Major Disaster Declared in Iowa

Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4234)

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Iowa in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of June 20-25, 2015.

The areas that were worst affected by the extreme weather events include Allamakee, Appanoose, Butler, Clayton, Dallas, Davis, Des Moines, Guthrie, Howard, Jefferson, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Mitchell, Monroe, Warren, Wayne, Winneshiek, and Wright counties.

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

This is the 30th Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4234] proclaimed for a U.S. state/territory. Additionally, the federal government has issued ten Fire Management Assistance Declarations for the year to date.

Fire Management Assistance Declarations (2015)

[FM-5093] 08/02/2015 California Rocky Fire
[FM-5092] 07/30/2015 Oregon Stouts Creek Fire
[FM-5091] 07/23/2015 California Wragg Fire
[FM-5090] 07/20/2015 Washington Blue Creek Fire
[FM-5089] 07/20/2015 California North Fire
[FM-5088] 07/06/2015 Idaho Cape Horn Fire
[FM-5087] 06/29/2015 Washington Sleepy Hollow Fire
[FM-5086] 06/17/2015 Arizona Kearney River Fire
[FM-5085] 06/16/2015 Alaska Card Street Fire
[FM-5084] 06/15/2015 Alaska Sockeye Fire

Related Links

• Federal Disaster Declared for Kansas [DR-4230] July 21, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declared for New Jersey [DR-4231] July 23, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

45 Million Birds Affected by Avian Flu in U.S.

Bird Flu Continues to Devastate US Poultry Industry

Infected Commercial Flocks. Commercial flocks have been infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and  Wisconsin.

Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

• Detections Reported: 207
  
• Birds Affected: 45,027,793
• First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
• Last Detection Reported: June 2, 2015
• No of Flocks pending tests: 14

Worst Affected Areas

• Iowa: 29,261,400 Birds Affected
• Minnesota: 8,394,450
• Nebraska: 3,794,100
• Wisconsin: 1,950,733
• South Dakota: 1,168,200

States of Emergency

Iowa’s Gov. Branstad has extended a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation until July 1 as more farms continue to report new cases of the deadly avian flu virus in their poultry flocks.

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts proclaimed a state of emergency in May following the discovery of avian influenza in the state’s poultry sector, according to a statement posted on his website.

Background and Additional Links

• ‘Unprecedented’ Flu Outbreak Baffles Scientists April 22, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Dallas County due to Bird Flu May 9, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Nebraska in Bird Flu Epidemic May 15, 2015
• State of Disaster Emergency Extended in Iowa amid Rising Bird Flu Cases June 1, 2015

State of Disaster Emergency Extended in Iowa amid Rising Bird Flu Cases

44.6 Million Birds Affected by Deadly Avian Flu Viruses in U.S.

Iowa’s Gov. Branstad has extended a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation until July 1 as more farms continue to report new cases of the deadly avian flu virus in their poultry flocks. The Proclmation was due to expire on May 31, 2015.

Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

• Birds Affected: 44,612,573 [up from 33,521,073; additional cases pending]
• Detections Reported: 197 [previously 162]
• First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
• Last Detection Reported: May 28, 2015 [previously reported on May 13, 2015]

Infected Commercial Flocks

Commercial flocks have been infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and  Wisconsin.

The majority of the infections have been reported in the state of Iowa, with 29,095,500 birds  affected [up from 24,815,500 on May 13,] across 18 counties, and at least 6 additional flocks being tested for the deadly virus(es).

• Minnesota has the second highest number of infections, with 8,220,760 birds affected.
• Nebraska has 3,794,100 affected birds.

• Wisconsin reported 1,950,733 birds.

• South Dakota has 1,116,200 affected birds.
  

Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Wild Bird HPAI Cases in the United States
A list prepared by National Flyway Council reports HPAI cases in wild bird flocks across the following states:

• CA, ID, KS, KY, MN, MO, NM, NV, OR, WA, WI and WY.

Key Points: HPAI H5  [CDC Influenza Division]

• Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.

• USDA has reported
  • HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
  • HPAI H5N2 virus in Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
  • HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
  • H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).

• HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.

A strain of avian flu, EA-H5N8, which had previously been found only in the Western U.S., was detected in a backyard mixed poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana on May 11, APHIS reported.

WILD BIRD HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA  [Last updated by APHIS on May 14, 2013]

• WILD BIRD HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA CASES IN THE UNITED STATES

Background and Additional Links

• ‘Unprecedented’ Flu Outbreak Baffles Scientists April 22, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Dallas County due to Bird Flu May 9, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in Nebraska in Bird Flu Epidemic May 15, 2015

State of Emergency Declared in Nebraska in Bird Flu Epidemic

UPDATED

USDA reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states

Gov. Ricketts has proclaimed a state of emergency  following the discovery of avian influenza in Nebraska’s poultry sector, according to a statement posted on his website.

[Nebraska is now the fourth US state to declare a state of emergency due to the rapidly spreading bird flu epidemic. The three other states are Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.]

“The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is coordinating with several state agencies for a thorough, expeditious response,” said Ricketts.

USDA is reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states; 15 states with outbreaks in poultry and 5 states with H5 detections in wild birds only.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA)  and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the presence of a second case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial layer flock in Dixon County. The second farm (referred to as Dixon 2) is in close proximity to the initial farm (referred to as Dixon 1) identified on May 12, 2015.

Dixon 2 is a flock of 1.8 million chickens. [Dixon 1 is believed to be a flock of 1.7 million birds.]

“Having a second farm in Nebraska confirmed to have HPAI is unfortunate but not completely unexpected. This follows the pattern we’ve seen in other states when it comes to the spread of the virus,” said NDA Director.

Both farms are under quarantine, and the birds on both properties will be depopulated, the NDA Director added.

“A perimeter has been established around Dixon 2, and as is the USDA protocol, NDA will be visiting all locations within a 6.2 mile radius of the farm that have poultry to conduct testing. Due to the proximity of Dixon 2 to Dixon 1, the 6.2 mile radius overlaps significantly,” said NDA.

Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

• Birds Affected: 33,521,073  [additional cases pending]
• Detections Reported: 162 (previously 142)
• First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
• Last Detection Reported: May 13,  2015

Commercial Flocks Infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and  Wisconsin.

Majority of the infections have been reported in the state of Iowa, with 24,815,500 birds affected, and at least 6 additional flocks being tested for the deadly virus(es).

Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Wild Bird HPAI Cases in the United States
A list prepared by National Flyway Council reports HPAI cases in wild bird flocks across the following states:

• CA, ID, KS, KY, MN, MO, NM, NV, OR, WA, WI and WY.

Key Points: HPAI H5  [CDC Influenza Division]

• Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.

• USDA has reported
  • HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
  • HPAI H5N2 virus in Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
  • HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
  • H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).

• HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.

A strain of avian flu, EA-H5N8, which had previously been found only in the Western U.S., was detected in a backyard mixed poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana on May 11, APHIS reported.

 Background and Additional Links

• State of Emergency Declared in Dallas County due to Bird Flu May 9, 2015

State of Emergency Declared in Nebraska due to Bird Flu

USDA reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states

Gov. Ricketts has proclaimed a state of emergency  following the discovery of avian influenza in Nebraska’s poultry sector, according to a statement posted on his website.

[Nebraska is now the fourth US state to declare a state of emergency due to the rapidly spreading bird flu epidemic. The three other states are Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.]

“The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is coordinating with several state agencies for a thorough, expeditious response,” said Ricketts.

USDA is reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 20 U.S. states; 15 states with outbreaks in poultry and 5 states with H5 detections in wild birds only.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA)  and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the presence of a second case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial layer flock in Dixon County. The second farm (referred to as Dixon 2) is in close proximity to the initial farm (referred to as Dixon 1) identified on May 12, 2015.

Dixon 2 is a flock of 1.8 million chickens. [Dixon 1 is believed to be a flock of 1.7 million birds.]

“Having a second farm in Nebraska confirmed to have HPAI is unfortunate but not completely unexpected. This follows the pattern we’ve seen in other states when it comes to the spread of the virus,” said NDA Director.

Both farms are under quarantine, and the birds on both properties will be depopulated, said NDA Director.

“A perimeter has been established around Dixon 2, and as is the USDA protocol, NDA will be visiting all locations within a 6.2 mile radius of the farm that have poultry to conduct testing. Due to the proximity of Dixon 2 to Dixon 1, the 6.2 mile radius overlaps significantly,” said NDA.

Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

• Birds Affected: 33,521,073  [additional cases pending]
• Detections Reported: 162 (previously 142)
• First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
• Last Detection Reported: May 13,  2015

Commercial Flocks Infected in at least 15 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana (May 10, 2015), Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (May 11, 2015), North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and  Wisconsin.

Majority of the infections have been reported in the state of Iowa, with 24,815,500 birds affected, and at least 6 additional flocks being tested for the deadly virus(es).

Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Key Points: HPAI H5  [CDC Influenza Division]

• Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.

• USDA has reported
  • HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
  • HPAI H5N2 virus in Nebraska, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
  • HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
  • H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).

• HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.

A strain of avian flu, EA-H5N8, which had previously been found only in the Western U.S., was detected in a backyard mixed poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana on May 11, APHIS reported.

 Background and Additional Links

• State of Emergency Declared in Dallas County due to Bird Flu May 9, 2015

Deadly Tornadoes: Disaster Declared in Texas, Iowa, Arkansas

Tornadoes kill 5, injure dozens, destroy/ damage hundreds of homes in U.S. mid-section

Governors in three states have declared States of Disaster Emergency, after a string of deadly tornadoes left trails of destruction across Texas, Arkansas, and Iowa on Monday, killing at least 5 people, leaving 3  missing and more than fifty others injured.

At least 25 tornadoes touched down in South Dakota, Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas on Sunday, according to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma. Three more tornadoes hit Iowas, Louisiana and North Carolina on Monday, reported SPC.

Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster in Texas counties hit in recent days by severe weather that’s included tornadoes, thunderstorms and heavy rains that brought flooding.

Texas Gov. Abbott declared a state of disaster Monday in Bosque, Clay, Denton, Eastland, Gaines, Montague and Van Zandt counties.

A tornado killed at least one person in the town of Cisco west of Fort Worth Saturday night. Another tornado killed at least two people in the East Texas town of Van Sunday night, damaging or destroying at least 100 homes.

“About 30 percent” of the Van community has bee damaged, said an official for Van Zandt County.

The town was hit by an EF3 tornado, with winds from 135 mph to 140 mph, said NWS.

Iowa Gov. Branstad issued a disaster declaration for Monday morning, a day after a tornado tore through Lake City.

Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson declared Franklin, Garland, Howard, Izard, Johnson, Montgomery, Newton, Pike, Pope and Searcy Counties a disaster area Monday afternoon.

At least two people were killed in the town of Nashville, Arkansas, with widespread damage reported throughout the region.

The storm dumped as much as 280mm of rain in some areas setting new daily records for rainfall and causing widespread flooding.

Saturday saw at least 53 tornadoes wreaking havoc across Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

Some 155 tornadoes have touched down in the U.S. so far this month, bringing up the total for 2015 to at least 382, as of posting.

State of Emergency Declared in Dallas County due to Bird Flu

UPDATED

“You can’t dump your infected bird carcases in our backyard” —Dallas County

Dallas County officials have declared a state of emergency amid the state’s outbreak of avian influenza, according to a news release.

The resolution forbids “the transportation of poultry and poultry waste within a mile of poultry raising facilities. The state of emergency will allow county road officials to place barricades near facilities within the county,” said a report.

“John Benson, a spokesman with Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, said Dallas County’s state of emergency is similar to the one put in place last week by Gov. Terry Branstad, but with efforts supplemented at a local level

“As many as 3.5 million birds killed because of avian influenza outbreaks in northwest Iowa might be driven across the state and disposed of in a private landfill in Mills County.”

Read more…

Bird Flu Claims 4.8 Million More Iowa Chickens

State of Iowa

• Birds Affected: 23,130,698  [additional cases pending]
• Detections Reported: 30
• First Detection Reported: April20, 2015
• Last Detection Reported: May 7, 2015

Poultry producers in NW Iowa have been overwhelmed disposing of more than 23 million birds infected by the deadly virus, officials said.

At least 44 chicken, turkey, and duck flocks have been infected with the HPAI H5 [HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1] virus in 12 counties across Iowa, 11 in the northwest and Madison County.

More than 23 million additional infected birds, or about 45 percent of the state’s egg-laying flock, are slated to be destroyed including more than 22 million laying hens, and an estimated one million turkeys and ducks, according to reports.

The deadly virus has now spread to 30 million birds across at least 18 U.S. states; 13 states have experienced outbreaks in poultry flocks and 5 states have detected H5 in wild birds.

Update on Avian Influenza Findings – Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

• Birds Affected: 29,907,671  [additional cases pending]
• Detections Reported: 142
• First Detection Reported: December 19, 2014
• Last Detection Reported: May 7,  2015

Commercial Flocks Infected in at least 13 States: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and  Wisconsin.

Wild Flocks with Infection Found in at least 5 States: Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

CDC Influenza Division – Key Points: HPAI H5

• Increased outreach, reporting and surveillance activities in the United States followed the detection of HPAI H5N2 among commercial poultry flocks in Canada in early December 2014.

• USDA has reported
  • HPAI H5N8 virus in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Nevada.
  • HPAI H5N2 virus in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kentucky.
  • HPAI H5N1 virus in Washington.
  • H5 virus in a wild bird in New Mexico, but diagnostic test did not determine the neuraminidase (NA).

• HPAI H5N8, HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N1 viruses with this combination of genes had not been detected previously in the United States.

 Background

• ‘Unprecedented’ Flu Outbreak Baffles Scientists April 22, 2015
• U-S Bird Flu Outbreak Continues to Spread April 22, 2015
• Flu Deaths Rising Globally  February 15, 2015
• Flu hits epidemic levels in U.S.  January 2, 2015
• ‘Highly Contagious’ Strain of Bird Flu Discovered in Holland November 17, 2014

‘Unprecedented’ Flu Outbreak Baffles Scientists

Millions of birds killed as AI spreads across 15 states

This is so unusual that we can’t help but think something different must be going on —avian medicine expert

A lethal strain of avian influenza (AI) has been detected at an egg-laying facility in NW Iowa, the top U.S. egg-producing state, forcing the health authorities to destroy millions of laying hens, according to USDA.

Iowa has a $2 billion egg-laying industry with about 50 million hens that supply 1 in every 5 eggs consumed across the U.S.

The latest outbreak has occurred at an egg production facility with at least 3.8 million laying hens in Osceola County, which has been placed under quarantine. The quarantine covers an area of about 10km (6 miles)  around the farm, a division of Sonstegard Foods Co., based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The outbreak has also prompted Wisconsin to declare a state of emergency after three poultry flocks became infected in the past week.

There are now 15 states with infected birds: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

As of Monday, at least 2.6 million birds had been killed.

The strain has also led to the deaths of at least 2.4 million turkeys nationwide (birds either killed by the disease or by authorities working to prevent the spread of virus).

“Authorities have confirmed N5N2 outbreaks at more than 30 commercial poultry farms in the Midwest, including 22 in Minnesota. All were turkey operations except for one chicken farm in Wisconsin,” said a report.

“Minnesota, the nation’s largest turkey producer, is the epicenter of the highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu. The state annually produces about 46 million turkeys, meaning 4 to 5 percent of Minnesota’s annual production has now been affected by the flu,” said a report.

The virus can kill an entire flock within 48 hours, experts say.

AI spread from Asia to the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain into the North American poultry farms.

Rapid spread of the virus has alarmed scientists who have so far been unable to unravel the mystery of how the deadly virus have infected so many turkey farms in such a short period of time, said a report.

“It’s been really troubling to understand how in the world this can possibly be happening,” said Carol Cardona, a professor of avian medicine at the University of Minnesota.

“This is so unusual that we can’t help but think something different must be going on,” she said.

“Since December 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed several cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways (or migratory bird paths). The disease has been found in wild birds, as well as in a few backyard and commercial poultry flocks,” said USDA

“The H5N8 virus originated in Asia and spread rapidly along wild bird migratory pathways during 2014, including the Pacific flyway.  In the Pacific flyway, the H5N8 virus has mixed with North American avian influenza viruses, creating new mixed-origin viruses.  This is not unexpected.  These mixed-origin viruses contain the Asian-origin H5 part of the virus, which is highly pathogenic to poultry.  The N parts of these viruses came from North American low pathogenic avian influenza viruses.”

U-S Bird Flu Outbreak Continues to Spread

Millions of bird flu cases found in 15 states since December

A lethal strain of bird flu has been detected at an egg-laying facility in NW Iowa, the top U.S. egg-producing state, forcing the health authorities to begin destroying more than 5.3 3.8 million laying hens, according to USDA.

Iowa has a $2 billion egg-laying industry with about 50 million hens that supply 1 in every 5 eggs consumed across the U.S.

The outbreak has also prompted Wisconsin to declare a state of emergency after three poultry flocks became infected in the past week.

There are now 15 states with infected birds: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

As of Monday, at least 2.6 million birds had been killed.

The strain has also led to the deaths of at least 2.4 million turkeys nationwide (birds either killed by the disease or by authorities working to prevent the spread of virus).

“Authorities have confirmed N5N2 outbreaks at more than 30 commercial poultry farms in the Midwest, including 22 in Minnesota. All were turkey operations except for one chicken farm in Wisconsin,” said a report.

“Minnesota, the nation’s largest turkey producer, is the epicenter of the highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu. The state annually produces about 46 million turkeys, meaning 4 to 5 percent of Minnesota’s annual production has now been affected by the flu,” said a report.

The virus can kill an entire flock within 48 hours, experts say.

“Since December 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed several cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways (or migratory bird paths). The disease has been found in wild birds, as well as in a few backyard and commercial poultry flocks,” said USDA

“The H5N8 virus originated in Asia and spread rapidly along wild bird migratory pathways during 2014, including the Pacific flyway.  In the Pacific flyway, the H5N8 virus has mixed with North American avian influenza viruses, creating new mixed-origin viruses.  This is not unexpected.  These mixed-origin viruses contain the Asian-origin H5 part of the virus, which is highly pathogenic to poultry.  The N parts of these viruses came from North American low pathogenic avian influenza viruses.”

Crop Disasters Declared in 3 States

RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
LATE FREEZE
SEVERE HAIL
CROP DISASTERS
SCENARIOS  666, 560, 477, 444, 177, 170, 111, 02
.

‘Late freeze,’ ‘severe hail’ kill crops in 13 counties across three states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 13 counties in three  states—Arkansas, Iowa and and Nebraska—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by an late freeze, or severe hail.

Damages and losses caused by severe hail that occurred on Oct. 2, 2014

• Arkansas: St. Francis, Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Monroe and Woodruff counties.

Damages and losses caused by a late freeze that occurred on May 16, 2014

• Iowa: Harrison, Crawford, Monona, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties.

• Nebraska: Burt and Washington counties

Crop Disasters 2014

Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states.

Those states are

• 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 above disaster lists include both primary and contiguous disaster designations.

iii. Some 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 December 24, 2014.

Latest/ Recent Crop Disaster Declarations

• Hard Freeze Kills Crops in Wyoming, Montana December 18, 2014
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Eight U.S. States December 11, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared for 7 New York Counties December 11, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters [Index]

Major Disaster Declared for Iowa

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023
.

Iowa Declared Federal Disaster Area

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4187)

The Iowa  governor’s request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration in response to significant damage caused by severe weather that produced damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, flooding, hail, and thunderstorms beginning June 26 through July 7 has been approved. This is Iowa’s third  federal disaster declaration in 2014.

The 22 counties included in the declaration are: Audubon, Black Hawk, Butler, Cedar, Des Moines, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Mahaska, Muscatine, Poweshiek, Tama, and Washington, according to a statement posted on the Gov. Branstad’s website.

This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 21st Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007, said the statement.

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

• Federal Disaster Declared in Minnesota July 23, 2014

• Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa  July 16, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declared for New York July 11, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Major Disasters Declared in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
FEDERAL DISASTERS DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023
.

Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4183)

Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of Nebraska due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the during the period of June 14-21, 2014.

Worst of the damage and losses have occurred in Cedar, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Franklin, Furnas, Harlan, Kearney, Phelps, Stanton, Thurston, and Wayne counties.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said Fema in a statement released by White House.

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4184)

Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of Iowa due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the during the period of June 14-23, 2014.

Worst of the damage and losses caused by the extreme weather events have occurred in Allamakee, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, and Wright counties.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said officials.

Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4185)

A second Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of Iowa due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the during the period of June 1-4, 2014.

Areas worst affected by the disasters are Burt, Butler, Cass, Hamilton, Holt, Nemaha, Pawnee, Polk, Rock, Thurston, Valley, and Washington counties.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said officials.

South Dakota Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4186)

Federal Disaster has been declared for the state of South Dakota due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding during the period of June 13-20, 2014.

Areas worst affected by the disasters are Butte, Clay, Corson, Dewey, Hanson, Jerauld, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Perkins, Turner, Union, and Ziebach Counties and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe within Corson County.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said officials.

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

• Federal Disaster Declared in Minnesota July 23, 2014

• Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa  July 16, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declared for New York July 11, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023
.

Iowa Declared Major Disaster Area (DR-4181)

Federal disaster has been declared for the state of Iowa in 9 counties worst affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the period of June 3-4, 2014.

The disaster stricken areas are Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Taylor, and Wayne counties.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said Fema in a statement released by White House.

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

• Federal Disaster Declared for New York July 11, 2014

• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

Deadly Storms Attack U.S. Heartland

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
DEADLY STORMS
SEVERE FLOODING
SCENARIOS 900, 444, 111, 066, 023
.

Tornadoes, high winds, hail and heavy rain batter Midwest

Illinois and battered by fierce storms, as heavy rains caused severe flooding and fires caused by lightning cut power to hundreds of thousands of people and forced hundreds of flight cancellations.

Iowa was hit by 90 mph (145 kph) winds and 4 inch (10 cm) hail, which caused significant damage to vehicles and buildings.  At least one person was killed when a building collapsed in heavy winds, according to local reports.

Tornado outbreaks caused damage in northern Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa, according to SPC.

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second largest city, rescue teams recovered the body of a 17-year-old student who was swept into a storm drain, after torrential rains triggered flooding.

Severe flooding currently occurring in multiple areas along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Crop Disasters Declared for 28 Counties across 4 States

Severe storms, excessive wind, rain and hail cause crop disaster in four states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 28 counties across four states as agricultural disaster areas in three separate disaster declarations.

Disaster Declaration No. 1

Montana: Glacier County, which includes the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, together with the counties of Flathead, Pondera, and  Toole have been declared crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by several severe storms and hail that occurred June 18 – September 30, 2013.

Disaster Declaration No. 2

USDA has designated a total of 17 counties in three states–Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin– as crop disaster disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rainfall that occurred April 1 – August 5, 2013.

Those counties are

• Iowa: Allamakee, Cerro Gordo,  Floyd, Bremer, Clayton, Hancock, Winnebago, Butler, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek, Chickasaw, Franklin and Mitchell counties.
• Minnesota: Houston County.
• Wisconsin: Crawford and Vernon counties.

Disaster Declaration No. 3

USDA has also designated seven counties in Oregon as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive wind, rain, and hail that occurred August 25, 2013.

Those counties are: Jefferson, Crook, Linn, Wasco, Deschutes, Marion and Wheeler counties.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas Nov. 27, 2013.

“Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that Congress has not funded the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.These are SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage,” said USDA.

Crop Disaster 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared 3,954 county-level agricultural disaster areas across 44 states, so far this year.

The crop disasters for year 2013 include losses and damages caused by

• DROUGHT
• FLOOD
• Flash flooding
• Excessive rain, moisture, humidity
• Severe Storms, thunderstorms
• Ground Saturation
• Standing Water
• Hail
• Wind, High Winds
• Fire, Wildfire
• Heat, Excessive heat
• High Temp. (incl. low humidity)
• Winter Storms, Ice Storms, Snow, Blizzard
• Frost, FREEZE
• Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tropical Storms
• Tornadoes
• Volcano
• Mudslides, Debris Flows, Landslides
• Heavy Surf
• Ice Jams
• Insects
• Tidal Surges
• Cold, wet weather
• Cool/Cold, Below-normal Temperatures
• Lightning
• Disease

Notes:
1. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

2. The total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

3. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

4. A number of counties have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

5. The disaster designations were approved by USDA between January 9 and November 20, 2013.

Recent Federal and Agriculture Disaster Declarations

• Illinois Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013
• Nebraska Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared for South Dakota November 9, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in North Dakota November 1, 2013

• North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area October 31, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013
• Blizzard Kills 80,000 Cattle in S. Dakota October 14, 2013
• New Mexico Declared Federal Disaster Area October 2, 2013

• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 194 Counties in 13 States September 20, 2013
• N. Colorado Declared as Federal Disaster Area September 14, 2013
• Agricultural Disaster Declared for 138 counties in 14 States
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Corn Belt Drought Intensifies

Late growing season drought intensifies in Iowa, neighboring states: Report

Severe drought in Iowa increased to 32.07 percent up from 22.4 percent a week earlier, with 63.24 percent of the state covered in moderate drought or worse.

“After such an ideal start to the growing season, the past two months have been much drier than usual, with temperatures slowly increasing,” said David Miskus of U.S. Drought Monitor.

• Precipitation in central Iowa and northern Missouri was only 5 to 25 percent of normal, and as little as a tenth of an inch of rain.

• Iowa recorded its warmest week since July 2012, with highs of 104 degrees Fahrenheit at Des Moines and Fort Madison on Aug. 30.

• Iowa experienced its seventh driest August in 141 years of records, following the ninth driest July.

• Crop and pasture conditions began to deteriorate rapidly once heat was added to the dryness.

Small areas of severe drought also showed up in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin this week.

• Drought also expanded or intensified in Mississippi, Oklahoma and on the Hawaiian island of Maui, during the week.

The portion of the drought-stricken areas in the U.S. corn belt increased from 45 to 52 percent during the week ending September 3, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s meteorologist Brad Rippey, the report said.

• Soybeans in drought also increased in the last week, from 38 to 42 percent.
• Corn and soybeans in drought bottomed out in July at 17 and 8 percent, respectively.
• Cattle in drought increased one percent to 53 percent.

“Given that U.S. producers planted an estimated 97.4 million acres of corn and 77.2 million acres of soybeans in 2013, current drought figures suggest that more than 50 million acres (nearly 80,000 square miles) of corn and some 32 million acres (more than 50,000 square miles) of soybeans are presently being affected by drought,” Rippey said.

“According to USDA, nearly one-sixth of the U.S. corn (16 percent) and soybeans (15 percent) were rated in very poor to poor condition on September 1. A year ago, near the height of the Drought of 2012, very poor to poor ratings stood at 52 percent of the corn and 37 percent of the soybeans.”

As Midwest continued to dry out, parts of the Southwest and West saw scattered improvements from the monsoon season.

Overall, the portion of the contiguous United States in moderate to exceptional drought crept up to 50.09 percent from 50.04 percent a week earlier.

• The total land area in moderate drought increased to 17.69 percent, up from 16.67 previously.

• The area in exceptional drought shrank to 1.25 percent, down 0.07 percent from last week.

Related Links

• U.S. Drought Expands Mainly in the South, High Plains August 29, 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Declared for 180 U.S. Counties August 29, 2013
• US: Drought Disaster 2013 [Index Page]
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 7 May 2013

Dhaka building collapse death toll reaches 706

Death toll from the collapse of Rana Plaza, a factory building near the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, has climbed to 706, officials said.

• The authorities said they didn’t  know exactly how many people were still missing because the building owners didn’t tell them.
• About 2,500 others were injured.

0O0

River plagued by invasive species in Guangxi Zhuang, south China

S China river completely covered in invasive species. (Source: chinanews.com).  More images…

0O0

Tanker Exploded on Highway Near Mexico City

A tanker exploded on a highway in a suburb of Mexico City, killing at least 20 people and injuring 36 others, officials said.

• The explosion damaged at least three dozen homes and as many vehicles, and forced the authorities to close the highway between Mexico City and Pachuca.

0O0

Iowa Counties Declared Agricultural Disaster Areas

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a major disaster declaration for four NW Iowa counties—Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, and Osceola—due to losses and damages caused by severe winter storms on April 9, 10, and 11.

0O0

Philippines: Phreatic Explosion at Mayon Volcano

A phreatic explosion occurred at Mayon Volcano in the Philippines Albay province, killing 5 mountaineers, and injuring 6 others.

• The explosion lasted 2 minutes 26 seconds during which a 500-meter column of ash was ejected above the crater summit.
• It “precipitated traces of ash in the areas west-northwest of the volcano, affecting Barangays Muladbucad, Guinobatan and Nabonton, Nasisi, Basag and Tambo, Ligao City, Albay, and areas upslope of these barangays. In the past 8-hr period, only one minor rockfall event was detected by the Mayon seismic network. Seismic parameters remain within background levels and indicate no increase in overall volcanic activity.” Philvocs reported.
• Mt. Mayon did not explode and no magmatic eruption was imminent at the volcano, Philvocs said.
• Area around Mt. Mayon has been declared a no-fly zone; however, the alert level around the volcano remained at normal.
• The public have been “strongly” advised not to enter the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano’s crater.

.

DISASTER CALENDAR – May 7, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,040 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,040 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

Snow Emergencies Declared across Upper Midwest

Winter Storm Affecting Midwest and Ohio Valley

A ferocious winter storm is forecast to bring heavy snow to parts of the Upper Midwest into the Ohio Valley starting Monday into Tuesday, NWS said. “As much as 4-8 inches of snow is possible. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms will develop from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast.”

• Snow could blanket parts of Ohio Valley.
• Heavy rain possible for parts of northern California (Source: NWS).

US Weather Hazards Map, March 5, 2013. Source: NWS

Local Links

• SE Wisconsin towns declare snow emergency
• Town of Beloit to declare snow emergency
• The City of Clinton has declared a snow emergency
• Snow emergency declared Tuesday in Northfield, MN
• Iowa communities declare snow emergencies as storm starts to hit

Imminent Flood Threat in the U.S. Midwest

LATEST FLOOD WARNING – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

South and East Also at Risk: NOAA

At least a third of the contiguous United States has an above average flood risk in 2010

The highest flood threats are in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa, including along the Red River Valley where crests could approach the record levels set in 2009.

Major flooding has begun and is forecast to continue through spring in parts of the Midwest according to NOAA’s National Weather Service. The South and East are also more susceptible to flooding as an El Niño influenced winter left the area soggier than usual.

US Flood Risk Map. Areas left blank on the map are at “average risk.” Sourec NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

The forecast of imminent Midwest flooding is  supported by a snowpack more extensive than in 2009, which contains more than 10 inches (25cm) of liquid water in some locations. Until early March, consistently cold temperatures limited snow melt and runoff. These conditions exist on top of: above normal streamflows; December precipitation that was up to four times above average; and the ground which is frozen to a depth as much as three feet below the surface, NOAA said. More …

Related Links:

• US Weather

Current NWS Weather Hazard Warnings (U.S.)

• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Severe Thunderstorm
• Flash Flood
• Flood
• Winter Storm
• Special Marine
• Non Precipitation
• Tsunami
• Space Weather
• All Warnings

Image of the Day: Three men we admire most

The Conciliary, the Prez and the unholy ghost

George W Bush: “He” no longer speaks to me!

He only knows, I have been trying to speak to Him about flooding and fire, but He is avoiding me!

U.S. President George W. Bush takes part in a briefing on Midwest flooding with Vice President Dick Cheney (L) and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, June 17, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Anyone For More Biofuels?

The Future of Biofuels: Bleak!

As the 36th levee along the Mississippi River broke flooding another 1,500 hectares of agricultural land and about one hundred homes, the death toll in the Midwest storms and torrential rains topped 24 souls since early June. About 40,000 people were displaced from their homes mostly in Iowa where 83 of 99 counties were declared disaster areas.

Flooding has caused billions of dollars of crop damage destroying several million hectares of corn and soybeans and pushing corn and livestock prices to new record highs.

[A few damaged] Corn plants stand in a field that was flooded by overflowing waters of the Cedar River in Mount Vernon, Iowa June 16, 2008. More storms dumped crop-drowning rains on parts of the U.S. Midwest on Thursday [June 26], threatening strained levees and slowing recovery from a multibillion-dollar flood disaster in the heart of the world’s biggest grain and food exporter. REUTERS/Frank Polich. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

“On Thursday, Chicago Board of Trade corn for July 2009 delivery set another record high at $8.22 a bushel, more than double the 40-year average for corn prices. Corn is the main feed for meat animals, main source for ethanol fuel, and used in hundreds of other food and industrial products.” Reuters reported.

Unsurprisingly, rising corn and soy prices in addition to other factors have reportedly forced up to fifteen U.S. biofuel plants out of business.

“Corn prices are making the feasibility of ethanol plants every day more and more questionable,” said Alex Moglia, president of Moglia Advisors in suburban Chicago, which helps biofuel companies restructure.
About 12 small to midsize biodiesel and ethanol plants have declared bankruptcy since early 2008 including Renova Energy LLC, a company with a partially built 20 million-gallons-per year ethanol plant in Idaho, which declared bankruptcy last week. Ethanex Energy Inc, another midsize company based in Kansas declared bankruptcy in March, said Moglia. “There will be more to follow.”

VeraSun one of the major players announce earlier that it will delay the opening of three ethanol plants with a total capacity of 330 million gpy (gallons per year) due to soaring corn costs. Poet energy, another major player, scrapped plans for a 70 million gpy Minnesota plant in May.

The outlook was not entirely bad, said Todd Alexander, a partner at Chadbourne & Park LLP in New York specializing in energy finance. Biofuel output from plants that survive the current high feedstock prices should continue to be in demand because the U.S. mandates that require the blending of biofuels into gasoline are set to rise in volume year after year.

Clearly, “the majority of ethanol plants are not as happy as they once were,” said Todd Alexander, a partner at Chadbourne & Park LLP in New York specializing in energy finance.

Despite the U.S. mandates that demand the blending of biofuels into gasoline, which are set to rise in volume year after year, the full effect of high corn prices will only be felt once the distilleries current contracts, agreed on at much lower prices, run out and new, skyrocketing prices take effect.

Related Links:

• Are Extreme Precipitation Events Nature’s Defense Mechanisms?
• What’s a Hydrokong?

Related News Links:

• U.S. biofuel plants go bankrupt on feedstock costs
• Missouri levee breaks (Video)

What’s a Hydrokong?

A Shrinking World Series

Is it a mega-tropical storm system, or an extra-tropical cyclone (ETC), i.e., a non-tropical, large-scale low pressure storm system like a Nor’easter?

“Hydrokong” is a colossal atmospheric phenomenon. It’s an extreme precipitation event which is enhanced by circulation changes that increase and concentrate the distribution of water vapor.

Hydrokong! The Storm System as it appeared over the central United States June 12, 2008 04:15 UTC. The still image is an aviation color enhancement of a satellite image.

Globally, as total precipitation increases, the duration or frequency of precipitation events decreases. However, warmer temperatures and regional variation can significantly affect those offsetting behaviors. For example, reduced total precipitation in one region, the Western United States, can significantly increase the intensity of precipitation in another region, the Midwest. Hydrokongs essentially create two extreme events, droughts in one region and flooding caused by mega-intense precipitation in another. As the global temperatures rise, more hydrokongs should be expected.

Another Hydrokong in the making? A new System as it appeared over the central United States June 27, 2008 04:15 UTC. The still image is an aviation color enhancement of a satellite image.

An aviation color enhancement of a floater [updated periodically] satellite image GEOS Eastern U.S. Imagery, NOAA SSD. For full size image right-click on the image and select “View Image.”

In the words of Brian Pierce, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, describing the aftermath of flooding last week: “We are seeing a historic hydrological event taking place with unprecedented river levels occurring.”

Are Extreme Precipitation Events Earth’s Natural Defense Mechanisms?

Related Links:

• Nature’s Defense Mechanisms
• www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php [Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service!]
  

.

Environmental Disasters: Too Close for Comfort?

submitted by a reader

“You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

Beginning to feel that the environmental disasters are getting up close and personal?

One minute you are in your comfortable home near Paradise, north of Sacramento, the next minute you are being consoled by the firefighters as you stand in the front garden watching your home turn into blackened cinder. They apologize for failing to help you, but it wasn’t their fault. They ran out of water!

Wondering why?

Butte Valley fire, Humboldt, Thursday night. Image: Jason Halley / Chico Enterprise-Record. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Into the SUV with what little you could snatch away from the mouth of the fire heading east to Iowa to stay with Aunt Molly. On interstate 29 a twister is about to touch down. Whoosh! You swerve out of the way just in time.

Parkersburg Tornado. Photo AP. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Aunt Molly’s house in Cedar Rapids wasn’t so lucky. It didn’t have wheels to drive away and avoid the floodwater; it is completely deluged.

An aerial photo shows a flooded area of downtown looking North over Cedar Rapids, Iowa June 13, 2008. Interstate I-380 can be seen at top while Mays Island, with Cedar Rapids City Hall, is seen on the left with its bridges under water. Floodwaters have inundated about 100 city blocks of Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second-largest city with 200,000 residents. REUTERS/Ron Mayland. Photo AP. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Five hours and a dozen phonecalls later, you are finally heading to the calm of Wisconsin to stay with Cousin Thelma and her family. Turn the radio on. Homes on Lake Delton in central Wisconsin have been ripped apart by deadly storm and washed away by floodwaters. Chilly gooseflesh grow on your forearms. Something tingles deep inside your gut, that uncomfortable feeling something is wrong. And you are right! Well, It’s Friday the 13th, you hear yourself murmuring.

Lake Delton is a popular tourist spot south of the Wisconsin Dells. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Distant Cousin Joe and his family are in deep mourning in Loveland. Two of their kids with four of their classmates and a teacher didn’t make it back from a fishing trip. And his 5,000 acre cornfield is submerged in floodwater …

Corn crop submerged in floodwaters near Loveland, Iowa, June 12, 2008. REUTERS/Dave Kaup. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Back to Iowa to stay with an old classmate who lives in Marshal Town, Iowa, and who invited you to visit her last summer. A rain check is as good as … a rain check! Finally you arrive in Marshal Town. But the whole town has been evacuated and the power plants have been shut down!

Well, at least you have the good old, reliable SUV, and it’s not as if the world is running out of corn to make ethanol for you!

Related Links:

• Failing Ecosystems
• The Root Cause Matrix
• First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities

feww

The Climate Change Crusades

Are YOU a Climate Change Crusader?
How Do YOU Fight Climate Change?
Should YOU Crusade Against the Climate Change, or just STOP heating the globe?

A Shrinking World Series

Make No Mistake: Nature Always Has the Last Word!

Midwest Flood Update:

A dam near the Wisconsin Dells resort area broke on Monday, causing mudslides that swept away homes, as torrential rains caused more flooding across the U.S. Midwest.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency in 30 counties in the south of the state. In Iowa, where 33 counties were flooded, and Indiana, where flooding forced hundreds of people to evacuate homes in the central and western parts of the state, similar declarations have been made. Parts of Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota have been affected by flooding.

“This is an area that’s been bombarded with rain over the weekend, anywhere from 5 to 10 inches, and you’re dealing with saturated soils. So any rain that falls becomes run-off,” the National Weather Service’s Pat Slattery said.

OUCH! Too Close to the bank! Like the Kubeniks and the Pekars (see image caption), rivers are “living” creatures; they need room to complete their cycle of life!

The homes of the Kubeniks (R) and the Pekars are damaged after a dam broke at man-made Lake Delton, Wisconsin June 9 2008. REUTERS/Allen Fredrickson. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice.

“Flood damage estimated in the tens of millions of dollars were being added to recent storm damage in Iowa, including a tornado that flattened the town of Parkersburg two weeks ago.” Reuters reported.

In Iowa:

• The water treatment plant in Mason City was swamped by the Winnebago River.
• Three of four bridges in the town of Charles City were swept away by flooding of the Cedar River.
• The town of New Hartford was evacuated.

Corn and soybean fields were submerged under the floodwater in Midwestern states. Iowa and Illinois account for about 35% of U.S. corn and soybeans, usually the world’s largest harvests of those crops. However, the prospects of a bumper crop year were further eroded, following a wet spring that had already delayed planting. (Source)

Related Video:

• Home washed away in floods [like a matchbox!]

Related Links:

• US Tornado Brief
• UN Hypocrisy: Kick the CO2 Habit!
• Will California turn to desert by 2011?

• Italy: Submerged in Floodwaters, Sinking in Garbage

• Failing Ecosystems
• State of the World
• Future Scenarios
• First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
  
• Nuking Earth for Lifestyle

• Giga Trends
• World Problems: The Root Cause Matrix
• Tipping Point
• Topsoil
• Drying Aquifers, Sinking Cities

• The Economy
• Energy
• Food Security
• Future in the Making: A Shrinking World

• Flood Puts City in Iowa ‘at God’s Mercy’ Iowa, June 12, 2008
  

The World’s one harvest from starvation!

US Tornado Brief

A Shrinking World Series

Updates:

• First lock on Mississippi River closes amid flood June 12, 2008

• Tornado kills four and injures up to 40 at Iowa boy scout camp June 12, 2008
• Midwest hit with floods June 11, 2008
• Midwest floods drowning crops; corn prices soar 11 Jun 2008
• Tornado kills four at Iowa boy scout camp 11 Jun 2008
• Midwest battles flood waters 11 Jun 2008
• Flooded Midwest braces for more rain 10 Jun 2008

• Video: Severe weather pounds U.S.
• Video:Holding a river at bay

What Tornado Headlines Say:

Copyright Editors or the News Agencies [Some editing by FEWW]

Deadly storms flood Midwest

At least five people were reported killed as heavy rains continued to pound the American Midwest on Sunday, flooding towns from Iowa to Michigan and threatening levees as lakes and rivers swelled.

Early Death Toll:

• Two delivery workers for The Grand Rapids Press in Michigan were killed Sunday when their car fell into a deep ravine created when a rain-swollen creek washed out a road.

• A woman died in Lansing Michigan, when a small trailer blew over on top of her.

• At least one person died as the result of rising waters, police spokesman in Columbus, Indiana said.

Meanwhile, storms in Nebraska spun out an early-morning Omaha tornado about a quarter-mile wide that moved northeast. As much as 11 inches of rain flooded central Indiana over the weekend.

Most towns south of Indianapolis and further west in Terre Haute received 6-10 inches of rainfall, said a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. He said some affected areas hadn’t seen a such flooding for 100 years.

Flood waters continued to rise throughout Iowa on Sunday, with the northern part of the state receiving up to 5 inches of rain from a single afternoon storm.

Two delivery workers in Michigan were killed when their car fell into a ravine. (Photo: AP/ The Grand Rapids Press) Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Tornadoes maul homes, flip vehicles

A series of tornadoes destroyed homes, toppled power lines and flipped vehicles Saturday as a small but powerful storm system moved through the region, cutting just south of Chicago before weakening and moving over Lake Michigan.

Some of the damage in Monee. (Photo: Scott Stewart/Sun-Times) Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

“It was kind of like a train coming through the living room,” An eye witness said. “The building was shaking. There was a lot of commotion.” He said his neighborhood looked like a war zone, with siding, branches and debris strewn everywhere.

Lightning strikes pavilion as storms blow through Connecticut state park; 1 killed, 4 hurt

Lightning struck a pavilion at a Connecticut state park killing one person and injuring four others. Strong thunderstorms moved through the state Sunday leaving thousands of homes without power.

Powerful storms swamp U.S. Midwest, spawn tornadoes

Heavy rains caused flooding that forced hundreds of evacuations in Indiana, and a tornado raked Chicago’s suburbs on Saturday as violent thunderstorms pummeled the already soggy U.S. heartland, authorities said.

The U.S. Coast Guard was called out to help rescue stranded homeowners and motorists, and near-record flooding was forecast for rivers and creeks in western and central Indiana where Gov. Mitch Daniels declared an emergency in 10 more counties, added to the 41 counties declared earlier. At least one person was injured and some 29,000 households were without power.

“We’ve had some reports of houses destroyed,” said Andrew Krein of the National Weather Service.

Tornadoes also struck in Iowa and Wisconsin, capping a season that has seen a parade of storms spawning tornadoes, hail and destructive winds. According to the weather service, 112 people have died in tornadoes since the beginning of the year, the most in the United States in a decade.

Weather service warns of ‘violent’ tornadoes in Plains

Large hail, strong winds and heavy rain are reported in northwest Kansas in a powerful storm system that could produce large tornadoes in the state before nightfall.

In a strongly-worded statement Thursday, the National Weather Service warned that parts of Kansas could see hail bigger than baseballs, 80-mph-plus winds and “a few strong to violent long-lived tornadoes.”

Forecasters say severe thunderstorms will form by late afternoon in central and south-central Kansas and move toward eastern Kansas, Nebraska, northwestern Missouri and Iowa.

68 Tornadoes Have Hit Mississippi In 2008

The Storm Prediction Center – the National Weather Service office responsible for severe weather forecasts and tallies – says that 1,330 tornadoes have been reported this year. Not all of those tornadoes have been confirmed yet, but even still the numbers of confirmed tornadoes are already nearly three times that of the most active periods of previous years.

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson says 68 tornadoes have been confirmed to have touched down in Mississippi so far this year. In 2007, a total of 33 tornadoes touched down. In less than half the time the number of tornadoes has more than doubled.

Tornadoes and heavy rain struck Northern Minnesota

At least two tornadoes broke loose Friday morning in the far northeastern corner of Minnesota, where heavy overnight rains led to flash flooding throughout Cook County and the city of Grand Marais. About 5 inches of rain fell at Grand Marais.

Water coming down the hill next to Highway 61, west of Grand Marais. (Photo: Stephan Hoglund/ Star Tribune). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Related Links:

• Deadly Storms Hit US Midsection
• Will 2008 be year of the tornadoes, too?
• 2008: Year of the Fire