M6.2 Earthquake Strikes Offshore Oregon

ER: TJJ – nm– KTDGTNSY

CBW – 082202 – 2

Strong earthquake occurs 265km WNW of Bandon, Oregon

EQ Details

Magnitude: 6.2 mww [USGS]
Location: 43.645°N, 127.603°W
Depth: 10.0 km depth
Time: 2018-08-22 09:31:47 UTC
Distances:

• 265km WNW of Bandon, Oregon
• 392.0 km WSW of Salem, Oregon [Pop: 164,549]

Felt Reports: 66 AoR

Tsunami Evaluation:

NO destructive tsunami generated.

Wildfires in Montana and Oregon Force Mass Evacuations

U.S. National Fire Preparedness Remains at Maximum Level 5

Lolo Peak Fire, Montana

Current as of 8/18/2017, 1:43:36 PM [Inciweb]
Incident Type: Wildfire
Cause: Lightning/natural
Date of Origin: Saturday July 15th, 2017 approx. 02:34 PM
Location: 10 miles southwest of Lolo, Montana
Incident Description: Lolo Peak Fire Is A Long Duration Wildfire With The Potential To Reach The Corridors Of Highway 12 And Highway 93.

Current Situation
Total Personnel: 603
Size: 18,896 Acres

Projected Incident Activity: Very active fire behavior. Backing, flanking, and running fire with single tree and group torching, short uphill crown runs. Potential for multiple active areas at a time. [Up to 750 homes evacuated, according to reports.]

The Milli Fire, Oregon

A large wildfire threatened 434 structures, prompting authorities to advise about 1,200 residents to stand by for possible evacuation.

The Milli Fire, located west of the Deschutes County community, is approximately 4,565 acres and 0% contained, Inciweb reported.

Wildfire: Current as of 8/18/2017, 3:02:51 PM
Cause: Unknown
Date of Origin: Tuesday August 15th, 2017 approx. 05:00 PM
Location: 9 miles west of Sisters OR (in Three Sisters Wilderness)

Current Situation
Total Personnel: 250
Size: 4,565 Acres
Narrative: Extreme fire behavior, and has grown significantly in the last 24 hours. Active fire front on Trout Creek Butte with short-range spotting. Crews had to initiate burnout operations along 15 road as holding feature.

Crop Disasters Declared for Counties in 3 U.S. States

Drought destroys crops in 13 counties across three U.S. states

Drought Disaster Emergency Designations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 13 counties across three states—Idaho, Nevada and Oregon—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Those areas are:

• Idaho.  Ada, Adams, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls and Washington counties.

• Nevada. Elko and Humboldt counties.

• Oregon. Baker and Malheur counties.

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.

Crop Disaster Designations – 2016

• Drought Disaster Declared for Counties in Arizona, California May 23, 2016
• Drought Disasters Declared for Counties in Oregon, California, Nevada, Hawaii May 13, 2016
• Drought Disaster Declared for Counties in Arizona, California May 7, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, Nevada and Hawaii April 22, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Montana; Wildfire Emergencies in Kansas, Oklahoma
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina March 31, 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

 

Drought Disasters Declared for Counties in Oregon, California, Nevada, Hawaii

Drought destroys crops in seven counties across four U.S. states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of six counties in Oregon, California and Nevada as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Those areas are:

Oregon. Lake, Klamath, Harney and Deschutes counties.

California. Modoc County.

Nevada. Washoe County

In a separate declaration USDA has also designated Kauai County in Hawaii as a crop disaster area due to drought.

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.

Crop Disaster Designations – 2016

• Drought Disaster Declared for Counties in Arizona, California May 7, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, Nevada and Hawaii April 22, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in Montana; Wildfire Emergencies in Kansas, Oklahoma
• Crop Disasters Declared in North Carolina March 31, 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

 

Multiple Crop Disasters Hit Eight U.S. States

Multiple disasters destroy or damage crops in 130 counties across eight states

USDA has designated 29 counties across four states—Nevada, California, Idaho and Oregon—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2015. Those counties are:

Nevada. Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe and White Pine counties.

California. Alpine, El Dorado, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer and Sierra counties.

Idaho. Owyhee County.

Oregon. Harney, Lake and Malheur counties.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Feb. 17, 2016.

Crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by multiple disaster conditions

USDA has designated 101 counties across four states—North Dakota,  South Dakota,  Montana and Minnesota—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by multiple disaster conditions.

Disaster Number 1: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of excessive heat, excessive rain, frost, excessive snow, drought, hail, flooding, high winds, lightning, weather-related insects and diseases that occurred from Jan. 1, 2015, and continues.

North Dakota. Benson, Burke, Burleigh, Cavalier, Divide, Eddy, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Sheridan, Steele, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, and Williams counties.

Disaster Number 2: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of freeze, frost, and drought that occurred from March 1, 2015, through Oct. 1, 2015.

North Dakota. Benson, Billings, Burke, Cavalier, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Foster, Golden Valley, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, McKenzie, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Ramsey, Slope, Stark, Towner, Walsh, Wells, and Williams continues.

Montana. Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Wibaux counties.

Disaster Number 3: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of drought, excessive heat, high winds and hail that occurred from March 15, 2015, through Oct. 30, 2015.

North Dakota. Benson, Billings, Burleigh, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pierce, Ramsey, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stutsman, Towner, Ward and Wells counties.

Montana. Fallon and Wibaux counties.

South Dakota. Campbell and Corson counties.

Disaster Number 4: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain that occurred from April 1, 2015, and continues.

North Dakota. Burleigh, Cavalier, Emmons, Grand Forks, Kidder, McLean, Morton, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Ramsey, Sheridan and Walsh counties.

Minnesota. Marshall County.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Feb. 24, 2016.

Links to previous disaster listings posted at

• 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

 

Major Disaster Declared for Oregon

Federal Disaster Declared in the State of Oregon

Oregon Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4258)

• Incident period: December 06, 2015 to December 23, 2015
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on February 17, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Oregon in the areas affected by severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of December 6-23, 2015.

The destructive weather events—severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides— caused substantial damage across the state, especially in Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties.

Federal funding is also being made available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire the entire State of Oregon.

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

Federal Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government proclaimed 43 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4247] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory in 2015, two Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3373 and 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations [FM-5084 to FM-5117.]

Major Disaster Declarations (2016)

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

Armed Protesters Occupy Oregon Wildlife Refuge

Sent by a reader

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge HQ in Oregon Occupied by Armed Protestors 

The occupation began shortly after about 300 marchers — both militia and local citizens — paraded through Burns protesting the prosecution of two local ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond, who are going to prison on Monday, said a report.

Statement from Harney County Sheriff:

After the peaceful rally was completed today, a group of outside militants drove to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, where they seized and occupied the refuge headquarters. A collective effort from multiple agencies is currently working on a solution. For the time being please stay away from that area. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Please maintain a peaceful and united front and allow us to work through this situation.

The occupiers have reportedly claimed they had 100 supporters with them at the refuge, federal property managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which was closed and unoccupied during the holiday weekend, the report said.

Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, and two of his brothers, are among the occupiers.

“The facility has been the tool to do all the tyranny that has been placed upon the Hammonds,” said Ammon Bundy.

“We’re planning on staying here for years, absolutely,” he added. “This is not a decision we’ve made at the last minute.”

Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan Bundy, said they are not looking to hurt anyone in a phone interview; however, they would not rule out violence if police tried to remove them. Read more…

State of Emergency Declared in 13 Oregon Counties

Powerful storms pound Pacific NW, prompt emergency declaration in Oregon

Gov. Brown has declared a state of emergency for 13 counties following deadly storms that hit the region. Record rainfall and strong winds unleashed widespread flooding and landslides across NW Oregon, destroying roads and other infrastructure, forcing people from their homes and leaving at least two people dead.

The Emergency Proclamation currently covers the counties of  Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington and Yamhill.

“Heavy rains and wind have required the evacuation of residences, and mudslides and high water have severely damaged or blocked major roadways in these areas of the state,” said Brown.

State of Emergency Declared in Washington State

Gov. Inslee declared a state of emergency in Washington on Wednesday as record-breaking storms continue to dump historic amounts of precipitation over the region.

The storms broke multiple weather records for the Seattle area, unleashing severe flooding and landslides, closing major roadways and schools and forcing evacuations.

State of Emergency Declared in Washington amid Killer Storms

U.S. Pacific NW storms kill two, cut power to thousands, unleash mudslides

Governor Inslee has declared a state of emergency in Washington State as record-breaking storms continue to dump historic amounts of precipitation over the region.

State EOC activated due to hazardous weather throughout Washington

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated at a Phase III level at 08:30 a.m. today in response to severe weather conditions throughout Washington State. Staff at the State EOC are monitoring the situation and available to assist with the needs of affected communities.

The Northwest Weather Service (NWS) has issued flood warnings for 25 rivers above flood stage in fourteen counties. The NWS has issued a variety of advisories, watches and warnings for coastal flooding, high winds, and other hazardous weather throughout the state.  This includes a high wind warning for Spokane and parts of southeast Washington.

Local emergency operation centers have been activated in nine counties — Cowlitz, King, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, and Yakima counties.

Highlights

• A buoy 440km off the Oregon coast showed waves were over 12m, as of posting, reported NWS.
• 13 days this year with 2.5cm+ rainfall in Seattle, which was a new record. Total rainfall on those 13 days was 45cm, or 45% of the yearly total 100.5cm.
• Storms dumped up to 47.6cm of rain on parts of Oregon, and more than 31cm on several areas in Washington.
• Storm-related incidents have claimed at least two lives in Oregon, as of posting.
• Tillamook County in Oregon has declared a State of Emergency following days of extreme rains that caused widespread flooding, mudslides and damage.
• Severe flooding and damage have also been reported throughout the Oregon coast.
• Sinkholes, cracks and landslides reported in multiple roadways, including on U.S. 101.

The national Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple hazardous weather warnings for the region including the following Coastal Flood Warning

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
558 AM PST THU DEC 10 2015

ORZ001-002-WAZ021-110000-
/O.CON.KPQR.CF.W.0001.151210T1700Z-151212T0000Z/
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-
558 AM PST THU DEC 10 2015

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING
TO 4 PM PST FRIDAY..

A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING
TO 4 PM PST FRIDAY.

* TIDAL OVERFLOW: TIDES AND COMBINED STORM SURGE WILL RUN 2 FEET
  ABOVE THE ASTRONOMICAL PREDICTED VALUES THIS WEEK. THE HIGHEST
  TIDES OF THE CYCLE WILL OCCUR AROUND NOON TO 3 PM THURSDAY AND
  FRIDAY.

* RIVER FLOWS: RIVERS WILL BE RUNNING HIGH DUE TO RUNOFF FROM
  THE RECENT RAINFALL...AND THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL EXPECTED
  THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. HIGH RUNOFF WILL INCREASE FLOOD POTENTIAL
  IN THE TIDALLY INFLUENCED REACHES AND ESTUARIES OF THE COASTAL
  RIVERS.

* WAVES AND WAVE IMPACTS: DANGEROUS BREAKERS OF 35 TO 45 FEET
  WILL IMPACT THE BEACHES THURSDAY WITH 30 TO 40 FT BREAKERS FOR
  FRIDAY. THE WAVES WILL WASH OVER THE JETTIES...THROW LOGS AND
  DEBRIS FAR ONSHORE...CREATE LARGE SURGES OF WATER ONTO THE
  BEACHES...AND CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION.

* FLOODING IMPACTS: FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS AND ROADS PRONE
  TO TIDAL FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED AN HOUR OR TWO BEFORE AND
  AFTER THE HIGHEST TIDES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS..

A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD BE ALERT
FOR RISING WATER...AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY.

BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN AND NEAR THE SURF ZONE...AND ALSO
NEAR BAYS AND ESTUARIES SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF
FLOODING AND VERY HIGH WATER SURGING INLAND AND INUNDATING
NORMALLY DRY AREAS BY TAKING PRECAUTION.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. RESIDENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS
SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN LOW
LYING AREAS AFFECTED BY THESE ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES AND SURF.

Large Wildfires Burn 2 Million Acres in Western U.S.

Dozens of active wildfires burn across 8 states

Some 65 large fires have burned nearly 2 million acres across Western United States, with three new large fires sparked on Tuesday, reported NIFC.

States currently reporting large fires include Alaska (1), Arizona (1), California (8), Idaho (16), Montana (14), Oregon (8), Texas (1) and Washington (16).

The deadly Okanogan Complex fire, raging across north-central Washington, had burned at least 305,000 acres, destroying hundreds of homes and outbuilding as of August 30. The fire has since been subdivided into its component blazes.  The fire killed three fire crews and injured four others last month.

Okanogan was one 16 active wildfire/fire complexes in Washington state that have consumed more than 921,249 acres as of September 1, said NIFC.

Fire Stats (9/1/15)
Acres from active fires: 1,990,649
Number of new large fires: 3
Number of active large fires: 65

Year-to-date statistics
2015 (1/1/15 – 9/1/15)     Fires: 43,819 –  Acres: 8,202,557 or 33,195 km² [NEW Record]

Annual average prior 10 years
2005-2014     Fires: 53,432 – Acres: 5,569,996

Latest Fire Management Assistance Declarations

• Idaho Tepee Springs Fire (FM-5110)
• Washington Goodell Fire (FM-5109)
• Washington Renner Fire (FM-5108)

Major Wildfires Burn 2 Million Acres in 7 U.S. States

70 Large fires or complexes char nearly 8,000 km² across 7 U.S. states

Currently, 70 large wildfires or complexes have burned nearly 2 million acres (~ 8,000 km²) across seven U.S. states, NIFC reported.

The fires are burning in Alaska (1), California (10), Idaho (17), Montana (16), Oregon (10), Texas (4) and Washington (12).

Two hundred soldiers based out of Fort Lewis, Washington have been deployed in Washington state to assist the civilian fie crews,

Dozens of crews and fire management personnel from Canada, Australia and elsewhere have also been deployed.

Preparedness: Level 5

[Geographic Areas are experiencing major incidents which have the potential to exhaust all agency fire resources. Eighty percent (80%) of Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Management Teams and crews are committed, as well as the majority of other National Resources.]

Acres from active fires: 1,954,138
Number of new large fires: 9
Number of active large fires: 70 (individual fires in complexes not included)

Year-to-date statistics 2015 (1/1/15 – 8/29/15)
Fires: 43,396 – Acres: 7,825,559 (an area nearly the size of state of Maryland)

Annual average prior 10 years (2005-2014)
Fires: 52,884 – Acres: 5,467,292

Warnings

Red Flag Warnings, Air Quality Alerts or Dense Smoke Advisories due to wildfires are currently in effect across vast swathes of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Deadly Wildfires Burning in Pacific Northwest

Washington Gov. requests Major Disaster Declaration as wildfires kill 3 fire crews, injure 4

Gov. Inslee has requested a Federal Disaster Declaration for the State of Washington as 44 lightning-sparked wildfires that are raging uncontrollably kill 3 fire crews and injure at least 4 others.

“Currently 11 counties and 4 tribes are affected or threatened by fires with 39 confirmed residences and 60 other structures destroyed [and] over 235,000 acres burned,” said Inslee in his official request. “Over 3,600 homes remain threatened, and these numbers are increasing each day as the largest fires remain uncontained.”

“Washington State had a major disaster declaration on August 11, 2014 for Washington Wildfires (DR-4188) in Okanogan County from the Carlton Complex Fire. The impacts of this current event are likely to exacerbate the ongoing housing and economic recovery efforts from the declared disaster last year.”

On June 26, 2015, I issued a State of Emergency for the State of Washington for all 39 counties due to extraordinary heat and drought conditions across the state. These conditions have continue to worsen and exacerbated the threats posed by high fire danger weather conditions.

On August 13, 2015 a low pressure settled over central and eastern Washington that generated several hundred lightning strikes in a 6 hour period setting off numerous fires. This weather system remained in effect thru Saturday August 15, 2015. Gusty winds continue to effect these regions. Another similar system is moving into the region in the next 2 days with extreme high fire danger weather predicted.

There have been five Fire Management Assistance Grant declarations in the span of 36 hours with two additional approved Washington State Fire Mobilizations for Black Canyon/McFarland Creek Fires in Okanogan County and Renner Lake Fire in Stevens and Ferry Counties.

Thousands of people are under mandatory evacuation orders across the Pacific Northwest as more than 90 major wildfires rage across the region. At least a dozen wildfires are also burning across the South.

In Washington, several towns and communities have been evacuated including Omak, Riverside, Twisp, Winthrop and Conconully.

“It is really bad out there. The fires have just exploded,” a spokeswoman for the Okanogan County Department of Emergency Management, told the AP. “We’re just directing everybody to head south.”

In California, more than 2,500 people were forced to flee Christian camps near Fresno after Rough Fire crossed Highway 180, officials said.

Mandatory evacuations are also in effect in the states of Idaho and Oregon.

States currently reporting major wildfire include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Active fires are currently burning an estimated 1.5 million acres, and have consumed hundreds of homes and other structures so far this month.

Some 42,000 wildfires have consumed at least 7.2 million acres across the United States, so far this year.

Governors in California, Idaho, Montana and Oregon have declared States of Emergency due to the wildfires, so far this month.

The U.S. military is sending hundreds of personnel to the fire lines, as fire managers call in help from other countries.

Crop Disasters Declared in Six States

Crops destroyed by drought, excessive rain, flooding, high winds and hail

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 49 counties and parishes across six states—Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, and Washington—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought (Oregon and Washington), and excessive rain, flooding, high winds and hail in the other four states.

Crop Disaster Designation #1  due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of excessive rain, flooding, high winds and hail that occurred from April 27, 2015, through June 26, 2015.

The disaster areas in Louisiana are the parishes of Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, La Salle, Madison, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, Tensas, Vernon, Webster, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana and Winn.

Other disaster area are as follows:

• Arkansas. Lafayette and Miller counties.
• Mississippi. Amite and Wilkinson counties.
• Texas. Cass, Harrison, Marion and Panola counties.

Crop Disaster Designation #2 due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

• Oregon. Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah and Wasco counties.
• Washington. Klickitat and Skamania counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 1,500 counties, or county equivalents, across 25 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

USDA has also designated 14 municipalities in Puerto Rico as drought disaster areas.

About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.

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.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on July 22, 2015 .

Related Links

• Drought Destroys Crops in Florida, Idaho , Montana, Utah, Washington & Puerto Rico  July 16, 2015
• U.S. Drought: Crop Disaster Declared for Idaho Counties July 10, 2015
• Drought Destroys Crops in Six U.S. States July 2, 2015
• Drought and Deluge, Hail and Severe Freezing Destroy Crops in 7 States June 25, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Another Swarm of Volcanic-like Earthquakes Rattle NW Nevada

M4.6 strikes north of Bald Mountain, Nevada

Centered at 41.895°N, 119.636°W the quake occurred at a depth of about 10km, reported USGS/EHP.

The quake was one of at least 23 volcanic-like tremors of all sizes to strike the area in the 24 hours to posting.

A swarm of at least 55 shocks have occurred in the area over the past 7 days.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 4.6Mw
Location: 41.895°N 119.636°W
Depth: 10.1 km
Time: 2015-07-16 01:52:11 UTC
Nearby Cities:

• 48km (30mi) SE of Lakeview, Oregon
• 155km (96mi) ESE of Altamont, Oregon
• 159km (99mi) ESE of Klamath Falls, Oregon
• 176km (109mi) NNE of Susanville, California
• 303km (188mi) N of Carson City, Nevada

Earthquakes Strike Alaska, Oregon, Utah

M4.2 quake strikes E of Eugene, Oregon

Centered at 44.082°N, 122.837°W the event occurred at a depth of 9.9 km about 20km (12mi) E of Eugene, Oregon, reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Parameters

Magnitude: 4.2Mw
Location: 44.082°N, 122.837°W; depth=9.9 km
Time: 2015-07-04 at 15:42:18 (UTC)
Nearby Cities

• 15km (9mi) ENE of Springfield, Oregon
• 20km (12mi) E of Eugene, Oregon
• 50km (31mi) S of Lebanon, Oregon
• 63km (39mi) SSE of Corvallis, Oregon
• 96km (60mi) S of Salem, Oregon

Other Significant Quakes

•  M4.0, 2km S of Panguitch, Utah 2015-07-04 at 16:00:04 UTC depth=12.9 km
• M3.5, 20km W of Perry, Oklahoma 2015-07-04 at 11:57:56 UTC depth=2.3 km

Drought Disaster Declared for Counties in Two States

Crop Disasters Declared for 9 Additional Counties across Oregon, Washington

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of nine counties in two states—Oregon and Washington—as crop disaster areas due to losses caused by the worsening drought.

The disaster designations are as follows:

• Oregon. Clackamas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Marion, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler counties.

• Washington. Klickitat County.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 1,233 counties across 17 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington.

About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.

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.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on June 10, 2015 and posted on their website on June 11.

Related Links

• Drought Destroys More Crops in Idaho, Oregon, Utah June 4, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in Nevada, Utah May 28, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in 4 States  May 21, 2015
• Drought Destroys More Crops in CO, ID, OR, TX, UT May 14, 2015
• Drought Destroys more Crops in ID, NV, OR, UT May 7, 2015
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Drought Destroys More Crops in Idaho, Oregon, Utah

Drought Crop Disasters Declared for 15  Counties across Three States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 15 additional counties in three  states—Idaho, Oregon and Utah—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.

The disaster designations are for the following areas:

• Idaho:  Adams, Gem, Idaho, Valley and Washington counties.
• Oregon: Baker and Wallowa counties.
• Utah: Piute, Sevier, Beaver, Emery, Garfield, Millard, Sanpete and Wayne counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 1,224 counties across 16 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

About 99 percent of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.

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.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on June 3, 2015 and posted on their website in two separate declarations.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in Nevada, Utah May 28, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in 4 States  May 21, 2015
• Drought Destroys More Crops in CO, ID, OR, TX, UT May 14, 2015
• Drought Destroys more Crops in ID, NV, OR, UT May 7, 2015
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Significant Earthquakes – June 1, 2015

Earthquakes Strike BFZ

M5.5, Off the coast of Oregon (44.553°N, 129.544°W) 2015-06-01 10:46:27 UTC,  depth=10.0 km
M4.3, Off the coast of Oregon 2015-06-01 07:01:20 UTC, depth=10.0 km
M 5.8 Off the coast of Oregon 2015-06-01 06:52:41 UTC, depth=10.0 km
[Source: USGS/EHP]

Alaska

Magnitude: 5.1Mw
Location: 51.319°N, 178.223°E (72km SSW of Little Sitkin Island, Alaska)
Depth: 38.1 km
Time: 2015-05-31 18:07:49 UTC
[Source: USGS/EHP]

English Channel

Magnitude: 3.2ML [Richter scale]
Region: FRANCE
Date/time: 2015-06-01 12:20:15.0 UTC
Location: 49.93 N ; 0.47 E
Depth: 1 km
Distances:

• 180 km S of City of London, United Kingdom / pop: 7,556,900 /
• 71 km NW of Rouen, France / pop: 112,787 /
• 20 km NW of Cany-Barville, France / pop: 3,463 /

[Source: EMSC]

North of Svalbard

Magnitude: 5.2Mw
Time: 2015-06-01 12:57:52 UTC
Location: 86.123°N 31.961°E (724km,  NNE of Nord, Greenland)
Depth=10.0 km
[Source: USGS/EHP]

M5.8 Quake Strikes Off Oregon Coast

Significant quake strikes Blanco Fracture Zone

Centered at 44.435°N, 129.768°W the quake occurred at a depth of 10km, said USGS/EHP.

The event was followed by at least one significant aftershock, measuring 4.3Mw, as of posting.

EQ Details

Magnitude: 5.8Mw
Location: 44.435°N, 129.768°W  depth=10km
Time: 2015-06-01 at 06:52:41 UTC
Distances:

• 453km (281mi) W of Waldport, Oregon
• 536km (333mi) W of Salem, Oregon

Drought Emergencies Declared in 8 Oregon Counties

Drought has caused natural and economic disaster conditions in Oregon —Gov. Brown

Oregon’s Gov. Brown has declared drought emergencies in eight additional counties due to low water conditions caused by drought and  low snow pack levels. The new declaration bring the total to 15, so far this year, compared with 9 counties in 2014.

“Projected precipitation and climatic conditions are not expected to alleviate the continuing drought conditions, and the drought is having significant economic and other impacts on communities and on agricultural, livestock, and natural resources,” said Brown in her Executive Order. “I find that continuing dry conditions, low snowpack, and lack of precipitation have caused natural and economic disaster conditions in Deschutes, Grant, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Morrow, Umatilla, and Wasco Counties.”

“We are going to experience one of the worst droughts in the history of our state. Snowpack is at historic lows and severe water shortages are nearly a certainty in many areas,” Brown said.

“The majority of our state is parched due to the warm winter and lack of snow,” She said. “As we move into summer, many areas of the state are going to dry out very quickly, likely leading to a difficult fire season as well as water shortages. We need our state, local and federal partners to be prepared as our communities grapple with hot and dry conditions.”

Brown declared drought emergencies in Baker, Crook, Harney, Klamath, Lake, Malheur and Wheeler counties in April.

“The drought means water shortages for farming and ranching operations, as well as to low river and stream levels. While recreational areas around the state are open for business as we head into Memorial Day weekend, long-term forecasts continue to call for temperatures well above normal,” said the Governor’s office in a statement.

Related Links

• Drought Destroys more Crops in ID, NV, OR, UT May 7, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in AZ, ID, NV, OR, UT April 23, 201

Drought Destroys More Crops in CO, ID, OR, TX, UT

Drought Disaster Declared for 34 Additional Counties in Five States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 34 additional counties across five states—Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Utah—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the drought.

The drought disaster designations are for the following areas

• Colorado: Garfield, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties.
• Idaho: Ada, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Custer, Elmore, Gooding, Owyhee and Twin Falls counties.
• Oregon:  Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Jefferson, Morrow,Wasco and Wheeler counties.
• Texas: Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas and McLennan counties.
• Utah: Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, Summit, Uintah, Utah and Wasatch counties.

US Crops Experiencing Drought (as of last week)
Approximate Percentage of Corn Located in Drought: 26%
Approximate Percentage of Soybeans Located in Drought: 22%
Approximate Percentage of Hay Acreage Located in Drought: 28%
Approximate Percentage of Cattle Inventory Located in Drought: 37%
Approximate Percentage of Winter Wheat Production Located in Drought: 43%
[Source: USDA Agricultural Weather Assessments World Agricultural Outlook Board]

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least an 1,169 counties across 20  states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Majority of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.

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.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on May 13, 2015 and posted on their website in four separate declarations.

Related Links

• Drought Destroys more Crops in ID, NV, OR, UT May 7, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in AZ, ID, NV, OR, UT April 23, 2015
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Drought Destroys more Crops in ID, NV, OR, UT

Crop disasters declared for 37 counties in four states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 37 additional counties across four  states—Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the drought.

The drought disaster designations are for the following areas:

• Idaho. Ada, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Butte, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Lemhi, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Valley and Washington counties.
• Nevada. Pine, Elko, Eureka, Lincoln and Nye counties.
• Oregon. Malheur County.
• Utah. Juab (multiple designations), Millard (multiple designations), Tooele, Carbon, Emery, Sanpete, Sevier and Utah counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least an 1,135 counties across 20  states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Majority of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.

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.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on May 6, 2015 and posted on their website as three separate declarations.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in AZ, ID, NV, OR, UT April 23, 2015
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Crop Disasters Declared in AZ, ID, NV, OR, UT

Drought destroys more crops in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 37 additional counties across five states—Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the drought.

The drought disaster designations are for the following areas:

• Arizona. Mohave County
• Idaho. Adams and Washington counties
• Nevada. Clark, Humboldt, Lincoln, Nye Washoe and White Pine counties.
• Oregon. Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties.
• Utah. Box, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Elder, Juab, Morgan Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele (multiple designations), Sanpete, Utah, and Wasatch counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least an 1,098 counties across 20  states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Majority of the 2015 crop disaster designations so far are due to drought.

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.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on April 22, 2015 and posted on their website as three separate declarations.

Related Links

• Crop Drought Disaster Continues to Spread in U.S. South, Midwest  April 16, 2015
• Drought Crop Disaster Declared in Texas April 12, 2015
• Drought Destroys Crops in CA, OR, ID, UT, AZ and NV April 9, 2015
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Drought Emergency Declared in Oregon

Oregon counties facing dry conditions and low snowpack

Gov. Brown has declared a drought emergency in Malheur and Lake counties due to dry conditions, low snowpack, and lack of precipitation, said her office in a statement.

“Projected forecasts for Malheur and Lake counties look bleak, meaning these rural communities will continue to experience severe drought conditions,”said Brown. “In addition to creating an increased wildfire risk, this drought presents hardships to crops, agriculture, communities, recreation, and wildlife, all of which rely on Oregon’s water resources. I will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to help Oregonians in this part of the state through this challenging situation.”

“Projected forecasts for Malheur and Lake counties look bleak, meaning these rural communities will continue to experience severe drought conditions,” she said.

“In addition to creating an increased wildfire risk, this drought presents hardships to crops, agriculture, communities, recreation, and wildlife, all of which rely on Oregon’s water resources. I will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to help Oregonians in this part of the state through this challenging situation.”

Executive Order on Drought Emergency: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/executive_orders/eo_15-02.pdf

Drought Emergency in Washington State

Brown’s Executive Order on Drought Emergency follows Washington state Governor Inslee’s drought emergency declaration for three key regions across the state last week.

Inslee declared a drought emergency for the Olympic Peninsula, and the east side of the central Cascade Mountains including Yakima and Wenatchee, as well as the Walla Walla region.

“We can’t wait any longer, we have to prepare now for drought conditions that are in store for much of the state. Snowpack is at record lows, and we have farms, vital agricultural regions, communities and fish that are going to need our support.”

Snowpack is only 7 percent of normal in the Olympic Mountains. It ranges from 8 to 45 percent of normal across the Cascades, and 67 percent of normal in the Walla Walla region.

With snowpack statewide averaging only 27 percent of normal, 34 of the state’s 62 watersheds are expected to receive less than normal water supplies.

Earthquakes Strike 11 U.S. States

HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SEISMIC HAZARDS
SCENARIOS 704, 703,  700, [500,] 09, 08, 07, 02
.

Multiple earthquakes strike 11 states, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

At least 188 earthquakes measuring up to magnitude 4.0Mw have struck 11 states, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands  over the past 24 hours.

The largest quake, as of posting, measured 4.0Mw, occurring 2km (1mi) SE of Medford, Oklahoma, according to USGS/EHP.

Earthquakes also struck Alaska, California, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

 Related Links

• Significant Quake Strikes Near Irving, Texas November 23, 2014