Texas breaks power record – again and again and again

Submitted by DRM

Record Texas electricity demand, amid record-breaking, lingering heat

Scorching temperatures across Texas, exceeding record-breaking 42.2℃ (108℉) in Dallas/Fort Worth area, have pushed the demand for power in Texas, setting peak records for the month on July 16 and 17, and breaking the grid’s all-time high on July 18 and 19.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates 90% of the state’s power grid (it has about 24 million customers), forecast demand would exceed 74,647 megawatts on Monday.

Demand peak hit 73,259 megawatts between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday (July 19), breaking the previous hourly record of 72,691 megawatts set on the same day. The previous record of 71,438 megawatts only lasted for one day, having been set between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, ERCOT spokesperson said.

DRM – 072302

What Percentage of American Youth Have Psychopathic Killer Tendencies?

• CJ
• OCT
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FIRE-EARTH Report: Multiple Fatalities Reported at Santa Fe High School, Texas

• Background: At least  22 School shootings have occurred across the United States so far this year–an average of one shooting per week.

Report US Mass Murder [“USMM”] 051802 has been prepared by FIRE-EARTH Science, affiliated mental health experts and political scientists. The Report is available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

Santa Fe High School, School Shooting

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Tropical Storm HARVEY – Update Aug 29

TS HARVEY Status as at 10:00 AM CDT Tue Aug 29

Location: 28.4°N, 94.3°W

• 115 mi [185 km] SSW OF CAMERON, LOUISIANA
• 105 mi [170km] SSW OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS

Direction: NNE at 5 mph
Min pressure: 997 mb
Max sustained winds: 45 mph [75 km/h]

RELENTLESS TORRENTIAL RAINS CONTINUE OVER SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA [NHC]

Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding continues in southeastern Texas and portions of southwestern Louisiana. [NHC]

Texas Joins the Moribund Canaries in the Mine

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FIRE-EARTH Presentation: America’s Fourth Largest Concrete Jungle Can’t Drain its Swamp

America has reached an inflection point where lifestyle is rapidly destroying life!

[Prepared by FIRE-EARTH Science Team.]

• Presentation available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

HURRICANE HARVEY: Catastrophic Winds, Floods Forecast for Texas

Hurricane HARVEY Status Fri Aug 25 [NHC]

Summary of Information at 6:00 AM CDT (11:00 UTC) –  [NHC/NOAA]

Max Sustained Winds: 110 mph [177km/hr; currently a Category 2B Hurricane on FEWW Hurricane Scale] and Strengthening

• Location: 26.3°N, 95.7°W 
  About 145 mi (235km) SE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
  About 150 mi (245) SSE OF PORT O’CONNOR, TEXAS
• Movement: NW (315 degrees) at 10 MPH (17 km/h)
• MCP: 952 MB  (28.11 inches)

Authorities have warned residents in coastal areas and beyond to evacuate their homes amid potentially “life-threatening winds and floods.”

The strengthening hurricane, forecast to become a Cat 4 hurricane with winds of up to 125 mph (200 km/h), could dump as much as 36 inches (100 cm) of rain on parts of Texas, and cause storm surge as high as 12 feet (3.65 meters).

“Life-threatening and devastating flooding expected near the coast due to heavy rainfall and storm surge,” the NHC said.

State of Disaster
Texas governor has declared a state of disaster for 30 counties and has ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety’s State Operations Center to upgrade its readiness status before HARVEY hits.

Mass Evacuations
Multiple mandatory and voluntary evacuations are currently in effect.

Potential for Disaster
“If a hurricane hits the thousands of storage tanks — ones that hold the world’s largest concentrations of oil, gases and chemicals — that line the Houston Ship Channel just right, more than 25 feet of water could shoot up the channel. And if even one tank ruptured because of it, hundreds of thousands of people could be impacted,” said a report.

Satellite Imagery

• FEWW Satellite Imagery Links

 

Tornadoes, Storms Continue Deadly Mayhem in U.S. Midwest, South

Tornadoes Wreak Widespread Destruction in Texas

More than 5,000 homes may have been damaged or destroyed by tornadoes, while at least 17 people were killed across the storm battered areas.

Arkansas has declared a state of emergency after at least three people were  killed in severe weather.

The storms were forecast to roll into Alabama before moving north toward Michigan.

Up to 20 million people are under some risk of severe weather, including tornadoes, strong winds, rainstorm and hail, according to NWS.

Millions more are under a flood warning or watch.

 

States of Emergency Declared for Missouri, Oklahoma as Deadly Tornadoes Hit Texas

Tornadoes in Texas, flash flooding in Missouri kill at least 10 people, injure many dozens

Tornadoes ripped through several towns in East Texas, killing at least 7 people, injuring dozens of others, destroying homes and causing widespread damage to infrastructure, according to local reports.

Missouri governor declared a state of emergency amid threats of flash flooding caused by violent rainstorms throughout The Cave State, which left at least 5 people dead or missing.

Up to 25cm of rain soaked much of the state, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported.

Oklahoma governor declared state of emergency for all 77 counties after severe storms, strong winds, snow and flooding and impacted the Sooner State.

 

Deadly Wildfires Consume 2 Million Acres in 4 States

Massive wildfires destroy tens of thousands of cattle, other farm animals in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas

• At least 6 people have been killed and six others injured as fires engulfed multiple ranches destroying or damaging dozens of properties.
• Significant cattle losses have been reported in the disaster zone.
• Red-flag warnings are in effect across parts of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska due to critical wildfire conditions, the National Weather Service reported.

 

Federal Disaster Declared for Texas

Texas Declared Major Disaster Area

Texas Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4272)

• Incident period: Started May 26, 2016 and Continuing
• Major Disaster Declaration proclaimed on June 11, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas in the areas affected by severe storms and deadly flooding beginning on May 26, 2016, and continuing.

Federal funding have reportedly been made available to affected individuals in Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Travis, Waller, and Washington counties. “Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.”

Federal funding also is available to the state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Travis, Waller, and Washington counties.

Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas said damage surveys were continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Major Disaster Declarations (2016)

• Major Disaster Declared for the U.S. State of Montana [DR-4271] May 25, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for the State of Arkansas [DR-4270] May 7, 2016
• Texas Severe Storms and Flooding [DR-4269]
• Major Disaster Declared for Mississippi [DR-4268] March 26, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Pennsylvania [DR-4267] March 24, 2016

• Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding [DR-4266]  March 17, 201
• Major Disaster Declared for Delaware [DR-4265] March 17, 201
• Louisiana Disaster Declaration Expanded March 17, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: New Jersey [DR-4264] March 15, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: Louisiana Severe Storms and Flooding March 14, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Virginia [DR-4262] March 8, 2016
• Major Disaster Declarations for DC and Maryland [DR-4260, DR-4261 ] March 5, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Georgia [DR-4259] February 27, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oregon [DR-4258] February 19, 2016

• Major Disaster Declared for Alaska [DR-4257] February 18, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma [DR-4256] February 12, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas  [DR-4255] 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

State of Disaster Declared in Texas

Texas Gov. Declares State of Disaster in 31 Counties Devastated by Severe Weather, Flooding

Gov.  Abbott has declared state of disaster in 31 Texas counties because of the devastation caused by severe weather and flooding event that began on May 26, 2016, and that continues.

The disaster areas are Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Coleman, Colorado, Erath, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Jasper, Kleberg, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Lubbock, Montgomery, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton counties in the Lone Star State.

On Friday, May 27th, Abbott elevated the activation level of the State Operations Center (SOC) in Austin and continues to urge all Texans to stay on high alert and immediately heed any warnings from their local officials related to this severe flood threat.

“As our state continues to face waves of severe weather and potential flooding, it is crucial that Texans remain vigilant and heed warnings and any evacuation notices from local officials in their areas,” said Abbott. “The State of Texas stands ready to assist all counties affected by severe weather and has dedicated the resources necessary to ensure the safety of those at risk. I would like to thank the first responders who have rescued residents from rising waters and ask all Texans to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.”

Abbott’s disaster declaration is posted here.

Evacuations were ordered for areas in two towns in Fort Bend County, about 50km southwest of Houston, after Brazos River rose to historic levels.

Meanwhile, up to 25 cm of rain is forecast for the Houston over the next few days, said NWS, exacerbating the deadly flood conditions that have claimed about a dozen lives, and caused substantial damage in the metro area.

Most of the state is under Flash Flood Warning, Flood Warning, or Flash Flood Watch, as of posting.

Extreme Rain, Flooding Devastate Texas

“Potential 100-year flood” could inundate hundreds of homes Tuesday

Severe flooding, triggered by extreme rain events, has killed at least six people and left four others were missing in Texas and Kansas.

Most of the deaths occurred in Washington County (Texas), between Austin and Houston, where 420mm of rain fell in some places since late Friday, said local reports.

Harris County officials warned residents to areas flooded by the Spring Creek and the San Jacinto River, and “asked about 750 families in the Northwood Pines Subdivision and the Park at Northgate Apartments to voluntarily evacuate their homes and to stay out until the flooding threat had subsided,” said a report.

Some 800 other families were ordered to evacuate from the city of Simonton in Fort Bend County, where the rising Brazos River is expected to cause flooding in the next few days.

The city of Rosenberg  issued a mandatory evacuation at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Mayor Cynthia McConathy also signed orders declaring a state of disaster for the city. The evacuations were in effect until 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Brazos River in nearby Richmond is predicted to hit major flood stage Sunday afternoon and crest at 53.5 feet Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials at two prisons near Houston were moving about 2,600 inmates at the Terrell and Stringfellow Units in Rosharon, about 45km south of Houston, fearing that the Brazos River could flood the units.

Fort Bend County officials have warned residents of “potential 100-year flood” that could inundate hundreds of homes on Tuesday, including those as far as 8km away from the Brazos River.

Major Disaster Declared for the State of Texas

Texas Declared Federal Disaster Area 

Texas Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4269)

The federal government has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of April 17-24, 2016.

The areas that are worst affected include the counties of Fayette, Grimes, Harris, and Parker.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide, according to the official declaration.

Damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated subject to the assessments.

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 Mississippi March 26, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Pennsylvania (DR-4268) March 24, 2016

• Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4266)  March 17, 201
• Major Disaster Declared for Delaware [DR-4265] March 17, 201
• Louisiana Disaster Declaration Expanded March 17, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: New Jersey [DR-4264] March 15, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: Louisiana Severe Storms and Flooding March 14, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Virginia [DR-4262] March 8, 2016
• Major Disaster Declarations for DC and Maryland [DR-4260, DR-4261 ] March 5, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Georgia [DR-4259] February 27, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oregon [DR-4258] February 19, 2016

• Major Disaster Declared for Alaska [DR-4257] February 18, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma [DR-4256] February 12, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas  [DR-4255] 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

 

Crop Disasters Declared in Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, Nevada and Hawaii

Extreme weather and climatic events destroy crops in 39 counties across five U.S. states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated the counties of  Hawaii, Kalawao and Maui in the state of Hawaii as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

Two separate designations have been issued since April 13.

USDA has also designated eight counties in two other states—Nevada and Utah—as crop disaster areas due to drought.  Those counties are:

• Nevada. Elko, Eureka, Lincoln, Nye, and White Pine.

• Utah. Juab, Millard and Tooel.

Excessive rain and moisture destroy or damage crops in Texas, Oklahoma

USDA has designated a total of 28 counties in Texas and Oklahoma as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and moisture that occurred from Oct. 23, 2015, through Jan. 10, 2016. Those counties are:

• Texas. Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Henderson, Hill, Hopkins, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Lamar, Montague, Navarro, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt and Wise.

• Oklahoma. Bryan, Choctaw, Love and Marshall.

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

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

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

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

Previous Disaster Designations – 2016:

• Crop Disasters Declared in 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

State of Disaster Declared in Nine Texas Counties amid Floods

Violent storms dump 460mm of rain on Houston, Texas triggering massive floods

Extreme weather events and severe flooding that began on April 17, 2016, and that continues, has caused a disaster in Austin, Bastrop, Colorado, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, Waller and Wharton counties, said Texas Gov., proclaiming a state of disaster for those areas.

At least a half dozen people have died in weather-related incidents.

NWS forecasters have warned rivers would crest later this week, flooding downstream areas.

More heavy rain will occur across the central and southern Plains, causing a risk for flash flood and river flooding. Severe storms and an isolated tornado are possible across south Texas. Snow will continue over parts of the Central Rockies and the Northern/Central High Plains. Additional heavy accumulations are possible. [NWS]

Major Disaster Declared for Texas

Federal Disaster Declared for Texas due to Continuing Destructive Weather Events

Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4266)

• Incident period: March 07, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on March 19, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the state of Texas in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on March 7, 2016, and continuing.

Areas that have sustained severe damage include Jasper, Newton, and Orange counties.

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 areas.

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 Delaware [DR-4265] March 17, 201
• Louisiana Disaster Declaration Expanded March 17, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: New Jersey [DR-4264] March 15, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration: Louisiana Severe Storms and Flooding March 14, 2016
• Federal Disaster Declared for Virginia [DR-4262] March 8, 2016
• Major Disaster Declarations for DC and Maryland [DR-4260, DR-4261 ] March 5, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Georgia [DR-4259] February 27, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oregon [DR-4258] February 19, 2016

• Major Disaster Declared for Alaska [DR-4257] February 18, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma [DR-4256] February 12, 2016
• Major Disaster Declared for Texas  [DR-4255] 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

Historic Flooding: Texas Declares State of Disaster

Thousands of Homes Damaged or Destroyed in Historic Southern US Flooding

Flooding along the Sabine River, the natural border between Texas and Louisiana, has forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes, prompting Texas Gov. Abbott to declare state of disaster for 17 eastern and southeastern counties.

In Louisiana, more than 6,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by flooding across the state, forcing about 5,000 people to evacuate.

Flooding has also severely affected Mississippi and Arkansas over the past several days.

• About 1,000 homes in Mississippi have been damaged or destroyed.

Rising floodwaters have also forced sections of interstates 10 and 59 to close, causing major disruptions throughout the region.

Major Disaster Declared for Texas

Federal Disaster Declared in the State of Texas

Texas Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4255)

• Incident period: December 26, 2015 to January 21, 2016
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on February 09, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of  Texas in the areas affected by severe winter storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of December 26, 2015 to January 21, 2016.

The areas that were hardest hit by the destructive weather events include Bailey, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Dallas, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Ellis, Hall, Hardeman, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Kaufman, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Navarro, Parmer, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Titus, and Van Zandt counties.

Additionally, federal funding has also been made available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

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 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

ZIKV Update – Feb. 3, 2016

Zika virus acquired through sexual transmission —Texas Officials

Health officials have confirmed that a person in Dallas County, Texas, contracted the Zika virus through sexual contact, the first such case reported in the continental United States.

The patient in Texas was infected after having sex with their partner who had returned from Venezuela, according to reports.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier released the following statement:

CDC has confirmed through laboratory testing the first U.S. case of Zika virus infection in a non-traveler in the continental United States. According to a Dallas County Health Department investigation, a person who recently traveled to an area with Zika virus transmission returned to the United States and developed Zika-like symptoms. The person later tested positive for Zika, along with their sexual partner, who had not traveled to the area. In this instance there was no risk to a developing fetus.

“Based on what we know now, the best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites. We do not have definitive information on the infectious time period, and will provide more guidance for individuals and clinicians as we learn more. Sexual partners can protect themselves by using condoms to prevent spreading sexually transmitted infections. People who have Zika virus infection can protect others by preventing additional mosquito bites.

Two confirmed cases of Zika virus reported in Ireland

Meanwhile, two cases of ZIKV infection have been reported in Ireland, which are being investigated by The Health Service Executive (HSE), said a report.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – December 27, 2015

Powerful storm system brings tornadoes and flooding, killing at least 8 in Dallas, Texas

Death toll from a week of severe weather in the southern United States has now climbed to at least 26, with hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged by tornadoes, and flooding.

At least 6 tornadoes touched down in Dallas, Ellis and McClain counties on Saturday, according to the reports received by the storm prediction Center.

Meanwhile, forecasters have warned a “historic blizzard” could hit Texas and Oklahoma with up to 41cm of snow.

Dangerous Weather Continues Through Sunday Across the Middle of the Country

A variety of dangerous weather conditions will continue across the middle of the country through Sunday. Blizzard conditions will stretch from the High Plains of west Texas into northwest Oklahoma and Kansas. Hazardous ice accumulations will occur in Oklahoma. Dangerous flooding will extend from north Texas to central Illinois. Thunderstorms and a few tornadoes are possible in Texas. [NWS]

UK homes evacuated after ‘unprecedented’ flooding

Police have advised hundreds of people to evacuate near the River Ouse and River Foss in York, as floods threaten thousands of properties, said a report.

Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings are in place for England, Wales and Scotland, including more than 20 severe warnings—indicating danger to life.

UK PM David Cameron has called the flooding “unprecedented” and the situation for many as “incredibly serious” in an emergency conference call, promising more troops.

Super gonorrhea ‘could become untreatable’

“Gonorrhea is at risk of becoming an untreatable disease due to the continuing emergence of antimicrobial resistance,” the UK Chief Medical Officer has warned.

The warning follows the detection of a highly drug-resistant strain of the infection in the north of England in March.

The strain can resist the antibiotic azithromycin, which is normally used alongside another drug, ceftriaxone.

The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can mutate and develop new resistance, so we cannot afford to be complacent, said a UK health official.

North of England ‘super gonorrhea’ outbreak triggers nationwide alert

‘Highly resistant’

“This azithromycin highly resistant outbreak is the first one that has triggered a national alert,”  a consultant in sexual health based in Bristol, told the BBC News website.

“If this becomes the predominant strain in the UK we’re in big trouble, so we have to be really meticulous in making sure each of these individuals has all their contacts traced and treated.”

In 2011, Japan reported a case of complete resistance to cephalosporin-class antibiotics, which included the main treatment ceftriaxone.

About 35,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported in England in 2014, an increase of almost 20% compared with the previous year. It is the second most common sexually transmitted disease in the UK after chlamydia.

Emergency declared as train carrying sulfuric acid derails in NW QLD

A freight train carrying 200,000 liters of sulfuric acid has derailed east of Julia Creek in NW Queensland, Australia.

The locomotive and all 26 carriages derailed at 10:20am about 20km east of the outback town, prompting authorities to declare an emergency and impose a two-kilometer exclusion zone around the crash site.

Dallas/Fort Worth area set new rain record with 140cm this year

Complex storm system batters New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas as it sweeps across the U.S.

Some 140.2cm (155.23 in) of precipitation in Dallas-Fort Worth area so far this year has set a new record breaking the rainfall record of 136cm set in 1991.

Meanwhile, fast-moving floodwaters have killed at least three people in the Lone Star state, according to reports.

Dozens of weather warnings, watches and advisories are in effect across the country including Flash Flood Warning, Ice Storm Warning, Winter Storm Warning, High Wind Warning, Flood Warning, Gale Warning and Hard Freeze Warning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast “Significant accumulations of ice and snow will bring dangerous travel conditions and potential power outages to portions of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Further east, heavy rain could cause river and flash flooding across the Southern Plains, through the holiday weekend.

Extreme Weather Disasters in Texas

Earlier this month, two days of extreme weather, with tornadoes and flooding, left at least six people dead across the state. More…

In May, flooding killed at least two dozen people in Texas and Oklahoma, and prompted Gov. Abbott to declare disaster in 37 counties.

In July, he extended the May disaster declaration, following the severe weather, tornado and flooding event that began on May 4, 2015, to include 122 counties.

On October 13, 2015, Abbott declared disaster in Bastrop County after devastating wildfires.

Record Federal Disaster Declarations

A Major Disaster Declaration was declared for the state of Texas on November 25, 2015 following the earlier damage and loss caused by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in the counties of Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy, and Wilson during the period of October 22-31, 2015.

Some 339 Major Disaster Declarations (since 1953), Emergency Declarations (since 1993) and Fire Management Assistance Declarations (since 1988) have been declared for Texas, the highest total for any state.

Major Disaster Declared for Texas

Texas Declared Federal Disaster Area

Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4245)

• Incident period: October 22, 2015 to October 31, 2015
• Major Disaster Declaration declared on November 25, 2015

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of October 22-31, 2015.

The hardest hit areas include the counties of Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, Comal, Galveston, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Liberty, Navarro, Travis, Willacy, and Wilson.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, federal officials said.

• Some 90 Major Disasters Declaration have been declared for the state of Texas since 1953.

Federal Disaster Declarations (2015)

The federal government has proclaimed 41 Major Disaster Declaration [DR 4205-4245] 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 34 Fire Management Assistance Declarations, [FM-5084 to FM-5117] for the year to date.

Major Disaster Declarations Since October 2015

• Major Disaster Declared in Alaska [DR-4244] October 31, 2015
• 2ND Major Disaster Declaration for Washington [DR-4243] October 22, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared for Washington [DR-4242] October 16, 2015
• Major Disaster Declared in South Carolina [DR-4241] October 6, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

State of Disaster Declared for Central Texas Wildfires

Gov. of Texas Declares Disaster In Bastrop County

Texas Governor Abbott has declared a Disaster in Bastrop County, near Austin, after a wildfire consumed nearly 20 square kilometers, destroying dozens of homes and other structures, and forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes.

The Hidden Pines Fire wildfire in Smithville threatens more than 150 homes, as well as dozens of other structures, and was reportedly 25 percent contained as of posting.

Related Links

• Raging Texas Wildfire Destroys Homes, Forces Hundreds of Evacuations October 15, 2015

Raging Texas Wildfire Destroys Homes, Forces Hundreds of Evacuations

Wildfire consumes thousands of acres, destroys a dozen homes, threatens hundreds more

The Hidden Pines Fire wildfire in Smithville, Bastrop County, about 45 miles east of Austin, Texas has consumed about 4,500 acres, destroying a dozen homes, and threatening hundreds more, according to local reports.

“Buescher State Park and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center campus in Smithville remained closed after being evacuated Tuesday,” said a report.

In 2011, the worst fire in the state history consumed more than 30,000 acres, destroying more than 1,200 homes.

Crop Disasters Declared in Multiple Counties across Central U.S.

Drought destroys crops in dozens of counties across four States

Drought has destroyed at least 30 percent of the crops in 78 counties and parishes across the states of  Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, reported USDA.

Drought Crop Disaster Areas – Disaster Designations #1
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of 39 counties and parishes in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Those counties are:

• Texas. Anderson, Angelina, Bell, Bowie, Burleson, Burnet, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Coryell, Delta, Gregg, Falls, Franklin, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Lampasas, Lee, Marion, McLennan, Milam, Morris, Nacogdoches, Red River, Robertson, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur Williamson and Wood counties.
• Oklahoma. Choctaw and McCurtain counties.
• Louisiana. Caddo Parish.
• Arkansas. Little River and Miller counties.

Drought Crop Disaster Areas – Disaster Designations #2

USDA has designated a total of 25 counties and parishes in Louisiana and Arkansas as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Those counties are:

• Louisiana. Bienville, Bossier, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Union, Webster, West Carroll and Winn parishes.
• Arkansas. Ashley, Chicot, Columbia Lafayette and Union counties.

Drought Crop Disaster Areas – Disaster Designations #3
USDA has designated a total of 14 counties and parishes in Arkansas and Louisiana as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Those counties are:

• Arkansas. Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Columbia, Drew, Lafayette, Nevada, Ouachita and Union counties.
• Louisiana Claiborne, Morehouse, Union and Webster parishes.

All of the counties listed above were designated crop disaster areas by USDA on September 9, 2015.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 2,652 counties, county equivalents and municipalities, across 41 States [as well as Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands]: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.

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

U.S. Drought Monitor – Weekly Comparison: CONUS

Week	None	D0-D4	D1-D4	D2-D4	D3-D4	D4
2015-09-15	48.45	51.55	31.53	19.58	11.17	3.00
2015-09-08	49.63	50.37	31.67	19.62	10.92	3.00

 

Total U.S.

Week	None	D0-D4	D1-D4	D2-D4	D3-D4	D4
2015-09-15	47.52	52.48	28.00	16.40	9.35	2.51
2015-09-08	48.00	52.00	28.14	16.44	9.14	2.51

 

Crop Disasters 2014

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

Those states were:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings. See blog content.]

Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

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

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

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

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared in 191 Counties across 10 U.S. States September 10, 2015
• Drought and Deluge, Hail and Heavy Rain Destroy Crops in U.S. September 4, 2015
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in 9 States, USVI August 27, 2015
• Drought Destroys More Crops in Florida, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, P. Rico August 20, 2015
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

June 2015 Second Warmest in Contiguous U.S.

June 2015 2nd warmest in contiguous U.S., West saw record warmth, drought worsened in Northwest: NOAA

The June average temperature for the Lower 48 was 22°C (71.4°F), or 1.6°C (2.9°F) above the 20th century average, second only to June 1933 (71.6°F) in the 121-year period of record, reported The National Climatic Data Center .

Above-average temperatures recorded across the West and along the Southeast coast, where 16 states were much warmer than average.

• California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington recorded their warmest June.
• Multiple western cities set new June temperature records during an intense heatwave the second half of the month.
• Boise, Idaho saw the temperature soaring to 43.3C (110°F).

The Alaska statewide average temperature for June was the sixth warmest in 91-years of record keeping at 52.4°F, 3.1°F above average. Homer, Alaska had its warmest June on record. Prolonged warmth and dryness and lack of June snow created ideal wildfire conditions with dozens of large wildfires impacting central and southern areas of the state during June.

“The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) for the year-to-date was 45 percent above average and the 13^th highest value on record. On the national-scale, extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures and days with precipitation were much above average,” said NCDC.

• More than 400 wildfires consumed 1.8 million acres (728,000 hectares), breaking the previous June record of 1.1 million acres (445,000 hectares) charred by 216 fires, said the report.

• Texas had its wettest year-to-date on record with 61.1mm (24.04 inches), 27.2mm (10.70 inches) above average.
  • Previous record wet January-June record in 1941: 55.2mm (21.72 inches)
  • January-June precipitation total for 2011: Just 14.5mm (5.71 inches), the lowest amount on 121-year record.

• California: Drought conditions remain dire across California, with 46.7 percent of the state experiencing the worst category of drought (D4, exceptional).

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: National Overview for June 2015, published online July 2015, retrieved on July 13, 2015 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/201506.