16 Michigan Counties Declared Federal Disaster Areas Following Devastating Floods
The Whit House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Michigan in the areas affected by flooding during the period of April 16 to May 14, 2013.
The counties covered by the declaration are Allegan, Baraga, Barry, Gogebic, Houghton, Ionia, Kent, Keweenaw, Marquette, Midland, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ontonagon, Osceola, Ottawa, and Saginaw.
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
SNAFU at Fukushima
Trust TEPCO, the operators of Japan’s disaster-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, turning a disaster into a farce… And, that’s exactly what they have been doing since March 2011 Mega Quake and tsunami, which crippled the reactors causing multiple meltdowns.
TEPCO has revealed that high levels of a toxic radioactive Strontium-90 was present in the groundwater at 30 times the legal limit. The plant operators also found Tritium eight times the legal limit.
To compound the problem, experts say that Fukushima plant is running out of storage space for contaminated water, while large amounts of water is needed each day to cool the reactors.
Strontium-90 has a half life of 29 years, and is believed to cause bone cancer if ingested.
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Uttarakhand, N. India: Death toll tops 150, as flooding and landslide devastate a vast region
The Mega Deluge and massive landslides, caused by extreme monsoon rains, have devastated hundreds of towns and villages, destroying thousands of homes and other buildings, and leaving more than 150 dead, with at least as many reported missing.
The death toll may swell substantially once the exact count of bodies scattered across the ravaged towns is known. Right now, large parts of the region remain deluged and hundreds of homes and businesses lay in ruins, the report said.
- “Very heavy casualties are feared and I cannot give the exact number without a proper survey,” said Uttarakhand Chief Minister, who described the flood ravage as unprecedented caused by a “Himalayan tsunami.”
Meantime, India’s Meteorological Center reported that the state of Kerala had received an average of 57 cm of rain between June 1 and 17, some 69 percent more than the normal level.
- “The highest rainfall was recorded in Kannur district at 85 cm. This was 105 per ent more than the expected rainfall,” said a report.
Thousands of people have died in floods and landslides in Uttarakhand: BJP
Indian People’s Party (BJP), which is the country’s second largest political party, has claimed that “thousands of people have died [in floods and landslides in Uttarakhand] and [that] there is no rescue operation,” said a report.
- “We demand that urgent steps be taken to describe this disaster as a national calamity. Adequate attention on war footing be given for rehabilitation and rescue operations,” a BJP spokesperson told reporters in Delhi.
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“Super heat wave hits many parts of China”
A “super heat wave” has hit many parts of China, according to the official media. Many areas have reported temperature highs of 37ºC (98.6 degrees F).
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U.S. High and Low Temperatures (F)
High Temperature for Tuesday, June 18, 2013 (received by 8 am EDT June 19)
- 114 degrees (45.6ºC), recorded at Death Valley, CA
Low Temperature for Wednesday, June 19, 2013 (received by 8 am EDT June 19)
- 27 degrees, recorded at Spincich Lake, MI
Global High and Low Temperatures
- 116.3 degrees (46.8ºC), Algeria
- -86.8 degrees (-66ºC), Antarctica
Related Links
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