DO NOT underestimate the destructive power of fast-moving water: Governor Cuomo!
Torrential rains have triggered widespread flooding and large-scale mudslides damaging houses and businesses, closing roads and forcing people to flee their homes in New York’s Mohawk Valley.
Governor Cuomo has issued a disaster declaration for 15 New York counties that have been hit by severe storms and widespread flooding. The counties are Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, Tioga, Schoharie, St. Lawrence and Warren. Additionally, local states of emergency have been declared for the following areas:
- Village of Ilion, Herkimer County
- Town of Chesterfield, Essex County
- Town & Village of Middleburgh, Schoharie County
- Herkimer County
- Town and Village of Herkimer, Herkimer County
- Village of Mohawk, Herkimer County
- Town of Elizabethtown, Essex County
- Town of Johnsburg, Warren County
- Village of Sherburne, Chenango County
- Montgomery County
- Town of Minden, Montgomery County
- Town of Whitesboro, Oneida County
- Town of German Flats, Herkimer County
Meantime, more rain has been forecast for the region, with the possibility there of more flooding in additional areas.
Flooding in the Mohawk River, New York. Photo shows the flooding in the city of Oneida. For more images click SOURCE.
Alerts and notifications available at NY Alert’s website: www.nyalert.gov
-oOo-
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
Beijing Air Pollution Off the Chart Again
The Air Quality Index in the Chinese capital zoomed into and above the “Hazardous” territory again late Friday, hitting the 529 mark. The index fell back to 193, or “Unhealthy” as of posting.
Image source: http://aqicn.org
-oOo-
Disaster Declared for Mineral County, Colo., as Papoose Fire Explodes
Mineral County has been declared a disaster area, due to the uncontrolled, fast-moving Papoose Fire.
“The Papoose Fire, southwest of Creede, made a significant run to the north Thursday afternoon, growing from approximately 2,000 acres to more than 11,000 acres [~34,000 acres as of posting.] It is burning near the Road Canyon Reservoir and 30-Mile Campground, while threatening subdivisions in the area,” said a report.
The 34,000-acre blaze is also causing concern because it is moving toward the Rio Grande Reservoir dam, an important water source for the San Luis Valley, the report said. Meantime, the towns of Del Norte, South Fork and Wagon Wheel Gap have been evacuated.
The West Fork Complex Fire, which includes the Papoose Fire, had grown to more than 90,000 acres with 2% contained as of 8:00 am, June 28, 2013, according to Inciweb.
Smoke monitors are in place in Del Norte and Creede. For the official Colorado Smoke Outlook visit http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspx and http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx for further health advisory information.
West Fork Complex Fire, located about 14.5 miles north/northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO, was sparked by lightning on June 5, 2013. Image source: Inciweb.
-oOo-
Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke for Continental America
Significant Smoke-producing Fires
-oOo-
Fire Earth 