Winter Storms Hit France Spain and Scotland

Paris after the 4 inches of snow it received this past week.

Heavy snow in Paris not only shut down the airport but the Eiffel Tower as well as 4 inches of snow fell which is very unusual for this region.  Bad weather also caused travel woes in Scotland and after bad flooding hit Spain a child's body was found.  The Eiffel Tower was closed because they did not want salt to sprinkled on the structure as it may rust the metal.  What is interesting about Paris is that they do not usually get snow, the risk of high accumulation is very low and therefore the people are not prepared to travel in it and there are not really any modes to clean it up which throws the city into chaos. A news conference was actually called in Paris to let people know that 5,000 additional police would be on duty due to the weather.  It is so funny how Paris reacted to 4 inches of snow when Wisconsinites think 4 inches of snow is nothing!  In Spain the young boy who was found after torrential rains flooded parts of the Alcudia River where the boy was traveling.  Other areas of Spain were also evacuated due to the unexpected flooding.  Maybe because these countries are considered MDC's their warning systems are better equipped and fortunately there was only one death from the disastrous and unexpected weather.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/winter/2010-12-08-france-scotland-snow-winter-weather_N.htm

Columbia Mudslide

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos looks over rescue efforts. 

Over 100 people are presumed to be buried in mud and rubble after heavy rains have caused a state of emergency in Columbia.  The President, Juan Manuel Santos has entered the region in Bello in Antioquia province were 38 bodies have already been recovered from the debris.  Unfortunately the rescue efforts following the golden hours of the disaster have been hindered as the threat of more flooding and landslides threaten the area.  So far this flood has been the worst of the rainy season which has already claimed some 200 lives and forced 1.7 million people from their homes while destroying many peoples livelihood.  The government have issued a 30 day state of emergency so that they may get orders ready for aid and other rescue efforts and reconstruction.  The government is expected to spend around $550 million in disaster aid although the Inter-American Development Bank has offered to give a $350million dollar credit which will be helpful but now the coffee, coal and agricultural sections of commerce are in jeopardy of loosing millions of dollars which will effect the economy of Columbia.  And with the flooding of farm lands and the erosion of roads this will drive up the prices of food, another element to this natural disaster.  


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/08/colombia-venezuela

Bad Weather in South

Uprooted tree in Starksville, Mississippi.

A possible tornado and bad weather ripped through several states in the South including Yazoo City, Mississippi where high winds tore through the city and left many homes damaged.  Although Yazoo City is not directly on the coast it was stated in class that some of the most severe weather occurs in this area because it is near warm coastal waters.  Many of the cities prized public buildings were also badly damaged, a hardware store from the movie "O' Brother Where Art Thou" was badly damaged and the courthouse was ravaged by numerous down trees.  In all some 24 businesses were damaged following the tornado which means that phase three of the disaster, reconstruction will take some time as will normal life.  Many of these storms happened later in the evening when people were going to sleep or had already done so and therefore the warnings were quick which didn't leave much time to get to safety.  Fortunately no one was hurt this time but a tornado in the same area in April, which is peak month for tornadoes killed 12 people.  People in Alabama and South Carolina were also affected by the storms that passed through this past week.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2010-11-30-south-storms_N.htm

Flooding in Yogyakarta, Indonesia Caused by Lahar

 A man gathers his belongings from his home in the flooded area.

The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia is under a state of emergency after massive flooding caused by a lahar from Mt. Merapi pushed thousands of gallons of water and volcanic debris through the city.  Hundreds of houses have been damaged by flooding and many have been evacuated; this is not to say the visitors cannot enter one man has said.  Four districts in Indonesia have been effected by the flooding including Gondolayu, Danurejan, Prawirodirjan and Keparakan with some flooding reported to be up to 2 meters in some areas.  There are many refugees from the lahar however there have not been any deaths reported.  Evacuation was difficult however as the lahar blocked several main roadways and dismantled several bridges this in turn has made rescue and aid difficult to enter in the golden hours after the flooding.  What is most fascinating is that people showed up in droves to see such a disaster which in turn also led to massive traffic jams which left rescue and aid difficult.  Makeshift levees were created along the river but scientists are warning that the river will not be able to contain the massive lahar flows that may still occur and so people are still being warned to stay at least 300 meters aways from the river.  What is really great is that the government has a very good evacuation plan in place and have set up 94 evacuation points for nearly 13,000 residents and they also have shelters to accommodate people as well.  It is thought that the lahar was caused after numerous eruptions and a heavy rainfall within the last few days which led to the large lahar. 

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/flooding-pushes-yogyakarta-into-a-state-of-emergency/409395

Mudslide Causes Gold Mine to Collapse

Excavators search for the bodies of the mean.

In the province of Paramaribo in Suriname, South America seven men were killed when the gold mine they were working in suddenly collapsed due to a mudslide.  The mudslide eroded the pits 20-meter walls and killed the illegal miners who were inside.  The miners had been warned in the past about illegal mining and noted there would be penalties but in an LCD country people will work no matter the danger.  Statements had been made however that the "porknockers" as the illegal miners are called most likely took place in unsafe mining practiced which could have aggravated the soils and made them far less sturdy which could have also made the mudslide more imminent.  This is just one example of how unsafe practiced can lead to an environmental hazard.  It was reported that the miners were using a water hose to blast away sand in the walls when the mudslide began.    


http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5giTEDeIyO9VB40Aay_CMXQ1l5chw?docId=CNG.f849053e64b86a96d1e446e3e7aa8da9.321

Tornadoes in Wisconsin - In November!

Damage from a rare tornado in Northern Illinois

A rare sight in Southern Wisconsin on Monday as a tornado tore through Union Grove in Racine county and well as another county in Northern Illinois.  The tornado in Walworth County in Illinois was reported to be an EF-1 by the National Weather Service and it traveled 4 miles during which it damaged four homes and several farms.  In Racine County, semis were blown on their sides and 3,000 or more people were without power until Tuesday morning.  In Illinois several children and a school bus driver suffered minor injuries after the school bus they were in was blows over in the storm.  The storms hit 12 transformers in the effected area and left thousands without power in the cold weather of November, and in the small city of Caledonia where much of the damage was centered people didn't have a place to go for safety as the town hall was destroyed as well.  I could hardly believe this story when I saw it on the web, shouldn't it be snowing and what caused the strange November storm?  You also have to think that warnings were maybe not taken as seriously by people as many don't expect a tornado in Illinois and Wisconsin in November.  

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/2010-11-22-midwest-storm_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Storms Bring High Winds to the Atlantic States

Planes were flipped over in Trenton-Mercer airport in Ewing, New Jersey.

The east coast has been hit hard by bad whether and in turn there are 82,000 people without power which can be detrimental as the nights are very cold this time of year.  The quick moving storm moved through the east coast and with it brought 55 mph winds which flipped several small planes and damaged other at Trenton-Mercer airport in Ewing, New Jersey.  Seven planes in all were severely damaged by the high winds.  In Maryland storms damaged 200 or more residences because of high winds and a tornado is even though to have touched down but it is still being determined by the National Weather Service.  The storm also reached to Charlestown, West Virginia where a Wal-Mart sustained damages as high winds knocked over trees and destroyed shopping cart kiosks.  No injuries have yet to be reported in these storm but many peoples livelihoods have been damaged as the clean up process or "Stage 3" of the disaster will now take place and for many it could take months or more than a year to get things back to normal. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40234460/ns/weather/

Flooding and Landslides Hit England




Lostwithiel, in the Cornwall region was hit hard by the flooding.

 
Very heavy winds that conjured up large gales on Wednesday sparked massive flooding in England's Cornwall region which is on the coast of England.  Police in Cornwall noted that many streets were impassable and there were many people who had become trapped in their homes and cars.  The owner of a bakery in Cornwall noted that the water came in so quickly there was hardly any time to react.  He is quoted as saying "One minute I was making bread, the next I was wading waist high through muddy water, we've had people coming in to help but it's pretty much destroyed the shop." There have not been any reports of injuries but the coastguard has been busy rescuing people from their cars where water stood at 5 feet in some places.  Rail services were also halted after a landslide triggered by the heavy rains made the track impassable and so many people are finding it hard to get to and from work or home.  This region has experience major flooding before and so I wonder as to whether they have any sort of coastal preventative measures to aid in diminishing flood waters?  I would assume if they do they are not very effective as this case would show. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40234497/ns/weather

First Winter Storm of Season

http://www.mndaily.com/2010/11/13/first-snowstorm-season-batters-minneapolis

The first snow storm of the season hit the Midwest, particularly Minnesota and Wisconsin.  There were some 400 traffic accidents reported in Minnesota with one leading to the death of two people that occurred in Northern Wisconsin.  The storm dumped some 11 inches of snow in the Eden Prairie region of the Twin Cities and 10 inches in Forest Lake near Mankato, Minnesota.    In Northern Wisconsin, in Bayfield county they received are 5-6 inches of snow and all of it contributed to deteriorating road conditions quite quickly.  This is a case where education is important regarding winter weather and especially how to drive in it.  Many people are unaware of certain tactics when driving on icy or snowy roads and so the right education might prevent more accidents in the future however the first storms of the season are always the worst as everyone has to relearn winter driving all over again.  Fortunately the snow is said to not stick around very long as the mild weather will bring us green grass for another week.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2010-11-13-midwest-snow_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Landslide in Costa Rica Kills 23

Residents from San Antonio de Escazu carry a corpse from the landslide wreckage on Wednesday night.

Homes being swept away by the mass landslide after heavy rains on Wednesday.

On Wednesday in San Antonio de Escazu more bodies were recovered after a 48 hour rainfall led to the collapse of a rain logged hillside where 20 people were killed as the rush and mud and water swept aways people in their homes.  Fortunately during the golden hours of the tragedy there were many rescuers including some people from the Red Cross who were there with dogs searching for anyone who may have still been alive.  Many said it was eerie as you could hear people yelling for help but could not see where they were.  There are still thought to be a dozen or more residents missing and it is said that of the 20 found dead, four or them were children.  Prior to the landslide there had been two straight days of heavy rain and received 6.3inches total in just two hours on Wednesday that flooded a river near de Escazu and 600 or more people sought shelter in San Jose.  On Thursday the road leading into San Antonia de Escazu was littered with branches and stones that had been swept away by the mighty currents and some reported piles of boulders 10 feet high.  The debris made it very hard to get people in and out of the city who needed medical aid or for people trying to help the masses of people who were devastated by the landslide. The storm also caused some 9 bridges to collapse which will also hinder rescue efforts, however neighboring countries have been asked to provide aircraft to seek out those in need in some 65 communities in the effected areas.  So far at least 1,500 Costa Ricans have fled to shelter but the good sign is that of the many residents of these villages only a fraction were killed and so maybe warning systems were put into place and heeded with caution as the storms hit.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40009265/ns/weather/

Italian Storms Cause Massive Flooding

There have been six Italians killed to date after horrible storms caused massive flooding in northern and central Italy over a three day period.  The storms caused secondary problems when the massive amounts of water also caused mudslides that killed a mother and her son after the muddy soup swept their house away and another mudslide killed a 38 year old man in a nearby city.  On Monday and Tuesday flood waters tore down power lines and flooded streets in Tuscany and other nearby villages.  In this case, there seemed to be a very novas warning system in place as many seemed to be caught off guard by the mudslides following the rains.  The rain was predicted to move southward in Italy which could cause more devastation as many of the area rivers are also already flooded. 

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/11/02/Storms-in-Italy-cause-deaths-evacuations/UPI-46781288711648/

Boulder Colorado Wildfires

                          
A wildfire west of Boulder has forced the evacuation of 1,700 people from their homes this past week and nearly 140 homes in three different subdivisions were evacuated.  Portions of the city were also evacuated including a court house buildings and two medical buildings.  The scary part is that the fire was spreading by some 134 acres per day and over 150 firefighters were sent to fight the blaze.  To make matter worse there were reported wind speeds of 17 to 23mph which made defending the blaze difficult but winds did die down by the following day.  This is a case were human error created a natural disaster as the fire was though to be caused in a open space in the city of Boulder.  This is an area where risk management has been assessed I am sure as one women who noted as saying she had to grab her possessions and flee her home because of wildfires for the second time in seven weeks.  Fortunately warning systems were helpful as people were able to grab some of their possessions in enough time before the fires reached their homes.  So far there have been no injuries or damage to buildings and hopefully the weather will prevent this from happening. 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hE8QpmXdDXcFSb13dcK_vu5frfkg?docId=ff6baab64cbd405789c9b0b9e7912581

Indonesia Tsunami and Volcanic Eruptions

Mt. Merapi erupting on Friday.

Tsunami survivor being provided aid in a makeshift clinic. 

The death toll has now increased to 441 people dead following the volcanic eruption of Indonesia's Mount Merapi and an intense 7.7 magnitude earthquake that caused a tsunami.  Unfortunately there are still some 300 people missing.  Just as talked about in class, following the golden hours crews are finally starting to arrive in the effected areas however other areas are still not getting aid because there are not boats or other modes of transportation to get there.  This is another consequence of an LDC country where infrastructure is not up to its full potential.  Other sparsely populated island chains are feared to not have adequately stocked hospitals and so the concern for the spreading of disease is on everyones mind.  As for the eruption of Mt. Merapi, following the largest eruption on Tuesday scientists are hoping that the smaller eruption will help deplete the pressure in the volcano which would diminish another larger eruption.  Health officials fear that respiratory problems could become a problem because so much of the ash is floating around the air.  While people are sleeping on cold surfaces which can also drive up chances of flu and other illnesses.  Due to this concern officials would be shipping out some 65,000 masks to relieve people from the dusty air however it seems as though this is not the only concern.  Fortunately the infrastructure near Mt. Merapi is far better than in the tsunami stricken areas and so aid has been able to come much easier making the death toll far less in this area.  This is a key idea as to how good infrastructure can save lives. 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304879604575582252072604656.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Massive Windstorm in Midwest

Pictures taken from http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Massive-storm-slams-Midwest-South/ss/events/us/102610midweststorm#photoViewer=/101026/480/urn_publicid_ap_org868d402ed29745ef9880175922431f9c

Here in the midwest we have been dealing with moderate temperatures along with gusty winds up to 81mphs and drenching rains.  What was so strange about this particular weather system was that is had the barometric pressure of a Category 3 hurricane but did not cause near the damage that a hurricane would have in this case and also had the force of a blizzard without snow thankfully!  All of this mesmerized meteorologists who were very surprised by how low the pressure system actually was; it had the lowest recorded pressure ever recorded for a non-tropical storm in the United States!  As the storm moved into the midwest it sucked in warm air which fueld the high winds which would also fuel storms and tornados for some.  Adding insult to injury, the storm was moving very quickly at around 50 to 60mph which caused the winds to blow harder than usual.  It was estimated on Tuesday that 145,000 or more people were without power not only in Wisconsin but also in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and the St. Louis region of Missouri which is an accoutn to how large the storm actually was.  There were 500 + flights cancelled at O'Hare airport and the Sears Tower  sky deck had to be closed because of the high winds.  Eau Claire had its fair share of wind as well with rain and cold tempertures effecting the surrounding areas as well. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101026/ap_on_re_us/us_midwest_storms

Cyclone Giri Hits Myanmar

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/10/22/stories/2010102252672200.htm

People were ordered to move to strong buildings and higher ground early Saturday morning after cyclone Giri hit western Myanmar between India and Thailand.  Wind speeds from the storm have been as high as 100mph, with all of the rain expected landslides have also been warned.  Meteorologists in Myanmar predict that the storm surge from Cyclone Giri could reach as high as 12 feet and luckily bulletins have been posted about the cyclone on state television stations and in newspapers as well as continuous warnings on radio.  This is a great example of how a country uses its warning system to the best of its advantage.  There are even reports that people have been using microphones to get the word out about Cyclone Giri.  Because of the great warning system in place hundreds of people on the coast have taken their belongings and moved inward from the coast and many have been supplied with umbrellas and candles.  No word yet but hopefully these warnings will save many lives. 

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2010-10-22-cyclone-myanmar_N.htm

Flooding in Thailand

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/world/asia/22thai.html?_r=1&ref=world

 

Thailand has encountered some of its worst flooding in quite some time and it seems to have caught their fairly efficient government off guard.  There are seventeen people reported dead and many people were left stranded for days without any government aid and damage has been estimated at US$650,000,000.  More distressing is that 28 of Thailand's 77 provinces have been affected by the flooding including areas around the capital of Bangkok.  The flooding is not over yet however as numerous reservoirs are over capacity and being pumped while flood waters are also racing to the main river in Thailand which will lead to flooding else where, in turn an alert has been put out for people along the river regions; something the government did right in this case.  Near Bangkok the Pasak Jolsait dam is beyond capacity as well and the gates have been opened so the barrier does not collapse, a resident noted that if anymore water rushed in it would mess with the integrity of the structure and much larger problems could ensue.  What is sad is that this is another case of forgotten people and delayed aid and some of the 17 deaths may have been prevented if aid and warnings were put out earlier. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/world/asia/22thai.html?_r=1&ref=world

Oklahoma Earthquake

http://www.okgeosurvey1.gov/media/maps/2010SeismicityMap_Oct15.png



On Wednesday, one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Oklahoma and the surrounding states came as quite a surprise.  The earthquake was estimated at a 4.3magnitude by the United States geological society and happened around 9:06 a.m. near Oklahoma City.  Others argue however, namely research seismologist Austin Holland has claimed that the Oklahoma Geological Survey measured it at 5.1 which would make it one of the strongest on record.  It was said that the quake could be felt some 170 miles away in four other states including Kansas, Texas,  Arkansas and Missouri.  As talked about in class, the risk of such a strong earthquake happening is quite small I would assume so people were not as prepared for such violent shaking where loose items on shelves, etc cause minor damages to windows especially. The quake to hundreds of others by surprise and college campuses and schools were evacuated but no one was injured and no large structural damage was done.  The map above was taken from the Oklahoma Geological website and shows the location of the recent earthquake along with others that have occured to far this year in Oklahoma. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-10-13-oklahoma-earthquake_N.htm

Philippines Typhoon Predicted



Google Images



                                                                               

Here is a really good example of advanced warning systems and preparations in the aftermath of a previous environmental disaster.  In July over 100 people were killed when a typhoon hit the islands of the Philippines, in turn President Benigno Aquino III fired the head of the weather forcasting bereau because he could not correctly predict the disaster.  Now, with another category-1 Typhoon Megi predicted to hit the Philippines, the precautionary measures are much stricter.  The weather center announced today that fisherman and farmers should harvest early and get out of harms way as typhoons as such are predicted to cause upwards of 93mph winds and can drop as much as 2 inches per hour of rainfall.  The authorities have already promted rescuers to be ready and numerous shelters and aid units are ready when the disaster hits as well.  The typhoon is predicted to hit the northeastern coast of the Philippines main island, Luzon. 

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2010-10-15-philippines-typhoon_N.htm

Town in India is Sinking!

On tuesday, CNN reported that a small town in India has sunk more than 20 feet and has displaced some 250 people from their homes.  In 1994 a small crack was discovered in the small town of Mamit which is in the northeastern area of India.  It was just until recently (obviously) that the crack became dangerous as 61 families were evacuated before anyone could become hurt.  During June very heavy rained weakend porous rock beneath the city causing the ground to sink and cave.  Beside evacuations there have also been 43 houses dismantled as a precautionary measure and the residents who have been displaced are now living in schools and community centers.  Geologists claim that the ground should not sink any further but the city has been granted land in another area and aid has been given to build new homes for the residents.  At least in this case enough precauntionary measures were taken that no one was injured and minimal damage was caused to peoples property. 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/12/india.sinking.town/index.html

Arizona Tornadoes

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318451/FOUR-tornados-hit-Arizona-day-wrecking-homes-destroying-vehicles.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39540632/39547730

On Wednesday 22 tornado warnings were issued throughout the day, an unusual amount for Arizona experts have said. Tornadoes began at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and occurred throughout the day ripping trains from their tracks and blowing semis off the roads like they were tissue paper.  By noon there were 4 tornadoes reported along highway 17 near Flagstaff, AZ.  Meteorologists say that the severe weather was caused by a low pressure system that stalled out over southern and central California and was thought to weaken as it moved along.  Some 30 homes were completely destroyed and many others were badly damaged; shelters had been set up for those who had lost their homes.  Fortunately no one was severely injured however I have not read about how the warning systems worked as many accounts discussed of only hearing the tornado and not any warnings.  This was really interesting to me as I have never thought of Arizona to be a place that is stricken with tornadoes. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39540632/39547730

Landslides in Indonesia

Pictures Taken From http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317812/Indonesia-landslides-floods-kill-29-remote-hillside-village.html

Flash flooding and landslides throughout a remote area in Indonesia, Wasior,  has killed at least 29 people.  Another example of LDC response to disaster as rescuers has a difficult time getting into the region and the local people are still sifting through the rubble trying to find survivors.  The mudslide was very unexpected as one resident noted 'Water mixed with rocks, mud and logs gushed out... Many people didn't have time to save themselves.'  Water over most roadways has prevented rescue and the region has also been hit by blackouts and townpower lines which leaves communication for help far more difficult.  Thousands have had to leave their homes with hundreds of homes damaged and a reported 30 completely gone.  Tents and medical supplies are needed but with lack of roadways and communication it may be hard to get them in fast enough.  Landslides and flooding are reported to kill dozens every year in the vast array of Indonesian Islands. 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317812/Indonesia-landslides-floods-kill-29-remote-hillside-village.html

http://landslides.usgs.gov/

Russian Drought

img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2010/08/...

Here is an example of how drought can cause a national and international disaster/crisis.  The droughts in Russia have been so prolonged this summer that the country has had to halt grain exports which not only minimize grain imports in other countries but also decresses profits in the Russian economy.  It was noted in an article that Russian inflation due to the drought was at 0.9% in September and the country has lost 30 million tons of grain due to the drought.  The export ban was put specifically on wheat but other crops such as potatoes and other vegetables also had a decress in harvest as well.  I thought this was an interesting article as it has related to much of what we have been talking about in class.


 http://en.rian.ru/business/20101002/160803799.html

Post- Eau Claire Flooding

Flotsam by the foot bridge on campus.

The Leader Telegram reported that damages following the floods in Eau Claire a week and a half ago were very minimal due to prevention methods that were taken in the early 1990's after the 1993 flood.  The current river on campus crested at 777.5 feets and was the 5th highest on record.  Another article on UW-Eau Claire web site noted that they kept the compus from flooding by using the pump we had seen the other day to pump water overflow from Little Niagra Creek back into the river.  The pumping began on Friday night and continued until Sunday evening.  There was some seepage in the University Bookstore and the Haas parkinglots were shut down over that weekend due to flooding.  Another interesting aspect that came out of the flooding was that officials were able to confirm that their 2004-05 riverbank stabilization project did in turn lower the river levels through campus by 1/2 foot.  This was successful because reduced friction along the sides of the river plus a more gentle curve in the bank moved the water through more swiftly than during past floods.

Typhoon Fanapi

Typhoon Fanapi first hit Taiwan and then slammed into southern China this past week.  So far the typhoon has killed 54 people however mudslides and flooding have endangered many more people.  There are still 42 people still missing in the aftermath of Fanapi.  I stunning 40 inches of rain hit the southern province in Taiwan and it is thought that 10 of millions of dollars in infrastructure has been destroyed.  Notice how the damages are an estimated value and the deaths and those missing are far more accurate just as we had talked about in class.

Arcadia Flooding

I know we have had flooding in Wisconsin before but I have not seen it this bad in this area (in my lifetime I guess!).  The entire city of Arcadia is flooded with the city center with water levels at 2 to 3 feet.  Governor Jim Doyle has now declared a State of Emergency in Trempeleau county and people have had to be rescued by boats and other safe modes of rescue.  I read I think Rob's blog about media coverage and a state of emergency like this one I guarantee will be news worthy for at least one weak and it will be the same sort of process as we had talked about in class.  They had warned western Wisconcin about the flooding and now the media is covering the "emergency stage" and when the city has cleaned up the media will cover the "recovery" stage. 

What is so interesting is that weather has closed down this entire city, the flooding has closed everything from schools, to churches and even Ashley Furniture closed until safety could be returned to the city.  This is a perfect example of how weather can affect the livelihood of a city and its people.  The rain has also caused flooding all along the Chippewa River including places in Eau Claire County.  I heard today that all of the rain maybe caused a mudslide on the 53 bypass however this is speculation right now. 

Weau has up do date coverage of this at their website.

http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/103606404.html

New York City Storm

You don't hear of severe weather in New York City and severe damage to buildings and trees but this storm whipped through New York yesterday and downed over 1,000 tress, damaged buildings and homes, and killed a women in her car.  The National Weather Service suspected that the storm produced a tornado because of the pattern and the way they trees had fallen.  When reading this I thought of the EF ratings that they talked about at the NWS today and how they determine whether a tornado hit by the pattern on the falled trees.  Researchers have suspected that because the way the numerous trees fell, a tornado was quite possibly present.  The storm covered 14 miles of the city and knocked out power to over 37,000 people and occured during the busy rush hour commute for many people.  Luckily no one was severly hurt and there was only one death. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39238600/ns/weather

UN: 24 dead, 70,000 homeless in Chad flooding

I found this article regarding the flooding in Chad (Africa) really interesting because it had a lot to do with the first chapter of the book.  The floods in Chad left 70,000 people without shelter and the threat of cholera has become dangerously high.  The book talked about LDCs and how they react to natural disasters and I think this article represented this well.  More than 77,000 acres of crops were destroyed and many of the underdevoloped roads have been washed away and are now unpassable to aid workers so much of the aid relief now has to be airlifted to poverty stricen survivors.  It makes you wonder as to how much devastion would have occured if such flooding had taken place in an area in the midwestern United States or somewhere in Europe?



http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/09/12/chad.flooding/index.html

Italian Mudslide