Federal Disaster Declarations [Listed in August]

All items on the following list, with the exception of Washington South Wenas Fire (FM-5187), were posted on FEMA website on August 31, 2017  [TW – GH]

Disaster Emergency, Federal Disasters Declared for 14 States

Louisiana Tropical Storm Harvey (EM-3382)
Incident Period: August 27, 2017
Emergency Declaration declared on August 28, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 3382
Beauregard (Parish), Calcasieu (Parish), Cameron (Parish), Jefferson Davis (Parish), Vermilion (Parish)

Idaho Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4333)
Incident Period: May 06, 2017 – June 16, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 27, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4333
Blaine, Camas, Custer, Elmore, Gooding

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding (DR-4334)
Incident Period: July 19, 2017 – July 23, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 27, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4334
Allamakee, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Mitchell

Texas Hurricane Harvey (DR-4332)
Incident Period: August 23, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 25, 2017
Designated Counties (Individual Assistance):
Aransas, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Victoria, Waller, Wharton

West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4331)
Incident Period: July 28, 2017 – July 29, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 18, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4331
Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Wetzel

Vermont Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4330)
Incident Period: June 29, 2017 – July 01, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 16, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4330
Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windsor

New Hampshire Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4329)
Incident Period: July 01, 2017 – July 02, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 09, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4329
Grafton

Oregon Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4328)
Incident Period: January 07, 2017 – January 10, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 08, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4328
Columbia, Deschutes, Hood River, Josephine

Wyoming Flooding (DR-4327)
Incident Period: June 07, 2017 – June 22, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 05, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4327
Fremont, Park

Michigan Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4326)
Incident Period: June 22, 2017 – June 27, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 02, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4326
Bay, Gladwin, Isabella, Midland

Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds (DR-4325)
Incident Period: June 12, 2017 – June 17, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 01, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4325
Banner, Box Butte, Butler, Cass, Cuming, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Morrill, Platte, Polk, Sarpy, Saunders, Sheridan, Sioux, Thurston, Wayne

Oklahoma Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding (DR-4324)
Incident Period: May 16, 2017 – May 20, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 25, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4324
Alfalfa, Beckham, Cherokee, Coal, Cotton, Delaware, Johnston, Le Flore, Murray, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Roger Mills, Washita

North Dakota Flooding (DR-4323)
Incident Period: March 23, 2017 – April 29, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 12, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4323
Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Towner, Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, Walsh

New York Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (DR-4322)
Incident Period: March 14, 2017 – March 15, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 12, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4322
Albany, Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Orleans, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster

Washington South Wenas Fire (FM-5187)
Incident Period: June 27, 2017
Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on June 28, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 5187
N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Emergency Declared for Missouri

Missouri Emergency: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (EM-3374)

Incident period: December 22, 2015 – Emergency Declaration declared on January 02, 2016

The White House has declared a Federal Emergency for the State of Missouri due to the emergency conditions in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on December 22, 2015, and continuing.

The areas worst affected by the ongoing disasters are the counties of Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cedar, Christian, Clark, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, New Madrid, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Ralls, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis,  Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wright and the independent City of St. Louis.

The Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Federal Emergency and Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government proclaimed 43 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4247] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory so far this year. Additionally, the government declared two Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3373, and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations [FM-5084 to FM-5117] for the year to date.

Related Links

• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma December 30, 2015

Hawaii Declares Disaster Emergency Over Homelessness

Hawaii has 7,620 homeless people

Hawaii Gov. Ige has signed a Disaster Emergency Proclamation to deal with the state’s homelessness disaster emergency.

In his Disaster Emergency Proclamation Ige admits that a recent statewide homeless count has highlighted a significant increase in homelessness for the entire State of Hawaii.

“…count of homeless individuals and families throughout Hawaii, estimates the total number of homeless individuals statewide is 7,620… the number of unsheltered homeless individuals is 3,843… the statewide Count estimates that there are 185 unsheltered families, which consist of a total of 439 unsheltered children throughout the state.”

“these unsheltered homeless individuals and families are living on privately owned and public lands, including the streets, public parks, beaches, and elsewhere on each island… these unsheltered homeless individuals and families are without access to portable toilets, bathrooms, showers and clean wate… these unsheltered homeless individuals and families require health and social services in order to maintain themselves safely and in reasonable health,” he said.

The Disaster Emergency Proclamation relief period has already commenced this week, and will last for sixty days, unless terminated by a separate proclamation, whichever occurs first, Ige said.

Full text of the governor’s Proclamation is posted at

Click to access 10.16-EMERGENCY-PROC-HOMELESSNESS-.pdf

Tourism in the Hawaiian Islands

The largest source of private capital into the Hawaiian Islands, tourism contributed at least $11.4 billion in visitor spending and $1 billion in tax revenue last year, according to Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA). “The HTA anticipates visitor spending to reach $12.6 billion, with $1.1 billion in tax revenue for 2011, and will work together with the industry to ensure that we continue to build on this positive momentum.”

Disaster Emergency Declared for Colorado Gold King Mine Release

Colorado Governor declares disaster emergency for Gold King Mine release

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

Related Links

• Mine Waste Ends in River—One Way or Another August 8, 2015

Texas Emergency Disaster Proclamations Expanded

Emergency Disaster Proclamation expanded to 94 Texas Counties

Texas governor has now declared States of Disaster in 94 counties, as extreme weather events and deadly flash flooding leave trails of death and destruction across the state.

Governor Abbott expanded his Disaster Proclamations of May 11, May 15, May 25, May 26 and May 29, 2015, certifying that the extreme weather events have now caused a disaster in 94 Texas counties, he said on his website.

I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued Emergency Disaster Proclamations on May 11, May 15, May 25, May 26 and May 29, 2015, certifying that the severe weather, tornado and flooding event that began on May 4, 2015, has caused a disaster in many Texas counties.  Disaster conditions persist in many parts of the state.

THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I hereby amend these aforementioned proclamations and declare a disaster in Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Baylor, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Collin, Comal, Comanche, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Dewitt, Eastland, Edwards, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Gaines, Garza, Gillespie, Grayson, Grimes, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Jack, Jasper, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Lubbock, Lynn, Madison, Milam, Montague, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Real, Red River, Refugio, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Tarrant, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, Wise and Zavala counties.

Federal Disaster Declaration

The Disaster President declared a major disaster for Texas in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding on May 30.

Related Links

• Major Disaster Declared for State of Texas May 30, 2015
• Texas Disaster Declaration Again Expanded May 29, 2015
• Deadly Weather in Texas Destroys/ Damages Thousands of Homes May 27, 2015
• Texas Declares States of Disaster in 24 Additional Counties May 26, 2015

States of Emergency Declared for NY & CT

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
DEADLY ICE & SNOWSTORM
.

Major Storm Continues to Pound U.S. Northeast

States of emergency have now been declared for 12 states in the south, southeast and northeast since the weekend, as a deadly storm continues to track up U.S. Northeast.

New York: Gov. Cuomo declared a state of emergency Thursday, his  fifth so far this year, as the deadly snowstorm impacted much of New York and the East Coast.

Cuomo’s  declaration is for Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties and covers the mid-to-lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island, as well as the North Country, central New York and the Capital Region.

“The roads are dangerous,” declared Cuomo!

Connecticut: Gov. Malloy declared a State of Emergency in Vermont as the storm dumped up to 12 inches of snow on parts of the states, straining Vermont’s reserves of road salt.

Additional snow was forecast to fall early morning Friday, keeping schools closed.

120 Million of People Affected

The massive storm system has affected an estimated 120 millions people in 22 states from Texas to Maine, leaving at least 14 people dead and many injured, as of posting.

Winter Storm Warnings, Watches and Advisories were in effect from Georgia to Maine, Tuesday through Friday. Forecasters have warned the powerful system could dump up to 18 inches (46 cm) of snow over the Atlantic Coast through Saturday.

• 7-day Storm Animation [valid February 8 – 14, 2014 ]

Latest Weather Forecast by NWS

Winter Storm Moving through the Northeast

The same storm that brought heavy snow and significant ice accumulations to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic has moved up the East Coast, bringing significant winter weather to the Northeast. Heavy snow and gusty winds are expected in parts of the Appalachians and New England into Friday. Conditions will begin to improve as the storm pulls away into the Canadian Maritimes by Friday afternoon.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Thursday, February 14, 2014. Issued at 3:32UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE

States of Emergency Declared for 12  States

Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, New York and Connecticut have now declared States of Emergency due to the massive storm.

“This is not the storm we had two weeks ago, where we were playing in the snow and building snowmen. This is an ice storm,” said Gov Haley, as she declared a State of Emergency for South Carolina.

Flight Cancellations and Delays

More than 12,000 flights into, within, or from the United States have been canceled and thousands more delayed Tuesday through early Friday. The trend is expected to continue through weekend.

Federal Emergency Disaster Declared for the State of Georgia

The White House has declared a federal emergency in the State of Georgia resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on February 10, 2014, and continuing.

The emergency disaster declaration will provide federal disaster relief to “lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe” in the counties of Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Murray, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield, and Wilkes.

White House Issues Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration for South Carolina

The White House has declared a  Federal Emergency Disaster in the State of South Carolina resulting from a severe ice and snowstorm beginning on February 10, 2014, and continuing.

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 36 states and District of Columbia are currently impacted by shortages of propane and other heating fuels.

States covered by the emergency declarations include:

• Western Service Center: North Dakota and South Dakota
• Southern Service Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee
• Eastern Service Center: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
• Midwestern Service Center: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin

Colorado Gov Issued Emergency Declaration to Authorize Temporary Exception to Hours of Service Regulations for CMVs Used for Propane Transport on February 7, 2014.

Texas Gov Renews Proclamation Declaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency [Feb. 4, 2014.]

Connecticut Provides Emergency Exemption from Hours of Service of Drivers [Feb. 11, 2014.]

S. Carolina Gov Issues Emergency Declaration for Severe Winter Weather Impact [Feb. 11, 2014.]

S. Carolina Gov Issues Executive Order to Waive Truck Restrictions  [Feb. 11, 2014.]

N.  Carolina Governor Temporarily Suspends Motor Vehicle Regulations … [Feb. 11, 2014.]

Related Links

• State of Emergency Declared in Tennessee February 13, 2014
• NJ Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Snowstorm February 13, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Maryland February 12, 2014
• Virginia Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Storm February 12, 2014
• Deadly Ice and Snow Blanket U.S. South February 12, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States February 11, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in New York, Pennsylvania February 6, 2014
• Disaster Emergency Declared in Multiple States Feb. 5, 2014
• State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas Feb. 5, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey  February 4, 2014

Energy Emergency Links

• Never Mind the Salt, Propane Shortage Biting Hard Feb.  6, 2014
• Deadly Winter Storm Prompts States of Emergency in Georgia, Carolinas  January 29, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …  January 28, 2014

• 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

States of Emergency Declared in New York, Pennsylvania

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATE OF EMERGENCY
.

State of Emergency Declared for New York

“Mother Nature came and visited us again last night and this morning, and she’s going to visit us all throughout the day,” said Gov Cuomo [we’d almost forgotten that she even existed!!]

The Empire State was battered by the second of three snowstorms to strike within a week. The massive snow storm disrupted subway service and road travel on Wednesday. Meanwhile Gov. Cuomo revealed the Big Apple was running out of salt  and declared a state of emergency.

Pennsylvania Gov Corbett has declared a State of Emergency

The massive winter storm which battered two-thirds of the United States, knocked out power to more than 750,000 customers in the Coal State.

The massive storm system had dumped 6 to 12  inches of snow over portions of of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine by Wednesday evening.

Thousands of people in New York and Long Island were also without power, as of posting.

[Note: According to the Office of Secretary of Transport for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Gov Corbett declared a state of emergency on February 3, 2014; however, there is no additional record of the Declaration available.]

Flight Cancellations and Delays

More than 6,600 flights into, within, or out of the United States have been canceled Monday through Wednesday, and at least 16,000 other flights  delayed, impacting an estimated 4 million air travelers.

Related Links

• Disaster Emergency Declared in Multiple States February 5, 2014
• State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas February 5, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey  February 4, 2014

Disaster Emergency Declared for El Paso County, CO

Hickenlooper declares disaster emergency due to flooding in El Paso County

Gov. John Hickenlooper has declared a disaster emergency related to devastating floods in El Paso County, said a statement posted on his website.

El Paso County and the City of Manitou Springs on Aug. 10 requested the state assistance. The governor gave verbal approval on the same day.

• The governor also activated the State Emergency Operations Plan to address the flooding.
• The governor further authorized the Colorado National Guard to assist with search and rescue missions in the area, if necessary, as more rain continues to fall.

Destructive floods have devastated areas near the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest burn scars,  said a report.

“Rain has pounded the county throughout the last several weeks, taking a deadly turn Friday after rain and mud spilled onto Highway 24 and into Manitou Springs. One man was killed, three were initially unaccounted for, and multiple people reported nearly being swept away.”