Major Disaster Declared for West Virginia

WV Declared Federal Disaster Area

West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4273)

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of West Virginia in the areas affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on June 22, 2016, and continuing.

The worst affected areas so far are Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties.

Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas said damage surveys were continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Earlier, states of emergency were declared in 44 of the state’s 55 counties.

Multiple West Virginia communities have been devastated by the historic flooding that have killed at least 26 people and left many more homeless.

About a 1,000 properties have been damaged or destroyed, according to the local residents.

Major Disaster Declarations (2016)

• Federal Disaster Declared for Texas [DR-4272] June 12, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for the U.S. State of Montana [DR-4271] May 25, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for the State of Arkansas [DR-4270] May 7, 2016
• Texas Severe Storms and Flooding [DR-4269]
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4268] March 26, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Pennsylvania [DR-4267] March 24, 2016

• Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding [DR-4266]  March 17, 201
• Major Disaster Declared for Delaware [DR-4265] March 17, 201
• Louisiana Disaster Declaration Expanded March 17, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: New Jersey [DR-4264] March 15, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: Louisiana Severe Storms and Flooding March 14, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Virginia [DR-4262] March 8, 2016
• Major Disaster Declarations for DC and Maryland [DR-4260, DR-4261 ] March 5, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Georgia [DR-4259] February 27, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oregon [DR-4258] February 19, 2016

• Major Disaster Declared for Alaska [DR-4257] February 18, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma [DR-4256] February 12, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas  [DR-4255] February 10, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Arkansas [DR-4254] February 6, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Louisiana (EM-3376) February 6, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Washington [DR-4253] February 3, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Idaho [DR-4252] February 2, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Alabama [DR-4251] January 23, 2016
• Oklahoma Oak Grove Fire (FM-5118)
• Major Disaster Declared for Missouri [DR-4250] January 22, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared in Michigan [EM-3375] January 17, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4249] January 16, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4248] January 5, 2016
• Federal Emergency Declared for Missouri [EM-3374] January 3, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Deadly Storms, Historic Flooding Devastate West Virginia

State of Emergency declared for 44 counties in WV as deadly storms, historic flooding kill dozens 

Some areas are “devastated,” especially the counties of Greenbrier, Nicholas, Fayette, Kanawha and Webster, said Gov. Tomblin’s communications director.

Some areas are “probably looking at flooding that’s going to be the worst in 100 years,” he added.

Many counties have significant localized damage. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed or severely damaged.

“The flooding we experienced Thursday and into today is among the worst in a century for some parts of the state,” Gov. Tomblin said. “Our team in the Emergency Operations Center worked through the night and continues to coordinate efforts with local officials today.

“On Thursday evening I declared a State of Emergency for 44 counties, including all but the Northern and Eastern Panhandles. I have authorized the deployment of up to 150 members of the West Virginia National Guard to assist local emergency responders as we continue to evaluate the situation today.

“We understand many counties continue to experience significant problems and some waters continue to rise. Joanne and I are thinking continually about those affected by this disaster, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones. I appreciate the tireless efforts of first responders across the state, many of whom have volunteered to travel long distances to help those in the most affected areas.”

State of Disaster Declared in Texas

Texas Gov. Declares State of Disaster in 31 Counties Devastated by Severe Weather, Flooding

Gov.  Abbott has declared state of disaster in 31 Texas counties because of the devastation caused by severe weather and flooding event that began on May 26, 2016, and that continues.

The disaster areas are Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Coleman, Colorado, Erath, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Jasper, Kleberg, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Lubbock, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton counties in the Lone Star State.

On Friday, May 27th, Abbott elevated the activation level of the State Operations Center (SOC) in Austin and continues to urge all Texans to stay on high alert and immediately heed any warnings from their local officials related to this severe flood threat.

“As our state continues to face waves of severe weather and potential flooding, it is crucial that Texans remain vigilant and heed warnings and any evacuation notices from local officials in their areas,” said Abbott. “The State of Texas stands ready to assist all counties affected by severe weather and has dedicated the resources necessary to ensure the safety of those at risk. I would like to thank the first responders who have rescued residents from rising waters and ask all Texans to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.”

Abbott’s disaster declaration is posted here.

Evacuations were ordered for areas in two towns in Fort Bend County, about 50km southwest of Houston, after Brazos River rose to historic levels.

Meanwhile, up to 25 cm of rain is forecast for the Houston over the next few days, said NWS, exacerbating the deadly flood conditions that have claimed about a dozen lives, and caused substantial damage in the metro area.

Most of the state is under Flash Flood Warning, Flood Warning, or Flash Flood Watch, as of posting.

Historic Flooding: Texas Declares State of Disaster

Thousands of Homes Damaged or Destroyed in Historic Southern US Flooding

Flooding along the Sabine River, the natural border between Texas and Louisiana, has forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes, prompting Texas Gov. Abbott to declare state of disaster for 17 eastern and southeastern counties.

In Louisiana, more than 6,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by flooding across the state, forcing about 5,000 people to evacuate.

Flooding has also severely affected Mississippi and Arkansas over the past several days.

• About 1,000 homes in Mississippi have been damaged or destroyed.

Rising floodwaters have also forced sections of interstates 10 and 59 to close, causing major disruptions throughout the region.

Historic Flooding Underway: Town Evacuated

Mandatory evacuation order issued for West Alton, Missouri

The U.S. Coast Guard has closed a large section of the Mississippi River near St. Louis due to flooding.

• Historic flooding is underway.
• Up to 12 inches of rain since Monday have inundated a vast area in southern and central U.S.
• Water has topped the Consolidated North County Levee on the Mississippi River protecting the town of West Alton [pop: 550] in St. Louis-area, Missouri. The town is located at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
• The mayor has ordered a mandatory evacuation order.
• The Mayor had previously urged the resident to evacuate voluntarily.
• Multiple sections of major highways including Highway 94 are compromised, and have since been closed.
• Multiple rivers are expected to crest higher than the records set in December 1982 and Summer of 1993 including the Bourbeuse River at Union, MO and the Mississippi River at Chester, IL.

Texas Disaster Declaration Again Expanded

CORRECTION

States of Disaster Declared in 70 Texas Counties

Texas governor has now declared States of Disaster in 70 counties, as severe weather and deadly flash flooding leave trails of death and destruction across the state.

Governor Abbott has expanded his Disaster Proclamation of May 11, 2015, certifying that the extreme weather events, including severe weather, tornadoes and flooding, that began on May 4,2015, has now caused a disaster in 70 Texas counties, said the Executive Clerk to the Governor.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME: 

I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued Emergency Disaster Proclamations on May 11, May 15, May 25 and May 26, 2015, certifying that the severe weather, tornado and flooding event that began on May 4, 2015, has caused a disaster in many Texas counties.  Severe weather, tornadoes and flooding continue in these and other counties in Texas.

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, Bastrop, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Burleson, Caldwell, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Collin, Comal, Cooke, Denton, Dewitt, Eastland, Edwards, Ellis, Fannin, Fayette, Gaines, Garza, Gillespie, Grayson, Grimes, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Jasper, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Lynn, Madison, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Parker, Real, Red River, Refugio, Rusk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Smith, Travis, Tyler, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, Wise and Zavala counties.

The initial Disaster Proclamation was for 13 counties, amended twice previously to include first a total of 37 and then 46 counties (see below links).

Meantime, a quasi-stationery storm system dumped more than 15cm (6 inches) of rain across North Texas overnight. Collin County recorded 17.4cm (6.85in) of rain.

This week’s deadly storms dumped about 3.86 bbls (162 billion gallons) of water on the Houston area, destroying or damaging thousands of homes, washing away roads and cars and causing flooding across much of Houston.

PRECIPITATION DATA for May 1 – 28
Station: Houston International
Total Rainfall: 35cm (13.59in)
Departure from Normal: 23cm (9.01in)
Greatest 24hr: 13.0cm (5.11in) on May 25-26
[National Weather Service, NWS]

Oklahoma Gov. amends Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency for all 77 counties

“In light of continued storm and flooding damage over the weekend, Governor Fallin today amended an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 44 counties to a statewide emergency declaration. All 77 counties are now in a state of emergency. Under the executive order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions,” said a statement issued by her office on Tuesday.

The storms, flooding and tornadoes have killed at least 40 across Texas, Oklahoma and  the Mexican city of Ciudad Acuna, with more than a dozen people still unaccounted for.

Related Links

• Deadly Weather in Texas Destroys/ Damages Thousands of Homes May 27, 2015
• Texas Declares States of Disaster in 24 Additional Counties May 26, 2015

Deadly Weather in Texas Destroys/ Damages Thousands of Homes

States of Disaster declared for 46 Texas counties

Deadly weather has killed at least 20 people in Texas and Oklahoma and left more than a dozen missing, said reports.

Gov. Abbott Extends the Disaster Declaration

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued Emergency Disaster Proclamations on May 11, May 15 and May 25, 2015, certifying that the severe weather, tornado and flooding event that began on May 4, 2015, has caused a disaster in many Texas counties. Severe weather, tornadoes and flooding continue in these and other counties in Texas.

THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I hereby amend my proclamations of May 11, May 15 and May 25, 2015, and declare a disaster in Archer, Bastrop, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Collin, Comal, Cooke, Denton, Dewitt, Eastland, Fannin, Gaines, Garza, Grayson, Grimes, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Jasper, Johnson, Kendall, Montague, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Parker, Red River, San Jacinto, Smith, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, Wise, and Zavala counties.

Tsunami-like walls of water have destroyed homes and swept away people over the weekend in Central Texas.

“A record surge 44 feet high sped down the Blanco River late Sunday, demolishing homes and businesses, Hays County Commissioner Will Conley said. The previous record on the river was 32 feet, recorded in 1926,” said a report.

Floodwaters submerged large areas of Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, destroying or damaging more than 4,000 homes.

At least 4,000 properties have sustained “significant damage,” local media reported the Mayor Annise Parker as saying.

Dozens of homes in in Hays County have been completely destroyed and more than 1,400 others damaged, said reports.

Oklahoma Gov. amends Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency for all 77 counties

“In light of continued storm and flooding damage over the weekend, Governor Fallin today amended an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 44 counties to a statewide emergency declaration. All 77 counties are now in a state of emergency. Under the executive order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions,” said a statement issued by her office.

More severe storms, bringing additional rain, hail and tornadoes, are forecast to pound Oklahoma and Texas this week.

Twister devastates Mexican city of Ciudad Acuna

The Mexican city of Ciudad Acuna was devastated by a tornado which struck early Monday, killing at least 13 people.

The twister destroyed up to 800 homes (destruction toll varies between 200 and 800 properties) and damaged thousands more buildings.

The twister was the first ever to hit Ciudad Acuna since the city was founded more than 100 years ago, local media quoted the Mayor as saying.

Texas Judge Declares Hays County a Disaster Area

Flooding in Texas leaves more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed

Flooding in Texas town of San Marcos [pop: ~ 55,000] has left more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed, prompting the Hays County Judge to issue a disaster declaration.

“Once they told me the extent of damage and potential damage, we declared it a disaster area,” Judge Dr. Bert Cobb was quoted as saying.

“The flow and height is double what [it] was when it was at its highest in 1929,” said San Marcos Emergency Management Commander, describing the Blanco River that flows through San Marcos, said a report.

[The river crested at more than 13m (43ft), about 10m above the flood stage, and 2.1m higher than the 1929 record.]

At least three people have been killed and several reported as missing in flash flooding and severe storms across the region, officials said late on Sunday.

A man was killed in the floods that inundated San Marcos, and two others lost their lives in Oklahoma.

Thousands of people have been evacuated across the region.

Earlier, State of Disaster declared was also declared in Caldwell County, Texas as San Marcos River threatened to inundate the area.

A State of Emergency was declared for 44 Oklahoma counties on Saturday.

Severe weather in Houston caused an apartment building to collapse, injuring at least two people and severely damaging 10 of the 41 units, said the Houston Fire Department.

More severe weather and flooding rains possible on Memorial Day

Widespread strong to severe storms will be possible again on Memorial Day from south Texas across the Plains into the Midwest. Isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and hail are all possible especially across much of Texas. In addition, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of Texas, increasing the flash and river flooding concerns with an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain possible. [Source: NWS]

 

Related Links

• Mass Evacuations Ordered as Texas, Oklahoma Floods Worsen May 24, 2015

Texas Judge Declares County a Disaster Area

Flooding in Texas leaves more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed

Flooding in San Marcos [pop: ~ 55,000] has left more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed, prompting the Hays County Judge to issue a disaster declaration.

“Once they told me the extent of damage and potential damage, we declared it a disaster area,” Judge Dr. Bert Cobb was quoted as saying.

“The flow and height is double what [it] was when it was at its highest in 1929,” said San Marcos Emergency Management Commander, describing the Blanco River that flows through San Marcos, said a report.

[The river crested more than 13m (43ft), about 10m above the flood stage, and 2.1m higher than the 1929 record.]

At least two people have been killed in flash flooding and severe storms in the region, one each in Texas and Oklahoma, officials said on Sunday.

Earlier, State of Disaster declared was also declared in Caldwell County, Texas as San Marcos River threatened to inundate the area.

A State of Emergency was declared for 44 Oklahoma counties on Saturday.

More severe weather and flooding rains possible on Memorial Day

Widespread strong to severe storms will be possible again on Memorial Day from south Texas across the Plains into the Midwest. Isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and hail are all possible especially across much of Texas. In addition, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of Texas, increasing the flash and river flooding concerns with an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain possible. [Source: NWS]

 

Related Links

• Mass Evacuations Ordered as Texas, Oklahoma Floods Worsen May 24, 2015

Mass Evacuations Ordered as Texas, Oklahoma Floods Worsen

State of Emergency declared for 44 Oklahoma counties on Saturday

• State of Disaster declared in Caldwell County, Texas as San Marcos River threatens to inundate the area.

The Oklahoma City metro area recorded up to 15cm of rain, as the city broke an all time record for the wettest 40-day period with 52cm of rainfall.

Major flooding continued along the Blanco River near Wimberley, Texas, about 40 miles southwest of Austin, said the National Weather Service (NWS). About 23cm of rain was reported in the area which led to Blanco River rising more than 10.66m (35 feet) in less than 5 hours on Saturday.

Severe weather risk and flash flood potential continue on Sunday: NWS

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected across much of the central and southern Plains on Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center has an area of Slight Risk highlighted in Texas for the area with the greatest risk of severe weather; tornadoes, hail and damaging winds are all possible. Flash flooding is also forecast from central Iowa into southern Texas where the heaviest rainfall is expected.

NWS has issued Flood and Flash Flood Warnings and Watches for much of the central and southern Plains including the entire state of Oklahoma  and parts of Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas.

A judge in Wichita Falls, Texas, issued an evacuation order Saturday urging the residents of the city and the surrounding county to abandon their homes if they live within a 800 meters of either banks of the Wichita River, according to local reports.

Residents in several other towns and cities in northern Texas and southwestern Oklahoma have also been ordered to evacuate amid the threat of historic flooding.

Hundreds of homes have been inundated across the region as powerful storms continue to spawn extreme rain events.

Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DEADLY HAZARDS
EXTREME RAIN EVENT
HISTORIC FLOODING
SCENARIO 023
STATE OF EMERGENCY 
.

State of Emergency Declared in Serbia amid Deadly, Historic Flooding

“What we are facing is the biggest water catastrophe in Serbia’s history. This is the greatest flooding disaster ever. Not only in the past 100 years […] this has never happened in Serbia’s history […] more rain has fallen in one day than in four months,” said the Serbian Prime Minister.

Hundreds of people in the Balkans have been evacuated as rain-swollen rivers flooded roads, bridges and railways, cutting off power and phone service, and forcing schools to close, AP reported.

Floodwaters have submerged large swathes of land isolating numerous towns and villages and killing at least 6 people, according to local reports.

The Bosnian government is using the military to help thousands of civilians whose homes were inundated, especially in the central and eastern regions, Reuters reported.

“This is the worst rainfall in Bosnia since 1894, when weather measurements started to be recorded,” said a Bosnian meteorologist, forecasting the rain would continue until the end of the week.

Heavy flooding has been reported also in large parts of Romania, reports said.

Links to Recent Historic Floods

‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

 

‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
SEVERE STORMS
EXTREME RAIN EVENT
HISTORIC FLOODING 
.

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

Colorado Disaster Zone Spreads across 17 Counties

Death toll reaches 8, as Colorado floods destroy or damage thousands of homes

The disaster zone encompasses 17 Colorado counties, as the historic deluge, called a 500-to-1,000-year flood, forces thousands of evacuations.

The Colorado Office of Emergency Management has now raised the official death toll to eight, up from five over the weekend.

In Boulder County about 2,000 people have been evacuated, most of them airlifted by helicopters.

In Larimer County at least 1,000 people remain to be evacuated.

At least 1,500 homes have been destroyed and 4,500 damaged in Larimer County. Additionally, 200 businesses have been lost and 500 damaged.

More than 100 homes were destroyed in the town of Lyons, Boulder County, but no countywide figures were available, as of posting.

About 600 people remained unaccounted for in Larimer and Boulder counties, many believed to be stranded in remote mountain areas cut off by floodwaters and with no access to telephone, cell phone or Internet service, officials said.

Floodwaters are moving east toward Nebraska, where officials have issued multiple flood warnings.

More than 533mm (21 inches) of rain fell in parts of Boulder city, near Denver, during the week-long deluge, nearly twice the area’s average annual rainfall.

Colorado’s air rescue operations were the largest in the United States since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, said National Guard officials.

Fema and Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management announced yesterday that 12 additional counties had been added to the September 12, 2013, presidential emergency disaster declaration for the Colorado flooding in Boulder, El Paso and Larimer counties.

The additional disaster counties include Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Fremont, Jefferson, Morgan, Logan, Pueblo, Washington and Weld counties, which were affected by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides.

Related Links

• “This is a 500-to-1,000-year flood” September 15, 2013

• N. Colorado Declared as Federal Disaster Area September 14, 2013
• Tens of Thousands Evacuated as Colorado Floods Worsen September 13, 2013
• Deadly Flooding Forces Thousands of Evacuations in Colorado September 13, 2013

• Tri- State Area Rainfall Reports (September 12, 2013)
• Flood Evacuation: overflowing dam forces evacuation of Leyden neighborhood in Jefferson County

Tens of Thousands Evacuated as Colorado Floods Worsen

“biblical rainfall amounts” trigger historic  flooding along Colorado’s Front Range mountain

Flash Flood Warnings remained in effect for much of eastern and northern Colorado including the entire Denver/Boulder metropolitan area, with a population of more than 3 million.

The National Weather Service issued an urgent bulletin at 9:41am on Thursday that expressed the scale of the threat: “Major flooding/flash flooding event underway at this time with biblical rainfall amounts reported in many areas in/near the foothills.”

Boulder was pounded with more than 7 inches of rain in 24 hours, which shattered the town’s 95-year rainfall record.

“This is not an ordinary day. It is not an ordinary disaster,” said Boulder County Sheriff.

• Cascading floodwaters from Boulder Canyon above the city forced the evacuation of more than 8,000 Boulder residences.

• The enclave of Jamestown north of Boulder was completely evacuated.

• Entire town of Eldorado Springs in south Boulder County were ordered to evacuate due to the threats of rising waters and mudslide.

Coal Creek Canyon. Photo credit: Jefferson County Sheriff. More images…

Near the town of Lyons, St. Vrain River jumped its banks, and a dam failed near Pinewood Springs, isolating the town, said a report.

In Longmont (population: ~ 88,000) about 14 miles northeast of Boulder, St. Vrain Creek again overflowed its banks, inundating the main roads and dividing the city.

• At least  7,000 residences in Longmont were under mandatory evacuation orders.

The University of Colorado campus in Boulder was one of  the hardest hit areas. More than 500 hundred students and staff members were ordered evacuated, as devastating floodwaters damaged a quarter of the campus buildings, officials said.

Colorado Governor Hickenlooper declared a disaster for the flooded areas.

“We have declared a disaster for the flooded areas and are requesting emergency declaration from FEMA for search and rescue and emergency protection and other support,” said Hickenlooper. “We want to get something in front of President Obama as rapidly as possible.”

“The State Emergency Center has been activated to a Level 3 category of alert or action 24/7. So they will be providing direct resources across the state to the counties affected by the flooding.”

The White House signed a federal emergency declaration Thursday night.

Mudslides and rockslides have blocked parts of U.S. 6, Boulder Canyon, Colorado 14 and U.S. 287, said the Denver Post. Lefthand Canyon was reportedly blocked by multiple slides.

The disaster has claimed at least three lives, but authorities expect the toll to rise.

Related Links

• Deadly Flooding Forces Thousands of Evacuations in Colorado

Deadly Flooding Forces Thousands of Evacuations in Colorado

Disaster declared in flooded areas: Gov. Hickenlooper

“We’ll see what the data tells us but this could easily be a 50 or 100-year flood,” said Hickenlooper.

Disastrous flooding has caused substantial damage in parts of three Front Range counties and the governor has declared a state of emergency in Boulder County. Thousands of people have been evacuated, however, emergency crews are unable to reach residents in some towns.

Floodwaters have cut off major highways, isolated mountain towns and inundated the main campus of the University of Colorado, damaging tens of buildings, officials said.

More than 500 students and staff members were ordered evacuated.

Highway 72 is washed out in Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado. Photo credit: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

“We have declared a disaster for the flooded areas and are requesting emergency declaration from FEMA for search and rescue and emergency protection and other support,” said Hickenlooper. “We want to get something in front of President Obama as rapidly as possible.”

“The State Emergency Center has been activated to a Level 3 category of alert or action 24/7. So they will be providing direct resources across the state to the counties affected by the flooding.”

“Part of the problem with us is not that we don’t have the equipment or the manpower it’s just the conditions haven’t permitted it. We couldn’t get up the valleys,” said Hickenlooper.

“This is completely different from the fires and yet preparation means trying to anticipate what you don’t expect. We’ve been trying to train across the state for unexpected eventualities, things that we would never expect to happen. I’m not sure that anyone laid out a scenario where Boulder County and every single county from Coal Creek to the St. Vrain got close to 8 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.” Hickenlooper said.

Not Your Ordinary Disaster

“This is not your ordinary disaster,” said Joe Pelle, the sheriff of Boulder County, where two of the deaths occurred. “All the preparation in the world, all the want-to in the world, can’t put people up those canyons while debris and walls of water are coming down.”

A message posted on the university’s Web site Thursday warned: “Wall of water coming down Boulder Canyon. STAY AWAY FROM BOULDER CREEK.”

Multiple Flash Flood Warnings, Flood Warnings and Flood Watches are in effect across Colorado, said National Weather Service (NWS).

• Tri- State Area Rainfall Reports (September 12, 2013)
• Flood Evacuation: overflowing dam forces evacuation of Leyden neighborhood in Jefferson County

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – August 27, 2013

US “ready” to strike Syria: Hagel

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the US military is ready to act on Syria.

“We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfill and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take,” Hagel told the BBC.

“I think it’s pretty clear that chemical weapons were used against people in Syria,” he said.

“I think the intelligence will conclude that it wasn’t the rebels who used it, and there’ll probably be pretty good intelligence to show is that the Syria government was responsible. But we’ll wait and determine what the facts and the intelligence bear out.”

John Kerry…

“What we saw in Syria last week should shock the conscience of the world. It defies any code of morality,” Mr Kerry said at a news conference on Monday.

“Make no mistake, President Obama believes there must be accountability for those who would use the world’s most heinous weapons against the world’s most vulnerable people.”

President Assad

Syrian President Bashar Assad told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper that claims of his government using chemical weapons made by Western countries are “an insult to common sense” and “nonsense.”

“The statements made by the politicians in the USA and in other Western countries represent an insult to common sense and neglect of the public opinion of citizens in those countries. It’s nonsense: first, they bring charges, and then they collect evidence. And it’s one of the most powerful countries that does it – the US. They accused us on Wednesday, and in only two days the American leadership announces they started to collect the evidence.… They accuse our army of using chemical weapons in the area that’s reportedly controlled by the terrorists. In fact, there is no precise front line between the army and the insurgents in that area. And how can a government use chemical weapons – or any other weapons of mass destruction – in the area where government troops are concentrated? This is against elementary logic,” said Assad.

Vladimir Putin

President Putin has told the British PM that Russia did not have any evidence whether a chemical weapons attack had occurred or who was responsible, according to an official statement.

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Other Disasters/ Significant Events

Afghanistan

At least 43 people, including a dozen civilians, were killed in Afghanistan over the last 24 hours, authorities said on Tuesday.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented 1,319 civilian deaths and 2,533 injuries—a total of 3,852 civilian casualties—in the first half of 2013.

The total represents an increase of 14 per cent in deaths and 28 per cent in injuries over the same period in 2012, said UNAMA.

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Swollen Heilong river triggers widespread, persistent floods in NE China

Original caption: The aerial photo taken on Aug. 26, 2013 shows houses [and vast tracts of crops and farmland] inundated by floods along the Tongjiang-Fuyuan river section of the Heilong River in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. The Heilong River has swelled since mid-August, with some sections of its middle and lower reaches seeing their worst floods in history.(Xinhua/Ma Ling). More images…

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TS FERNAND leaves at least 13 people dead in E. Mexico

At least 13 people were killed Monday after landslides triggered by torrential rains from tropical storm FERNAND destroyed or damaged more than 100 homes in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, officials said.

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