FIRE-EARTH Alert: FLORENCE BECOMES A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE –NHC

FLORENCE Rapidly Strengthens into a Major Hurricane with Maximum Sustained Winds of 210 KM/H

Current Status: SUMMARY as of 1200 PM AST [1600 UTC]

• LOCATION: 25.0N, 60.2W
  • About 925 KM SSE OF BERMUDA
  • About 1,985 KM ESE OF CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA
• MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 210 KM/H
• PRESENT MOVEMENT: W OR 280 DEGREES AT 20 KM/H
• MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE: 946 MB

 

FIRE-EARTH FORECAST: Florence Could Strengthen to a Super Storm Before Landfall

• Prognostic reasoning and additional information available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

FIRE-EARTH Alert: SEO – NCWF

CJ Members

FIRE-EARTH Alert: State of Emergency in NC amid Wildfires

• A State of Emergency has been declared in N.C. due to more than two dozen wildfires in Western North Carolina.
• The fires have been prompted by the lingering drought, unseasonably dry weather conditions, and abnormally warm temperatures.
  • Temperatures across the northern Rockies, High Plains, and upper Midwest are expected to be 15 to 25 degrees above normal, said NWS.
• The State of Emergency is in effect for 25 counties including Alexander, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey.
• “As eastern North Carolina was underwater due to flooding from Hurricane Matthew, the western part of the state has been suffering from a severe drought and now hundreds of acres are burning,” said NC governor.
• Several dozen wildfires are burning in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Western South Carolina.
• Full details of the Alert are available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina

NC Emergency Designations: Excessive rain and flooding damage or destroy crops across 22 counties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 22 counties in the state of North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Jan. 2, 2016, and continues. Those counties are:

North Carolina. Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Duplin, Greene, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Sampson and Wilson.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on March 30, 2016.

Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on one or more crops.

ii. The counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Previous Disaster Designations – 2016:

• Crop Disasters Declared in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Puerto Rico March 26, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Florida, Georgia  March 18, 2016
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Nine U.S. States March 4, 2016

• Multiple Crop Disasters Hit Eight U.S. States February 29, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Montana February 25, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in the U.S. States of North Carolina and Virginia February 11, 2016

• Crop Disasters Declared in Two U.S. States February 5, 2016
• Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas January 24, 2016
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in the U.S. States of North Carolina and Virginia

USDA Designates Multiple Counties in Two States as Crop Disaster Areas

Crop Disaster Designation #1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated eight counties in North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Sept. 24, 2015, and continues.

Those counties are Granville, Halifax, Franklin, Johnston, Nash, Vance, Wake and Warren.

Crop Disaster Designation #2

In a second designation, USDA has declared the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain that occurred from Sept. 7, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2015.

• Virginia. Brunswick, Chesapeake, Dinwiddie, Emporia, Greensville, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Newport News, Portsmouth and Southampton counties, as well as the City of Suffolk

• North Carolina. Camden, Gates and Northampton counties.

All counties and city listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Feb. 10, 2016, USDA reported.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Two U.S. States February 5, 2016
• Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas January 24, 2016
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in Two U.S. States

Excessive rain and flooding destroy crops across 18 counties in Georgia, North Carolina

Continued excessive rain and flooding destroy crops across 18 counties in North Carolina and Virginia .

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 18 counties in North Carolina and Virginia as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from July 13, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

North Carolina. Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person , Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes and Wake counties.

Virginia. Halifax, Henry and Pittsylvania counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

USDA declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands] in 2015. Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations were due to drought last year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

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 counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas January 24, 2016
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas

Crop disasters declared in 37 counties across three U.S. states

Lingering excessive heat, excessive rain and moisture have destroyed or damaged crops in at least 37 counties across three states: Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 20 counties in Georgia as crop disaster area due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and moisture that occurred from Aug. 24, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

Appling, Brantley, Bulloch, Burke, Emanuel, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Long, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Treutlen and Wayne.

USDA has also designated 17 counties across the Carolinas as crop disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred from April 25, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

North Carolina. Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, Union, Wilkes and Yadkin.

South Carolina. Lancaster and York.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Jan. 20, 2016.

Crop Disasters 2015

USDA declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands] in 2015. Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations were due to drought last year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

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 counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Five U.S. States December 24, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia December 19, 2015

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States

UPDATED

Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in 36 Counties across Three States

Flooding, Late Frost and Freeze have destroyed or damaged crops in at least 36 counties across three states: Wisconsin, Virginia and North Carolina.

Disaster Designation # 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 14 counties in Wisconsin as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a late frost and freeze that occurred from May 17, 2015, through June 6, 2015. Those counties are:

Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Price, Shawano, Taylor, Waupaca and Wood counties.

Disaster Designation # 2

USDA has designated a total of 22 counties in Virginia and North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by flooding that occurred from Sept. 24, 2015, through Oct. 6, 2015. Those counties are:

Virginia. Carroll, Charles City, Floyd, Franklin, Franklin City, George, Greensville, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, Newport News, Patrick, Prince, Southampton, Suffolk, Surry and Sussex counties.

North Carolina. Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Stokes and Surry counties.

All counties were designated natural disaster areas on Jan. 06, 2016.

Crop Disasters 2015

USDA declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands] in 2015. Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations were due to drought last year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

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 counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Five U.S. States December 24, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia December 19, 2015

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States

Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in 36 Counties across Three States

Extreme Weather Events have destroyed or damaged crops in at least 36 counties across three states: Wisconsin, Virginia and North Carolina.

Disaster Designation # 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 14 counties in Wisconsin as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a late frost and freeze that occurred from May 17, 2015, through June 6, 2015.

Disaster Designation # 2

USDA has designated a total of 22 counties in Virginia and North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by flooding that occurred from Sept. 24, 2015, through Oct. 6, 2015.

All counties were designated natural disaster areas on Jan. 06, 2016.

Crop Disasters 2015

USDA declared crop disasters in at least 4,017 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands] in 2015. Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations were due to drought last year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

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 counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Five U.S. States December 24, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia December 19, 2015

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina, Virginia

Excessive rain, flooding destroy crops in North Carolina, Virginia

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 27 counties in two states—North Carolina and Virginia—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Oct. 27, 2015, and continues. Those counties are:

• N. Carolina. Anson, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Lenoir, Montgomery, Moore, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, Vance, Wake, Wayne, and Wilson

• Virginia. Halifax and Mecklenburg

All counties listed above were designated crop disaster areas on Dec. 17, 2015.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 3,964 counties and county equivalents across 46 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands]: Those states are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

• About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations have been due to drought so far this year.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were:

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 counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated as crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

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

Related Links

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Montana December 19, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia December 10, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in the Carolinas December 3, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Kansas December 3, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Michigan and Ohio November 26, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Six U.S. States November 22, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

States of Emergency Declared in SC, NC

North and South Carolina proclaim states of emergency as severe winter storm approaches

Governors in North and South Carolina have declared states of emergency as a severe winter storm approaches.

Gov. Haley proclaimed a State of Emergency for 31 counties in the Upstate, Pee Dee and Midlands of South Carolina.

Gov. McCrory also proclaimed a State Of Emergency for the entire state late Wednesday.
McCrory activated the State Emergency Response Team for the second time in two weeks.
“We are preparing for as much as eight inches of snow across the majority of the state,” he said. “We are anticipating the worst.”

Meantime, the local media reported more than 2,000 crashes on icy roads, throughout the state.

“Between midnight and noon, State Highway Patrol troopers responded to approximately 700 calls for service; of those, 400 were collisions. Yesterday, troopers responded to nearly 3,000 calls for service including 2,300 vehicle crashes. The Highway Patrol typically responds to approximately 1,000 calls in a 24-hour period,” said a report.

States of Emergency Declared in Alabama and Georgia
State of Emergency were proclaimed in Alabama and Georgia as the exceptionally severe weather approached Tuesday.

• Louisiana Declares State of Emergency amid Severe Weather Warning

10th Day of State of Emergency in Tennessee

• States of Emergency Declared in Tennessee and Virginia

Salt Shortage in Ohio

Meantime, Ohio reported major salt shortages in many parts of the Buckeye State.

Record Snow in Boston

Boston has shattered several snowfall records, so far, including snowiest February and snowiest month ever. The total amount of snow measured  at Logan International Airport is now 101.8 inches for the season, said The National Weather Service (NWS), which makes the winter the second snowiest on record, so far, less than 6 inches behind the all-time record of 107.6 inches set  during the 1995-96 winter.
[The city has also smashed the record for most sub-freezing days ever recorded in February.]

Historic Cold Causes at lest 74 Fatalities

At least 74 deaths have been attributed to the historic cold and record snowfalls, which have also caused major travel disruptions, and forced schools, businesses and government offices to close repeatedly across most of the U.S.

Lowest Minimum Temp (Daily Records)

Between 1 and 24 February, at least 1,883 new record low temperatures have been set across the United States, and 314 other records tied, said National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).

NWS has issued the following forecast

… a fresh batch of Arctic air surges through the central U.S

A fresh batch of Arctic air will continue to plunge through the central U.S. as another strong surface high slides down from Canada. A cold front at the leading edge of the frigid airmass will trigger light snow showers while it presses from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the central Appalachians. Flow into the terrain should force some upslope snow along the Rockies…and weak impulses aloft should help enhance amounts over the central to southern Rockies and adjacent High Plains.

Crop Disasters Declared in Five States

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC HAZARDS
DROUGHT
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS (ERE)
HIGH WINDS
HAIL STORM
FROST
CROP DISASTERS
SCENARIOS 900,  888, 444, 178, 177, 111, 064, 03, 02
.

Drought, Frost, ERE and Winds destroy crops in five states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 26 counties in five states–Texas, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico and Kansas–as crop disaster areas due to losses caused by drought, frost, extreme rain events and high winds.

Drought Disaster Areas

A total of 9 counties in Texas and one county in New Mexico have been designated as crop disaster areas due to ongoing drought.

• Texas: Crane, Winkler, Andrews, Ector, Pecos, Ward, Crockett, Loving and Upton counties.
• New Mexico: Lea County

Drought & Frost Disaster Areas

11 Counties in Kansas and Nebraska have been declared crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought and frost that occurred during the period of January 1, 2014, and continuing.

• Kansas: Republic, Washington, Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Marshall and Riley counties.
• Nebraska: Gage, Jefferson, Nuckolls and Thayer counties.

Excessive Rain and Winds Disaster Areas

USDA has designated five counties in North Carolina as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and winds that occurred on July 3, 2014.

• North Carolina: Pamlico, Beaufort, Carteret, Craven and Hyde counties.

Crop Disasters 2014

Beginning January 10, 2014 USDA has declared at least 2,315 separate crop disasters across 35 states. Most of those designations are due to the ongoing drought.

• Those states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington, 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 total number of counties designated as agricultural disaster areas includes both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. 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 September 10, 2014.

Crop Disaster Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Six States Posted on September 5, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in Three States August 15, 2014
• Crop Disasters Declared in 7 States August 7, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

‘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

Tornado Attacks – Day 3

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DEADLY STORM SYSTEM
DEADLY TORNADOES
STATES OF  EMERGENCY IN MULTIPLE STATES
.

Up to 9 Tornadoes Touch Down in North Carolina and Illinois

Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has received at least 9 reports of tornadoes in North Carolina and Illinois.

Reports also include 3-inch hail in Lawrence, Kentucky, golf-ball size hail in Wilson County, NC, and 60MPH winds in Wayne county, Ohio.

There are also hundreds of reports of damage to buildings, with numerous trees uprooted  across MI, NC, MS, OH, KY, AL, GA, CO and FL.

Reports from Monday and Teusday

Dozens Killed in US as Tornado Attacks Continue

States of Emergency declared in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Georgia as up to 82 tornadoes strike  southern and eastern U.S.,  leaving trails of death and destruction in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee,  Georgia, and  Kentucky.

Deadly tornadoes, baseball-sized hail, and destructive winds continue to leave trails of death and destruction across large portions of southern and eastern U.S.

As many as 50 fatalities have been reported (unconfirmed), with hundreds more injured.

Up to 127 tornado reports have been sent to Storm Prediction Center since late Sunday.

FIRE-EARTH Damage Estimate – Update

FIRE-EARTH Disaster Models estimate cost of damage caused by the storm systems at $800million, based on initial reports, as of posting. [The final estimates could be much higher.]

Tornadoes, Wind and Hail Reports (Unfiltered) received by SPC as of 04:40UTC on April 30, 2014.

States of Emergency Declared in FIVE States

Gov. Bentley declares state of emergency for all Alabama counties

“Some of our communities have already experienced significant damage as a result of the tornadoes that began moving through Alabama earlier today, ” said Bentley in a press release.

Gov. Deal Declares a State of Emergency for Georgia

Gov. Deal declared a state of emergency Monday night in anticipation of the storms.

“At this juncture, we’ve declared the emergency for the entire state because it’s impossible to pinpoint where the weather will hit,” said Deal in a statement. “Georgia is threatened at least through (Tuesday) and perhaps into Wednesday. We’re prepared now and we’ll be ready for recovery should we, God forbid, experience tornado damage or flooding.”

Gov. Bryant Declared a State of Emergency for Mississippi

Gov. Bryant declared a state of emergency on Monday in advance of the storms that forecasters had warned could spawn tornadoes, heavy rains, damaging hail and flash floods.

“This storm system has the potential to create dangerous conditions, and we are monitoring it closely,” said Bryant. “Residents should not overreact (!)  but should make plans now to ensure they are prepared for a variety of conditions, including strong winds and rains and the possibility of hail and tornadoes.”

Gov. McCrory Declares State of Emergency for four N.C. Counties

Governor McCrory declared a state of emergency for Beaufort, Chowan, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties following the damage and destruction caused by Friday’s severe thunderstorms and devastating tornadoes. He warned of more severe weather statrting Monday.

“What I witnessed firsthand in Beaufort, Chowan and Perquimans counties is a stark reminder of how damaging tornadoes can be,” said McCrory. “My heart goes out to the hundreds of people dealing with property damage, injuries, and even the loss of life. In times like these, we must stick together and help each other out, and we will do all that we can to help communities hit by these storms.”

Gov. Fallin Declares a State of Emergency for Ottawa County

Oklahoma Gov. Fallin declared a state of emergency for Ottawa County on Monday after a tornado struck the area Sunday night killing at least one person, destroying Quapaw’s fire stations and scores of other buildings, including homes and businesses.

In its latest forecast the National Weather Service said:

Severe weather threat continues from Great Lakes to Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic

The NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a risk of severe weather Tuesday afternoon and into [Thursday] from the Great Lakes southward to the central and eastern Gulf Coast and eastward to the Carolinas and Virginia. The greatest risk is from eastern Mississippi to central Alabama, where a Moderate Risk is in place. Several tornadoes, large hail and straight line damaging winds are likely.

Summary:
scattered thunderstorms will continue from the Great Lakes region south-southwestward across the Ohio and Tennessee river valleys to the central Gulf Coast region. Storms will also continue across parts of North and South Carolina and into southern Virginia.
Finally, storms will continue gradually moving off the east coast of Florida. While some severe risk — including potential for hail and locally damaging winds — will continue from Ohio southward into Kentucky over the next couple of hours, the greater risk for severe weather including potential for a couple of tornadoes — will continue into the overnight hours across parts of southern and eastern Tennessee and northwest Georgia, and then south-southwestward across parts of Mississippi and Alabama. a few severe storms may also persist into the overnight hours over the Carolinas/southern Virginia vicinity, including the risk for hail and locally damaging winds and possibly a tornado.

Related Links

• Massive Tornado Attacks Continue on U.S. South, East April 29, 2014
• More Deadly Tornadoes Swoop across Southern US April 29, 2014
• Deadly Tornadoes Rake Through Central U.S. April 28, 2014
• Tornadoes Strike OK, KS, MS, AR, NE, IA April 28, 2014
• Tornadoes Destroy or Damage Hundreds of N.C. Homes April 26, 2014

Tornadoes Destroy or Damage Hundreds of N.C. Homes

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
TORNADO DAMAGE
STATES OF EMERGENCY
.

NC Counties Declare States of Emergency as Tornadoes Destroy or Damage Hundreds of Homes

At least 10 tornadoes have struck seven North Carolina counties—Nash, Franklin, Halifax, Greene, Pitt, Beaufort, and Pasquotank—destroying or damaging hundreds of homes and prompting authorities to declare States of Emergency.

The tornadoes have uprooted numerous trees and cut power to thousands of homes, officials said.

More than two dozen people have been injured.

Significant Severe Weather Outbreak

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued the following forecast for a multi-day, significant severe weather outbreak, warning of very large hail and damaging winds and tornadoes:

Multi-day severe weather outbreak and heavy rain event forecast to begin Saturday in the central U.S.

The first multi-day, significant severe weather outbreak of 2014 is set to begin Saturday in the Great Plains. Very large hail and damaging winds are the primary threats Saturday, with isolated tornadoes possible. An even greater threat exists Sunday, including strong tornadoes, focused in the Ark-La-Tex region. Heavy rainfall could also bring flood concerns to parts of the Miss. & Tenn. Valleys.

‘Major Disaster Declartion’ Declared for NC

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION
.

North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area

The White House has signed Major Disaster Declaration for North Carolina following the damage caused by a severe winter storm during the period of March 6-7, 2014.

The worst of the damage occurred in Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, and Randolph counties.

For previous Federal/ Major Disaster Declarations, search blog content.

Related Links

• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

Duke Energy Coated 112km of Dan River in Toxic Sludge

CRIMES AGAINST NATURE
.

Duke Energy facilities cited with 7 notices of violation

North Carolina regulators have cited Duke Energy power plants with 7 notices of violation for lacking the mandatory storm water permits following a massive spill at the retired Dan River Steam Station in Eden last month.

Coal ash dumps from the Eden plant coated about 112km (70 miles) of Dan River in toxic sludge.

State issues notices of violation for five more Duke Energy facilities

As part of its ongoing probe into Duke Energy’s coal ash ponds, state regulators late Friday issued notices of violation for five other Duke Energy power plants for failure to obtain a federally mandated National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, stormwater permit.

These notices of violation are in addition to two issued for violations at the Dan River power plant in Eden where a failed 48-inch stormwater pipe caused a massive spill of coal ash into the Dan River. Duke Energy has 30 days to respond to the notices for the stormwater violations for all six facilities cited. Duke Energy has 15 days to respond to the notice related to the wastewater violations at the Dan River facility.

“Our agency is determined to make sure that all of these facilities are in compliance with state and federal law,” said John Skvarla, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “We’re doing everything in our power to prevent environmental disasters like what we’ve seen at the Dan River. We are committed to protecting public health and the natural resources of our state.”

The additional facilities that received notices of violation are the Belews Creek Steam Station in Rockingham County, Cliffside Steam Station in Rutherford County, Lee Steam Electric Plant in Wayne County, Roxboro Steam Electric Power Plant in Person County, and Sutton Steam Electric Plant in New Hanover County, said the NC State Department of Environment and Natural Resource.

Chronology of Disaster

The first [known] spill at Dan River Steam Station, a Duke Energy retired power plant in Eden, NC, occurred on February 2, 2014, when another broken stormwater pipe located under a 27-acre ash pond released about 27 million gallons of ash basin water, according to the company.

Duke Energy discovered the coal ash spill Feb. 2 after a 48-inch stormwater pipe beneath a coal ash pond at the Dan River power plant ruptured. Before it could be stopped, the spill sent between 24 million and 27 million gallons of wastewater and as much as 39,000 tons of coal combustion residuals from the ash pond to the Dan River.

Coal combustion residuals from the spill have since been identified as far as 70 miles downstream coating the river in varying depths, officials said.

Close up of excavation and pipe work inside the Dan River ash basin. Source: Duke Energy

Earlier this month FIRE-EARTH commented:

Other than for obvious reasons, there were no immediate comments from Duke Energy as to why the ash pond was built over a stormwater pipe and so close to Dan River, nor any reason why the largest electricity provider in the U.S. failed to remove the toxic ash nearly two years after the plant was retired.

Source: Duke Energy

Aerial view of the retired Dan River Steam Station and ash basins in North Carolina. Source: Duke Energy [This photo taken on February 5, 2014 shows the primary basin almost completely drained into Dan River.]

FIRE-EARTH Forecast

On January 12, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]

If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate…[IT WILL]

Estimated 100,000 HAZMAT storage sites across the U.S. can potentially explode, leak, contaminate the environment—FIRE-EARTH

United States is dotted with an estimated 100,000 HAZMAT storage sites containing one or more of deadly substances including radioactive, biohazardous, toxic, explosive, flammable, asphyxiating, corrosive, oxidizing, pathogenic, or allergenic materials, as well as herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers that don’t fall into those categories.

Some of the substances (hazchems), which include more than 200 types of dioxins, are so lethal that even a small leak into the water supply could kill or permanently harm millions of people, before they are detected.

In February, DUKE-ENERGY blocked its website to FIRE-EARTH moderators in several locations.

When tried to access their website using a different system we received the following WARNING:

Guess who gave away our ISPs to Duke Energy!

Related Links

• Toxins Leak into North Carolina River [Again] February 19, 2014
• Up to 27 Million Gallons of Coal Ash Spill into Dan River, NC February 7, 201

• If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate… January 12, 2014
• UPDATE: Hundreds are Sick after West Virgina Water Pollution January 11, 2014
• 737 People Reported Sickness after West Virgina Water Pollution January 11, 2014

• UPDATED: State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia after Chemical Spill January 10, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia due to Chemical Spill January 10, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia after Chemical Spill  January 10, 2014

Viral Hog Epidemic Outbreak in NC

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
NIGHTMARE SCENARIO 011
.

NC governor urged to declare state of emergency over viral hog epidemic outbreak

Environmental groups have urged Gov. McCrory to declare a state of emergency in North Carolina due to a rapidly-spreading viral outbreak that has affected about a third of North Carolina’s 3,000 major hog farms.

Virus Strain PC21A is a  highly contagious coronavirus that causes porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). It was first reported in the United States in May 2013 in Iowa.  The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has since spread rapidly throughout the U.S., according to reports filed at CDC.

Electron micrograph of a US porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) particle detected in a field fecal sample collected during a 2013 outbreak of PED on a farm in Ohio, USA; the fecal sample from which PEDV strain PC21A in this study was detected was from a pig on the same farm during the same outbreak. The sample was negatively stained with 3% phosphotungstic acid. Scale bar = 50 nm. Source: CDC – “Pathology of US Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Strain PC21A in Gnotobiotic Pigs”

“The Waterkeeper Alliance and the Riverkeepers sent a letter and a public records request Thursday to state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, asking him to seek the declaration from McCrory and also release more information on the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED),” said a report.

The virus, thriving in cold, wet weather, kills newborn piglets on infected farms until the herd develops immunity after a few weeks, and is affecting about 100 new farms each week.

Water Quality

“The water-quality watchdogs say they are particularly worried that hog farmers are burying massive numbers of dead animals where they will contaminate groundwater. Also, they say that in some cases dead hogs are left for days, piled in overflowing ‘dead boxes.’ They say the blood and other liquids from those are seeping into groundwater and streams, and that animals feeding on the dead hogs are spreading the virus,” said the report.

The environmentalists have urged the authorities to collect and disseminate more information concerning

• Numbers of dead hogs
• Method and of disposal and burial sites of infected carcases
• Magnitude and extent of threat posed by the epidemic

“Basically we just feel like this is a serious enough problem that the government should be stepping in and getting involved and having direct contact with the facilities that are disposing of these dead hogs,” said Gray Jernigan, a North Carolina-based staff attorney for the Waterkeeper Alliance.

“Since the outbreak began, we’ve certainly seen more hogs sent for disposal and gotten reports of mass burials, and it’s getting to the point where it’s fairly alarming.”

More of this report is posted HERE.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED)

New Variant of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, United States, 2014 (CDC)

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) was first reported in the United Kingdom in 1971. The disease was characterized by severe enteritis, vomiting, watery diarrhea, dehydration, and a high mortality rate among swine. Subsequently, the causative agent of PED was identified as porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), which belongs to the family Coronaviridae and contains an enveloped, single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome.

PEDV has been reported in many other countries, including Germany, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam  and was first identified in the United States in May 2013.

By the end of January of 2014, the outbreak had occurred in 23 US states, where 2,692 confirmed cases (www.aasv.org/news/story.php?id = 6989) caused severe economic losses. Recent studies have shown that all PEDV strains in the United States are clustered together in 1 clade within the subgenogroup 2a and are closely related to a strain from China, AH2012 .

In the state of Ohio, the first PED case was identified in June of 2013; since then, hundreds of cases have been confirmed by the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. […]

Toxins Leak into North Carolina River [Again]

UPDATED on February 20, 2014

CRIMES AGAINST NATURE
.

Dan River water samples show elevated levels of arsenic

Groundwater is showing elevated levels of arsenic reportedly leaking from a Duke Energy coal ash dump in Eden, North Carolina into the Dan River, which was already contaminated following a massive spill on February 2.

The discharge from a large stormwater pipe under a coal ash dump was the second so far this month at the Eden plant.

“The duration and volume of the discharge are not known.” Duke Energy said. [More likely, they are unwilling to disclose the extent of damage. Editor]

DUKE-ENERGY is preventing FIRE-EARTH moderators in FIVE locations from accessing its website.

When tried to access their website using a different system we received the following WARNING:

The first [known] spill at Dan River Steam Station, a Duke Energy retired power plant in Eden, NC, occurred on February 2, 2014, when another broken stormwater pipe located under a 27-acre ash pond released about 27 million gallons of ash basin water, according to the company.

Close up of excavation and pipe work inside the Dan River ash basin. Source: Duke Energy

Earlier this month FIRE-EARTH commented:

Other than for obvious reasons, there were no immediate comments from Duke Energy as to why the ash pond was built over a stormwater pipe and so close to Dan River, nor any reason why the largest electricity provider in the U.S. failed to remove the toxic ash nearly two years after the plant was retired.

Source: Duke Energy

Aerial view of the retired Dan River Steam Station and ash basins in North Carolina. Source: Duke Energy [This photo taken on February 5, 2014 shows the primary basin almost completely drained into Dan River.]

On January 12, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]

If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate…[IT WILL]

Estimated 100,000 HAZMAT storage sites across the U.S. can potentially explode, leak, contaminate the environment—FIRE-EARTH

United States is dotted with an estimated 100,000 HAZMAT storage sites containing one or more of deadly substances including radioactive, biohazardous, toxic, explosive, flammable, asphyxiating, corrosive, oxidizing, pathogenic, or allergenic materials, as well as herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers that don’t fall into those categories.

Some of the substances (hazchems), which include more than 200 types of dioxins, are so lethal that even a small leak into the water supply could kill or permanently harm millions of people, before they are detected.

Related Links

• Up to 27 Million Gallons of Coal Ash Spill into Dan River, NC February 7, 201

• If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate… January 12, 2014
• UPDATE: Hundreds are Sick after West Virgina Water Pollution January 11, 2014
• 737 People Reported Sickness after West Virgina Water Pollution January 11, 2014

• UPDATED: State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia after Chemical Spill January 10, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia due to Chemical Spill January 10, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia after Chemical Spill  January 10, 2014

Up to 27 Million Gallons of Coal Ash Spill into Dan River, NC

COLLAPSING INFRASTRUCTURE
WATER POLLUTION
.

82,000 tons of ash spill into NC river after a pipe break at a Duke Energy retired coal plant

The spill was detected on Sunday at Dan River Steam Station, a Duke Energy retired power plant in Eden, NC. A broken stormwater pipe located under a 27-acre ash pond released about 27 million gallons of ash basin water, said a company spokesperson.

Other than for obvious reasons, there were no immediate comments from Duke energy as to why the ash pond was built over a stormwater pipe and so close to Dan River, nor any reason why the largest electricity provider in the U.S. failed to remove the toxic ash nearly two years after the plant was retired.

Source: Duke Energy

There’s no immediate threat to drinking water in nearby Virginia towns; however, officials are concerned about  long-term impact of the spill on the Dan River.

“The Dan River does not have a clean bill of health,” said the director of the North Carolina Division of Water Resources.

Lab tests of water samples collected from an affected part of the river showed “extremely high levels of arsenic, chromium, iron, lead and other toxic metals typically found in coal ash,” said Waterkeeper Alliance, a group of water advocates.

“Duke could have avoided contaminating the Dan River and poisoning Virginia’s water supplies if it had removed its toxic ash heaps years ago after being warned by EPA,” said the president of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Aerial view of the retired Dan River Steam Station and ash basins in North Carolina. Source: Duke Energy [This photo taken on February 5, 2014 shows the primary basin almost completely drained into Dan River.]

One of our readers who first read the report commented:

“Coal ash basin water” probably safer than fracking fluid!!!

Full report posted at … coal ash spill in North Carolina

On January 12, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]

If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate…

Estimated 100,000 HAZMAT storage sites across the U.S. can potentially explode, leak, contaminate the environment—FIRE-EARTH

United States is dotted with an estimated 100,000 HAZMAT storage sites containing one or more of deadly substances including radioactive, biohazardous, toxic, explosive, flammable, asphyxiating, corrosive, oxidizing, pathogenic, or allergenic materials, as well as herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers that don’t fall into those categories.

Some of the substances (hazchems), which include more than 200 types of dioxins, are so lethal that even a small leak into the water supply could kill or permanently harm millions of people, before they are detected.

Related Links

• If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate… January 12, 2014
• UPDATE: Hundreds are Sick after West Virgina Water Pollution January 11, 2014
• 737 People Reported Sickness after West Virgina Water Pollution January 11, 2014

• UPDATED: State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia after Chemical Spill January 10, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia due to Chemical Spill January 10, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in West Virginia after Chemical Spill  January 10, 2014

For Many It Will Be Déjà vu All Over Again, and Again!!

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
.

Deadly snow storm paralyzes the US deep South

Thousands of people were stranded overnight on highways, in grocery stores, schools and churches as snow storm caused traffic chaos in the US deep South.

Image of the week: How 66mm (2.6in) of Snow Caused Gridlock on Georgia Interstates

Gridlock on the connector of Interstate’s 75 and 85, Atlanta,  Georgia Tuesday pm, Jan. 28, 2014. Credit: AP. Image may be subject to copyright.

States of Emergency

Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, the Carolinas ,  Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wisconsin declared states of emergency as the latest Polar invasion, which stretched across two-thirds of eastern U.S., plunged temperatures to as low as -36ºC (-33 degrees).

The snow storm left at least 10 people dead and dozens injured., affecting an estimated 60 million people from eastern Texas to southeastern Pennsylvania.

Related Links

• Arctic Front Spawns Major Winter Storms in Deep South  January 28, 2014
• Life Threatening Wind Chills Sweep U.S. Midwest January 27, 2014
• Arctic Air Surging through Central U.S. January 27, 2014
• Polar Déjà vu January 22, 2014
• More Extreme Weather Events to Hit North America January 7, 2014

Energy Emergency

• Deadly Winter Storm Prompts States of Emergency in Georgia, Carolinas  January 29, 2014

• States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …  January 28, 2014

• Wisconsin Declares State of Emergency over Extreme Cold, Fuel Shortage January 26, 2014
• Louisiana Declares 2nd State of Emergency due to Dangerous Cold January 25, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared for Louisiana January 24, 2014

• Energy Emergency Declared for Alabama January 24, 2014
• Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 22, 2014
• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014

Deadly Winter Storm Prompts States of Emergency in Georgia, Carolinas

A NOTE to our readers, if any, in the states of Alabama, North and South Carolinas, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin as well as everyone else who knows someone in those states:

Send a copy of this post to your state governor and ask them whether they were/are allowed to receive FIRE-EARTH forecasts.

|O|O|

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
ENERGY EMERGENCY
.

Deadly winter storm continues to impact the Gulf Coast and Southeast

Governors in three states—Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina—have declared states of emergency amid forecasts of significant snow and ice for the region.

Georgia

The deadly winter storm moving across the Southeast paralyzed metro Atlanta and other major cities in Georgia prompting Gov. Deal to declare a  State of Emergency Tuesday afternoon for the entire State of Georgia (159 counties).

“Many parts of our state have experienced heavy sleet and snowfall, and in the metro areas we’re experiencing traffic jams caused primarily by heavy volume after the quick onset of the winter storm,” said Deal.

Executive order prohibiting propane price gouging

On Monday, Deal signed an executive order prohibiting price gouging for propane. Georgia’s continued period of cold weather has increased the demand for propane, causing a substantial prices increase.

• Propane shortage
• DOT – Current Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

State of Georgia does NOT post details of Executive Orders and or Proclamations on its official website.

The Carolinas

Up to 6 inches of snow could fall in parts of the Carolinas.

North Carolina
“Given the forecast and as winter weather approaches, we are working with all necessary departments and local emergency management crews in order to keep our citizens safe and up to date regarding potentially hazardous weather conditions,” said Governor McCrory. “This morning, I signed two executive orders declaring a state of emergency for North Carolina and waiving certain requirements for vehicles assisting in relief efforts [propane shortage.] We are prepared for likely power outages and dangerous driving conditions throughout our state. These executive orders and our capable statewide and local officials will ensure a rapid response to any adverse conditions.”

“Our residents, as well as our livestock industry, need heat and electricity.”

South Carolina

Governor Nikki Haley has also declared a State of Emergency due to the major winter storm that is expected to impact the state beginning Tuesday afternoon.

“Governor Haley has ordered all state government offices to follow county government closing decisions; meaning if a county administration decides to close for the day, state offices in that county will automatically follow the same schedule,” said an official statement.

States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi

On Monday, States of Emergency were declared in  Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota and Mississippi.

Deadly weather-related traffic accidents

At least five people were killed and nine others injured in weather-related traffic accidents in Alabama on Tuesday, according to the state’s Department of Public Safety.

At least 3 people were killed in weather related road crashes in southern Mississippi.

The storm is affecting an estimated 55 million people from eastern Texas to southeastern Pennsylvania.

On January 7, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

FIRE-EARTH Models show more Extreme Weather Events could wreak havoc across North America in the coming days and weeks.

Satellite Animation

• Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Animation – 7 day movie

Flight Cancellations and Delays

More than 4,900 flights have been canceled and thousands more delayed within, into, or out of the United States Sunday through Wednesday, so far, according to flightaware.com

Related Links

• States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi … January 28, 2014

Crop Disasters Declared in 6 States

46 Counties across six states designated as crop disaster areas by USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 46 counties in six states—Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia—as crop disaster areas in two separate declarations.

Drought conditions and lack of moisture

USDA has declared the following counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin as crop disaster areas due to losses caused by drought conditions and lack of moisture that occurred September 1 – November 15, 2013.

• Minnesota:  Kanabec, Morrison, Pine, Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Stearns and Todd counties.

• Wisconsin: Douglas and  Burnett counties.

Excessive rain and flooding

USDA has also designated the following counties in The Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia  as crop disaster areas due to excessive rain and flooding that began January 1, 2013, and continues.

• North Carolina: Alleghany,  Granville, Polk, Ashe, Harnett, Wilkes, Alexander, Franklin, Moore, Vance, Caldwell, Henderson, Person, Wake, Chatham, Iredell, Rutherford, Watauga, Cumberland, Johnston, Sampson, Yadkin, Durham, Lee and Surry counties.
• South Carolina:  Greenville and Spartanburg

• Tennessee: Johnson County.

• Virginia:  Grayson, Halifax and Mecklenburg counties.

Crop Disasters 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared 4,447 county-level agricultural disaster areas across 46 states in 2013.

State and County level records of calendar year 2013 disaster designations made by the USDA include losses and damages caused by one or more of the following

• 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 December 18, 2013.

Recent Federal and Agriculture Disaster Declarations

• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared for 4 States December 20, 2013
• Crop Disaster Declared for 387 Counties in 16 States December 13, 2013
• Drought 2013
• Agricultural Disasters Index

North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area

Severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides prompt Major Disaster Declaration for NC

North Carolina has been declared a Federal Disaster Area by the White House due to severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides  that occurred on July 27, 2013.

Severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides have severely affected the counties of Ashe, Avery, Catawba, Lincoln, Watauga and Wilkes, said the White House in a statement.

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.

Recent Federal Disaster Declarations

• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013

Major Disaster Declaration for North Carolina

North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina in the areas affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of July 3-13, 2013.

Worst of the damage caused the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides have occurred in the counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Watauga, and Yancey and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

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.

Western North Carolina to Receive Federal Aid for Flood Repairs

“This summer’s flooding was a sobering reminder that all regions of our state are vulnerable to flooding even without hurricanes,” said NC Governor McCrory. “These communities did a great job responding to the devastating floods and landslides. Now we can help them recover financially.”

Catawba, Lincoln and Wilkes counties were included in the state’s aid request but were not included in the federal disaster declaration. The state is appealing to FEMA to reconsider the counties that were omitted.

A series of severe thunderstorms and heavy rains dumped between 10 and 20 inches of rain over much of the foothills and mountains from July 3 through 27.

Several locations reported more than 20 inches of rainfall and many counties reported the wettest July on record. The record-breaking rainfall damaged roads, bridges, culverts, public utilities, parks and even some schools in many western counties.

See more at http://www.governor.state.nc.us/

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – September 21, 2013

The Collapse Countdown Continues…

Powerful Typhoon USAGI Slams into N. Philippines

Packing sustained winds of 185km/h gusting up to 230 km/h, USAGI made landfall on Itbayat, the Philippine island closest to Taiwan on Batanes island group.

The typhoon has triggered severe flooding and landslides destroying homes, uprooting trees and power lines, and inundating croplands.

“A flash flood occurred and trees were uprooted from the mountain and swept by roiling waters to the town. Many houses lost their roofs or were destroyed. Damage to crops is heavy and landslides were reported all around.” A senior official and a former congressman for Batanes told Reuters

USAGI has already affected thousands of people, and portends more damage and destruction along its path.

The typhoon is moving slowly WNW at about 17 km/h toward southern China, according to several models.

Typhoon USAGI as it passed through the Luzon Strait. Image recorded at 07:30UTC on September 20, 2013. Credit: NOAA

-oOo-

Flooding in Mexico Become the Country’s Costliest Disasters

Devastation caused by flooding and mudslides triggered by twin storms INGRID and MANUEL have affected hundreds of towns and villages in Mexico, leaving at least 100 people dead and many dozens missing.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced, including at least 50,000 residents in the resort town of Acapulco.

All the dams in the country are practically at 100 percent. This is very serious,” according to Evaluacion de Riesgos Naturales, a Mexican natural disaster risk assessment company.

Scores of highways, bridges and other public infrastructure have been completely destroyed by the flooding and mudslides.

-oOo-

US Air Force nearly detonated hydrogen bomb over North Carolina

The US Air Force nearly detonated an atom bomb over North Carolina that would have been 260 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atom bomb, said a report.

Two Mark 39 hydrogen bombs, each with a payload of 4 megatons, were accidentally dropped over Goldsboro, North Carolina on 23 January 1961, after a B-52 bomber broke up in mid-air.

“The MK Mod 2 bomb did not possess adequate safety for the airborne alert role in the B-52,” wrote Parker F. Jones, supervisor of the nuclear weapons safety department at Sandia National Laboratories in his 1969 assessment.

One of the two bombs that fell to earth, “behaved precisely as a nuclear weapon was designed to behave in warfare: its parachute opened, its trigger mechanisms engaged, and only one low-voltage switch prevented untold carnage.”

“One simple, dynamo-technology, low voltage switch stood between the United States and a major catastrophe…It would have been bad news – in spades.” Jones said.

Nuclear fallout from a 4-megaton detonation would have put millions of lives at risk in large portion of eastern United States encompassing major cities like Washington DC, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

The document detailing the incident was obtained by the investigative journalist Eric Schlosser under the Freedom of Information Act.

The US government had previously denied that any such incident ever took place.

“The US government has consistently tried to withhold information from the American people in order to prevent questions being asked about our nuclear weapons policy,” Schlosser told the UK Guardian. “We were told there was no possibility of these weapons accidentally detonating, yet here’s one that very nearly did.”

Schlosser says he discovered at least 700 “significant” incidents involving nuclear weapons between 1950 and 1968 at the height of nuclear arms race between the US and the Soviet Union.

-oOo-

IAEA Members Vote Down Resolution on Israeli Nukes

A resolution sponsored by Arab countries calling on Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has been voted down by 51 countries including the U.S., Japan and dozens of Israel-first European countries.

Some 43 other nations voted in favor of the resolution, which was put to vote in Vienna on Friday.

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Two dozen killed, 55 wounded in Nairobi shopping mall shooting

A group of 5 to 10 gunmen, armed with AK-47 assault rifles and grenades, attacked the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi midday Saturday, killing at least two dozen people and leaving 55 others wounded.

“We are treating this as a terrorist attack,” said police chief Benson Kibue, adding that there are likely no more than 10 attackers involved.

The Westgate Mall is situated in Nairobi’s affluent Westlands area and is frequented by wealthy Kenyans and expatriates, reports said.

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