Global Disasters/ Significant Events – September 9, 2013

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.

Schmallenberg Virus Outbreak: April 3 Update

Disaster Calendar 2012 – April 3

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,443 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Up to 5,000 farms in the EU may be infected with SBV

Based on the data made available by various organizations monitoring the spread of Schmallenberg Virus in EU, FIRE-EARTH estimates that up to 5,000 farms may be infected with the deadly virus.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar: Collapse has already Begun

Previous reports of SBV infection

•  Schmallenberg Virus Outbreak – UPDATE: March 25
• Schmallenberg virus up by more than 10 percent in 7 days
• Schmallenberg Virus Continues Spreading Posted on March 15, 2012

• Schmallenberg virus entry for March 10
• Schmallenberg virus entry for March 6
• Schmallenberg Virus Hits 7 Countries posted on February 22, 2012

Schmallenberg Virus Outbreak – UPDATE: March 25

Disaster Calendar 2012 – March 25

[March 25, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,452 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) Outbreak Intensifying in the EU

UK midges may be carrying SBV infection after biting local animals that were infected last summer following incursion of continental midges: DEFRA/AHVLA.

• Germany.  “In Germany animals from 1061 holdings have been tested positive for ‛Schmallenberg virus’ so far. The cases occurred in 194 cattle holdings, 823 sheep holdings and 44 goat holdings.” FLI reported.
  • Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Hamburg, Bavaria, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saarland and Berlin.

• United Kingdom.  Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection has been reported on 209 farms, said DEFRA .
  • “We cannot rule out the possibility that domestic (local) midges may have transmitted SBV within the affected areas. Domestic midges may have been infected after biting a local animal infected last summer after incursion of continental midges.”
  • SBV infection has been reported in one new county, Bedfordshire, as well as in Jersey, Channel Islands.
  • Affected counties are Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, S. Gloucestershire, Somerset, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Berkshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire, as well as Channel Islands.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar: Collapse has already Begun

Previous reports of SBV infection

• Schmallenberg virus up by more than 10 percent in 7 days
• Schmallenberg Virus Continues Spreading Posted on March 15, 2012

• Schmallenberg virus entry for March 10
• Schmallenberg virus entry for March 6
• Schmallenberg Virus Hits 7 Countries posted on February 22, 2012

Drought Declared in Southeast UK

Larger areas of the UK face drought this year: DEFRA

England declares drought in more regions after months of low rainfall.  Drought is now affecting the country’s southeastern, eastern and parts of the Midlands. The river Kennet has stopped flowing near Lockeridge in Wiltshire, reports said.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 21

[February 21, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,485 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• England, UK.  As UK government declares drought in southeast England, the country’s top official responsible for  environment has warned that large parts of the country are facing an inevitable drought this summer even if the coming months bring heavy rainfall.
  • “Drought is already an issue this year with the south-east, Anglia and other parts of the UK now officially in drought, and more areas are likely to be affected as we continue to experience a prolonged period of very low rainfall,”  British Environment Minister has warned.
  • Meantime, the country’s Meteorological Agency has warned that ‘prolonged periods of heavy rainfall in the near future are unlikely.’
  • Groundwater levels in East Anglia are exceptionally low.
  • Rainfall in the Midlands, East Anglia and the south east in January was about 35 percent below normal.
  • East Anglia has experienced its driest-ever 5-month period from last September, the Center for Hydrology and Ecology reported.
  • The counties of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and large parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, as well as  west Norfolk are experiencing drought, while Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Kent, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Shropshire are extremely dry.
  • “Since June 2011, drought has affected Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, and west Norfolk. In February 2012 following a dry winter, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, London, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and the east of Gloucestershire are now in drought,” Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reported.
  • In contrast, northern England and Scotland have experienced their wettest winter in 100 years, reports said.

UK Groundwater Levels as of mid February 2012. BGS © NERC. Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency, 100026380, 2012.

Other Global Disasters

• New South Wales (NSW), Australia.   The government in the Australian state of NSW has extended a natural disaster declarations to the northern areas of Bourke and Tamworth, a report said.
  • The disaster declarations follow widespread flooding which has substantially damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure.
  • The following local government areas have already been declared disaster areas: Walgett, Brewarrina, Liverpool Plains, Gloucester, Upper Hunter, Ballina, Gunnedah, Moree Shire, Greater Taree, Gwydir, Narrabri, Tenterfield, Bellingen, Byron, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Inverell, Nambucca, Kempsey and Tweed Shire Council.
  • Flood evacuation orders may be issued later today.
• Western NSW.  Meantime, major flooding is occurring across the western portion of NSW, reports said.
  • Fooodwaters from Queensland and eastern NSW are heading west towards Brewarrina and Bourke (combined pop: ~ 4,000), where three swollen river systems converge.
• Southern NSW.   “Authorities received more than 300 calls for help as flash flooding hit Sydney and the New South Wales south coast last night,” a report said.
  • “Extraordinary rain. Terrey Hills had 61 millimeters in a hour, and Peakhurst had 26 millimeters in just ten minutes,” State Emergency Service spokesman said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar 

Back-to-Back Australian Disasters

• Inland sea moving across NSW, Australia  Posted on February 10, 2012
• The state government in NSW (Aus)  has declared Gunnedah a disaster area

• Flooded Australia: Thousands Evacuated in 3 States
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Wildfire Consumes 1 Million Acres in WA

• Australia: 5 disaster areas declared in NSW following severe flooding