georgia: Gov. Deal has declared a state of emergency for Georgia just hours ahead of a winter storm.
Deal was severely criticized for the response to the January 28 storm that paralyzed the Atlanta metro area after just two inches of snow, leaving drivers stranded in frigid conditions overnight, and forcing students and some parents to sleep in school buses.
Snow is forecast for the region from Tuesday night to Thursday morning, said NWS.
Mississippi: Gov. Bryant declared a state of emergency Monday in anticipation of a “potentially Dangerous” winter storm, which is forecast to cause ice and snow accumulations in northern and central parts of the state.
“I have declared a State of Emergency to aid emergency officials in preparing for the onset of this potentially dangerous weather,” said Bryant. “Mississippi has seen its share of winter weather lately, but now is not the time to become weather weary. Residents should not overreact but should make plans now to ensure they are prepared for a variety of conditions, including prolonged freezing temperatures, icy roadways and accumulations of ice and winter precipitation.”
Cold air behind a stalled frontal boundary will combine with Gulf moisture resulting in snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the South and Southeast through midweek. In addition to heavy snow, there is a potential for dangerous ice accumulations from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Carolinas.
U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap) for Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Issued at 12:31UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE
Energy Emergency
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended on Wednesday the regional States of Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits for transporting propane throughout the United States.
A total of at least 38 states and District of Columbia are currently impacted by shortages of propane and other heating fuels.
States covered by the emergency declarations include:
Colorado Governor Issued Emergency Declaration to Authorize Temporary Exception to Hours of Service Regulations for CMVs Used for Propane Transport on February 7, 2014.
Texas Governor Renews Proclamation Declaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency [Feb. 4, 2014.]
Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, Significant Event Imagery, significant events | Tagged: Alabama, Colorado, ENERGY EMERGENCY, georgia, Gov. Bentley, Louisiana, Mississippi, state of emergency, Texas, U.S. Weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on February 7, 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated ten counties in two states—Maine and New Hampshire—as crop disaster areas due to losses caused by flash flooding, flooding, excessive heat, excessive rain, lightning and high wind that occurred April 1 – October 31, 2013.
Those counties are
USDA has designated a total of eight counties in Massachusetts and Connecticut as crop disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive moisture and heat that occurred during the 2013 crop year.
Those counties are
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 25 counties in four states as crop disaster areas due to the recent drought. The disaster designations are for the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and Colorado.
Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA on February 5, 2014.
Posted in 2014 disaster calendar, 2014 disaster diary, 2014 Disaster Forecast, Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, significant events | Tagged: california, Colorado, Connecticut, crop disaster, Drought, drought 2014, EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENT, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, oregon, USDA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on February 6, 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 25 counties in four states as crop disaster areas due to the recent drought.
The disaster designations are for the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and Colorado.
Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA on February 5, 2014.
Posted in Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, significant events | Tagged: california, Colorado, crop disaster, Drought, drought 2014, EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENT, New Mexico, oregon, USDA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on February 6, 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 20 counties in two states as crop disaster areas due to the recent drought.
The disaster designations are for the states of New Mexico and Colorado.
Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA on February 5, 2014.
Posted in 2014 disaster calendar, 2014 disaster diary, 2014 Disaster Forecast, 2014 global disasters, Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, significant events | Tagged: Colorado, crop disaster, Drought, drought 2014, EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENT, New Mexico, USDA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on January 25, 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued crops disaster declarations for 63 counties in five states due to the recent drought.
The disaster designations are for the states of California, Nevada, Oregon and Texas.
Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA on January 22 and released on January 24, 2014.
Posted in 2014 disaster calendar, 2014 disaster diary, 2014 global disasters, Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, global disasters | Tagged: Agricultural disasters, california, Colorado, Crops Disaster, Drought, drought conditions, drought disaster, Nevada, oregon, Texas, USDA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on January 16, 2014
The Disaster Areas are:
Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.
2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.
3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.
4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.
5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA between January 9 and December 18, 2013.
Posted in 2014 disaster calendar, 2014 disaster diary, 2014 global disasters, Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, significant events | Tagged: Agricultural disasters, Colorado, Crops Disaster, Drought, drought conditions, Kansas, USDA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on December 18, 2013
“Hundreds of products containing more than 750 chemicals and components are potentially used throughout the extraction process, including over one hundred known or suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals,” says a new study on fracking.
Hydraulic fracturing (hydro-fracking) is credited as being first employed by Halliburton in 1948. The process injects a mixture of chemical additives, proppants (particles, like sand or ceramic), and water under high pressure into a target oil or gas zone in order to facilitate the flow of the gas or oil back to the surface for recovery. From 1999 to 2007, the Hydraulic Fracturing market expanded from just under $3 billion to 12.8 billion USD. [Global hydraulic fracturing market is forecast to grow from an estimated $31 billion in 2011, and $40 billion in 2012 to $64 billion by 2017.] In 2009, the EPA and internal studies from natural gas companies themselves found that wastewater from this process contains levels of radioactivity and carcinogenic properties that are above the level that treatment plants are currently equipped to handle. Source: http://www.cooper.edu
To determine the extent of the risks involved, researchers conducted tests on 12 suspected or known EDCs used throughout the extraction process and measured their ability to influence the body’s reproductive hormones.
The researchers then collected surface and ground water samples from various sites in Colorado, including the “drilling-dense” region of Garfield County with more than 10,000 active natural gas wells and compared them to samples taken from other sites in the state where heavy fracking is absent.
Samples from the areas near heavy-drilling sites showed higher levels of EDC activity, according to the Endocrine Society, including a greater presence of chemicals that disrupt both testosterone and estrogen.
Some of the samples showing high traces of EDCs weren’t necessarily taken from fracking sites, but from areas of Colorado where known spills had been reported.
“In comparison,” the report says, “little activity was measured in the water samples from the sites with little drilling.”
These harmful chemicals “could raise the risk of reproductive, metabolic, neurological and other diseases, especially in children who are exposed to EDCs,” says the report co-author Susan Nagel of the University of Missouri’s School of Medicine.
“The rapid expansion in drilling operations utilizing hydraulic fracturing increases the potential for environmental contamination with the hundreds of hazardous chemicals used,” says the report .
“With fracking on the rise, populations may face greater health risks from increased endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure.”
“Fracking is exempt from federal regulations to protect water quality, but spills associated with natural gas drilling can contaminate surface, ground and drinking water,” Nagel added. “We found more endocrine-disrupting activity in the water close to drilling locations that had experienced spills than at control sites.”
Contact: Susan C. Nagel, PhD, University of Missouri, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, M659 Medical Sciences Building, 1 Hospital Drive, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, Phone: 573–884-3028, Fax: 573–882-9010, Email: nagels@health.missouri.edu
U.S. Production of Natural Gas
U.S. production of natural gas increased exponentially, from a small amount in 2005 to about to 8 trillion cubic feet in 2011. Global hydraulic fracturing market is forecast to grow from an estimated $31 billion in 2011, and $40 billion in 2012 to $64 billion by 2017, analysts say.
Leading Players in Hydraulic Fracturing
The leading players in Hydraulic Fracturing industry in North America are (in A to Z order) Baker Hughes, Calfrac Well Services, Cudd Energy services, FTS International, Superior Well Services, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Tacrom Services SRL (Romania), Trican Well Services Limited, United Oilfield Services, and Weatherford International Inc. Source: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com
See also
Total number of victims being diagnosed with cancer globally each year has jumped from 12.7 million in 2008 to more than 14 million last year, said the World Health Organization (WHO). [ December 13, 2013]
Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, Significant Event Imagery, significant events | Tagged: birth defect, Colorado, EDC, endocrine disrupting chemicals, endocrine disruptor, Endocrine Society, estrogen, fracking, hydraulic fracturing, Obstetrics, testosterone, University of Missouri | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on September 18, 2013
The number of people unaccounted for in the Colorado floods was revised to 581 Tuesday, according to the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.
A drilling derrick near Greeley stands in the flood waters of the South Platte River. (Photo By Tim Rasmussen/The Denver Post)
-oOo-
Mexico’s famous beach resort of Acapulco was in chaos on Tuesday as hotels rationed food for thousands of stranded tourists and floodwaters swallowed homes and cars after some of the most damaging storms in decades killed at least 55 people across the country.
-oOo-
Uruguayan authorities issued an Orange Alert as an extra-tropical cyclone battered the capital Montevideo, forcing the evacuations of hundreds of people along the coastal areas in the South Atlantic Ocean. The cyclone cut power to more than 3,000 homes in the region.
Original Caption: A wave hits the dam on the coastal avenue in front of the Rio de la Plata during the passage of the extra-tropical cyclone that affects the country, in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, on Sept. 17, 2013. The Uruguayan authorities issued an orange alert for the next hours by the passage of extra-tropical cyclone that has already caused power shortage to more than 3,000 homes, and more than 600 people have been evacuated in various departments of the country. (Xinhua/Nicolas Celaya)
Posted in disaster calendar, disaster continent, disaster watch, disaster watch 2013, disaster zone, global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013 | Tagged: Boulder County, Colorado, Colorado disaster declaration, Colorado flooding, Colorado State of Emergency, cyclone, Flood death toll, Guerrero, Historic Disaster, Historic September Flooding In Colorado, Hurricane INGRID, landslide death toll, landslides, Larimer County, MANUEL, Mexico, Montevideo, Oaxaca, Orange Alert, road collapse, state of emergency, Twin Storms, Uruguay, Weld County | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on September 15, 2013
On Saturday several additional towns along the South Platte River were under mandatory evacuation.
Several areas have received more than 15 inches of rain over three days, an amount more than the annual total average, according to National Weather Service.
“This is a 500-to-1,000-year flood,” said a Weld County commissioner.
“We continue to have new landslides and road collapses,” said a message posted by the Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District, warning trapped residents that rescuers were having difficulty reaching them.
“Rescue crews got a break when the rains let up on Friday, but by Saturday afternoon the rains returned, prompting the National Weather Service to issue flash flood warnings for canyons west of the Denver metro area,” said a report.
“This event has stunned all of us,” U.S. Senator Mark Udall said after touring the devastated area by air with Governor John Hickenlooper and other politicians on Saturday.
Riverbend campground, Storm Mountain near Drake. Credit: Deb Green.
Two of the worst hit areas are Weld County where the swollen St. Vrain, Big Thompson and Cache La Poudre rivers empty into the South Platte River, and Morgan County, further downstream, where the towns of Weldona, Goodrich, Muir Springs and Orchard were under evacuation orders, the report said.
Posted in Climate Change, disaster calendar, disaster diary, disaster watch, disaster watch 2013, disaster zone, global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013 | Tagged: Boulder, Colorado, Colorado flooding, Colorado State of Emergency, Fort Collins, Fort Morgan, Historic September Flooding In Colorado, landslides, road collapse, South Platte River, Weld County | 1 Comment »
Posted by feww on September 13, 2013
Flash Flood Warnings remained in effect for much of eastern and northern Colorado including the entire Denver/Boulder metropolitan area, with a population of more than 3 million.
The National Weather Service issued an urgent bulletin at 9:41am on Thursday that expressed the scale of the threat: “Major flooding/flash flooding event underway at this time with biblical rainfall amounts reported in many areas in/near the foothills.”
Boulder was pounded with more than 7 inches of rain in 24 hours, which shattered the town’s 95-year rainfall record.
“This is not an ordinary day. It is not an ordinary disaster,” said Boulder County Sheriff.
Coal Creek Canyon. Photo credit: Jefferson County Sheriff. More images…
Near the town of Lyons, St. Vrain River jumped its banks, and a dam failed near Pinewood Springs, isolating the town, said a report.
In Longmont (population: ~ 88,000) about 14 miles northeast of Boulder, St. Vrain Creek again overflowed its banks, inundating the main roads and dividing the city.
The University of Colorado campus in Boulder was one of the hardest hit areas. More than 500 hundred students and staff members were ordered evacuated, as devastating floodwaters damaged a quarter of the campus buildings, officials said.
Colorado Governor Hickenlooper declared a disaster for the flooded areas.
“We have declared a disaster for the flooded areas and are requesting emergency declaration from FEMA for search and rescue and emergency protection and other support,” said Hickenlooper. “We want to get something in front of President Obama as rapidly as possible.”
“The State Emergency Center has been activated to a Level 3 category of alert or action 24/7. So they will be providing direct resources across the state to the counties affected by the flooding.”
The White House signed a federal emergency declaration Thursday night.
Mudslides and rockslides have blocked parts of U.S. 6, Boulder Canyon, Colorado 14 and U.S. 287, said the Denver Post. Lefthand Canyon was reportedly blocked by multiple slides.
The disaster has claimed at least three lives, but authorities expect the toll to rise.
Posted in Climate Change, global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013 | Tagged: Boulder, Boulder Canyon, Boulder County, Colorado, Colorado disaster declaration, Colorado State of Emergency, drought and deluge, FLASH FLOOD WARNING, Front Range mountain, Hickenlooper, historic flooding, Jefferson County, Longmont, University of Colorado | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on September 13, 2013
“We’ll see what the data tells us but this could easily be a 50 or 100-year flood,” said Hickenlooper.
Disastrous flooding has caused substantial damage in parts of three Front Range counties and the governor has declared a state of emergency in Boulder County. Thousands of people have been evacuated, however, emergency crews are unable to reach residents in some towns.
Floodwaters have cut off major highways, isolated mountain towns and inundated the main campus of the University of Colorado, damaging tens of buildings, officials said.
More than 500 students and staff members were ordered evacuated.
Highway 72 is washed out in Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado. Photo credit: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
“We have declared a disaster for the flooded areas and are requesting emergency declaration from FEMA for search and rescue and emergency protection and other support,” said Hickenlooper. “We want to get something in front of President Obama as rapidly as possible.”
“The State Emergency Center has been activated to a Level 3 category of alert or action 24/7. So they will be providing direct resources across the state to the counties affected by the flooding.”
“Part of the problem with us is not that we don’t have the equipment or the manpower it’s just the conditions haven’t permitted it. We couldn’t get up the valleys,” said Hickenlooper.
“This is completely different from the fires and yet preparation means trying to anticipate what you don’t expect. We’ve been trying to train across the state for unexpected eventualities, things that we would never expect to happen. I’m not sure that anyone laid out a scenario where Boulder County and every single county from Coal Creek to the St. Vrain got close to 8 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.” Hickenlooper said.
Not Your Ordinary Disaster
“This is not your ordinary disaster,” said Joe Pelle, the sheriff of Boulder County, where two of the deaths occurred. “All the preparation in the world, all the want-to in the world, can’t put people up those canyons while debris and walls of water are coming down.”
A message posted on the university’s Web site Thursday warned: “Wall of water coming down Boulder Canyon. STAY AWAY FROM BOULDER CREEK.”
Multiple Flash Flood Warnings, Flood Warnings and Flood Watches are in effect across Colorado, said National Weather Service (NWS).
Posted in Climate Change, global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013 | Tagged: Boulder County, Colorado, Colorado disaster declaration, Colorado State of Emergency, Commerce City, FLASH FLOOD WARNING, Flood warning, Flooding in Colorado, Hickenlooper, historic flooding, Jefferson County, Larimer County, University of Colorado | Leave a Comment »
Fire Earth 