Earthquake Impact: Ecuador, Nepal

Two powerful earthquakes impact millions of people

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8Mw struck offshore northwest Ecuador, devastating coastal areas. Hundreds of aftershocks, including several significant events, have been registered to date.

States of emergency have been declared in the six provinces that have been hit hardest including Manabi, Esmeraldas, Santa Elena, Guayas, Santo Domingo and Los Ríos.

Pedernales a cantons in Manibi, the worst affected province, has been declared a “disaster zone.”

About 720,000 people out of a population of 7 million in those provinces have been impacted by the disaster, authorities said.

The seismic disaster has killed at least 650 people, left 155 missing and almost 8,500 injured. About 7,000 buildings have been destroyed and more than 25,000 people were living in shelters, as of posting, according to local reports.

“These have been sad days for the homeland… [our] country is in crisis,” said President Correa in his weekly public broadcast. He has estimated the damage at up to $3 billion.

Nepal Earthquake

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8Mw struck Nepal on 25 April, 2015, killing about 9,000 people, destroying or damaging  800,000 homes, and devastating the public infrastructure. One year on, an estimated four million people are still living in sub-standard temporary shelters in conditions that pose a threat to their health and well-being.

‘How ruthless child traffickers exploited Nepal’s earthquake’

As the poverty stricken nation struggles to recover from the disaster, “the shocking scourge of child slavery and sex trafficking is worse than ever.”

Read more…

U.S. Drought: Crop Disaster Declared for Idaho Counties

Drought crop disasters declared for 8 counties in Idaho

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated eight additional counties in Idaho as crop disaster areas due to losses caused by drought.

The disaster areas are Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Jefferson and Power counties.

Drought in the U.S. West

The drought has intensified in the western U.S., according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Week	None	D0-D4	D1-D4	D2-D4	D3-D4	D4
2015-07-07	22.40	77.60	61.14	43.04	18.87	7.26
2015-06-30	23.90	76.10	60.38	39.01	17.13	7.26

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California: No change reported!

Week	None	D0-D4	D1-D4	D2-D4	D3-D4	D4
2015-07-07	0.14	99.86	98.71	94.59	71.08	46.73
2015-06-30	0.14	99.86	98.71	94.59	71.08	46.73

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Oregon

Week	None	D0-D4	D1-D4	D2-D4	D3-D4	D4
2015-07-07	0.00	100.00	100.00	83.71	34.09	0.00
2015-06-30	0.00	100.00	98.60	83.66	34.09	0.00

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Washington State

Week	None	D0-D4	D1-D4	D2-D4	D3-D4	D4
2015-07-07	0.00	100.00	100.00	86.14	0.00	0.00
2015-06-30	0.00	100.00	92.52	45.79	0.00	0.00

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Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 1,375 counties across 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

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 July 8, 2015 .

Related Links

• Drought Destroys Crops in Six U.S. States July 2, 2015
• Drought and Deluge, Hail and Severe Freezing Destroy Crops in 7 States June 25, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Three States June 19, 2015
• Drought Disaster Declared for Counties in Two States June 12, 2015
• Drought Destroys More Crops in Idaho, Oregon, Utah June 4, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Gaza Declared a Disaster Area

GENOCIDE
STATE TERRORISM
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
WARS FOR RESOURCES
MEGA DISASTER
MASS EVACUATIONS
POVERTY
COLLAPSE
SCENARIOS 717, 606, 600, 444, 200, 114, 070, 04, 02
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Israeli shelling kills dozens of Palestinians sheltering in a U.N. school, street market

The shelling of a school housing displaced civilians in Jabaliya refugee camp, and a market near Gaza City has killed dozens of people and left hundreds more wounded.

Some 106 people were killed on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 1,346, with more than 7,000 others wounded. Most of the victims have been civilians, many of them children.

Israeli authorities say 56 soldiers and two civilian volunteers as well as a Thai national have been killed on their side since they resumed the latest round of genocide in Gaza on July 8.

The UN Spokesman Chris Gunness told the BBC that Israel had been told 17 times that the school was housing [more than 3,000] displaced people, saying the attack caused “universal shame.”

Thousands more have been killed or wounded during previous rounds of genocide perpetrated by Israel in 2008 and 2012.

Palestinian President declared the Gaza Strip a disaster area on Wednesday, said news reports quoting the state-run Wafa news agency.

Bolivia Declares Israel a ‘Terrorist State’

Bolivia has declared Israel a terrorist state and withdrawn a visa exemption agreement in protest over the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza, said reports.

Canceling the 1972 visa-waver agreement, which allowed Israelis to travel freely to Bolivia, “means, in other words, we are declaring [Israel] a terrorist state,” announced President Evo Morales.

“Israel is not a guarantor of the principles of respect for life and the elementary precepts of rights that govern the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of our international community,” explained Morales.

“The Bolivian state and people have made a firm decision to terminate the agreement on visas to Israel, from August 17, 1972, signed under a regime of dictatorship in Bolivia and that allowed Israeli citizens to enter Bolivia freely and without entry visas,” said an official communique.

Earlier this month, Morales filed a request with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to prosecute the Jewish state for “crimes against humanity.”

Related Links

• Genocide in Gaza: Dozens Killed in ‘Shejaiya Massacre’ July 21, 2014
• Genocide in Gaza: New Phase Begins July 14, 2014

Federal Disaster Declared in Vermont

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
SEVERE STORMS
WIDESPREAD FLOODING
SCENARIOS 111, 066, 023
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
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Vermont Declared Major Disaster Area (DR-4178)

Federal disaster has been declared  for the state of Vermont in the areas severely affected by powerful storms and flooding during the period of April 15-18, 2014.

Areas worst affected by the disasters are Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington  counties.

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

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

• Federal Disasters
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Towns across Central Kansas Evacuating due to Flooding

Reno County declares local disaster

Reno County has declared a local disaster due to flooding in Hutchinson and deluged roads around the county, said a report.

Meantime,  towns across central Kansas have been evacuating residents as torrential rains triggered widespread flooding across the region, the report quoted officials as saying.

“Reno County officials were urging people not to play in the floodwaters because septic and sewer systems have backed up and deposited waste materials into the water. There has also been “considerable” amount of run-off from fields that have had chemicals applied to crops. Those chemicals are now in the rivers, creeks and floodwaters,” the report said.

Flooding was also reported elsewhere in central Kansas, especially in Barton and Rice counties.

Large swathes of central, eastern and southeastern Kansas were under Flood Warnings, Flood Watches, or Flash Flood Watches, as of posting.

Weather Hazards Map for August 5, 2013 @ 15:39 UTC. Source: NWS

Other Evacuation News

Train Derails in Lawtell, La., 100 Homes Evacuated: More than 100 homes remained evacuated Monday as emergency teams worked to clean up the site of a Union Pacific train derailment near Lawtell, about 60 miles west of Baton Rouge, said a report.

An evacuation order was in effect for homes and businesses within a 1-mile radius of the derailment, as of posting.

The train was carrying both the lethal sodium hydroxide, and the extremely flammable vinyl chloride.  At least one of the railcars was leaking sodium hydroxide, said a company spokesperson.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 24 July 2013

Fire breaks out on evacuated Gulf gas well

Fire has broken out on a blown-out Gulf of Mexico gas well, a federal official has just confirmed.

Natural gas spewing from the Hercules 265 drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico about 55 miles off the Louisiana off the coast of Louisiana, Tuesday, July 23, 2013.  Photo released by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. 

The drilling rig operated by Walter Oil & Gas was evacuated early Tuesday after the blowout occurred; the fire broke out late Tuesday.

“All 44 personnel on board have been safely evacuated and are being transported to a secure location. No injuries have been reported. No oil has been released.” Walter Oil & Gas said in a statement.

Earlier The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) posted the following statement on their website:

BSEE Responds to Well Control Event at South Timbalier Block 220, 55 miles offshore Louisiana

July 23, 2013– The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is responding to a report of a loss of well control 55 miles offshore Louisiana in 154 feet of water. Walter Oil & Gas this morning reported the loss of control of Well A-3 on an unmanned platform at South Timbalier Block 220 while doing completion work on the sidetrack well to prepare the well for production. The well is flowing gas and no oil is being released. The operator reports that 44 personnel have been evacuated safely from the Hercules 265 jack-up rig.

BSEE inspectors conducting an overflight reported a light sheen one-half mile by 50 feet in area which is dissipating almost immediately. BSEE inspectors will remain at a near-by platform to keep abreast of the situation. BSEE is closely monitoring Walter Oil & Gas’ mobilization of its response efforts to stop the flow of gas and secure the well.

BSEE is closely coordinating with the Coast Guard and other federal agencies on response efforts.

-oOo-

Other Major Disasters/ Significant Events

Lake County, Ohio, Declared Disaster Area after Extensive Flooding

Officials have declared the Lake County a disaster area, after flooding hit many cities in the County on Saturday affecting thousands of residents, and damaging at least 3,000 homes.

The heaviest flood damage occurred in the western half of Lake County from Wickliffe to Mentor, officials stated.

-oOo-

Warm Springs wildfire spreads, more Oregon homes evacuated

The Sunnyside Turnoff fire started at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20 along Highway 3 near Warm Springs, Oregon. Unseasonably hot weather, coupled with low humidities and strong winds caused the fire to escape initial and extended attack efforts. Inciweb reported.

“Firefighters evacuated about 40 homes in the Warm Springs area Sunday afternoon as a raging wildfire spread across thousands of acres of open country on the Indian reservation,” said a report.

Fire crews had earlier evacuated 200 homes, according to reports.

-oOo-

Wildfire forces Idaho’s Redfish Lake campers and gusts to evacuate

The 210 Road Fire, which ignited Monday, has consumed about a square mile of pine and brush in the Sawtooth National Forest.

Officials have evacuated the campgrounds on the lake’s southern edge and guests staying at the Redfish Lake Lodge located at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, said a report.

There are currently 11 major wildfires burning tens of thousands of acres across southern and eastern Idaho, fueled by drought, high temperatures and low humidity. The blazes include Papoose Fire, Ridge Fire, Brown Butte, Thunder City, Lodgepole, Rough Creek, Gold Pan, Pine Creek Fire, Bradley and Summit Fire.

-oOo-

The Disaster President Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of May 29 to June 10, 2013.

The areas most severely affected were the counties of 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.

-oOo-

NW China Earthquake Update

Death has climbed to at least 95 after a 6.6-magnitude quake  followed by a significant aftershock struck NW China on Monday.

“As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the number of people that have been treated by medical institutions was 1,243, including 185 patients reported to be in a serious or critical status,” said a report.

-oOo-

UPDATED: Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 16:09

Severe Storms and Hail Damage up to 90% of France’s Burgundy Vine

Tuesday’s storms have damaged or destroyed up to 90 percent of the vines, threatening output for both the 2013 and 2014 vintages, said a report quoting producers.

“It is awful to see these vines ripped by hail and several years of wine growers’ work destroyed by the weather in one afternoon,” said the head of France’s independent wine makers.

-oOo-

Powerful Storms Destroy 445 Houses, Sink 85 Fishing Boats in Thailand

Disaster declared in central Thailand province

The provincial governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan has declared disaster in the area, after eight districts were buffeted by powerful storms.

• Prachuap Khiri Khan is a central province of Thailand located in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, about 240 km (150 miles) south of the capital Bangkok.

• “The storms hit the province at 3am on Saturday followed by heavy rains and high waves up to four metres in the Gulf of Thailand,” said a report.

Latest States of Emergency Declared in the U.S. and Canada

Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada: Massive power outage as ice storm hits region

Three Ontario townships — Wellesley, Woolwich and North Perth — have declared states of emergency after ice storm hit Waterloo Region, said a report.

Minnesota: Gov. Dayton has declared a state of emergency in SW Minnesota, after activating the National Guard.

“Six to 8 inches of wet snow fell early Thursday on top of the thick layer of ice that accumulated Tuesday night in Nobles and Jackson counties,” said a report.

Missouri: Gov. Nixon has declared a state of emergency in Missouri after severe storms, strong thunderstorms, straight line winds and tornadoes caused damage in the St. Louis region and and power outages across southern Missouri, according to the governor’s office.

Tennessee: Officials have declared a state of emergency after reports of a possible tornado and damage in Monroe County, Tennessee, said a report.

Mississippi. Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency for Kemper and Noxubee counties due to the damage caused by severe storms and tornadoes, according to the governor’s office.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 15, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,062 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,062 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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

Jordan to Declare North of Country ‘Disaster Area’

Massive influx of Syrian refugees major economic burden on Jordan: Report

Jordan intends to declare the north of the country, its border region with Syria, a “disaster area,” Jordanian Prime Minister said on Wednesday.

The number of Syrians in Jordan now exceeds one million, including 450,000 refugees and more than 600,000 visitors who had arrived in the country prior to the  onset of violence in Syria.

Jordan has an estimated population of about 6.5 million.

The Jordanian PM said he is afraid that a major war in Syria could lead to a large-scale flow of Syrian refugees into his country.

Last week, the government said it would “continue to operate an open-door policy towards Syrian refugees, despite the economic burden on Jordan, and the alleged presence of pro-regime sleeper cells in the country,” said a report.

United Nations says at least 70,000 people have been killed in Syria since the 2011 uprising.

Related Links

• Middle East: Early Signs of Collapse July 5, 2010
• Drought Driving Syria to Collapse September 11, 2010

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 3, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,074 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,074 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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

Drought Disaster Spreads to Dozens of Counties across 10 States

135 counties across 10 states designated as drought disaster areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 135 counties across 10 states and an independent city in Nevada as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.

• The states are Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
• The designations include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map as of Feb. 27, 2013.  Source: USDA

US Drought Map for February 19, 2013, Released by the U.S. Drought Monitor on February 21, 2013. The map was prepared before the current winter storm.

FIRE-EARTH Drought Links 2013

• US: Drought Disaster 2013
• Disaster declared due to drought, derecho, extreme weather, Hurricane Sandy, snowstorm, nor’easter February 15, 2013
• Drought Disaster Declared in 56 Counties February 14, 2013
• U.S. Drought Disaster Spread to Counties Across 8 States February 7, 2013

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February 28, 2013 – DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,108 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,108 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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