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

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

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

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

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

Infected Commercial Flocks

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

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

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

• Wisconsin reported 1,950,733 birds.

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

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

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

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

Key Points: HPAI H5  [CDC Influenza Division]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Background and Additional Links

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

Disaster Emergency Declared in Multiple States

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF DISASTER EMERGENCY
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Deadly Snow Storm Threatens 32 States

States of Emergency Declared in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, New Jersey…

The second snow storm in a week is forecast to dump up to a foot of snow across all or portions of at least 32 states. The deadly snow storm will be followed by yet another massive arctic blast that will bring life-threatening temperatures and frigid conditions to more than two-thirds of the country.

State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas

Gov. Brownback has signed a state of disaster emergency declaration for Kansas for the entire state in response to a deadly storm, which continues to batter Kansas as it moves through the state.

Arkansas Declares a State of Emergency amid Widespread Power Outages

Tens of thousands of Arkansans were left without electricity on Tuesday, prompting Gov Beebe to declare a state of emergency.

“A severe winter weather system, beginning February 3, 2014, and continuing, has resulted in the loss of electric power and other utilities within the State of Arkansas, which will require utility companies and their crews to work long hours to restore such services as quickly as practicable …  Adverse circumstances have been brought to bear upon the citizens and public properties within the State …  [I’m authorized as] a state governor to declare a regional emergency during the duration of the emergency conditions, not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date of the initial declaration of emergency, and to exempt any motor carrier or driver operating a commercial motor vehicle to provide direct assistance in providing emergency relief during an emergency …” said Gov Beebe in his State of Emergency Proclamation.

Mississippi declares a State of Emergency amid Threat of Deadly Snow Storm

Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency as a deadly snow storm threatens to batter northern portions of Mississippi, including Coahoma, DeSoto and Tunica counties.

“I have declared a State of Emergency to aid emergency officials in preparing for the onset of this potentially dangerous weather,” said Bryant. “Residents should not overreact but should make plans now to ensure they are prepared for a variety of conditions, including prolonged freezing temperatures, icy roadways, heavy rains, and potential flooding.

New Jersey Declares Yet Another State of Emergency

New Jersey Gov Christie issued yet another State of Emergency late Tuesday ahead of the winter storm that is forecast to dump up to a foot of snow just about everywhere.

All state offices will be closed Wednesday, said the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.

“Tonight’s winter weather is expected to produce snow and ice, creating hazardous travel conditions and affecting areas throughout the state that are already recovering from yesterday’s storm,” said Gov. Christie in a statement, urging “all New Jerseyans to remain off the roads if possible” to allow “first responders and public safety officials can safely respond to any emergency situations.”

States of Emergency Declarations in Other Areas

• Town of Sellersburg, Ind. under state of emergency
• Dodge County, WI has declared a state of emergency due to the statewide propane shortage.
• Limited State of Emergency Declared in Niagara Falls

Additional Links

• Energy Demand: International Demand And Cold Weather Strain Midwest Propane Supply
• AP: A state-by-state look at winter’s latest wallop

Related Links

• State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas  February 5, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey on February 4, 2014

State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas

YOU THOUGHT WE’RE KIDDING
EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATE OF DISASTER EMERGENCY
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Kansas declared a disaster area as deadly snow storm threatens two-thirds of the U.S.

Gov. Brownback has signed a state of disaster emergency declaration for Kansas for the entire state in response to a deadly storm, which continues to batter Kansas as it moves through the state.

“We still have some of the most difficult conditions ahead of us as the snowfall is followed by heavy winds and bitterly cold temperatures,” said Brownback. “Travel will remain treacherous and temperatures will be dangerously cold.”

National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple hazard warnings for about two-thirds of the United States as more than 150 million people are impacted by the storm.

Major Winter Storm Continues to Move East

A major winter storm will continue to move east into Wednesday with multiple hazards including: heavy snow from central Kansas through the Ohio Valley and Northeast; heavy ice accumulation from Arkansas into the Ohio River Valley and Mid-Atlantic; and heavy rainfall with possible flooding for parts of the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Issued at 02:44UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE

• A major winter storm moving across the Midwest eastward through the Northeast followed by another plunge of Arctic air [polar vortex III] into the heart of the U.S.

• Flash flooding in the Tennessee Valley could occur due to heavy rain can  ahead of a cold front

• Another winter storm is shaping up in the center of the nation and will spread eastward into the Northeast during the short-range forecast period.

• A massive surge of frigid air from the Arctic that is following this storm system will lower temperatures by more than 40 degrees below normal in the High Plains.

“Kansas City and eastern Kansas is going to get a lot of snow,” said a meteorologist at the NWS Storm Prediction Center. “It’s remarkable weather. Winter is entrenched. It doesn’t appear to be wanting to go anywhere.”

A Foot of Snow in Kansas: “Unprecedented Event”

Kansas City had received about 8 inches of snow by late Tuesday, as forecasters  warned of up to a foot of snow across  more than two dozen states that are so far impacted by the deadly storm.

This event is unprecedented because only about 3 percent of the winter storms that hit Kansas City dump more than 6 inches of snow, Reuters reported another NWS meteorologist as saying.

At least two people were killed on Tuesday in a weather-related car crash in Kansas, one of hundreds of road collisions across Kansas and Missouri,  officials said.

Flight Cancellation and Delays

More than 5,000 flights into, within, or out of the United States have been canceled since Sunday, and at least 14,000 others delayed (source flight aware.com), impacting an estimated 2 million air travelers.

Related Links

• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey on February 4, 2014