EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 MICHAEL INTENSIFYING

FIRE-EARTH Science will issue regular updates at 15-min intervals via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

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LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, HURRICANE FORCE WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED ALONG THE NE GULF COAST  –NHC

MICHAEL is currently a Cat. 4Ag hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

SUMMARY OF STATUS AS OF 04:00 AM CDT (09:00 UTC) –NHC
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LOCATION: 28.3N, 86.5W
ABOUT 140 MI (225 KM) SSW OF PANAMA CITY FLORIDA
ABOUT 130 MI (215KM) SSW OF APALACHICOLA
MOVEMENT: N OR 360 DEGREES AT 13 MPH (20 KM/H)
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 140 MPH (220 KM/H)
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE: 943 MB (27.85 INCHES)

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Major Disaster Declarations for Hurricane IRMA

Florida Hurricane IRMA (DR-4337)

Affected Areas in Florida

Designated Counties (Individual Assistance): Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, Volusia

Puerto Rico Hurricane IRMA (DR-4336)

Designated Counties (Individual Assistance):  Canovanas (Municipio), Culebra (Municipio), Loiza (Municipio), Vieques (Municipio)

U.S. Virgin Islands Hurricane Irma (DR-4335)

Designated Counties (Individual Assistance):  St. John (Island) (County-equivalent), St. Thomas (Island) (County-equivalent)

Hurricane IRMA Will ‘Devastate’ Parts of the US: FEMA Chief

IRMA steering toward Florida

The super storm has been downgraded to a Cat. 4 hurricane, for now, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h).

IRMA could restrengthen to a Cat. 5 hurricane, with a probability of 40 percent, as it moves closer to southern Florida, FIRE-EARTH Science believes.

Potential Impact on Southern US

“Hurricane Irma continues to be a threat that is going to devastate the United States in either Florida or some of the southeastern states,” FEMA Chief said.

National Hurricane Center (NHC) downgraded IRMA to Category 4 hurricane on Friday, just slightly less powerful than a Cat. 4, after the super storm had wreaked havoc hammering multiple islands in the Caribbean.

Florida “has never seen” a worse storm, said the governor.

Hurricane IRMA Status as at 2:00 PM EDT Fri Sep 8 [NHC]
Location: 22.0°N, 76.0°W
Moving: W at 14 mph
Min pressure: 925 mb
Max sustained: 155 mph [250 km/h]

Wind Speed Probabilities

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U.S. Rainfall Potential

JOSE Intensifies to a Powerful Cat. 4 Hurricane [NHC]

Hurricane JOSE Status as at 2:00 PM AST Fri Sep 8
Location: 16.4°N 57.7°W
Moving: WNW at 18 mph
Min pressure: 940 mb
Max sustained: 150 mph [~ 240 km/h]

Wind Speed Probabilities

Hurricane KATIA Continues to Strengthen

Hurricane KATIA Status as at  1:00 PM CDT Fri Sep 8
Location: 21.1°N, 96.2°W
Moving: W at 5 mph
Min pressure: 974 mb
Max sustained: 105 mph [170 km/h, Cat. 2 hurricane]

KATIA IS NOW A  CAT. 2 HURRICANE WITH 105-MPH WINDS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION [NHC]

Wind Speed Probabilities

Florida Wildfire Threatens Thousands of Homes, Forces Mass Evacuation

Large wildfire in SW Florida threatens 2,000 homes

A large wildfire in southwest Florida is threatening more than 2,000 homes, prompting mass evacuation.

The blaze has already consumed about 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) and at least two dozen homes and other structures in Collier County, forcing residents in several areas to flee their homes and prompting the governor to deploy National Guards.

“These wildfires are dangerous and if you’re within the evacuation area, do not stay in your home,” said Florida governor.

A spate of wildfires that have plagued the drought-stricken Sunshine State since late March prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency last week.

Other Reports from the U.S.

• Massive power outage cripples San Francisco for seven hours.
• New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco Suffer Simultaneous Power Outages

State of Emergency Declared in Florida amid Intense Wildfires

107 wildfires burning over 23,000 acres across Florida

Florida governor has declared a state of emergency following intense wildfires that have burned thousands of acres across the Sunshine State.

• Wildfires are currently burning in Polk, Hernando, Broward, Nassau, Pasco, Mario, Glades and Collier counties.
• Some 107 wildfires burning 23,000 acres across the state, as of April 11, the Florida Forest Service reported.
• Wildfires have consumed 68,000 acres across the state, since February, an amount is higher than the average acreage charred over the past five years.
• Wildfires have consumed 250 percent more acreage January – March than during the same period last year.

Moderate to severe drought conditions are expanding across Central and South Florida, while abnormally dry conditions exist across NE Florida, reported the U.S. Drought Monitor, with the dry conditions forecast to worsen over the coming weeks.

Deadly Weather Pounding U.S. South

State of Emergency Declared in Georgia

• Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes have killed dozens of people in the US south.
• Georgia has declared states of emergency across seven counties in the south-central section of the state.
• A major tornado in Mississippi on Saturday killed several people and injured dozens more, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes.

NWS forecasters issued a “high risk” warning of severe storms for parts of Georgia, Florida and Alabama on Sunday.

• The New York City Emergency Management Department has urged New Yorkers to be prepared for high winds, heavy rain, and localized coastal flooding on Monday, January 23.

• Additional information is available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

Another Manchurian Candidate, or Village Idiot Turned Contractor

Sent by a Reader

State of Emergency Declared in Orlando, Florida after Massacre in Nightclub

Was the massacre plotted by those who benefit from Donald Trump presidency? How much money was the shooter promised? Why was he negotiating with the police for a couple of hours?

At least fifty people were massacred in Saturday’s shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, prompting the city’s mayor Buddy Dyer to declare a “state of emergency.”

The shooter, named by officials as Omar Mateen, was reportedly killed by the police. At least 53 others were injured at the Pulse club.

The mass shooting, described by FBI as “an act of terrorism” is said to be the deadliest in recent US history.

The shooter reportedly lived in the town of Port St Lucie, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is said to be of Afghan descent. Authorities said he was currently being investigated for a criminal act that was unrelated to terrorism.

It is unclear what the police was negotiating about with the shooter for two hours.

Massive Fish Die-off Reported in Brevard County, Florida

Tens of thousands of dead fish rotting on Brevard County beaches

The dead fish were first spotted on Wednesday in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, but have since spread further along Brevard County and continue to wash ashore, said a report.

A Brevard County commissioner, Trudie Infantini, wants the county commission to declare a state of emergency over the fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon.

“This is truly a statewide problem for the health and safety of the public,” she said.

She is also concerned that the water may be unsafe for people.

“Until we know [what cause the fish kill,] do you want one of your kids swimming in the lagoon?” she asked.

Related Links

• Fish kill should be declared ‘state of emergency’ —Brevard County commissioner [WFTV]
• Residents and biologists concerned about major fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon [WFTV]
• Chain gang joins effort to remove thousands of dead, rotting fish [WFTV]
• Harmful algae could be responsible for large fish kills  [WFTV]

• Die-off of Large Whales Continues in Gulf of Alaska Posted on October 1, 2015
• Mass Fish Die-off in Lake Cajititlan, Mexico Posted on August 19, 2015
• Fish Die-off in Nevada Lake  Posted on January 17, 2014
• “Spooky” Disease Turning Starfish to “Slime” Posted on November 5, 2013
• Mass Die-off of Wild Shrimp Off SE Atlantic Coast  Posted on November 4, 2013
• Fracking Fluid Likely Killed Threatened Kentucky Fish: USGS  Posted on August 30, 2013
• Fish Mass Die-off Near Galveston, Texas Posted on August 14, 2012
• Dead Fish Cover 60-mile Stretch of Louisiana’s Pearl River Posted on August 23, 2011
• Red Tide Kills Millions of Fish Along Texas Coast  Posted on November 4, 2011

Crop Disasters Declared in Florida, Georgia

Extreme weather and climatic disasters destroy at least 30% of crops in 30 counties across two states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 20 counties in Florida as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Jan. 3, 2016, through Jan. 29, 2016. Those counties are:

• Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Sarasota, and St. Lucie.

USDA has also designated a total of 10 counties in Georgia as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain that occurred from Sept. 15, 2015, through Dec. 22, 2015.  Those counties are:

• Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Johnson, McDuffie, Richmond, Warren, Washington.

All counties listed above were designated crop disaster areas on March 16, 2016.

Previous Disaster Designations – 2016:

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Nine U.S. States March 4, 2016

• Multiple Crop Disasters Hit Eight U.S. States February 29, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Montana February 25, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in the U.S. States of North Carolina and Virginia February 11, 2016

• Crop Disasters Declared in Two U.S. States February 5, 2016
• Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas January 24, 2016
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

ZIKV: Health Emergency Declared in 4 Florida Counties

Florida Governor Declares Health Emergency in Four Counties

Gov. Scott has signed Executive Order 16-29 directing Florida State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong to declare a public health emergency in the four counties which have the Zika virus, according to the governor’s website.

The Executive Order follows the discovery of a total of nine travel-associated cases (defined as disease believed to be contracted outside of the state) of the Zika virus across Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee and Santa Rosa Counties.

“Today I am directing Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong to declare a public health emergency in the four counties that have individuals with the Zika virus.  Although Florida’s current nine Zika cases were travel-related, we have to ensure Florida is prepared and stays ahead of the spread of the Zika virus in our state.  Our Department of Health will continue to be in constant communication with all county health offices, hospitals and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  We know that we must be prepared for the worst even as we hope for the best,” said Scott on Wednesday.

To view the Executive Order, click HERE.

Link to Microcephaly

Researchers suspect a possible link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly, a severe birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

Microcephaly can occur as a result of changes in babies genes, as well as other causes that can include the following exposures during pregnancy:

• Infections, such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, or cytomegalovirus
• Severe malnutrition
• Exposure to harmful substances, such as alcohol, certain drugs, or toxic chemicals

Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly. Microcephaly is not a common condition. State birth defects tracking systems have estimated that microcephaly ranges from 2 babies per 10,000 live births to about 12 babies per 10,000 live births in the Unites States.

Ae. aegypti Mosquitoes: The Principal Vectors of ZIKV

Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the principal vectors of dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4), chikungunya (CHIKV), yellow fever (YFV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses. Of these seven arboviruses, DENV, YFV and CHIKV have caused outbreaks within the United States and its territories in the past 110 years.

With a newly-obtained fiery red blood meal visible through her transparent abdomen, the now heavy female Aedes aegypti mosquito took flight as she left her host’s skin surface. Photo Credit: James Gathany/ CDC

Approximate distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes in the United States. -CDC-

ZIKV in Brief [CDC]

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

Outbreaks of Zika have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. Because the Aedes species mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world, it is likely that outbreaks will spread to new countries. In December 2015, Puerto Rico reported its first confirmed Zika virus case. Locally transmitted Zika has not been reported elsewhere in the United States, but cases of Zika have been reported in returning travelers.

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika. Travelers can protect themselves from this disease by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites. When traveling to countries where Zika virus (see map) or other viruses spread by mosquitoes have been reported, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.

Zika and pregnancy

Zika Travel Notices

• Zika Virus in Cape Verde
• Zika Virus in the Caribbean
  Currently includes: Barbados; Curaçao; Dominican Republic; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Jamaica; Martinique; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory; Saint Martin; U.S. Virgin Islands
• Zika Virus in Central America
  Currently includes: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
• Zika Virus in Mexico
• Zika Virus in the Pacific Islands
  Currently includes: American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga
• Zika Virus in South America
  Currently includes: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela

Latest Health Warnings

Authorities in four countries—Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica—have warned women to avoid pregnancy as cases of microcephaly, believed to be caused by Zika virus (ZIKV), continue to multiply.

Brazil. Authorities say the number of babies born with suspected microcephaly has now reached about 4,000 since October, 2015.

Colombia. Health Minister has urged women to delay pregnancies for about eight months.

Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica. Authorities have told women to delay pregnancies by up to two years.

U.S. In January, explosive outbreaks of ZIKV, a dangerous tropical disease linked to birth defects, prompted the  U.S. health officials to issue a travel alert for people traveling to regions and countries where the virus transmission is spreading: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission

AFRICA: Angola*, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt*, Ethiopia*, Gabon, Gambia*, Kenya*, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone*, Somalia*, Tanzania*, Uganda and Zambia*.

AMERICAS: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.

OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

ASIA: Cambodia, India*, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan*, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam*.

[*For these countries, the only evidence of Zika virus transmission is from studies that detected Zika virus antibodies in healthy people.  These studies cannot determine where the people were infected or if they were infected with Zika virus because the antibodies may have resulted from infections with other closely related viruses, such a; s dengue virus.]

Related Links

• ZIKV Update – Feb. 3, 2016 February 3, 2016
• Zika Virus Outbreak Result of Bioweapon? February 2, 2016

• WHO Declares Microcephaly Cluster a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’  February 2, 2016
• ZIKV: Additional Information on Transmission January 29, 2016
• ZIKV: Media Sensationalism Forcing WHO to Overreact? January 28, 2016
• ZIKV: CDC Adds Two More Countries to Travel Warning List  January 27, 2016
• ZIKV Found in Australian Travelers Returning from S. America January 26, 2016

• ZIKV Emergency: New Warnings Issued by Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador & Jamaica January 23, 2016

Additional Links

ZIKV

• CDC Issues Travel Warning as Zika Virus Epidemic Continues to Spread January 16, 2016
• Zika Virus: Coming to a Place Near You…  January 5, 2016
• Disasters/ Significant Events – Dec 25, 2015 Posted on December 25, 2015
• Most Dangerous Pathogens  December 12, 2015
• ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects  December 4, 2015

DENGUE

• Latest Dengue Fever Outbreaks January 20, 2016
• Top Emerging Diseases Likely to Cause Major Epidemics December 12, 2015
• ZIKV – Emerging Virus May Cause Severe Birth Defects December 4, 2015
• Dengue Fever Kills 204 in Taiwan  December 16, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in East Java  January 26, 2015
• Dengue Fever Outbreak Prompts State of Emergency in Brazil City  January 21, 2013
• State of emergency in Marshall Islands as dengue outbreak spirals  October 29, 2011
• Chikungunya Makes West Nile Look Like Nappy Rash  September 19, 2009

Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia

Extreme weather events cause additional crop disasters in 39 counties across three states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 39 counties in three states—Alabama, Florida and Georgia—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rainfall, winds, and flooding that occurred during the period of Sept. 1 through Nov. 20, 2015. Those counties are:

Alabama. Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Tallapoosa and Wilcox.

Florida. Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton.

Georgia. Chattahoochee, Clay, Early, Harris, Muscogee, Seminole, Stewart and Troup.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 3,929 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands]: Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations have been due to drought so far this year.

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.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

Drought Disaster Declared for Counties in Georgia, Florida

Drought destroys or damages crops in 15 counties across two states

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 15 counties in two states—Georgia and Florida—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessively dry weather and drought that occurred from June 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2014.

The disaster designations are for the following areas:

• Georgia. Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee,Irwin, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Pierce,Telfair and Ware counties.

• Florida. Baker County.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 746 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.

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 February 18, 2015.

Related Links

• Drought Disaster Declared for VA, WV Counties January 30, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared for 220 Counties in 3 States January 8, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in 3 States December 25, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

State of Emergency Declared in Martin County, FL due to Coastal Erosion

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
STORM SURGES
COASTAL FLOODING
HIGH WIND
STATE OF EMERGENCY
MAIN SCENARIOS: 900, [500,] 444, 117, 111, 071, 070, 066, 064, 047, 027, 025, 024, 023, 010, 09, 02
.

Martin County issues emergency proclamation due to coastal erosion

Martin County, Florida has issued an emergency proclamation declaring a state of emergency due to massive waves and high winds that are causing coastal erosion, according to local officials.

“My daughter said it was like a tsunami! The water rushed by our house and into the road,” said a  woman who lives along the beach on Hutchinson Island.

“One massive wave flooded the entire street,” she added.

Martin County is located in the Treasure Coast region of The Sunshine State, and has a population of about 160,000.

The county is included in the Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL Combined Statistical Area.

The following forecast is reprinted with the permission of our colleagues at EDRO.

Posted by edro on December 7, 2009

What Florida Might Look Like in 2014

The World Is Rapidly Collapsing. To fathom the reasons for world’s rapid collapse, the following basic premises should first be understood:

• The sum total of human activities on the planet is exponentially INCREASING.

• Humans consumptions of energy and resources continue to increase in parallel to its activities.

• Pollution including  greenhouse gas emissions resulting from increased energy consumption is accumulating.

• The increase in the consumption of energy and resources is enlarging humans ecological footprint.

• The impacts of humans’ ever-enlarging ecological footprint and the accumulating pollution have driven most of the planetary-scale ecosystems to the verge of collapse.

• In the absence of any intervention by the forces of nature, the large-scale ecosystem such as the atmosphere, climate, oceans, soil … will completely collapse, rendering the planet unable to support large species.

• We can say with the maximum degree of certainty that in the absence of any ‘remedial action’ by natural forces the state of our planet would progressively worsen [NOT improve] with time.

• Based on the evidence, including enhanced seismic and volcanic activity, WE BELIEVE, the earth is trying to maintain planetary “homeostasis.”

• However, there is a high price to pay for the nature’s balancing act functions.

• Planet earth is effectively becoming “smaller,” less hospitable. The quality of nature’s services are generally deteriorating, becoming more rudimentary

• The effect of Nature’s balancing act functions, as harsh as they may be, should be viewed as desperate last measures: Survival of some, or extinction of all.

EDRO Moderators believe that the impact of global climate change, including extreme rain events, storm tides, and rising sea levels caused by both melting ice and slowing down [or disappearance ] of Gulf Stream could flood large swaths of eastern United States, especially the coastal areas of Florida.

Cities and population centers both on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts could experience complete or partial inundation for some of the year, most of the year, or permanently.

About 40 percent of Florida’s more densely inhabited areas, home to more than 65 percent of the population, could be impacted by the climatic events, rendering most of the existing cities effectively uninhabitable and affecting up to 90 percent of Florida’s population.

USGS Digital Elevation Map of The United States

The elevations correspond to the following legend:

Plotted on these maps are:

• White – State, country, coast outlines
• Gray – County outlines
• Black – Rivers and major streams
• Red – US Highways
• Light red – Interstate Highways
• Magenta – National Parks and Monuments

USGS Digital Elevation Map of Florida

Some of the areas most prone to flooding are marked on the map. The markings are meant as an indication only. They do not represent exact locations. Source of images: Unisys Weather. Images may be subject to copyright.

State of Emergency Declared in Florida County for Coastal Erosion

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
STORM SURGES
COASTAL FLOODING
HIGH WIND
STATE OF EMERGENCY
MAIN SCENARIOS: 900, [500,] 444, 117, 111, 071, 070, 066, 064, 047, 027, 025, 024, 023, 010, 09, 02
.

St. Johns County issues emergency proclamation due to coastal erosion

St. Johns County, Florida issued an emergency proclamation on Monday declaring a state of emergency due to coastal storm erosion, said a report.

St. Johns County engineers and officials from various state agencies have determined recent severe wind, high tides, and storm surges have caused coastal erosion, posing an immediate threat of substantial property damage to homes and other buildings.

“Due to the severity and acceleration of the erosion and the vulnerability of numerous homes, the county deemed it prudent to expedite the permitting process in order to provide homeowners with the greatest amount of time to protect their property.” Read more…

High tide and strong winds inundated several streets in St. Augustine, the county seat and the largest city in St. Johns County, on Monday.

St. Augustine (population: ~ 14,000), located in Northeast Florida, is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental U.S.

St. Johns County (population: ~ 200,000; area of 2,130 km²) is included in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Drought Destroys Crops in Georgia, Florida

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DROUGHT
CROP DISASTERS
SCENARIOS  444, 111, 100, 03, 02
.

Drought Crop Disaster declared for 19 counties across two states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared crop disasters for an additional  19 counties across two states—Georgia and Florida—due to the losses and damage caused by recent drought.

Those counties are:

• Georgia. Baker, Decatur, Mitchell, Colquitt, Grady, Thomas, Brooks,  Dougherty, Seminole, Calhoun, Early, Tift, Cook, Miller and Worth.
• Florida. Gadsden, Jackson, Jefferson and Leon.

Crop Disasters 2014

Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 2,661 counties across 41 states. Most of those designations are due to  drought.

Those states are

• Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, 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. 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.

Latest/ Recent Crop Disaster Declarations

• Crop Disasters Declared in Five States October 10, 2014
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in New England October 4, 2014
• Multiple Crop Disasters Occur in 11 States October 3, 2014
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in 10 States September 25, 2014
• Drought Crop Disasters Declared in U.S. West  September 18, 2014
• FREEZE Destroys Crops in Ohio, Pennsylvania  September 18, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in Five States September 12, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in Six States Posted on September 5, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

2ND Case of MERS Reported in U.S.

EMERGING & RE-EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
DEADLY MERS
SCENARIO 011
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MERS infected traveler from Saudi Arabia hospitalized in Florida: CDC

CDC has confirmed a second imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)  in the United States. The patient is identified as a healthcare worker who resides and works in Saudi Arabia.

The first U.S. imported case of MERS was reported on May 2 in Indiana. Both imported MERS cases in the U.S. are healthcare workers who recently worked in and traveled from Saudi Arabia. However, the CDC says the two cases are unrelated.

“This second confirmed case of MERS in a person who worked in health care from an area of risk is not surprising,” said CDC Director. “To continue to strengthen our own health security, we need to increase our global ability to support other countries to help them find and stop threats such as MERS promptly, and to prevent them whenever possible.”

The patient flew  from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Orlando, Florida, via London, England, Boston and Atlanta on May 1. The patient reported feeling unwell during the flight with reported symptoms that include fever, chills and a slight cough. On May 9, the patient was admitted to the emergency department of a hospital in Florida. “The patient is isolated, being well cared for, and is currently doing well.”

The Florida Department of Health officials tested the patient for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the virus that causes MERS. Those tests were positive, and CDC confirmed MERS-CoV infection in the patient late last night.

“Given the dramatic increase in MERS cases in the Arabian Peninsula, we expected and are prepared for additional imported cases,” said the assistant surgeon general and director of CDC’s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases. “The reason for this increase in cases is not yet known, but public health investigations are ongoing, and we are pleased to have a team in Saudi Arabia supporting some of those efforts.”

MERS in Saudi Arabia

Reported MERS cases in Saudi Arabia climbed to 491 on Monday, including 147 deaths, the Health Ministry has confirmed.

Six new cases were reported yesterday including patients that are  in critical condition.

MERS Cases Worldwide

As of May 12th, 2014, “a total of 538 laboratory-confirmed cases including 145 deaths due to MERS Coronavirus infection have been reported.  Saudi Arabia alone has reported 450 lab-confirmed cases and 112 deaths,” according to CDC.  [The CDC figures do NOT coincide with the data released by the Saudi  Health Ministry. Editor]

What’s MERS?

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness  caused by a coronavirus called “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).”

Symptoms

MERS symptoms include fever and pneumonia leading to kidney failure and often death. Most victims who got infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About half of them died. Some people were reported as having a mild respiratory illness within 14 days after traveling from countries in the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

MERS was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About half of these people died.

MERS-CoV is not the same coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. However, like the SARS virus, MERS-CoV is most similar to coronaviruses found in bats. –CDC

 Countries with Lab-Confirmed MERS – Reported Cases Since April 2012

• Egypt (see below)
• France
• Greece
• Italy
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Malaysia
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• United Kingdom (UK)
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Unites States of America (USA)
• Yemen

Source of MERS

MERS-CoV has been “extraordinarily common” in camels since the 1990s, and it may have evolved after being passed to humans, according to a recent study.  The virus has been found in camels in Qatar and a bat in Saudi Arabia. Camels in a few other countries have also tested positive for antibodies to MERS-CoV.

Doctors Resigning for Fear of Infection

At least four doctors at a Jeddah hospital resigned in April after refusing to treat MERS patients for fear of infection, said reports.

Egypt’s Reports First Case of MERS-CoV

Egypt reported its first case  of MERS two weeks ago. A man in his twenties who  had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, and showed symptoms of the infection, tested positive for MERS-CoV, according to a report.

MERS a Year Ago

A total of 38 infected cases had been reported in Saudi Arabia, 49 worldwide, as of May 30, 2013.

Related Links

• First U.S. Case of Deadly MERS Virus Confirmed  May 3, 2014
• Saudi MERS Death Toll Reaches 102 April 28, 2014

Links to Other Infectious Diseases

• Ebola Kills 100 in West Africa April 5, 2014
• Ebola Spreads to Liberia, Senegal Shuts Border March 31, 2014
• Ebola Outbreak Kills Dozens March 23, 2014

• Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever Breaks Out in SW Uganda October 20, 2012
• Disaster Calendar – 28 July 2012 July 28, 2012
• Climate Change Spreads “Deadly Dozen” Diseases October 8, 2008

Federal Disaster Declared for Florida

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
SEVERE STORMS
TORNADOES
STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
HISTORIC FLOODING
SCENARIO 023
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
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Major Disaster Declared for Florida (DR-4177)

Federal Disaster has been declared in the state of Florida in the areas severely affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from April 28 to May 6, 2014.

Areas most affected by multiple disasters are the counties of Escambia and Santa Rosa.

The Federal Disaster Declaration follows a State of Emergency Proclamation issued by the state last week.

Gov. Scott declared a state of emergency for 26 panhandle and north Florida counties on April 30, 2014.

The State of Emergency Proclamation included the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Liberty, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, and Alachua.

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

• Federal Disasters
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
SEVERE STORMS
EXTREME RAIN EVENT
HISTORIC FLOODING 
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Extreme Rain Event and Historic Flooding  Submerge City in Florida Panhandle

 A slow-moving storm system, responsible for dozens of deaths and more than 100 tornadoes in Central, South and Eastern U.S., dumped 21.4 inches of rain in a 23-hour period on Pensacola, Fla., killing at least one person, washing away bridges and destroying many miles of highways and roads across the region.

A second, unconfirmed fatality was also reported as a result of flooding.

Multiple  incidents of  major flooding were reported in Alabama, North Carolina and other parts of Florida.

The system had also dumped about 21 inches of rain on Gulf Shores, Alabama, by early Wednesday.

Up to 3,000 lightning strikes per hour were recorded in central Florida.  Lightning was also blamed for multiple bushfires in Volusia County on Tuesday.

Related Links

• Bay of Bengal Island Disappears March 25, 2010
• What Florida Might Look Like in 2014 December 7, 2009

Crop Disasters Declared in Six States

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DROUGHT
EXCESSIVE RAIN
FREEZE & FROST
CROP DISASTERS
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Drought, Excessive Rain, Freeze and Frost  Cause Crop Disasters across Dozens of Counties in 6 States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 52 Counties across six states—Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida and Georgia—as crop disaster areas in four separate designations due to various disasters.

Drought Disaster in Arizona and California

USDA has designated five counties in Arizona and three counties in California as Crop Disaster Areas due to ongoing Drought. Those areas are

• Arizona. La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai and Yuma counties.
• California. Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Drought Disaster in Oklahoma

USDA has designated seven counties in Oklahoma as Crop Disaster Areas due to damages and losses caused by the drought.  Those areas are Blaine, Dewey, Caddo, Canadian, Custer, Kingfisher and Major counties.

Crop Disasters from Excessive Rain in Florida

USDA has designated nine counties in Florida as Crop Disaster Areas due to excessive rain that occurred from Jan. 1- March 14, 2014.

Those counties are Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns  and Volusia.

Crop Disasters Caused by Freeze and Frost

USDA has designated 24 counties in Florida as crop disaster areas due to freeze and frost that occurred from Jan. 7-31, 2014 (and presumably continues. The wording is ambiguous).

Those counties are Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Broward, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Gilchrist, Glades, Hendry, Holmes, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Palm Beach, Walton, Martin, Putnam, Okeechobee, Santa Rosa, Union and Washington.

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Alabama and Georgia also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

• Alabama. Covington, Escambia and Geneva counties.

• Georgia. Charlton County.

Drought Disasters 2014

Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared at least 1,062 counties across 21 states as crop disaster areas. Most of those designations are due to drought.

• Those states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.

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. A number of 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 April 2, 2014.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared for 11 U.S. States April 11, 2014
• Crop Disaster Declared for 45 Counties in Texas, Oklahoma April 3, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in 5 States as Drought Worsens March 27, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared for Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho March 21, 2014
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Mass Die-off of Manatees in Florida Waters

MASS DIE-OFF: ENDANGERED MAMMALS

Record number of manatees die in Florida waters 

Toxic algae bloom in the Gulf of Mexico was the leading killer of the endangered manatees in Florida waters this year, says Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Dinoflagellates, the marine plankton responsible for algal bloom (red tide), which produce deadly neurotoxins, settle on the sea grasses that manatees eat, impairing their nervous system and causing them to drown, or so it’s thought.

At least 92 manatee deaths in the Indian River Lagoon, in central Florida, along the Atlantic coast is also thought to have been caused by algal bloom.

See also:  Manatee death toll rising in Florida despite Red Tide ebbing

A large percentage of manatees are also killed by boats.

Some 803 manatee deaths occurred in Florida waters between January 1 and December 13, the largest toll for any year since record-keeping began 40 years ago.

Some 392 manatee died in Florida in 2012 and 453 deaths were recorded in 2011.

“The previous record was 766 manatee deaths and that was in 2010,” said the commission spokesman. “That was a year when cold weather was a major factor.”

As of 2011 about 4,834 manatees were living in Florida’s waters, an aerial survey showed.

A group of three West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) was photographed feeding on seagrass. Manatees (family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus, order Sirenia ) are large, aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals. Also known as  sea cows, they measure up to 13 feet (4.0 m) long, and weigh as much as 1,300 pounds (590 kg). Photo: NOAA

Florida, USA. “The cold December weather caused 35 manatee deaths, adding to what was already a record-breaking annual total of manatee deaths. Last year, 767 manatees died, which was more than double the annual average, said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.”

Cozy Relationship or Federal Felony: Environmental group suing U.S. Govt over oil permits [May 16, 2010]

The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, has filed a notice of intent to sue Ken Salazar the U.S. Interior Secretary, and the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) for failing to get the necessary environmental permits, required by two environmental laws, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act, before approving offshore oil operations.

Note, the key words and phrases here are, “failing to get the necessary environmental permits,” the Endangered Species Act and “the Marine Mammal Protection Act.” and

“The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act prohibit private entities, such as oil companies, as well as federal agencies, such as the Minerals Management Service — the branch of the Interior Department responsible for managing offshore oil activities — from killing, harming, or harassing marine mammals, unless they have received authorizations and take measures to minimize the impacts of their activities. The Endangered Species Act protects species such as the sperm whale, which is listed as endangered, while the Marine Mammal Protection Act applies to all marine mammals, such as the bottlenose dolphin and the Florida manatee.” The group said in their notice.

Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act

Florida Statute: 370.12 and Florid Administrative Code: Chapter 68C-22

This act declares Florida a refuge and sanctuary for the manatee, the Florida state marine mammal. The act declares it unlawful for any person at any time, by any means, or in any manner to intentionally or negligently annoy, molest, harass, or disturb or attempt to molest, harass, or disturb any manatee; injure or harm or attempt to injure or harm any manatee; capture or collect or attempt to capture or collect any manatee; pursue, hunt, wound, or kill or attempt to pursue, hunt, wound, or kill any manatee; or possess, literally or constructively, any manatee or any part of any manatee. The Florida statute provides guidelines for counties to establish manatee speed zones on county waters, as well as manatee protection zones. The Florida Administrative Code sets forth rules by county where manatee protection applies. Source: NOAA/CS

Related News

• Manatee death toll hits record in Florida, ‘Red Tide’ blamed

Related Links

• Florida’s Endangered Manatees Faced Another Deadly Year January 5, 2012
• Seagrass in Crisis  June 30, 2009
• At least 123 bottlenose dolphins became stranded along the Texas coast since November 2011, of which 119 died: NOAA, June 13, 2012

Disaster Calendar – August 19, 2013

Hundreds dead or missing as floods and mudslides devastate China

Extreme rain events, flooding and mudslides in northeast and southern China have left hundreds of people dead, injured or missing.

“The Heilongjiang Provincial Hydrological Bureau forecast the stretch of the Heilong River between Tongjiang and Fuyuan County will witness the largest flooding in its history. Authorities in Tongjiang have started a Grade I response preparing for floods,” said a report.

• The deluge has destroyed or damaged at least 210,000 houses in Jilin, Heilongjiang, Guangdong and Liaoning provinces, with the direct economic losses estimated at 18.5 billion yuan (3 billion U.S. dollars), said a report.
• Torrential rains and floods triggered by Typhoon Utor have affected 680,000 people in eight cities in Guangxi. Some 16,660 hectares of crops have been damaged and 1,080 houses have been destroyed.
• In Guangdong Province, TY UTOR has affected more than 2.5 million people destroying or damaging about 19,000 houses and forcing 513,000 people to relocate. The extreme rain has also ruined 173,333 hectares of farmland, according to local authorities.
• “In central China’s Hunan Province, landslides triggered by continuous rainfalls over the past two days have left one dead and 14 others buried or missing,” said a report.

[NOTE: Some of the stats quoted above are already outdated as the  catastrophe continues to unfold in China on an almost hourly basis.]

Original caption: People walk on ruins after the flood in Nankouqian Township, Fushun, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Aug. 18, 2013. The death toll has risen to 54 as of Monday morning after the worst flooding in decades ravaged Fushun City, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, said the local authorities on Aug. 19, 2013. Extreme rainstorms battered Liaoning from Thursday to Saturday, leaving many rivers flooded in Fushun. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

• In Fushun City, 139,800 houses were damaged and many have collapsed.

• In Guangdong province, 19,000 houses have collapsed or sustained severe damage, forcing  about 513,000 residents to relocate.  The direct economic loss is estimated at 490 million yuan (80 million U.S. dollars).
• “Heilongjiang Province reported [37]  flood-related deaths. The floods have destroyed over 2,500 houses and severely damaged at least 12,500 others, with direct economic losses estimated at 7.13 billion yuan (1.15 billion U.S. dollars).”
• In Jilin Province, at least “35,000 houses were destroyed or damaged with direct economic losses at 2.4 billion yuan (387 million U.S. dollars).”
• “As of 10 a.m. Monday, a total of 1.8 million people in 30 counties in Liaoning Province have been affected and 162,000 have been evacuated from flooded areas. More than 6,100 buildings have collapsed and the total direct economic loss is around 8.5 billion yuan(1.39 billion U.S. dollars), according to the ministry.”

Don’t bring your car to China!

Heping Town in Shantou City, south China’s Guangdong Province devastated by extreme rain events and severe flooding, August19, 2013.  (Xinhua/Yao Jun). More images…

-oOo-

Philippines’ Cebu declares calamity as sunken ferry leaks oil

The central Philippine province of Cebu has declared a state of calamity as an oil slick from a ferry that sank last week spread to about 20 percent of the coast, said a report.

-oOo-

16 Counties across three states declared agricultural disaster areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 16 counties in three states as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by frost and freezing temperatures that occurred March 25-29, 2013.

The disaster designations are

• Alabama: Baldwin, Escambia, Mobile, Washington, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington and Monroe counties.

• Florida: Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties.

• Mississippi: George, Greene, Jackson and Wayne counties.

-oOo-

Beaver Creek Fire Consumes 100,000 acres

As of August 18, 2013 10pm,  the Beaver Creek Fire had grown to at about 100,921 acres with 8% containment.

Beaver Creek Fire. Red Flag conditions, including higher temperatures and wind gusts to 38 miles per hour, increased fire activity on the Beaver Creek Fire. Credit: Sawtooth National Forest/ USFS.

For additional information see

• “Take Your Essentials Belongings and Pets and GO NOW” August 18, 2013

Disaster Diary – April 30, 2013

3 varieties of butterflies native to south Florida now extinct

An entomologist who surveyed butterflies native to south Florida for six years says three varieties of the lepidopterans have become extinct.

“These are unique butterflies to Florida. This is our biological treasure. Each unique species that we lose, we won’t ever get that back again,” Marc Minno, who conducted the survey for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, told Reuters.

The extinction of butterflies is an indication of the degradation of south Florida’s environment, he said.

“It’s indicating there are major problems, environmental harm to Florida. And this is an indication that quality for people is also degrading and people should be worried about that,” Minno said.

Miami Blue, Hemiargus thomasi, basking on twig (dorsal view of male)
Photo by David L Lysinger. Image source: Miami Blue Chapter

Additionally, two other native butterflies have left Florida for the Caribbean, and two more face extinction, he said.

• The three extinct varieties are the Florida Zestos Skipper, the Rockland Meske’s Skipper, and the Keys Zarucco Skipper, Minno said.
• The two that have moved from Florida to the Caribbean are the Bahamian Swallowtails and the Nickerbean Blues.
• The other two that are expected to become extinct are Shaus’ Swallowtail and the Miami Blue.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Severe flooding in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Floods and landslides triggered by extreme rain events have killed at least a dozen people, displacing tens of thousands of others and affecting about 1/2 million people in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

• More than 12,000 hectares of farmland have been devastated by floodwaters and hundreds of houses destroyed, Xinhua reported.

0O0

Israel plagued by hundreds of wildfires

Numerous wildfires have raged across Israel since Saturday forcing the authorities to evacuate hundreds of people.

“We have been putting out over 600 fires that have erupted since Saturday,” the Fire Fighters’ department told Xinhua.

“The cause of these fires are mainly the combination of extreme heat, strong winds, a problematic humidity situation and bonfires held as part of the holiday.”

0O0

Syria

A bomb killed at least 13 people and injured more than 70 others in central Damascus on Tuesday

0O0

Iraq

At least two dozen people were killed and more than  100 others injured in car bomb attacks across Iraq on Monday.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 30, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,047 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,047 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 Declared in 32 Additional Texas Counties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 32 counties in Texas as drought disaster areas, due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map. This USDA/FSA map shows 1,044 counties designated as drought disaster areas across 25 states, as of April 3, 2013.

The designation include both primary and contiguous disaster areas. The counties are:

• (PDA) Brazos, Frio, Harris, Wharton, Colorado, Grimes and Montgomery.
• (CDA) Atascosa, Dimmit, La Salle, Madison, Uvalde, Austin, Fayette, Lavaca, Matagorda, Walker, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Leon, Medina, Waller, Burleson, Galveston, Liberty, Robertson, Washington, Chambers, Jackson, McMullen, San Jacinto and Zavala.

As of April 2, 2013, more than 2/3 of Contiguous U.S. remained abnormally dry or worse.

• About 52 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in moderate drought or worse, as of April 2, 2013.
• The map shows 35.30 percent in severe drought or worse; 17.13 percent in extreme drought or worse; and 5.20 percent in exceptional drought, compared with 5.10 percent the preceding week.

Other Disaster Declarations

Florida. USDA has also designated 19 counties in Florida as agricultural disaster areas in three separate designations due to various disasters.

• Designation #1 is for (PDA) Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties, and (CDA), Alachua, Clay, Duval, Marion and Volusia counties  due to freezes and frosts that occurred Feb. 17 – March 4, 2013.
• Designation #2 is for (PDA) Holmes and Washington counties, and (CDA), Bay, Jackson and Walton counties due to frosts, excessive rain, flooding, flash flooding and high winds that occurred Feb. 4 – March 4, 2013.
  
• Designation #3 is for (PDA) Palm Beach County, and (CDA), Broward, Glades, Hendry, Martin and Okeechobee counties due to freezes, frosts and high winds that occurred March 3-4, 2013.
  

FIRE-EARTH Drought Links 2013

• U-S Drought 2013: Fueled by Heat from Hell? January 31, 2013 [FIRE-EARTH Forecast]
• US: Drought Disaster 2013 [Index Page]

Leave Orcas (Dolphins) Out of Your Circus Act

Orcas (Dolphins) Can and Do Kill

Killer whale (orca) kills trainer at SeaWorld amusement park in Orlando, Florida

A female trainer was killed by a 6.5 ton killer whale (orca) at SeaWorld’s Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Florida, police and local media reported.

Orcas perform at Shamu Stadium at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Credit: David Bjorgen.  Copyleft. Multi-license with GFDL and Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.5

The killer whale, who is called Tilikum, or “Tilly,” is actually an orca (Orcinus orca) aka blackfish, the largest member of the dolphin family. Orcas are wild, powerful animals who can and do kill, especially when they feel threatened.

Two mammal-eating “transient” killer whales photographed off the south side of Unimak Island, eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Photo Credit: Robert Pittman/NOAA.

Dawn Brancheau, 40, an experienced “trainer” at the famous Florida tourist attraction, was killed by the killer whale Tilikum after she accidentally fell into the holding tank.

“She apparently slipped and fell into the tank and was fatally injured by one of the whales,” police spokesperson said. “Brancheau was pronounced dead at the park after being recovered from the pool. Orange County Sheriff’s Office homicide investigators continue to investigate the death of the trainer who was reported to have 16 years of experience working with killer whales.”

According to eye-witness reports, the orca at the park’s Shamu Stadium grabbed the woman by the waist, “thrashed her about and dragged her underwater,” minutes before a public performance was about to start.

“There were conflicting reports about how the incident occurred. The Orlando Sentinel quoted a spectator as saying the whale came up from the water and grabbed the trainer by her waist. The sheriff’s official said preliminary accounts indicated she slipped and fell in, but that was still under investigation.” Reuters reported .

“He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent,'” an eyewitness  said.

The whale “took off really fast in the tank, and then he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing around, and one of her shoes flew off,” she added.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Tilly” was blamed for drowning of one of his trainers at  Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1991 during a performance.

SeaWorld bought Tilly in 1992, and 7 years later he was reportedly involved in a second incident when the park authorities found the body of a naked man lying across his back.

They claimed the man was drowned after suffering hypothermia.

How the US Woman Emily May Harper Was Killed in NZ

Emily May Harper, 27, had a cardiac arrest while swimming with dolphins in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, October 20, 2009. Matthew Hawkins had proposed to Emily Harper. (Courtesy Matthew Hawkins )

In October 2009, a  27-year-old American woman was killed in New Zealand while swimming with [agitated] dolphins.

The New Zealand authorities, worried about losing substantial income from their “eco-tourism” industry, tried to cover-up the incident, claiming that the victim had died of natural causes. More …

Related Links:

• US Woman killed Swimming with Dolphins in NZ
• Another American Woman Killed in New Zealand
• Sick kiwis harm generous dolphin
• Tourist boats destroying dolphin community in New Zealand

Tilikum Bio
Tilikum, sometimes misspelled Tillikum, is a bull Orca who lives at SeaWorld Orlando. He was captured near Iceland in November 1983 at about two years of age. Tilikum measures 22 feet 6 inches long and weighs in at 12,300 pounds (as of 2007). His pectoral fins are six and one half feet long, his massive flukes curl under, and his 6-foot-tall dorsal fin is flopped completely to his left side, and weighs close to 200 pounds. He is the largest Orca in captivity and also the most successful sire in captivity, with 13 offspring, 10 of which are still alive. His name means friend in Chinook Jargon, usually spelled Tilicum and also meaning “people/tribe” or “kin”. [Wikipedia]

Fay: TS with an Attitude

Will she go north? Will she go west? Will she settle for west-northwest?

Fay is drifting toward the west near 2 mph (4 km/hr). Fay is forecast to move westward or west-northwestward with some increase in forward speed during the next 48 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/hr) with higher gusts are expected.

Fay is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches (25.4cm), across

• Central to northern portion of the Florida peninsula
• Florida Panhandle
• Southern Georgia
• Southeastern Alabama

Isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible!

Tropical Storm FAY QuickLook – Posted: 18:00 EDT 08/21/2008

Tropical Storm FAY beginning to make landfall on Florida’s East Coast near Flagler Beach. As of 08/21/2008 18:00 EDT, water levels from northeastern Florida to South Carolina are elevated about 1.25 to 2.40 feet above predicted. (NOAA-NOS)

• Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are possible across the coastal areas of southern South Carolina.
• Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible over southwest and southern Florida.
• Isolated storm total accumulations of 20 to 30 inches have been observed with this system over the east central coastal areas of Florida.
• Storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tides is possible along the east coast of Florida and Georgia
• Isolated tornadoes are possible tonight over portions of northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. (Forecaster: Brown/Knabb. NOAA-NHC)

Melbourne Florida: Roads Double as Rivers

Photograph: John Raoux/AP. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

See previous entries for more updated images:

• Fay drops 25 inches of rain on Melbourne

• Fay Heads North Toward SW Florida Coast
• Fay May Strengthen to Hurricane Force
• Tropical Storm Fay Forms
• Weather

Other related Links:

• World Now (Satellite Imagery Index Page)
• Tropical Storm FAY Public Advisory (NOAA – NHC)