State of Emergency Declared in Wisconsin

Risk of significant large fires expected to extend

Gov. Walker has issued an Executive Order (#157) declaring a State of Emergency in Wisconsin in response to ongoing drought and elevated wildfire conditions.  Abnormally dry weather conditions throughout the state are increasing likelihood of wildfires, with the risk of significant large fires expected to extend at least through the end of May, said a statement issued by the governor’s office.

“Much of our state is in a moderate drought at this time, and we’re not expecting that will improve very soon,” Walker said. “The recent dry weather, in combination with other factors such as wind speeds and low humidity, create the perfect environment for volatile wildfires, which is a potential danger to the people of Wisconsin and their property, as well as our natural resources. Therefore, I am calling upon the Wisconsin National Guard to assist the Wisconsin Emergency Management and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in wildfire suppression efforts.”

The DNR is currently monitoring weather conditions and fire behavior, and fire departments and fire suppression resources are on high-alert, said the statement.

A copy of Executive Order #157 is posted HERE.

State of Emergency Declared in Wisconsin ahead of Severe Winter Storm

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATE OF EMERGENCY
SEVERE WINTER STORM
.

Blizzard to hit Wisconsin

Gov. Walker has issued an executive order declaring a State of Emergency ahead of a severe winter storm forecast to impact Wisconsin on Thursday, February 20. Heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and strong winds are expected, and some areas of west central and northwest Wisconsin could receive more than 12 inches of snow.

“… an extremely dangerous winter storm with associated heavy snow, freezing rain, ice accumulation, and sleet exacerbated by winds gusting to 40mph is expected to move across the entire state of Wisconsin … due to this prolonged extreme weather, conditions are expected to worsen throughout the day on February 20, 2014 … there is an ongoing shortage of of road salt available to local units of government that will impact their ability to manage snow and ice on public roadways …,” said Walker. “This executive order ensures we are prepared for this potentially dangerous winter storm.”

• 7-day Storm Animation [valid for the duration of storm]

Meanwhile, the NWS has issued the following forecast for the region:

Multiple Weather Impacts Behind Strong System on Thursday

A strong weather system will continue to move through the central U.S. towards the East Coast. On Thursday, severe weather is possible from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes with damaging winds as the primary threat however, tornadoes will also be possible. Farther south and west, dry and windy conditions will lead to fire weather concerns. And behind the system, winter weather makes a return.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Thursday, February 20, 2014. Issued at 11:33UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE

Energy Emergency

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended on Wednesday the regional States of Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits for transporting propane throughout the United States.

A total of at least 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

• States of Emergency Declared for NY & CT February 14, 2014
• 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

Wisconsin Declares State of Emergency over Extreme Cold, Fuel Shortage

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATE OF EMERGENCY
.

Walker declares a State of Emergency due to extreme cold, propane shortages in Wisconsin

Gov. Walker has declared a State of Emergency in response to potentially life-threatening temperatures expected to plague Wisconsin this week and dangerously low propane levels impacting the state.

More than quarter of a million Wisconsinites depend on propane to heat their homes and businesses.

Proclamation declaring a State of Emergency in Response to Severe Winter Weather and a Propane Shortage

… an extremely dangerous winter storm with associated bitter
and potentially life-threatening temperatures, exacerbated by
brutal wind chill values at thirty to fifty degrees below zero, will
be moving across the entire State of Wisconsin … and the supply of
propane gas for heating purposes is dangerously low throughout the
State of Wisconsin, affecting the safety of citizens and property…

The entire Midwest is experiencing a propane shortage, including Wisconsin.

The supply shortage in the upper Midwest has caused delivery delays and reduced delivery amounts for propane customers in America’s Dairyland, as well as ALL Midwestern states. The propane shortage has been caused by a combination of unusually cold winter temperatures, closure of a major pipeline supplying propane to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and increased propane demand for grain drying due to a wet fall, said the Office of Governor Scott Walker in a statement.

National Heating Fuel Shortages

“Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy reported that cold weather led to record-high natural gas storage withdrawals, as well as propane.  These are the largest drawdowns in the 20-year history of the survey and the second time this year the record has been broken. Efforts are underway with the U.S. Department of Energy to acknowledge that emergency conditions could be forming, as consumers and businesses in dozens of state are faced with higher electricity and gas costs due to persistent cold weather,”  said the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) in its latest Statement on Propane Supply, Demand, and Distribution.

Some of the propane gas retailers have run out of supplies in the worst hit areas in the South, East and Midwest, said NPGA.

US-DOT: Current – Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

In addition to the State of Emergency in Louisiana, numerous other states of emergencies and/or executive orders, wavers and exemptions have been issued  for 33 states in the U.S. South, East and Midwest and District of Columbia, according to the Department of Transportation.

The following Emergencies are currently in effect:

Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Southern Service Center (PDF)

Affected States: Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.  (Effective Date:  1/21/2014 – In effect for the duration of the emergency or until 2/11/2014, whichever is less).

Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Eastern Service Center (PDF)

Affected States: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia.  (Effective from 1/19/2014 In effect for the duration of the emergency or until 2/11/2014, whichever is less).

Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Midwestern Service Center (PDF)

Affected States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.   (Effective from 1/19/2014 In effect for the duration of the emergency or until 2/11/2014, whichever is less).

Related Links

• 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

Drought: State of Emergency Declared in Wisconsin

Drought conditions prompt Wisconsin Gov to declare a state of emergency in 42 southern and central counties

Drought has hit plants during the most vulnerable time in their growing cycle, killing their pollen.

“The lack of rainfall since May in the southern half of the state has hit hard in a crucial part of the growing season,” Walker said in a statement. “Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service reports this week that most of the land in these counties is short or very short of soil moisture.”

• With 78,000 farms across the state, Wisconsin is the nation’s top producer of cranberries, oats and snap peas and is among the top-five producing states of potatoes, maple syrup, sweet corn, green peas, cucumbers for pickles, and other crops, said Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.

• The state is also home to about 13,000 dairy farms with an average of 100 cows.

• All counties in the southern half of the state are affected.

U.S. Drought Map. Released July 5, 2012

Links to Recent Related Entries

• U.S. Corn Belt Hit by Drought, Heat Wave Posted on July 9, 2012
• Record Heatwave Kills Dozens in U.S. Posted on July 8, 2012
• Drought Disaster Declared in Montana Posted on July 5, 2012
• Colorado Declared Agri Disaster Area Posted on July 4, 2012

• Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States Posted on July 3, 2012
• Deadly Heat Blankets Eastern U.S. Posted on July 2, 2012
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises Posted  on July 1, 2012
• Deadly Heat Wave Affects Third of U.S. Population Posted on June 30, 2012
• The record-setting heat wave continues to expand Posted on June 30, 2012
• Explosive Wildfires Continue Erupting Across the U.S. Posted on June 29, 2012
• Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado Posted on June 28, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• China.  Epic flooding and massive landslides spawned by extreme rain events have buried parts of 8 provinces in China affecting about 20 million people. Deaths, destruction and evacuations are occurring in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong provinces in east China, Henan and Hubei provinces in central China, Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province in southwest China and Shaanxi Province in northwest China,Xinhua reported. The official weekly toll currently stands at:
  • Dead or missing:  100 people
  • Displaced: 1.17 million people
  • Houses destroyed: 66,000
  • Destroyed or damaged crops: 982,400 hectares
    
  • A mile-wide landslide in Sichuan province is currently burying everything in it path, threatening to block rivers and cause additional disasters.
  • More than 113.36 million people, about 9 percent of the China’s population, have been affected by natural disasters (floods, hail and landslides has had the greatest impact, followed by droughts, earthquakes, snowstorms and typhoons), with at least 465 dead and and 97 missing in the first half of this year, the report said.