Disaster Declared in 11 W Virginia Counties after “Unspeakable Devastation”

Severe storms and torrential rains pound southern West Virginia causing “extreme devastation”

Torrential rains have caused creeks to spill over their banks, flooding homes, businesses and roads, said gov Tomblin. “Broken water lines on houses, remnants of roads and high water that continue to prevent safe travel are saddening reminders of the destruction Mother Nature is capable of and the magnitude of the cleanup that remains.”

Disaster Calendar 2012 – March 17

[March 17, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,460 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• W. Virginia, USA.  Severe storms and torrential rains have pounded southern West Virginia causing what a senior official called “unspeakable devastation.”
  • The Disaster President has issued a disaster declaration in the following 11 W Virginia counties: Doddridge, Harrison, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Mingo, Monongalia, Preston, Ritchie, Taylor and Wayne.
  • The declaration covers the recent devastating storms  that occurred Feb. 29-March 5 and now the flooding in several additional counties.
  • Earlier, Gov Tomblin had extended an emergency declaration to cover the 11 counties.
  • Severe flooding, caused by rivers and creeks leaving their banks, have washed out roads and bridges and triggered mudslides and rock falls, trapping dozens of  people in their homes and leaving hundreds of others stranded in Lincoln, Logan and Mingo counties.
  • In Griffithsville, floodwaters stranded parents preventing them from reaching Duval Middle School to pick up their kids.
  • More than 500 homes are reportedly destroyed or damaged in Logan County alone, as of posting.
  • “Those counts are just a rough estimate, and I fear the numbers may increase if we receive more rains and storms like the weather service is predicting,” said Commissioner Baisden.

See also: Tornadoes, Flooding Destroy or Damage 600+ Homes in MI and WV

Other Disasters

• Michigan. The tornado that struck Pinckney in Washtenaw County, MI., has been rated as an EF3 tornado with winds of about 140mph, SPC said.
  • The tornado reportedly damaged or destroyed 123 homes.
  • The  tornado stayed on the ground for about 30 minutes leaving behind a 10-mile path of destruction.
• Tennessee.  The Disaster President has declared Tennessee a disaster area following the tornadoes that swept through East Tennessee in February and March leaving at least 3 people dead.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar 

Human Enhanced World Disasters: A Quick Scan

Honduras

Dozens of people have been killed among 270,000 Hondurans who have been affected by severe flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains, and at least 20,000 others have been forced to flee their homes for shelters. Half of those affected are children. UNICEF

17 of the 18 Departments [regions] of Honduras have experienced flooding. Photo Source: BBC. Image may be subject to copyright.

The Permanent Commission for Contingencies (COPECO) has reported

• 33 deaths were reported a
• 42,234 persons evacuated
• 467 houses were destroyed
• 10,000 homes are flooded or damaged.
• About 100,000 hectares of crops have been lost.
• Approximately 50% of the roads are damaged or destroyed.
• Some 114 out of 298 municipalities are affected.
• Public health is an area of concerns even though no outbreaks have been reported.
• PAHO/WHO reports that 14 potable water systems are damaged.
• Currently no severe food security issues, but the next production will be affected.

The main health concerns are gastrointestinal diseases and acute respiratory infections. Primary needs include portable latrines, water purification and household hygiene kits.

Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Belize

Up to 100,000 people have also been affected by the flooding in the neighboring Central American countries of Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Belize.

Haiti and Cuba

Two of the countries most impacted by the devastating 2008 hurricane season so far effects on are Haiti and Cuba. Widespread crop damage due to the numerous storms has aggravated the effects of the global food crisis, raising concerns about nutrition for children and pregnant/breastfeeding mothers. UNICEF

Kenya

As the drought worsens due to the generally poor long rains this year food security deteriorates in kenya. The worst affected areas include Turkana, Mandera, Samburu, Baringo, Marsabit, Wajir, Moyale and Garissa districts. Also affected are the districts of Isiolo, Laikipia, Ijara, Taita Taveta, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni, Mbeere, Malindi, Kilifi, Kwale, and Tana River districts. Source: Office of the President

DR Congo

Tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing from the areas of Tongo, Kalengera, Kabiza and Rumangabo, in the North Kivu province (east Democratic Republic of Congo), where new fighting broke out Friday between the Congolese military and rebels of the renegade pro-Rwandan general Laurent Nkunda. Source: (MISNA)

Bangladesh

Several people have been killed, and dozens injured as tropical storm Rashmi struck southern Bangladesh damaging thousands of homes, uprooting trees and destroying vast areas of croplands. Further details of certain damage to coastal areas are not yet available.

Cyclone Sidr destroyed the coastal areas last November, killing up to 3,500 and displacing about two million people. (Reuters)

Pakistan

More than 15 per cent of the children, living in the camps set up by the government for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Bajaur tribal region, are suffering from malnutrition. (source: DG Newspapers)

Meanwhile, a strong magnitude 6.4 earthquake centered about 60 km (35 miles) NNE of Quetta, Pakistan, 640 km (400 miles) WSW of the capital, Islamabad, struck at 04:09:58 am local time, on October 29, 2008, killing at least 135 people, injuring hundreds more, making about 15,000 homeless.

Earthquake victims dig through rubble after an earthquake in Ziarat, Baluchistan province, in this video grab taken October 29, 2008. Photo: REUTERS/Express TV via Reuters TV (PAKISTAN). NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. PAKISTAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN PAKISTAN. Image may be subject to copyright.