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

De Facto 2°C Global Climate Target = 2 Inch Hole in the Head

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More flooding to hit SC disaster areas: Gov. Haley

South Carolina’s governor has urged tens of thousands of people in low-lying areas near the coast to evacuate Thursday before a wall of floodwater moving toward the Atlantic inundates large swathes of the state for the next 12 days.

Gov. Nikki Haley, speaking at a news conference in Summerville, warned residents in flood-prone areas of four counties—Dorchester, Charleston, Georgetown and Williamsburg—to “strongly consider evacuating.”

“Don’t underestimate the power of water,” she said.

The warning covers the low-lying area near the rising Waccamaw, Santee and Edisto rivers, and includes the 10,000 residents of Georgetown.

Flooding is expected in Georgetown in the next 12 hours, followed by Jamestown and the Givens Ferry area in the next 72 hours, said Haley on Thursday.

• The flooding could effect more than 300,000 people, according to various models.
• Several rounds of flooding since Saturday may have already cost South Carolina at least $300 million in crop losses, said a senior official.
• Senator Lindsey Graham has warned total cost of the ongoing disasters could exceed $1 billion.
• 17 of the 19 weather-related deaths during the ongoing catastrophe across the region have occurred in South Carolina.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued the following forecast for the region:

Isolated severe thunderstorms possible for parts of Mid-Atlantic

The NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a risk of severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening across portions of Mid-Atlantic States. Strong wind gusts will be the primary concern with any thunderstorms that develop.

Related Links

• Major Disaster Declared in South Carolina  October 6, 2015
• ‘Once-in-a-millennium’ Rainstorm Swamps South Carolina October 5, 2015
• Federal Emergency Declared for South Carolina October 4, 2015
• JOAQUIN Prompts States of Emergency Declarations in 5 States October 2, 2015

Major Disaster Declared in South Carolina

Federal Disaster Declared in South Carolina as Historic Rainfall, Catastrophic Flooding Cause Major Disaster

South Carolina Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4241) Incident period: October 1, 2015 and continuing. Major Disaster Declaration declared on October 5, 2015

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of South Carolina in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding that started on October 1, 2015 and continuing.

Areas that are worst affected by the extreme weather events include Charleston, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, and Williamsburg counties.

Major damage and losses have also occurred in Berkeley, Clarendon and Sumter counties, according to reports.

The Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be added to the disaster list after the assessments are fully completed.

Major Disaster

• About 65cm of rain have fallen in parts of South Carolina since Saturday, causing historic and catastrophic flooding.
• Up to 17 people have been killed in weather-related incidents across the region, most of them in South Carolina.
• Thousands of people have been evacuated or left their property voluntarily.
• Tens of thousands of people are without power or drinking water.
• A total of about 600 roads and bridges have been closed due to inundation and/or damage.
• Up to 20 dams have burst releasing large amounts of water and causing additional flooding.

Historic rainfall starting to taper off across Carolinas, threat of river flooding continues —NWS

The historic rainfall that has produced catastrophic flooding across the Carolinas is slowly beginning to taper off. Additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are possible through Tuesday and moderate to major river flooding is forecast to continue through the remainder of the week.

Federal Disasters 2015

The federal government has proclaimed 37 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4241] for a U.S. state/tribal area/territory so far this year. Additionally, the government has issued two Emergency Declarations, EM-3372 and EM-3373, and 31 Fire Management Assistance Declarations, [FM-5084 to FM-5114] for the year to date.

See also:

• ‘Once-in-a-millennium’ Rainstorm Swamps South Carolina October 5, 2015
• Federal Emergency Declared for South Carolina October 4, 2015
• JOAQUIN Prompts States of Emergency Declarations in 5 States October 2, 2015

Latest Major Disaster Declarations

• Major Disaster Declared in California Wildfire [DR-4240]  September 23, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in Kentucky [DR-4239] August 14, 2015
• Major Disasters Declared in Missouri, W. Virginia, Pine Ridge Reservation, S. Dakota [DR-4236 to DR-4238] August 9, 2015
• Super Typhoon SOUDELOR: Federal disaster declared for Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands [DR-4235] August 6, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in Iowa [DR-4234] August 3, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

‘Once-in-a-millennium’ Rainstorm Swamps South Carolina

Georgetown buried under water

The massive rainstorm pounding the southeastern United States has dumped more than 500mm of rain on large swathes of central South Carolina since Friday, and up to 150mm of additional rain is forecast for the region, said the National Weather Service (NWS).

South Carolina Governor Haley has called the extreme rain event a “once-in-a-millennium event.” [No, she’s not a time traveler. Editor]

The Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina’s state capital, has declared a nighttime curfew, which began at 6:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, in response to historic flooding.

“The flood is unlike anything we’ve ever dealt with before,” he said.

• About 10 weather-related deaths have been reported across the region, according to various media.
• Hundreds of roads and more than a dozen bridges have been closed. A 100-km stretch of Interstate 95, a major East Coast highway, was closed due to severe inundation.
• Hundreds of weather-related accidents have been reported.
•  Congaree River in Columbia reached its highest level in more than 80 years.

Federal State of Emergency

The White House declared a Federal State of Emergency in all 46 South Carolina counties and the Catawba Nation pummeled  by severe storms and flooding late Saturday.

The governors of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey have declared states of emergency, mobilizing the National Guard troops to deal with ongoing and potential disasters.

Potentially historic and life-threatening flooding continues across the Southeast —NOAA

The threat for widespread, catastrophic flooding will continue across parts of the Southeast through the remainder of the weekend, as tropical moisture feeding into an area of low pressure produces moderate to heavy rainfall across the region. Gusty winds are also possible, which could lead to downed power lines.

Hurricane JOAQUIN:  @ 11:00 PM AST Sun Oct 4
Location: 33.1°N, 65.5°W
Moving: NNE at ∼ 20 km/hr
Min pressure: 961 mb
Max sustained: ∼ 140 km/hr
[NHC/NOAA]

Related Links

• Federal Emergency Declared for South Carolina October 4, 2015
• JOAQUIN Prompts States of Emergency Declarations in 5 States October 2, 2015

Federal Emergency Declared for South Carolina

White House declares an emergency exists in the State of South Carolina

South Carolina Severe Storms and Flooding (EM-3373)

The White House has declared an emergency exists in the State of South Carolina in all 46 South Carolina counties and the Catawba Nation affected by severe storms and [historic] flooding beginning on October 1, 2015, and continuing.

Torrential rains from a another weather system have triggered severe flooding across large portions of U.S. Southeast and mid-Atlantic states.

• At least six people have been killed in weather-related incidents.
• Hundreds of people have been evacuated in Brunswick County, North Carolina due to flooding.
• Flood and Flash Flood Warnings have been issued.
• Up to 30 million Americans along the East Coast were under flood watches Saturday amid a “once in 500-year rainfall event.”
• Charleston’s airport has so far recorded 330mm (13 inches) of rain, breaking a three-day record, NWS reported.
• Up to 60omm of rain threatens several areas in SC.
• Tens of thousands of residences are without power, as of posting.

Meanwhile, U.S. Coast Guard pilots continued their search for the cargo ship El Faro which went missing on Saturday, with 33 crew members on board, as Hurricane JOAQUIN moved toward Bermuda.

Potentially historic and life-threatening flooding continues across the Southeast —NOAA

The threat for widespread, catastrophic flooding will continue across parts of the Southeast through the remainder of the weekend, as tropical moisture feeding into an area of low pressure produces moderate to heavy rainfall across the region. Gusty winds are also possible, which could lead to downed power lines.

Hurricane JOAQUIN: at 11:00 PM AST Sat Oct 3
Location: 28.0°N, 68.9°W
Moving: NE at 30 km/hr
Min pressure: 944 mb
Max sustained: 210 km/hr (130 mph)
[NHC/NOAA]

The governors of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey have declared states of emergency, as of posting, mobilizing the National Guard troops to deal with potential disasters.

Related Links

• JOAQUIN Prompts States of Emergency Declarations in 5 States October 2, 2015

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.

Major Disaster Declared for South Carolina (DR-4166)

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION
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Major Disaster Declaration For South Carolina – March 12, 2014

The White House has declared South Carolina a Federal Disaster Area due to a severe winter storm that struck the state during the period of February 10-14, 2014.

The severe winter storm caused widespread losses and damage across at least 21 counties throughout the Palmetto State.

Areas worst affected by the  storm were the counties of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Calhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Marion, Orangeburg, Saluda, Sumter, and Williamsburg.

The above Federal Disaster Declaration (ref: DR-4166) is in addition to an earlier Presidential Disaster Declaration declared  on February 12, 2014 (ref: EM-3369) for all counties of the State of South Carolina.

Recent Federal Disaster Declarations

• Major Disaster Declared for Georgia March 9, 2014
• White House Issues Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration for South Carolina February 14, 2014
• White House Signs Pennsylvania Emergency Declaration February 7, 2014
• Oklahoma Declared Major Disaster Area January 31, 2014
• Vermont Declared Major Disaster Area January 31, 2014
• Major Disaster Declared for Alaska January 24, 2014

• Alaska Declared Major Disaster Area January 18, 2014
• Major Disaster Declared For Arkansas  January 10, 2014
• Texas Declared Federal Disaster Area December 22, 2013
• Federal Disaster Declared in California December 14, 2013
• Nebraska Declared Federal Disaster Area November 27, 2013

• Major Disaster Declared for South Dakota November 9, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in North Dakota November 1, 2013

• North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area October 31, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013

• Major Disaster Declared for Pennsylvania October 3, 2013
• New Mexico Declared Federal Disaster Area October 2, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared for Santa Clara Pueblo September 28, 2013
• Major Disaster Declaration for North Carolina September 26, 2013
• N. Colorado Declared as Federal Disaster Area September 14, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared for Vermont, New Hampshire, Florida August 6, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in El Paso County, CO Posted on August 1, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in West Virginia Posted on July 27, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New York, North Dakota July 16, 2013
• Michigan Declared Major Disaster Area June 19, 2013

• Drought 2013/14
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

Stockpile of Nuclear Weapons Waste in SC Left in Limbo

NUCLEAR DISASTER WATCH
RADIATION LEAK
NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL
NIGHTMARE SCENARIO 043
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South Carolina nuclear weapons waste has no place to go!

The plans to ship weapons grade nuclear waste stored at the Savannah River Site (SRS) are in limbo, after  a radioactive leak that has indefinitely shut down the  the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a nuclear waste dump in New Mexico.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has thus far been unwilling to reveal whether they have any contingency plan to dump the toxic waste elsewhere, should they be forced to shut down WIPP permanently.

SRS has been under a federal mandate to ship its transuranic waste to the New Mexico facility and has been doing so since 2001, according to DOE; however, about 700 cubic meters of the waste still remains in SC.

The Savannah River Site

SRS [aka, The Bomb Plant] is a  nuclear reservation located in the state of South Carolina adjacent to the Savannah River, about 40 km from Augusta, Georgia. The site, owned by DOE, was built in the 1950s to refine nuclear materials for nuclear weapons. It covers more than 800km² and employs about 10,800 people.

SRS is also home to the “world’s surplus plutonium” where it is “being stored in a minimally-secured building located on top of the most dangerous earthquake fault in the South,” said a report.

The Bomb plant Promo

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

WIPP is one of DOE’s nuclear waste dumps where the U.S. Gov buries transuranic (man-made radioactive elements that are heavier than Uranium) radioactive waste such as plutonium used in making nuclear weapons.

A shipment of contact-handled transuranic waste arrives at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Source: WIPP, US Department of Energy

Located about 26 miles east of Carlsbad in SE New Mexico, WIPP has “disposal rooms” excavated in an ancient salt formation, about 700m (2,150 feet) underground. WIPP employs more than 800 workers. Waste disposal began at WIPP in 1999.

The Horizontal Emplacement and Retreival Equipment (HERE) is used to push remote-handled transuranic waste into horizontal boreholes in the disposal room walls. Source: WIPP, US Department of Energy

The 250-million-year-old salt formation below the Chihuahuan Desert is used to dump thousands of cubic meters of TRU radioactive waste each year. About 4% of the TRU waste received at WIPP is far too toxic and the containers must be remote-handled by robots and automated  machinery.

If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate… It Will!

On January 12, 2014 FIRE-EARTH forecast:

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

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

• Radiation Leak in N.M. WIPP Leaves Nuclear Waste in Limbo March 1, 2014
• Likely Radiation Leak at NM Military Nuclear Waste Dump February 17, 2014
• If Anything Can Explode, Leak, Contaminate…  January 12, 2014

Significant Quake Strikes South Carolina

M4.1 strikes near Edgefield, South Carolina

A shallow quake measuring at least 4.1Mw struck 12km WNW of Edgefield, SC, at 03:23:38 UTC Saturday.

Earthquake Details

• Event Time: 03:23:38 UTC on 2014-02-15
• Location: 33.812°N 82.063°W
• Depth: 4.8km (3.0mi)
• Nearby Cities
  • 12km (7mi) WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina
  • 31km (19mi) NNE of Evans, Georgia

Earthquake Location Map

Source: USGS/EHP

Related Links

• Earthquakes – Feb. 3, 2014 February 3, 2014
• U.S. Earthquakes 24 Hrs:  December 31, 2013
• Significant Earthquakes Strike Oklahoma December 29, 2013
• 41 Earthquakes Strike Oklahoma in November December 1, 2013
• Earthquake No. 19 Strikes N. Texas November 29, 2013

State of Emergency Declared in Tennessee

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
DEADLY ICE & SNOWSTORM
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State of emergency declared in TN as ice and snow pound state’s south

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) declared a state of emergency in the state on Wednesday due to extreme weather.

“The cold air and precipitation is expected to build northward in the state throughout Wednesday and is likely to produce ice and snow-covered roads into Thursday morning,” said TEMA in a statement. “Localized power outages are possible due to downed trees and power lines.”

TEMA also activated its emergency operations center after forecasters predicted that storm system could dump up to 12 inches of snow on parts of the state.

120 Million of People Affected

The massive storm system is affecting an estimated 120 millions people in 22 states from Texas to Maine, leaving more than a dozen people dead and many injured, as of posting.

Winter Storm Warnings, Watches and Advisories were in effect from Georgia to Maine. Forecasters have warned the powerful system could dump up to 18 inches (46 cm) of snow over the Atlantic Coast through Saturday.

Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Image. (Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni)

• 7-day Storm Animation [valid February 7-13, 2014 ]

Latest Weather Forecast by NWS

Winter Storm Brings Heavy Snow and Ice from the Southeast to New England on Thursday

A strengthening area of low pressure will move up the East Coast on Thursday bringing with it significant winter weather from the Southeast to New England. Ice Storm Warnings and/or Winter Storm Warnings are currently in effect for several states. In these areas, road conditions will be dangerous.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said parts of upper east Tennessee could see more than 11 inches of snow.

Temperatures are forecast to plunge by as much as 20 degrees below average over the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Thursday, February 13, 2014. Issued at 2:56UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE

States of Emergency Declared for 9 Additional States

Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey have already declared States of Emergency due to the severe ice storm. More states are expected to follow suit.

Thousands of schools and government offices were ordered closed along the storm path from Texas to North Carolina.

“This is not the storm we had two weeks ago, where we were playing in the snow and building snowmen. This is an ice storm,” said Gov Haley, as she declared a State of Emergency for South Carolina.

Flight Cancellations and Delays

More than 10,000 flights into, within, or from the United States have been canceled and thousands more delayed since Tuesday. The trend is expected to continue through weekend.

Federal Emergency Disaster Declared for the State of Georgia

The White House has declared a federal emergency in the State of Georgia resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on February 10, 2014, and continuing.

The emergency disaster declaration will provide federal disaster relief to “lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe” in the counties of Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Murray, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield, and Wilkes.

White House Issues Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration for South Carolina

The White House has declared a  Federal Emergency Disaster in the State of South Carolina resulting from a severe ice and snowstorm beginning on February 10, 2014, and continuing.

Energy Emergency

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended on Wednesday the regional States of Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits for transporting propane throughout the United States.

A total of at least 36 states and District of Columbia are currently impacted by shortages of propane and other heating fuels.

States covered by the emergency declarations include:

• Western Service Center: North Dakota and South Dakota
• Southern Service Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee
• Eastern Service Center: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
• Midwestern Service Center: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin

Colorado Gov Issued Emergency Declaration to Authorize Temporary Exception to Hours of Service Regulations for CMVs Used for Propane Transport on February 7, 2014.

Texas Gov Renews Proclamation Declaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency [Feb. 4, 2014.]

Connecticut Provides Emergency Exemption from Hours of Service of Drivers [Feb. 11, 2014.]

S. Carolina Gov Issues Emergency Declaration for Severe Winter Weather Impact [Feb. 11, 2014.]

S. Carolina Gov Issues Executive Order to Waive Truck Restrictions  [Feb. 11, 2014.]

N.  Carolina Governor Temporarily Suspends Motor Vehicle Regulations … [Feb. 11, 2014.]

Related Links

• NJ Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Snowstorm February 13, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Maryland February 12, 2014
• Virginia Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Deadly Storm February 12, 2014
• Deadly Ice and Snow Blanket U.S. South February 12, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States February 11, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in New York, Pennsylvania February 6, 2014
• Disaster Emergency Declared in Multiple States February 5, 2014
• State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas February 5, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey  February 4, 2014

Energy Emergency Links

• Never Mind the Salt, Propane Shortage Biting Hard February 6, 2014
• 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

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

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
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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
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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

Mass Die-off of Wild Shrimp Off SE Atlantic Coast

Parasite decimates wild shrimp hauls off Georgia and South Carolina coasts

Black gill disease, caused by a tiny single-celled parasite called a ciliate, triggered a die-off of white shrimp during the August and October prime catch season off the U.S. southeast Atlantic coast, experts said.

The August haul plunged by about 75 percent from the same month last year, said Mel Bell, director of South Carolina’s Office of Fisheries Management.

In South Carolina the September catch was 44,000 pounds, less than 6 percent of the September, 2012 when shrimpers hauled in more than 750,000 pounds, said Bell.

White Shrimp – Black Gill Disease

A change in water salinity stresses the shrimp making them susceptible to being infected by the disease. The infection  lowers the shrimp endurance and makes them more vulnerable to predators, said Bell.

“It’s like the shrimp are smoking three packs of cigarettes a day, and now they’re having to go run a marathon,” he said.

“Shrimpers are reporting to us that they dump the bag on the deck, and the shrimp are just dead.”

Many shrimpers fear that Georgia’s current black gill problem came from shrimp ponds in South Carolina, said Pat Mathews, owner of Lazaretto Packing Co.

“All the pond-raised shrimp have had problems with diseases and viruses,” he said. “Therefore, we need federal legislation preventing discharging these ponds into the ecosystem to prevent the spread to wild shrimp in the future.”

Georgia shrimpers are reportedly planning to petition the state for disaster status.

Shrimp are America’s most valuable and probably most popular seafood. Whole cultures and maritime communities are based solely on these crustaceans. South Carolina has two important penaeid shrimp species, brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) and white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus). A third species, the pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum), is relatively scarce. Methods of harvest range from large commercial shrimp trawlers to cast nets and drop nets. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources- Marine Resource Division

White shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus). The most valuable fishery in the southeastern United States is the harvest of penaeid shrimp. In South Carolina and Georgia, this fishery is comprised of two species, the white (Litopeneausset-iferus) and brown (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) shrimps, with white shrimp dominating catches. Source: DNR

Asian Farmed Shrimp

The production of Asian farmed shrimp also plunged this year after a bacterial infection decimated stock in Thailand’s ponds, said a report, resulting in shortage of imports which in turn drove prices up.

Fay: TS with an Attitude

Will she go north? Will she go west? Will she settle for west-northwest?

Fay is drifting toward the west near 2 mph (4 km/hr). Fay is forecast to move westward or west-northwestward with some increase in forward speed during the next 48 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/hr) with higher gusts are expected.

Fay is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches (25.4cm), across

• Central to northern portion of the Florida peninsula
• Florida Panhandle
• Southern Georgia
• Southeastern Alabama

Isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible!

Tropical Storm FAY QuickLook – Posted: 18:00 EDT 08/21/2008

Tropical Storm FAY beginning to make landfall on Florida’s East Coast near Flagler Beach. As of 08/21/2008 18:00 EDT, water levels from northeastern Florida to South Carolina are elevated about 1.25 to 2.40 feet above predicted. (NOAA-NOS)

• Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are possible across the coastal areas of southern South Carolina.
• Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible over southwest and southern Florida.
• Isolated storm total accumulations of 20 to 30 inches have been observed with this system over the east central coastal areas of Florida.
• Storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tides is possible along the east coast of Florida and Georgia
• Isolated tornadoes are possible tonight over portions of northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. (Forecaster: Brown/Knabb. NOAA-NHC)

Melbourne Florida: Roads Double as Rivers

Photograph: John Raoux/AP. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

See previous entries for more updated images:

• Fay drops 25 inches of rain on Melbourne

• Fay Heads North Toward SW Florida Coast
• Fay May Strengthen to Hurricane Force
• Tropical Storm Fay Forms
• Weather

Other related Links:

• World Now (Satellite Imagery Index Page)
• Tropical Storm FAY Public Advisory (NOAA – NHC)