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Federal Disaster Declarations [Listed in August]

Posted by feww on September 1, 2017

All items on the following list, with the exception of Washington South Wenas Fire (FM-5187), were posted on FEMA website on August 31, 2017  [TW – GH]

Disaster Emergency, Federal Disasters Declared for 14 States

Louisiana Tropical Storm Harvey (EM-3382)
Incident Period: August 27, 2017
Emergency Declaration declared on August 28, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 3382
Beauregard (Parish), Calcasieu (Parish), Cameron (Parish), Jefferson Davis (Parish), Vermilion (Parish)

Idaho Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4333)
Incident Period: May 06, 2017 – June 16, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 27, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4333
Blaine, Camas, Custer, Elmore, Gooding

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding (DR-4334)
Incident Period: July 19, 2017 – July 23, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 27, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4334
Allamakee, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Mitchell

Texas Hurricane Harvey (DR-4332)
Incident Period: August 23, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 25, 2017
Designated Counties (Individual Assistance):
Aransas, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Victoria, Waller, Wharton

West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4331)
Incident Period: July 28, 2017 – July 29, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 18, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4331
Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Wetzel

Vermont Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4330)
Incident Period: June 29, 2017 – July 01, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 16, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4330
Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windsor

New Hampshire Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4329)
Incident Period: July 01, 2017 – July 02, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 09, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4329
Grafton

Oregon Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4328)
Incident Period: January 07, 2017 – January 10, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 08, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4328
Columbia, Deschutes, Hood River, Josephine

Wyoming Flooding (DR-4327)
Incident Period: June 07, 2017 – June 22, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 05, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4327
Fremont, Park

Michigan Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4326)
Incident Period: June 22, 2017 – June 27, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 02, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4326
Bay, Gladwin, Isabella, Midland

Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds (DR-4325)
Incident Period: June 12, 2017 – June 17, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 01, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4325
Banner, Box Butte, Butler, Cass, Cuming, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Morrill, Platte, Polk, Sarpy, Saunders, Sheridan, Sioux, Thurston, Wayne

Oklahoma Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding (DR-4324)
Incident Period: May 16, 2017 – May 20, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 25, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4324
Alfalfa, Beckham, Cherokee, Coal, Cotton, Delaware, Johnston, Le Flore, Murray, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Roger Mills, Washita

North Dakota Flooding (DR-4323)
Incident Period: March 23, 2017 – April 29, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 12, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4323
Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Towner, Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, Walsh

New York Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (DR-4322)
Incident Period: March 14, 2017 – March 15, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 12, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 4322
Albany, Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Orleans, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster

Washington South Wenas Fire (FM-5187)
Incident Period: June 27, 2017
Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on June 28, 2017
Designated Areas: Disaster 5187
N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Posted by feww on May 1, 2017

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.

 

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Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters

Posted by feww on December 6, 2016

Cost of 200 disasters in the U.S. exceeds $1.1 trillion

Some 200 weather and climate disasters have occurred in the U.S. since 1980, each exceeding  $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2016) in overall damages/costs. The total cost of these 200 events exceeds $1.1 trillion, according to NCDC/NOAA.

Some 12 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States have occurred this year (as of  September), exceeding the 1980–2015 annual average of 5.2 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2011–2015) is 10.8 events (CPI-adjusted).

Four new billion-dollar disaster events have been added during the 3rd quarter, bringing the 2016 event total to 12. This represents the 2nd highest total number of events surpassing the 11 events observed in 2012. The record number of events in one year (since 1980) is 16, as observed in 2011.

The U.S. has also experienced 4 billion-dollar inland flood events during 2016, doubling the previous record, as no more than 2 inland flood events have occurred in a year since 1980. This is a notable record, further highlighted by the numerous other record flooding events that have impacted the U.S. in 2016.

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2016). https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/

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Major Disaster Declared for the State of Arkansas

Posted by feww on May 7, 2016

Federal Disaster Declared in

Arkansas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4270)

  • Incident period: March 08, 2016 to March 13, 2016
  • Major Disaster Declaration declared on May 06, 2016

The federal government has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of March 8-13, 2016.

The areas that are worst affected include the counties of Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Columbia, Desha,  Lincoln, Ouachita, Phillips, and Prairie.

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

Major Disaster Declarations (2016)

 

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Major Disaster Declared for Texas

Posted by feww on March 20, 2016

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)

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Major Disaster Declared for Texas

Posted by feww on February 10, 2016

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)

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Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Arkansas

Posted by feww on February 6, 2016

Federal Disaster Declared in the State of Arkansas

Arkansas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4254)

  • Incident period: December 26, 2015 to January 22, 2016
  • Major Disaster Declaration declared on February 05, 2016

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of December 26, 2015 to January 22, 2016.

The areas that were hardest hit by the destructive weather events include Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Faulkner, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Little River, Perry, Sebastian, and Sevier counties.

Additionally, federal funding has also been made available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the destructive weather events in Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Drew, Franklin, Greene, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Little River, Logan, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Montgomery, Ouachita, Perry, Pike, Polk, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Stone, Washington, White, Woodruff, and Yell counties.

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)

 

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Federal Emergency Declared for Missouri

Posted by feww on January 3, 2016

Missouri Emergency: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (EM-3374)

Incident period: December 22, 2015 – Emergency Declaration declared on January 02, 2016

The White House has declared a Federal Emergency for the State of Missouri due to the emergency conditions in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on December 22, 2015, and continuing.

The areas worst affected by the ongoing disasters are the counties of Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cedar, Christian, Clark, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Miller, Mississippi, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, New Madrid, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Ralls, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis,  Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wright and the independent City of St. Louis.

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

Federal Emergency and Disaster Declarations (2015)

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

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Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in 10 States

Posted by feww on July 30, 2015

Drought, excessive rain, tornadoes… destroy crops in 104 counties across 10 states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 104  counties and parishes across ten  states—Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana,  Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by extreme weather events.

Crop Disaster Designation #1

USDA has designated 17 counties in six states as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

State of Idaho: Benewah, Blaine, Bonner, Cassia, Clearwater, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Minidoka, Oneida, Power, Shoshone and Twin Falls counties.

Montana: Mineral and Sanders counties.

Nevada: Elko County.

Utah: Box Elder County.

Crop Disaster Designation #2

USDA has designated 87 counties in six states as crop disaster areas due to the combined effects of excessive rain, flash flooding, flooding, hail, high winds, lightning and tornadoes that occurred during the period of March 1, 2015, and continues.

State of Arkansas: Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sevier, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone, Union, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff and Yell counties.

Louisiana: Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne and Webster parishes.

Mississippi: Bolivar, Coahoma and Tunica counties.

Missouri: Barry, Dunklin, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Taney and Stone counties.

Oklahoma: Adair, Le Flore, McCurtain and Sequoyah counties.

Texas: Bowie and Cass counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 1,604 counties, or county equivalents, across 26 States: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

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

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

Crop Disasters 2014

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

Those states were:

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

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

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

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

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

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on July 29, 2015 .

Related Links

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Major Disaster Declared for Oklahoma

Posted by feww on May 27, 2015

Oklahoma Declared Federal Disaster Area

Oklahoma Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4222)

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma and in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 5-10, 2015.

The areas worst affected by the disasters include Cleveland, Grady, and Oklahoma counties.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments, said the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations.

This is the 18th Major Disaster Declaration proclaimed for the contiguous U.S., so far this year.

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Major Disaster Declaration Proclaimed for Tennessee

Posted by feww on August 15, 2014

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 064, 023
.

Tennessee Declared Federal Disaster Area

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of June 5-10, 2014.

Most of the damage caused by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding has occurred in the counties of Anderson, Bledsoe, Carroll, Decatur, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Lawrence, Lewis, Madison, Marion, Maury, McNairy, Moore, Perry, Roane, Sequatchie, and Tipton.

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

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Major Disaster Declared for Iowa

Posted by feww on August 7, 2014

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023
.

Iowa Declared Federal Disaster Area

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4187)

The Iowa  governor’s request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration in response to significant damage caused by severe weather that produced damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, flooding, hail, and thunderstorms beginning June 26 through July 7 has been approved. This is Iowa’s third  federal disaster declaration in 2014.

The 22 counties included in the declaration are: Audubon, Black Hawk, Butler, Cedar, Des Moines, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Mahaska, Muscatine, Poweshiek, Tama, and Washington, according to a statement posted on the Gov. Branstad’s website.

This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 21st Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007, said the statement.

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

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Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa

Posted by feww on July 16, 2014

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 088, 066, 023
.

Iowa Declared Major Disaster Area (DR-4181)

Federal disaster has been declared for the state of Iowa in 9 counties worst affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the period of June 3-4, 2014.

The disaster stricken areas are Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Taylor, and Wayne 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 Fema in a statement released by White House.

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

 

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Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area

Posted by feww on October 30, 2013

Severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding prompt Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Kansas

The State of Kansas has been declared a major disaster area by the White House due to severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of July 22 to August 16, 2013.

Severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding have devastated nearly a half of the states 105 counties including Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Elk, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Hodgeman, Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, Linn, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Morris, Ness, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Rice, Saline, Sumner, Washington, Wilson, and Woodson, said the White House in a statement.

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

 

Posted in Climate Change, disaster watch, disaster watch 2013, disaster zone, disasters, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, Significant Event Imagery, significant events | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Major Disaster Declared for Pennsylvania

Posted by feww on October 3, 2013

Pennsylvania Declared Federal Disaster Area

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of June 26 to July 11, 2013. 

Most of the losses and damages caused by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding have ocurred in the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Fayette, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Lawrence, Venango, and Wayne.

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

Related Links

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Major Disaster Declared in 47 Iowa Counties

Posted by feww on July 3, 2013

Disaster President Signs Iowa Disaster Declaration

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Iowa in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of May 19 to June 14, 2013.

Worst of the losses and damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding occurred in the following 47 counties: Appanoose, Benton, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Clayton, Crawford, Davis, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hardin, Henry, Ida, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lyon, Mahaska, Marshall, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, O’Brien, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Poweshiek, Sac, Sioux, Story, Tama, Wapello, Webster, Winnebago, and Wright.

-oOo-

Disaster President Signs South Dakota Disaster Declaration

The Disaster President has also declared a major disaster exists in the State of South Dakota in the areas affected by severe storms, tornado, and flooding during the period of May 24-31,2013.

The areas worst affected  by the severe storms, tornado, and flooding were the counties of Bennett, Corson, Lawrence, Lincoln, and Union, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation within Bennett County.

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Wildfires, Violent Weather Continue Attacking America

Posted by feww on June 13, 2013

Spreading Like Wildfire!

Two ferocious wildfires are spreading across southern Colorado, destroying scores of homes and consuming thousands of acres.

The so-called Black Forest Fire has devoured about 10,000 acres, destroying an estimated 100 homes and prompting evacuation orders and pre-evacuation notices to nearly 10,000 people and 3,500 residences and businesses, according to officials.

The second blaze, Royal Gorge Bridge fire, burning about 55 miles southwest of Black Forest Fire, has consumed about 5 square miles, destroying at least 20 structures.

Deadly Wildfire in California

“Wildfires also were burning in New Mexico, Oregon and California, where a smokejumper was killed fighting one of dozens of lightning-sparked fires,” said a report.

Red Flag Warnings

Red Flag Warnings are in Effect across parts of at least 5 states—Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

US weather hazmap 13jun13

Violent Weather Moving East

Forecasters at the NWS Storm Prediction Center have predicted a Moderate Risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Mid-Atlantic Thursday. “Significant wind damage expected, along with the possibility of large hail and a few tornadoes. Heavy rainfall will also accompany the system.”

On Wednesday, at least 12 tornadoes touched down in 3 states—Iowa, Illinois and Ohio.

 

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Tornado Emergency Issued in Oklahoma City

Posted by feww on June 1, 2013

Large, Destructive Tornadoes Target Oklahoma City Area

A tornado emergency has been issued for the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, covering Okla. City, Moore and several other suburbs.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issues a Tornado Emergency if a storm with tornadoes is moving toward a populated area.

“An extremely unstable air mass has developed across much of Central & Eastern Oklahoma,” the weather service warned, describing weather conditions as “particularly dangerous.”

“This will likely result in rapid development of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.” NWS said.

Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City has been evacuated with more than a 1,000 passengers moved to underground tunnels; currently no flights are arriving or departing.

About a dozen tornadoes touched down in Arkansas three in Oklahoma and one in Illinois on Thursday. One tornado hit Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow, causing structural damage to multiple buildings.

Tornado damage has also been reported in Canadian County, located west of Okla. City.

Several twisters have already touched down near El Reno, about 25 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City, overturning vehicles on I-40, downing utility poles and tossing livestock on the road, eyewitnesses said.

Authorities closed I-35 and I-40 and warned motorists to seek immediate shelter.

Meantime, flooding has inundated parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois, with a number of fatalities reported.

spc060113

spc 053013

130528 - filtered

130529 - filtered

NWS Weather Hazards Map

weather hazmap
US Weather Hazards Map. Source: NWS

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Tornadoes Kill Dozens in China and Bangladesh

Posted by feww on March 23, 2013

Dozens killed and hundreds more injured after devastating tornadoes hit China and Bangladesh

The most powerful recorded tornado to hit south China’s Guangdong Province left at least a dozen people dead and more than 270 injured, authorities said.

  • A rare storm with winds of up to 177 km per hour carrying large hit Dongguan City causing substantial damage, Xinhua reported.

Bangladesh Tornado

A deadly tornado hit eastern Bangladesh killing at least 20 people and leaving more than 200 others injured.

  • The tornado flattened hundreds of homes, uprooting trees and utility poles and destroying crops on farmlands throughout four sub-districts, an senior official told reporters.

FS_km5000
Global Sea Surface Temperatures. Source: NOAA

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March 23, 2013 — DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,085 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,085 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
  • The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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Powerful Tornadoes Destroy Dozens of Homes in Australia

Posted by feww on March 22, 2013

Two tornadoes leave a trail of destruction across Victoria, NSW injuring at least 20 people

Destructive twisters described as “terrifying,”  ripped through Murray River towns of Bundalong, Yarrawonga, Mulwala, Rutherglen, Koonoomoo and Cobram, leaving at least 20 people injured, five seriously, more than 60 homes uninhabitable, and many more houses, mobile homes and businesses damaged, reports said.

  • The tornadoes have been assessed as between F1 and F2 on the F-Scale rating, with wind speeds between 118 and 254km/h [F3?] and a destruction path 150m – 250m wide, said the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
  • A local official in Mulwala described his town as “looking like a war zone” after the tornadoes swept through.
  • “It’s just like a bomb went off. Trees have got no leaves. It’s just defoliated them. It looks like Agent Orange has sort of gone through there and stripped them.”
  • Another official said:  “It is colossal damage, this will cost millions to fix.”
  • “Big trees that weigh tonnes have been plucked from the ground and dragged and smashed everywhere.”

Related Links

Other Global Disasters/Significant Events

USA: Connecticut Disaster Declaration

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Connecticut in the areas affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8-11, 2013.

  • Public infrastructure and facilities were destroyed or damaged by the severe winter storm and snowstorm in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham Counties and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations located within New London County.

Thailand: Drought Disaster Declared in 39 Provinces

Drought disaster has been declared across 39 of Thailand’s 76 provinces, with a 4oth province,  Suphan Buri, on the verge of becoming another disaster area, said officials at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

  • At least 20 of the disaster areas are experiencing extreme [exceptional] drought.

USA: New Hampshire Disaster Declaration

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Hampshire in the areas affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8-10, 2013.

  • Public infrastructure and facilities were destroyed or damaged by the severe winter storm and snowstorm in the counties of Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan.

United Kingdom: Britain could run out of gas in 36 hours

Britain’s natural gas stocks are running low due to the unseasonably cold weather, which has pushed the demand up by at least 20 percent. In the worst case scenario the country could run out of gas supplies in 36 hours, reports said.

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March 22, 2013 — DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,086 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,086 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
  • The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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Flooding in Mozambique Displaces 70,000, Killing Dozens

Posted by feww on January 26, 2013

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,141 Days Left 

[January 26, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

  • SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,141 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
  • Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 …

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

“We are eating grasshoppers”

Severe flooding, triggered by week-long extreme rain events in South Africa and Zimbabwe,  continued to spread across southern Mozambique.

“The number of displaced people now stood at 67,995 while nearly 85,000 have been affected by the raging waters in recent days, the UN said, urging donors to urgently make more funds available ‘to help deal with this emergency’ in the impoverished southeast African nation.”

Hunger is setting in among tens of thousands of the victims who are waiting for help to arrive, said a report.

“We are eating grasshoppers,” a flood victim told AFP, adding that she believed they were the “lucky ones.”

“We have family in the town, our aunts. They must be on the rooftops now,” she said.

“We left at midnight without taking food. We have nothing to sleep under.”

The Great Crocodile Escape

A crocodile farm in northern South Africa was forced to open its gates after being inundated, letting loose at least 15,000 crocodiles.

Australia

Several ‘mini-tornadoes’ spawned by the remnants of cyclone Oswald have hit the Queensland coast injuring about two dozen people, as severe weather and flooding batters the disaster state.

The tornadoes have damaged scores of homes and forced the evacuation of towns around Bundaberg, reports said.

  • Tornadoes  caused severe damage to coastal townships of Bargara and Burnett Heads, both of which have since been declared disaster areas.

Further north, severe flooding in Gladstone led to the city (population ~ 30,000) being declared a disaster zone, and the authorities told at least 2,000 people  to evacuate.

Oklahoma, USA

The drought in Oklahoma has caused more than $2 billion in damage in the past two years, said a report.

oklahoma drought map
Oklahoma Drought Map. Source: Drought Monitor Archives

  • “Cities are facing water rationing, and Tulsa residents will see dying lawns, trees and plants.”
  • It cost twice as much to feed the livestock. “A load of feed, which lasts about a month, has gone from about $3,500 to $7,500.”
  • USDA has declared 917 counties as primary and contiguous drought disaster areas including the entire state of Oklahoma and parts of 25  other states, in January 2013.

high plains drought map
High Plains Drought Map. Source: Drought Monitor Archives

GLOBAL WARNINGS

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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String of Tornadoes Cause Major Destruction in NW Poland

Posted by feww on July 16, 2012

Powerful tornadoes flatten large swaths of forest, destroy more than 100 homes in Poland

A string of tornadoes with winds of up to 200kph slammed northwestern Poland, leaving at least one person dead and a dozen others injured.

The twisters, described as ‘freak tornadoes with unprecedented scale and ferocity,’ left vast swaths of forest flattened, downing power lines and destroying at least 100 homes, mostly in Kujawy and Wielkpolska provinces, reports said.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

  • USA. Excessive heat is returning to Central and Eastern U.S., NOAA forecasters said.
    • Near record temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees will prevail across the central portions of the U.S. on Monday. “The above normal temperatures will expand into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic for Tuesday and Wednesday. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are already in effect for portions of the aforementioned areas.”
  • China. Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) infected more than 381,000 people in China in June, killing at least 112 people, AFP reported the health authorities as saying.
    • More than 460,000 people were infected by HFMD in May, of whom 132 died from the disease, according to China’s Ministry of Health.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States

Posted by feww on July 3, 2012

Extreme Weather Events Cause Agricultural Disasters in  Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin

Damage and losses caused by the combined effects of blizzards, excessive snow, excessive heat, excessive rain, high winds, hail, freeze, frost, tornadoes, flooding and lightening that occurred between January 1 and May 11, 2012 prompted USDA to declare disaster in 94 counties across 4 states.

List of the 72 Michigan counties declared Primary Disaster Areas

List of 10 Michigan counties declared Contiguous Disaster Areas

The following 12 counties in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin have also been designated as disaster areas because they are contiguous.

  • Indiana: Elkhart, Lagrange, La Porte, St. Joseph and Steuben counties.
  • Ohio: Fulton, Lucas and Williams counties.
  • Wisconsin: Florence, Forest, Marinette and Vilas counties.

March Heat, April Freezes

According to a report by the Central Region Climate Response Team, March Heat, April Freezes, March 2012 “was the warmest March on record for 25 states east of the Rockies, and for 15 other states this March ranked among the ten warmest.”

“During the middle of March maximum temperatures were averaging 40 degrees F above normal. Maximum temperatures regularly reached the low and mid 80s
well north into Wisconsin. Many locations broke daily records by more than 20 degrees F.”

However, April 2012 experienced “at least three significant cold air masses” that crept into the Midwest and caused freezing temperatures.

  • Iowa. The freeze caused a 50% destruction of the grape crop, about 90% damage to the apple and fruit tree blossoms and caused significant damage to corn and other crops.
  • Illinois. The 2012 apple crop in parts of the state was a total loss due to freeze on April 11.
    • “Sweet corn grower in Vermilion County planted sweet corn on March 19. Plants were up a couple of leaves when back‐to‐back freezes hit (26F and 27F), reducing stand by 5,000 plants per acre.
    • “Sleepy Creek Vineyard in Vermilion County reported earliest budding grapevines had 100 percent damage, and others had 80 percent damage.”
  • Michigan. “Thousands of acres of this year’s grape crop have been lost across southwest lower Michigan.
    • “A surveyor for National Grape Cooperative, better known as Welch’s Foods, said he went through hundreds of acres before even finding a live bud.  John Jasper estimates more than 10,000 acres were destroyed April 12, mostly in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.
    • “Many apple, peach, cherry and blueberry orchards have also had substantial losses across northern Indiana and southern Lower Michigan.”
  • Wisconsin.  “Cherry growers in Door County, WI, anticipate losses of 70% …”
  • Kentucky.  Frost damaged apples, peaches, pears, plums, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and grapes to varying degrees across the state.
    • “Wheat harvest began two weeks early in Kentucky due to warm weather, but warm temperatures, and then a brief cold snap, have wreaked havoc on the crop’s yield, which some farmers say has been cut nearly in half. Some farmers are getting 12 bu/acre, compared to a normal of 80 bu/acre,” said the report (PDF file).

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

Up-to-date weekly average CO2 at Mauna Loa

  • Week of June 24, 2012:     395.33 ppm
  • Weekly value from 1 year ago:     393.50 ppm
  • Weekly value from 10 years ago:     375.08 ppm

Recent Mauna Loa CO2

  • May 2012:     396.78 ppm
  • May 2011:     394.16 ppm
  • May 2002:    375.65 ppm
  • May 1962:     321.01 ppm
  • [1-year increase: 2.62 ppm; 10-year increase: 21.13 ppm; 50-year increase: 75.77 ppm]

Recent Global CO2

  • April 2012:     394.01 ppm (1-year increase: 2.18 ppm)
  • April 2011:     391.83 ppm

New Zealand Earthquake

  • A Richter magnitude 7.0 quake struck the Cook Strait, west coast of North Island, NZ, about 100km SSW of New Plymouth and 170 km north-west of Wellington (40.00°S, 173.75°E), at a depth of about 230km on Tuesday, July 3 2012 at 10:36UTC.
    • NO tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
    • NO report of casualties, as of posting.
    • The quake shook Wellington and was felt as far away as the Bay of Plenty and Christchurch, reports said.

U.S. Heat Wave


US Weather Hazards Map, July 3, 2012. “The heat wave continues for a large portion of the central and eastern U.S., with high temperatures this afternoon forecast to be 10-15 degrees above normal. Combined with high levels of humidity, this will create dangerous heat index values as high as 100-110 degrees for locations such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis,” said NWS.

The core of the record heat in the central United States is forecast to move gradually to the east this week, however heat alerts and heat indices to 105 degrees will continue. “Much of the eastern half of the country will continue to bake under clear skies, high temperatures and a lack of significant rain,” said NOAA forecasters.

Continued relentless heat through most of the week from the Plains to the Atlantic Coast will dominate the weather events.

Current Warnings Prompted by Unrelenting Heat

Red Flag Warnings, Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories issued in parts of 26 states from Wyoming to North Carolina.

Heat Advisories

Heat Advisories are in effect until this evening for parts of the Northern Plains, Ohio Valley and the Southeast:

  • North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.

Record Daily High Temperatures Nationwide – June 2012

All Time Record High Temperatures Nationwide – June 2012

Mid-Atlantic Derecho

  • Death toll has climbed to 22 after the weekend derecho that ravaged the Mid-Atlantic region, with at least 2 million utility customers, or an estimated 7 million people, experiencing power outages amid the continued heat.

Drought Emergency

  • Nebraska.  Gov. Heineman has declared a state emergency due to the drought conditions throughout the state of Nebraska.
    • “This declaration is important for continued efforts of state officials to ensure the safety of Nebraskans,” Heineman said. “This action is necessary as dry conditions are presenting an imminent threat to the ability of local governments to respond to drought conditions. Additionally, actions such as haying along the roadsides in Nebraska help with drought conditions.”
    • Nebraska has broken or tied scores of record high temperatures in recent days.
    • Extreme temperatures will continue over central and western Nebraska through at least Friday due to high pressure lingering over the Central Plains, NWS reported.
    • “As excessive heat and dry conditions continue, fire danger is high again today. In addition, isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening in north central Nebraska and in the Panhandle. The very dry conditions will continue to make the use of fireworks and even power equipment hazardous.”

Map of U.S. Precipitation (7-day total)

Map of U.S. Precipitation as Percent of Normal (7-day total)

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises

Posted by feww on July 1, 2012

District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio and the two Virginias declare States of Emergency amid rising storms toll

Deadly storms across Eastern U.S. have claimed at least 13 lives and left many injured, hundreds homeless and about 6 million utility customers, or an estimated 20 million people, without power amid sweltering heat wave.

Widespread damage and power losses have been reported across a vast region ravaged by deadly storms since Friday.

The storms have left a trail of destruction from Indiana to New Jersey, with the worst-hit areas being in Washington Metropolitan area, Maryland, West Virginia, and suburban Virginia.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell called the widespread power losses as “the largest non-hurricane power outage in Virginia history,” as more storms threatened. “This is a very dangerous situation,” the governor said, “the next few days in Virginia are going to be very, very difficult.”

  • The deadly storms claimed at least 6 lives across Virginia (pop: ~ 8.1 million), and left about 2.5 million customers, or an estimated 7.5 million people, without power. [Includes about 120,000 customers in Richmond area and 680,000 in northern Virginia.]
  • More than 3.5 million homes and businesses supplied by Dominion Virginia Power in Indiana, Ohio and Virginia have been affected.

In Ohio, excessive heat, widespread power losses and utility damages prompted Gov.  Kasich to declare a state of emergency. As of Saturday morning, about 1 million homes and businesses, or an estimated total of 3 million people, still faced power outages.

“I’m very concerned with the problems created by the combination of power outages and severe heat, and so I’ve declared an emergency for all of Ohio so that state resources and personnel can help local governments meet the needs and challenges that they face.” Kasich said.

  • The Disaster President [Barrack Obama] has since declared Ohio a Federal Disaster Area.

In Maryland, at least 800 people were left homeless after storms tore off the roofs of two apartment buildings in Riverdale Park, said Mayor Vernon Archer.

  • Governor O’Malley declared a State of Emergency following the devastation.
  • About 1 million utility customers in Maryland, an estimated 3 million people, were still without power early Saturday morning, “similar to the number that lost power in 2003 when Tropical Storm Isabel hit the state,” said a report.

Across West Virginia (pop: ~1.9 million), where Gov. Earl Ray had already declared a state of emergency, some 700,000 customers, or an estimated 1.7 million people, were without power in 53 of the state’s 55 counties.

  • “Those winds were so strong and over such a wide area,” the governor told reporters. “It’s going to take several days to get power back on.”
  • The Disaster President declared West Virginia a Federal Disaster Area on Saturday.

In Washington, the utility company Pepco reported more than 440,000 outages in the Capital.

In Indiana, at least 135,000 customers, or an estimated half a million people, lost power.

Atlantic County, New Jersey, declared a state of emergency due to the violent storms which left more than 200,000 customers, or an estimated 750,000 people, without power.

  • In Salem County NJ, officials declared a state of emergency after storms left at least 2 people dead, causing widespread damage and cutting power to at least 10,000 homes and businesses.
  • The Mayor of Vineland (Pop: 65,000), a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, also declared a disaster emergency.

Pennsylvania: about  40,000 customers lost power.

Kentucky and North Carolina:  at least 2,500 homes and businesses lost power.

Illinois: Commonwealth Edison power utility reported more than 210,000 outages.

FirstEnergy, AEP Ohio and BGE (Maryland) had reported a total of about 1.6  million power outages.

See links for details of heat wave and the new record high temperatures set in the U.S.

Risk of Severe Thunderstorms Continues Tonight As Heat Continues Across South: NWS

Scattered thunderstorms expected tonight and Sunday over the Central Plains, Midwest and East Central States. Some thunderstorms will be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.


US Weather Hazards Map, July 1, 2012

Mega Heat Wave

Dangerous heat is forecast to continue throughout the South.  Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories remain in effect  in parts of more than 2 dozen states across the southeast and lower half of the Mississippi Valley with triple-digit temperatures forecast across the southern third of the U.S., said NWS.

About 150 all-time high temperature records have been broken in recent days.

Millions of people have been urged to seek out shelter amid triple-digit heat and large-scale power outages.


High Temperature Forecast for July 1, 2012.

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Storms and floods Cause Chaos in the UK‎

Posted by feww on June 30, 2012

Fierce storms, lightning, ‘giant’ hail stones, torrential rains, and flash floods in parts of the UK  prompt evacuations and power cuts

Flash floods have inundated thousands of homes and businesses and forced evacuations in Northern England, the Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Lightning storms have cut power to tens of thousands of people in the North East, derailed a train and closed the railway between Scotland and England.

Torrential downpours and flash floods have caused major travel disruption across a wide region.

“There was also widespread disruption on rail services and roads, with many routes under several inches of water. A number were closed,” said a report.

“Flooding and landslips are causing heavy delays on routes between Northern England and Scotland, with very limited travel options,” the railway operators reported.

Since the begging of June, heavy rain and flash floods have brought havoc to communities in west Wales, and across northern England flooding thousands of homes and businesses.

Extreme rain events have dumped more than a month’s rain in less than 24 hours in some places.

There are also reports of damage from squalls and tornadoes in the region.

Record Number of Lightning Strikes

More than 110,000 lightning bolts struck the UK, with more than 200 strikes recorded every minute during peak activity, the UK Met Office reported.

“Experts said this was 40 times higher than an average lightning storm and was the equivalent of four months’ worth of strikes in one day,” said a report.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

United States.

  • The record-setting heat wave continues to expand. “Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories will be in effect throughout the Plains, the Midwest, the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic. Critical fire weather conditions will continue for the central Great Basin and the Plains with several large wildfires burning in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and New Mexico,” NWS reported.


US Weather Hazards Map, June 30, 2012

  • Record high temperatures are expected to continue, while excessive heat also continues to worsen the air quality in various areas. “One of the worst areas is the lower end of Lake Michigan from the Wisconsin-Illinois state line to Montague, Mich,” NWS said.


NESDIS Map of Analyzed Fires from Satellite Data


Current Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Analysis – NOAA/NESDIS – June 29, 2012 – Time: See inset.

  • “Excessive Heat Warnings cover the eastern half of Kansas, the western fourth of Missouri and parts of southwest Missouri, southern Illinois, southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. Heat Advisories cover parts of 16 states, including:  Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Washington, D.C. An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect today for most of the Atlantic Coast,” NWS reported.

U.S. Wildfires

  • Waldo Canyon Fire in Pike and San Isabel National Forests, El Paso County, CO. State of Disaster has been declared by the President. Size revised down to 17,073 acres; the deadly fire has caused at least two fatalities, destroyed at least 346 homes and damaged two dozens more. The blaze is reportedly 25% contained.
  • Pine Ridge Fire. The town of De Beque remains under evacuation as the explosive blaze grows to 12,047 acres with an estimated 10% contained. Lightning ignited the blaze on Wednesday June 27th, 2012. Fire conditions are said to be extreme with high temperatures, high winds, low humidities, and extremely dry fuels.
  • Wyoming.  Arapaho Fire in Medicine Bow National Forest & Thunder Basin National grassland is one of three fires believed to have been ignited by lightning in the Laramie Peak area.
    • “Due to the fast-moving nature of this fire, evacuations were initiated in the Cottonwood Park, Friend Park, North Laramie Trailhead and Harris Park areas. At this time it is unknown if structures were burned. Residents in and south of Esterbrook were notified of possible evacuations, but have not been evacuated at this time,” USFS reported.
    • The 2-day old blaze has consumed an estimated 5,000 acres and is said to have extreme growth potential, with plume dominated behavior, rapid rate of spread (1 – 1.5 miles/hour), and long range spotting.


Arapaho Fire Map.  Medicine Bow National Forest & Thunder Basin National Grassland, Wyoming.  “The fire has been creating its own weather.”

  • Utah.Clay Springs Fire, Fishlake National Forest, Clay Springs, East of Oak City, Utah.
    • A super explosive blaze has consumed 68,309 acres in two days.
    • Fire Behavior: Today the fire made extreme runs with spotting to 1/2 a mile and growing from 50000 acres to 68000 acres, with potential for similar rates of spread tonight. … running crown fire and intense ground fire with nearly complete combustion occurring in all fuel types. Extreme resistance to control and high probability of ignition …
    • Significant Events: Fire spread down Wide Canyon to the east as well as running down the back of Canyon Mountains towards I-15 and the towns of Scipio and Mills.
    • Current Weather:  SW winds of 17-25 mph; 98 degrees heat; 11% humidity.
  • Utah.  Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has declared a state of emergency due to the Rose Crest Fire in Herriman. The blaze has destroyed or damaged 5 houses and forced mandatory evacuation of some 948 houses in an area, a report said.
    • The fire started mid afternoon when “a car with a hot exhaust parked on top of some dry weeds” and and set them on fire. The temperature in Herriman was 92 degrees and the relative humidity just 11 percent when the blaze ignited.

Dozens of active wildfires across the country are burning about 1 million acres in a dozen states. For details of some of the other fires see

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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