NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 4 JUNE 2011

 

INCREASING RADIOACTIVITY IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT FUKUSHIMA 1

 

According to operator Tepco, radiation of up to 4,000 Millisievert was measured in reactor building, block 1. This is the highest measured value in air in the crippled plant. A robot measured the high radiation in the south-eastern end of the building.

 

One day earlier, Tepco said that 100,000 tons of contaminated water is within the plant. The upcoming rainy season causes concern.

 

From text-TV on German channel 2 / ZDFtext.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 5 JUNE 2011

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13657187

 

5 June 2011 Last updated at 15:10 GMT

 

Chile volcano chain: Puyehue erupts, forcing evacuation

 

A chain of volcanoes has erupted in southern Chile, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents.

 

Large columns of smoke have been rising from the Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle volcano range, about 800km (500 miles) south of the capital, Santiago.

 

Witnesses also reported a strong smell of ash and sulphur. A dozen small earthquakes were recorded before the eruption began.

 

The officials have issued a red alert - the maximum warning level for the area.

 

Evacuation orders were issued for some 3,500 people, the local authorities said.

 

They added the residents would be relocated in temporary shelters in safe areas.

 

Hundreds of Chileans in the south of the country have spent the night in hostels and municipal buildings after being told to leave their homes due to fears that they would be covered in ash, says the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago.

 

But some have refused to go, saying they are worried their houses will be looted in their absence.

 

One day after it started to erupt, the volcano chain continues to send smoke and ash billowing over 10km (six miles) into the air.

 

And on Sunday morning, southern Chile was also hit by a strong earth tremor, although experts say they do not think the two events were linked.

 

So far, there have been no reports of any injuries.

 

Argentine spillover

 

However, ash clouds have drifted to neighbouring Argentina where officials have ordered residents to stay indoors.

 

A regional airport in the Argentine city of Bariloche has been closed due to the volcanic ash, and an important road crossing between the two countries has also been shut.

 

One official there said ash was falling like snow.

 

Eyewitness Juli Kessler told the BBC she saw "big black clouds hanging over the Andes" and ash dust lying on the road.

 

This is the first serious eruption of the volcano chain since 1960, when the area was hit by a massive earthquake.

 

Chile is one of the most volcanic countries on Earth. There are over 3,000 volcanoes dotted along its length, and around 80 of them are active.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 6.6.11

 

 

From text-TV on German TV channel ZDF:

 

NEW ZEALAND: MAGNITUDE 5.5 EARTHQUAKE SHAKES CHRISTCHURCH

 

New Zealand's second-largest city, Christchurch has been shaken by a magnitude 5.5 earthquake. There is only reports of little damage according to the media.

 

Central Christchurch was hit by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in February 2011 when about 180 were killed. In September 2010 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake caused substantial damage in Christchurch. Hundred buildings were destroyed acccording to the authorities.

 

 

From text-TV on German TV channel ZDF:

 

CHINA: TEN THOUSANDS OF CHINESE FLEEING BAD WEATHER AND FLOODS

 

Heavy rain in south China forced ten thousands of people to leave their homes due to flooding and cost 1 human life. According to the government, at least 60,000 people had to be evacuated to safer places. 15 are reported missing.

 

In particular hard hit was the county Wangmo in the south-western Chinese province Guizhou where 300 houses were destroyed and power lines cut and roads blocked. China is hit by heavy rains every summer.

 

 

From text-TV on German TV channel ZDF:

 

JAPANESE NUCLEAR AUTHORITY CONFIRMS MELT-DOWN IN 3 FUKUSHIMA I REACTORS

 

Reactors 1-3 in the crippled nuclear power plant did experience a melt-down according to the news agency Jiji Press. In May, 2011 Tepco announced that fuel rods in reactor 1 had experienced a melt-down. Tepco also said that it suspected a melt-down in the reactors 2 and 3. And now that suspicion has been proven right.

[nancyk58]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13673567

 

6 June 2011 Last updated at 14:49 GMT

 

Arizona Wallow Fire 'uncontained' and growing

 

An Arizona wildfire continued to grow on Monday morning, as firefighters contending with strong, dry winds remain unable to contain the blaze.

 

The Wallow fire, the third-largest in the state's history, has already consumed 301 sq miles (780 sq km).

 

More than 2,300 firefighters from across the country have joined the fight, with residents evacuating towns in the fire's path.

 

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has described the fire as "horrific".

 

The fire which started on 29 May, is threatening mountain communities in the east of the state.

 

Smoke from the burning pine forests can be seen in the neighbouring states of New Mexico and Colorado.

 

Most residents of the resort town of Greer, in the White Mountains, left on Saturday, packing their belongings in to vehicles as the Wallow Fire moved closer.

 

The few who remain in the town, just seven miles (11km) from the fire's front line, are under a pre-evacuation order, ready to leave at short notice.

 

Residents in the towns of Alpine and Nutrioso have also been ordered to evacuate.

 

Several towns near the New Mexico border - including Escudilla Mountain Estates, Bonita and Dog Patch - were evacuated on Sunday.

 

Fire crews were lighting lines of smaller controlled fires in an effort to contain the advance of the wind-driven main blaze.

 

Some 2,315 firefighters from several states, including New York, are on the scene fighting the blaze, according to local media, at a total cost of $3m (£1.83m).

 

A blaze in 2002 burnt through 732 sq miles in the centre of the state and another in 2005 that scorched 387 sq miles near Phoenix.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 7 JUNE 2011

 

From text-TV on German channel 2 - ZDFtext: 21 DIED IN FLOODS IN CHINA TRIGGERED BY RAIN CONTINUING FOR A LONG TIME

 

At least 21 died in connection with floods in south-western China. The flooding was caused by heavy rain since Friday. The water masses destroyed roads and bridges in the province Guizhou, damaged almost 5,000 houses and washed away over 500 vehicles. About 13,000 hectares of agricultural land is under water.

 

About 45,000 had to find safer places in the worst-hit county Wangmo. In several towns and cities there were power cuts, and water and telephone connections have been cut as well.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13689711

 

7 June 2011 Last updated at 17:42 GMT

 

Haiti: Port-au-Prince flooding kills at least 11 people

 

At least 11 people have been killed in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, after torrential rain caused floods and landslides.

 

Two children were buried alive when their home collapsed and two people died in a tent city erected after last year's devastating earthquake.

 

Haitian officials said other such camps could be swept away as the hurricane season got under way.

 

The Dominican Republic and Jamaica have also issued flood alerts.

 

Days of heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded camps built to house thousands of evacuees after the 2010 earthquake.

 

The United States National Hurricane Center warned the rains could cause flash floods and mudslides in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

 

Haitian President Michel Martelly said he would visit Port-au-Prince's worst-hit neighbourhood, Cite Soleil.

 

"I'm now trying to help people and distribute some food, I hope people can find shelter," President Martelly said.

 

Some camps reported flooding of up to 1.2m (4ft).

 

Meteorologists forecast more heavy rain for Tuesday night, increasing fears that already sodden hillsides could collapse.

[juanif94]

The ashes arrived to Montevideo, Uruguay. The international airport cancelled lots of flights.

 

 

 

 

[nancyk58]

NEWS ON 9 JUNE 2011 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

 

From text-TV of German TV-station 2 = ZDFtext:

 

WILDFIRES IN ARIZONE, USA - 3,000 THREATENED

 

166,000 hectares of land has been destroyed by wildfires. About 3,000 people were evacuated to safer areas in Arizone according to the local media. More than 2,000 firemen were deployed to try to extinguish the fires.

 

The fires broke out Tuesday in the mountainous region of Wallow about 300 km north-east of Phoenix city. About 350 houses burned down. After examinating the cause of the fire, there is suspicion of arson.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

 

From Swedish SVT: MASSIVE FLOODING IN CHINA

 

Heavy rain and mudslides in CENTRAL CHINA killed at least 34 people today.

 

Dozens are missing, and more than 60,000 have been evacuated after the bad weather with heavy rain swept the Hubei and Hunan provinces. These areas are among those worst hit by the RECENT DROUGHT that hit the agriculture and production of electricity hard.

 

Last week-end the drought was replaced by heavy rain that has - so far - led to the death of almost 100 persons in 12 provinces.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 10 JUNE 2011

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13735661

 

10 June 2011 Last updated at 21:39 GMT

 

Chile volcano: Ash cloud grounds more flights

 

A cloud of ash from an erupting volcano in Chile is continuing to cause travel chaos in parts of ARGENTINA and URUGUAY. The cloud has also affected flights in the south of BRAZIL. Flights from the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, and Montevideo in Uruguay, remain grounded for a second day.

 

Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano range began erupting last Saturday.

 

Many flights from airports in southern Brazilian cities such as Porto Alegre and Florianopolis - some 2,500km (1,550 miles) from the volcano - were cancelled on Friday.

 

But a correspondent for the BBC's Brazilian Service says the situation is returning to normal, as winds blow the fine grey ash out over the Atlantic.

 

Ski season fears

 

A spokesman at Montevideo's Carrasco international airport told the AFP news agency there was a slim chance that planes could start taking off and landing there late on Friday.

 

And the airport authorities in Buenos Aires hope flights can also resume in a similar timeframe, if - as expected - the ash cloud clears.

 

However, several other airports in Argentina - mainly in Patagonia - remain closed, raising fears for the region's ski season, at the start of the southern winter.

 

Workers in the Patagonian resort town of Bariloche have filled 600 lorries with ash that had fallen on the local airport's main runway.

 

Forced evacuation

 

Meanwhile, just across the border from Bariloche, in Chile, the volcano continues to erupt. On Thursday, government scientists monitoring the volcano reported a slight increase in its seismic activity.

 

A nearby river, Nilahue, which runs off the slopes of the volcano, has broken its banks, being clogged by ash sediment.

 

Its waters are steaming, having in places been heated by volcanic material to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).

 

The authorities are worried that recent heavy rains could cause landslides of volcanic debris.

 

Most of the small communities in this area have already been evacuated. But the authorities are putting a specialist police squad together to evacuate the last 14 people in the exclusion area, against the residents' will.

 

This is the first serious eruption of the volcano chain since 1960, when the area was hit by a massive earthquake.

 

Chile is one of the most volcanic countries on Earth. There are more than 3,000 volcanoes dotted along its length, and around 80 of them are active.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 11 JUNE 2011

 

Text-TV news from Danish TV stations DR1 and TV2, German ZDFtext and Swedish SVT:

 

CENTRAL NORWAY HIT BY BAD WEATHER CAUSING LANDSLIDES AND FLOODING

 

On Friday, landslides and flooding forced hundreds of inhabitants in central Norway away from the valley "Gudbrandsdalen" ("dalen" = valley) where water masses rushed in following heavy rain and melting water from the Norwegian mountains.

 

Roads were washed away, and other roads were closed. Several houses were destroyed, and policemen and rescuers worked at high pressure to help the inhabitants away from the flooded areas.

 

Worst hit are the towns OTTA and Kvam where many were evacuated by helicopter.

 

Parts of the mobile network were down which made the situation even more confused according to the man in charge of the police operation in the area.

The water level is normalizing in the flooded areas.

 

Certain areas i.a. around river Driva might experience the worst floods for 50 years according to VG.

 

 

Text-TV on German TV station 2 aka. ZDFtext: WILDFIRES IN US STATE OF ARIZONA SPREADING

 

Now the neighbouring US state of NEW MEXICO is threatened. Several communities and 2 important power lines are at risk.

 

The smoke caused by the wildfires is constituting a health risk for inhabitants as well as firemen.

 

So far the flames have engulfed about 1,400 square kilometres of forest and destroyed 30 houses. Almost 10,000 have been forced to leave their houses in Springerville and Eager in Arizona.

 

It is the second-largest fire in Arizona's history.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 12 JUNE 2011

 

Text-TV on Danish TV station DR1 and German TV station 2 / ZDFtext:

 

FLOODS COST 94 HUMAN LIVES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CHINA

 

At least 94 died in Central and southern China after several days of heavy rains that also caused substantial material damage. 78 are missing according to info from the authorities.

 

Houses have been buried by LANDSLIDES, and roads & entire villages have been destroyed - totally or partly according to Chinese media.

 

Up to 100,000 have been evacuated from their homes or have been asked to be prepared to leave threatened areas.

 

This past week, rain in 13 provinces have led to floods and landslides.

 

8.5 million people are affected.

 

465,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed by the water masses.

 

 

Text-TV on Danish TV station TV2 and Swedish TV station SVT:

 

An ash cloud caused by the eruption of the Chilean volcano Puyehue - Cordon Caulle - now affects air traffic several places in the southern hemisphere.

 

Today, Australian airline Qantas Airways cancelled 22 flights to and from New Zealand plus Tasmania. Airlines in New Zealand have changed routes and flight altitudes in order to avoid the ash that might damage the engines of the aeroplanes.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 13 JUNE 2011

 

 

From text-TV on Danish TV Channel DR1: MAGNITUDE 6.0 EARTHQUAKE HIT NEW ZEALAND

 

Rocks came tumbling / falling down the mountainsides, and people fled out of / away from the buildings in CHRISTCHURCH (New Zealand's second-largest city) when a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit the city Monday morning. Initial reports mentioned that 6 people were slightly injured as they were hit by falling parts of building.

 

This occurs 4 months after 181 human lives were lost when a magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Christchurch on 22 February 2011.

 

According to local media the tremors made people run out into the streets and supermarkets and shopping centres were evacuated.

 

Text-TV on Swedish SVT: The quake occurred 1 mile from the previously hit Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island. According to US Geological Surveys (USGS), the quake occurred 9 km below the surface. 10 people have been injured, but noone died according to New Zealand's authorities.

 

The quake 14 km from Christchurch was one of several tremors on Monday of which one was measured at magnitude 5.2 and led to the evacuation of a building where an inquiry has been opened into the collapse of the building on the 22 February 2011 during the devastating earthquake.

 

 

Text-TV on Danish DR1 and German ZDFtext: ASH CLOUD PARALYSED / DISRUPTED AUSTRALIAN AIR TRAFFIC

 

According to news agency AFP, ten thousands of passengers are stranded in Australia and New Zealand due to the eruption of Chile's volcano Cordon Caulle on 4 June 2011. The volcano spewed huge amounts of ash 10 km up into the air. Strong winds have blown ash from the Chilean volcano over the southern Atlantic, over the Indian Ocean and down to the smallest continent on the Earth.

 

Monday, the Australian airline Qantas announced that all flights to and from New Zealand and the island of Tasmania had been cancelled - also flights to Melbourne in Australia were cancelled. As many as 110 flights were cancelled Sunday and Monday.

 

Also Argentina and Uruguay have been affected by the smoke and ash from the volcano.

 

 

From German TV station 2 / ZDFtext):

 

JAPAN: STRONTIUM FOUND IN GROUND WATER

 

The radioactive contamination around the crippled nuclear power plant Fukushima I is getting even more serious. According to operator TEPCO, radioactive strontium has been found near the plant's sea water inlet/intake? The contamination is up to 240 times higher than the allowed highest value!!! The dangerous element was also found in the groundwater near the crippled reactors 1 and 2!!

 

Scientists call strontium "a bone killer". It damages the marrow and may cause leukamia (blood cancer)!!

 

Terrible news!

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS FROM BBC WORLD NEWS ON 13 JUNE 2011

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13745359

 

New Zealand quake: Christchurch hit by aftershocks

 

A series of earthquakes has hit the New Zealand city of Christchurch, almost four months after a tremor devastated the area and killed 181 people.

 

The latest quakes struck just miles from the city, and left about 50,000 people without power.

 

The most powerful tremor, measured at magnitude 6.0, caused the evacuation of shopping centres, office blocks and Christchurch airport.

 

The city's mayor Bob Parker warned that more tremors were likely.

 

"It will be a restless night. It's pretty realistic to expect overnight we will have some more aftershocks," he said.

 

With temperatures just above freezing overnight, Mr Parker told many Christchurch residents to prepare for a night without power.

 

"If you don't have power and don't have water at the moment, assume you won't have them overnight," he said.

 

The BBC's Nick Bryant says the city's quake-weary residents are at their wit's end, and dozens more families have decided to leave for good.

 

Since the earthquake in February, 50,000 residents have relocated elsewhere in New Zealand and Australia.

 

"We can't bring up our kids in an atmosphere where they're frightened to go home, to go out to be with their friends," one Christchurch resident told the BBC.

 

Education officials say many schools will be closed on Tuesday, and the police are warning people to stay off the roads while officials check that they are safe.

 

Prime Minister John Key said the tremors would not weaken the country's resolve to rebuild the city.

 

"The people of Christchurch should know that all New Zealanders are thinking of them and will continue to support and stand by them at this very difficult time," he said.

 

Several buildings collapsed in the latest quakes, and Christchurch Cathedral, badly damaged by February's tremor, lost more of its masonry.

 

Meanwhile, an inquiry into the collapse of one of the buildings destroyed by the devastating 22 February earthquake opened on Monday.

 

The inquiry was briefly evacuated during the latest quakes.

 

About 10,000 houses and nearly 1,000 commercial buildings will have to be demolished as a result of the February quake.

 

Recovery and reconstruction costs are expected to total at least NZ$15bn ($11bn; £7bn).

 

 

Related Stories

 

New Zealand quake: 'The noise was terrifying' 13 JUNE 2011, ASIA-PACIFIC

In pictures: Christchurch shaken 13 JUNE 2011, ASIA-PACIFIC

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13749904

 

13 June 2011 Last updated at 14:21 GMT

 

Fukushima plant: Six more workers exposed to radiation

 

Six more workers at Japan's crippled Fukushima plant are reported to have been exposed to excessive radiation levels, bringing the total to eight.

 

The workers had been in the control room or cleaning up the nuclear plant following the earthquake and tsunami that damaged it March.

 

The disaster caused meltdown at three of the reactors, and radiation leaks.

 

It was the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986.

 

The operators of Fukushima, Tokyo electric Power (Tepco), initially reported that only two employees had been exposed to excessive levels of radiation.

 

The possible exposure of six more workers was discovered after almost 2,400 employees underwent preliminary testing, officials said.

 

A spokesman for Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Hide Nishiyama, said the development was "extremely regrettable".

 

Tepco said none of those affected were showing immediate health problems, but they would require long-term monitoring.

 

 

Text-TV on German TV station ZDF / ZDFtext:

 

FLOODING IN NORWAY AFTER HEAVY RAIN

 

Torrential rain (very much like cloudbursts) and swollen / bloated rivers have caused floods in several areas of southern and central Norway this Whitsun week-end. Central roads between Oslo + Trondheim and between Oslo + Bergen are flooded in several stretches and are impassable.

 

When the floods began, 200 people had to leave their threatened houses. A 82-year-old man is missing - rescue teams have found one of his shoes.

 

Prime Minister Stoltenberg pledges prompt aid.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 14 JUNE 2011

 

From Swedish text-TV SVT and from ZDFtext (German text-TV):

 

ONE DEAD IN QUAKE AFTERSHOCK IN NEW ZEALAND

 

Aftershocks continued to shake Christchurch. A man who lived in a senior home (elderly care center?) died as a direct consequence of yesterday's tremors according to the health authorities.

 

Yesterday more than 50 tremors hit Christchurch. The most powerful tremor had a magnitude of 6.0.

 

More than 20,000 households were without power / electricity and buildings - shaken by the powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake in February when 181 died - collapsed. The schools are closed - at least today.

 

The number of injured in yesterday's tremors has risen to 45.

 

Christchurch has been shaken by at least 1,000 aftershocks since the big quake in February.

 

 

German ZDFtext: VOLCANO DUBBI IN ERITREA IS ERUPTING

 

The volcano DUBBI in Eritrea in Northafrica is spewing clouds of smoke and ash 15 km up into the air. The eruption of the 1,625m high volcano close to the Red Sea coast is massive. The airspace has been closed over the capital ASMARA.

 

This is Dubbi's first recorded eruption since 1861.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

 

 

From Swedish text-TV / SVT: THOUSANDS FLEEING TORRENTIAL RAIN IN SOUTH CHINA

 

New strong cloudbursts in SOUTH CHINA have forced 55,000 people to leave their houses, news agency Xinhua (New China) reports.

 

Almost 100 people have already died in floods and mudslides caused by the heavy rain during the last couple of days according to the Chinese government.

 

The torrential rain is expected to continue until Friday in certain regions according to the Chinese news agency.

[nancyk58]

Danish TV2 news reported (and showed pictures) of FLOODING IN AUSTRALIA that started Tuesday. I think that it was in New South Wales.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13807166

 

17 June 2011 Last updated at 09:39 GMT

 

 

Fatal floods hit China forcing over 500,000 to flee

 

 

Days of torrential rain have forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in central and southern China.

 

The government has described flooding in some areas as the worst since 1955 and has mobilised troops to evacuate some 555,000 people.

 

More than 100 people are known to have died so far this month.

 

China's disaster alert has been raised to the highest level, four.

 

More heavy rain is expected in the coming days, with little let-up until Sunday.

 

In Jiangxi province in the east, troops helped 122,400 residents move from vulnerable, low-lying areas, the China News Service reported.

 

Rain follows drought

 

In central Hubei province, downpours earlier this week triggered a LANDSLIDE that left six people missing and blocked the Pingdu River, forcing 2,000 residents to flee.

 

The floods come after months of crop-destroying drought in the centre and north of the country.

 

Some areas along the Yangtze River have suffered their worst drought in half a century.

 

Despite the rain, officials have warned that the crop shortages and dislocation caused by drought will remain severe.

 

Analysts say crop shortages in China could affect prices around the world.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 17 JUNE 2011, POST II

 

German text-TV on TV Channel 2 / ZDFtext: FLOODS IN CHINA - 670,000 EVACUATED

 

According to the government, 50 are believed to have died in the floods. Water masses hit 8 provinces in the EAST and SOUTH of CHINA and destroyed thousands of houses.

 

For weeks, torrential rain has threatened the population.

 

200 have died or are missing - according to information given by the government - since the start of June.

 

This situation is expected to continue for some time.

 

 

Text-TV on Danish TV2 news: JAPAN CLEANING RADIO-ACTIVE WATER

 

3 months after the melt-down of 3 reactors at the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima, experts - including experts from the USA and France - are cleaning the radio-active cooling water from the power plant. The foreign experts brought advanced eqipment for the process which is expected to take a long time.

 

The Japanese government is planning to extend the evacuation zone around the plant - as there are worries about the health of the inhabitants.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

 

http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/missouri-river-flooding-threatens-nuclear-power-plant/

 

Missouri River Flooding Threatens Nuclear Power Plant

 

posted by Ann Bibby

 

Concern is growing about the safety of a nuclear power plant that sits in a Missouri River flood plain. The Fort Calhoun Nuclear plant was cited for inadequate flood protection just last year and is currently a sandbagged island as the Missouri sits at 1.5 feet over flood stage and is expected to rise another five feet.

 

Nothing to Worry About

 

Federal regulators and officials with the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) insist there is no danger but list the status of the plant at "notification of unusual event," which is the lowest emergency level emergency. Spokespeople for the OPPD say there has been no leaking of radioactive materials and none expected.

 

Conspiracy Theories

 

In the wake of the recent disaster at Fukushima, rumors have been flying fast across the Internet about Fort Calhoun, fueled by the FAA closing the airspace over the plant and an electrical fire, which temporarily shut down cooling pumps. But the FAA's closing on June 6th was in response to the flooding, and company officials have stated that the plant's spent fuel was never in any danger during the brief power outage.

 

Flooding Continues

 

The Missouri continues to rise, but officials are confident that the plant is secure. Fort Calhoun has been in cold shutdown since April 9th and will remain so until after the flood waters recede, which is not expected to happen soon. In fact, flooding is likely to remain a concern on and off for the rest of the summer for many parts of the Upper Midwest.

 

 

http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/delivering-hope-to-storm-ravaged-areas-of-alabama-kentucky-tennessee-and-missouri/

 

Delivering Hope to Storm-Ravaged Areas of Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri

 

posted by: Emily L.

 

NOTE: This is a guest post from the Christian Appalachian Project.

 

This spring, the country has suffered some of the most devastating tornadoes in our history. Christian Appalachian Project's Disaster Relief Team provided assistance in Marshall County, Alabama, for two weeks this spring, working to clear debris and repair homes after devastating tornadoes ripped through the state on April 27. Over those 14 days, the team spent a total of 6,764 hours responding to the vast number of families in need.

 

President Guy Adams joined the Disaster Relief Team in offering support to the tornado victims. Together, the group was able to offer relief to 47 families, all of whom are now in a better position to continue to rebuild their lives after such destruction. The needs of each family were great, with each home requiring many hours of debris removal and often roof repair and window replacement. Several of the families did not have insurance and professional contractors were offering their services for between $30,000 to $75,000.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWD3jm3pZ7Q&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - ‪CAP's Alabama tornado response‬‏[/ame]

 

The destruction wasn't isolated to Marshall County. Our disaster crew received four other requests for help--two additional counties in Alabama called, as well as one from Ohio and one from southwestern Kentucky. Storms took quite a toll on the region. We organized donated supplies to be sent to disaster areas while our hands-on labor took place in Alabama. We put to use our entire fleet--trailers, backhoes, tractors, trucks, vans, cars, semis, and buses. Even with all our resources being utilized, the ruin is still great. And the process will not be complete even when the last piece of debris is cleared. The residents of this region have much to rebuild--their entire lives, in fact.

 

Although Joplin is not an Appalachian city, they are in great need. Given our expertise and ability to assist in natural disasters, CAP was compelled to send this community assistance. We again gathered donations to send to Joplin to assist the families and the community torn apart by this disaster. This is the time for our country to pull together and help. We received the call of distress from Missouri, and answered, just as we answered in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky not a few weeks prior. Through our Operation Sharing division, CAP sent donated supplies to ease the burden of those affected by this storm.

 

Our resources have been depleted, and we call on you now to help us in delivering aid to these most distressed areas of our country. Sign up to support CAP's disaster relief efforts today. You can make all the difference for these families who have now have no home. Together we can send them hope.

 

Learn more about CAP's disaster assistance work by visiting their website.

 

http://www.christianapp.org/

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13831068

 

19 June 2011 Last updated at 13:41 GMT

 

China floods: Millions affected by deadly downpours

 

More than two million people are now reported to have been affected by deadly floods in eastern China.

 

Torrential rain was continuing, leaving large parts of Zhejiang and Hubei provinces under water, state-run news agency Xinhua said.

 

It said nearly 1,000 businesses were being disrupted and crops destroyed, pushing up food prices.

 

This month's flooding - the worst since 1955 - has already left about 170 people dead or missing, reports say.

 

The government has mobilised troops to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people.

 

China's disaster alert has been raised to the highest level, four.

 

Downpours earlier this week triggered landslides that buried houses and killed at least two people in Zhejiang and another two in Hubei.

 

The floods come after months of crop-destroying drought in the centre and north of the country.

 

Some areas along the Yangtze River have suffered their worst drought in half a century.

 

Despite the rain, officials have warned that the crop shortages and dislocation caused by drought will remain severe.

 

Analysts say crop shortages in China could affect prices around the world.

 

 

From other news sites

 

CNN : China's torrential rains kill 2

39 mins ago

 

Mail Online UK : More than five million hit by devastating floods in eastern China after torrential rain

5 hrs ago

 

SINA : Rain, floods continue to batter southern China 5 hrs ago

 

Scotland on Sunday Online : Storms cause chaos in China 13 hrs ago

 

Chicago Tribune : China raises flood alert to top level, 555,000 evacuated 24 hrs ago

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 20 JUNE 2011

 

 

From German TV station 2 / ZFDtext: MEXICO THREATENED BY HURRICANE - TROPICAL STORM GAINS STRENGTH

 

The first trough of the tropical strom "Beatriz" has reached Mexico's coast. The storm gains strength over the Pacific and could hit the coast Monday evening or Tuesday morning with the strength of a hurricane. So according to the national hurricane center.

 

For the coast region north of Apaculco, a hurricane warning has been issued.

For the other parts of the Mexican coast, a storm warning has been issued.

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From Danish freepaper URBAN on 20.6.11 (citing cnn.com): Firefighters are currently fighting 5 forest wildfires in Arizona covering thousands of hectares.

 

According to researchers, the fires can be traced back to people's activities in the area.

 

 

 

From Swedish SVT Text, Danish DR1 Text-TV and German ZDF Text:

 

ASH CLOUD FROM CHILEAN VOLCANO ERUPTION CAUSES CANCELLATION OF HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA - AGAIN !

 

At least 120,000 travellers are affected according to TV broadcaster ABC since airline QANTAS cancelled traffic to and from several towns and cities on the east coast today and most of tomorrow.

 

Australia's two largest airports in Melbourne and Sydney are closed for air traffic for 48 hours. Also Virgin Australia has cancelled flights in the form of all take-offs from Sydney and Melbourne.

 

Adelaide airport is closed, and the capital Canberra is also affected.

 

The ash from the eruption of Chilean volcano Puyehue two weeks ago has already blown around the globe and disrupted traffic over Australia more than one week ago.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 22 JUNE 2011

 

From Swedish text-TV / SVT Text: Powerful cloudbursts and floods in the PHILIPPINES have caused 14 deaths. 5 communities with 70,000 inhabitants are affected by swelled rivers. 9,000 have been forced to flee their homes.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13882987

 

22 June 2011 Last updated at 20:35 GMT

 

North Dakota city Minot evacuates amid flooding fears

 

Authorities in Minot in the state of North Dakota have told roughly 12,000 residents to leave their homes immediately, as the Souris River threatens to flood.

 

Sirens sounded throughout the city around 1300 local time (1800 GMT), alerting residents of an impending deadline to evacuate. - "All residents must evacuate, Zones one through nine," an announcement said.

 

Heavy rainfall has bloated the river, which flows down from Canada.

 

The Souris River is expected to hit nearly 1,563ft (476m) above sea level this weekend, topping the previous flood record set in 1881.

 

"We are trying to patch up as many holes [in flood barriers] as we can to give people as much time as we possibly can to get them out safely," said Minot Fire Department spokesman Dean Lenertz.

 

As part of a flash flood warning, the National Weather Service said residents "in the mandatory evacuation zones should be moving to higher ground now".

 

Heavy rains and melting snow have raised water levels in Canadian reservoirs in the Souris River basin during the past several weeks, forcing unprecedented water releases further south in North Dakota.

 

On Tuesday afternoon, the Minot Daily News reported that many city residents were moving as many possessions as possible out of their homes and businesses through congested traffic and muddy streets.

 

"What I see right now is probably the most devastating in terms of the number of people directly impacted and what it will do to damage homes as water begins to overtop the levees and fill in behind," North Dakota National Guard Maj Gen David Sprynczynatyk told the newspaper.

 

Minot is North Dakota's fourth largest city, with a population of roughly 40,000.

 

 

From other news sites

 

FOXNews.com : Evacuation Ordered as N.D. River Rises Over Levees

 

Mail Online UK : North Dakota town braces for worst flooding in decades

 

USA Today : Sirens sound as river tops levees in Minot, N.D.

 

Yahoo! Finance : North Dakota city evacuates as record flood imminent

 

CBS News : Sirens sound as river tops levees in N.D. city

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News in relation to natural disasters

 

 

From Danish text-TV on DR1:

 

NEW EARTHQUAKE NORTH-EAST OF JAPAN

 

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake was recorded off Japan's coast early Thursday morning local time according to US Geological Survey, USGS.

 

The authorities issued a tsunami warning due to the risk of a minor tsunami, but one hour later the warning was lifted.

 

The quake occurred almost 140 km off the coast in north-eastern Japan. Seconds after the first quake, an aftershock of almost the same magnitude was recorded.

 

The north-eastern Japan was worst hit by the gigantic earthquake - magnitude 9.0 - that triggered a gigantic, devastating tsunami on 11 March this year.

 

 

German text-TV on ZDF: 2 WOMEN DIED IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG IN GERMANY DUE TO BAD WEATHER

 

Several people were injured in a thunderstorm. Substantial damage was caused by storms and heavy rain. Worst hit were Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hessen, Thüringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Brandenburg.

 

Streets were flooded, and power lines were down, and trees fell onto rails.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS on 24.6.11

 

From text-TV on Danish DR1: TROPICAL STORM HITS THE PHILIPPINES

 

About 50,000 have left their homes in the Philippines due to the TROPICAL STORM "MEARI". They are now in evacuation centers / camps.

 

The storm brings torrential rain resulting in submerged roads. Last night, 3,200 left their homes in the capital - MANILA.

 

The heavy rain has continued for many days. The rain gained strength on Thursday. That has increased the risk of floods and mudslides.

 

 

Text-TV on Swedish SVT and Danish TV News: A POWERFUL, MAGNITUDE 7.4 (or 7.2) EARTHQUAKE SHOOK THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS IN THE NORTH PACIFIC

 

A tsunami warning was issued, but later lifted. No reports of casualties of material damage.

 

The earthquake occurred 170 km from the fishing village / port ATKA on the Aleutian islands which are a part of Alaska.

 

The Aleutian islands are situated 1,600 km from Alaska's largest city, ANCHORAGE.