What Has America Learned Since Hurricane Katrina? Not Enough
August 24, 2022
Introduction:
(EurekAlert) Before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, evacuation planners rarely considered the needs of carless and vulnerable populations – low-income, elderly, or young individuals with specific needs or tourists without a car while on vacation. In the aftermath of the storm, transportation planners called for a new focus on evacuation planning to meet these specific needs.
So what has America learned since Hurricane Katrina? Not enough, according to a first-of-its-kind study by Florida Atlantic University, which reveals only marginal improvements with respect to evacuation planning in America’s 50 largest cities. Researchers found a lack of preparedness, specifically to evacuate carless and vulnerable populations.
The study is based on data extracted from plans, collected and analyzed from the years after Hurricane Katrina and then more recently during the mid-20 teens (prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic). Researchers also introduce an Evacuation Preparedness Rating of five dimensions identified as best practices in evacuation planning for vulnerable populations: special needs registries; specialized transportation plans for individuals with specific needs; pick-up location plan; multimodal evacuation plan; and pedestrian evacuation plan.
The 50 cities were scored based on the Composite Evacuation Preparedness Rating System that includes four designations: weak, 0–4 points; moderate, 5–7 points; strong, 8–10 points; and N/A, plans that were not reviewed.
Results of the study, published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, showed that only seven cities had strong plans, including Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland; Jacksonville; Miami; New Orleans; New York; and Philadelphia. The researchers note that these plans should be utilized as a model for other cities. Twenty cities achieved a moderate rating, six cities had a weak rating and 17 plans were not available or do not exist. Among the cities with plans not found include Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
Heatwaves Rated 'Extremely Dangerous' Could Triple This Century, Warns New Climate Study
by Brett Wilkins
August 25, 2022
Introduction:
(The Conversation) As global temperatures rise, people in the tropics, including places like India and Africa’s Sahel region, will likely face dangerously hot conditions almost daily by the end of the century – even as the world reduces its greenhouse gas emissions, a new study shows.
The mid-latitudes, including the U.S., will also face increasing risks. There, the number of dangerously hot days, marked by temperatures and humidity high enough to cause heat exhaustion, is projected to double by the 2050s and continue to rise.
In the study, scientists looked at population growth, economic development patterns, energy choices and climate models to project how heat index levels – the combination of heat and humidity – will change over time. We asked University of Washington atmospheric scientist David Battisti, a co-author of the study, published Aug. 25, 2022, to explain the findings and what they mean for humans around the world.
What does the new study tell us about heat waves in the future, and importantly the impact on people?
There are two sources of uncertainty when it comes to future temperature. One is how much carbon dioxide humans are going to emit – that depends on things like population, energy choices and how much the economy grows. The other is how much warming those greenhouse gas emissions will cause.
In both, scientists have a really good sense of the likelihood of various scenarios. For this study, we combined those estimates to get a likelihood in the future of having dangerous and life-threatening temperatures.
Mississippi governor declares state of emergency amid massive flooding event
Source: CNN
(CNN)Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency Saturday as weather and emergency management officials now anticipate the Pearl River cresting in Jackson on Monday -- about 24 hours earlier than initially projected -- after record-setting rainfall this week.
"If predictions prove accurate, the Pearl River is expected to crest on Monday, August 29th, at 36 feet," Reeves said in the declaration. A flood stage is considered "major" at 26 feet. The current flood warning says dozens of additional streets in downtown Jackson will flood at 34 feet, with water close to entering homes in Northeast Jackson at 35.8 feet. "The state of Mississippi is as prepared as possible for this flooding.
My administration, including MEMA, is monitoring this situation closely, and actively working to respond as quickly as possible to ongoing developments with flooding," Reeves said. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has called for voluntary evacuations in areas expected to be affected by the rising waters, while Reeves warned, "If your home flooded in 2020, there is a high (probability) it will happen again."
State emergency management officials have already begun assessing water levels along the Pearl River and have deployed more than 100,000 sandbags, according to the declaration. Officials first predicted the Pearl River to reach 36 feet and crest by Tuesday, CNN earlier reported, however the river is now expected to crest sometime Monday into Monday night, emergency management officials said at a news briefing Saturday.
Pakistan Declares National Emergency in Response to Climate-Intensified Floods Kenny Stancil
August 26, 2022
Introduction:
(Common Dreams) Pakistan declared a national emergency on Friday as catastrophic monsoon rains, exacerbated by the fossil fuel-driven climate crisis, continued to pummel the country for the third consecutive month.
Since mid-June, flash floods and landslides across the South Asian nation have killed least at 937 people, injured more than 1,300, and destroyed well over half a million homes, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. In addition, nearly 800,000 livestock have died and at least 1,900 miles of roads and 145 bridges have been wiped out, disrupting the supply of food and further driving up prices.
This is a "climate-induced humanitarian disaster of epic proportions," Sherry Rehman, the nation's climate change minister, told reporters on Thursday.
"Pakistan is going through its eighth cycle of monsoon while normally the country has only three to four cycles of rain," said Rehman. "The percentages of super flood torrents are shocking."
More than 100 districts across Pakistan's four provinces have been hit by flooding since the start of the monsoon season. The impacts have been especially devastating in the southern provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, which have received 784% and 496% more rain this month compared with the August average, according to the minister.
Monsoon Floods Wreak Havoc in Pakistan as Death Toll Crosses 1000, 'Very High' Level Warning Issued
by Shiva Chaudhary
August 29, 2022
Introduction:
(The Logical Indian) Severe rains and the monsoon flooding since mid-June continue to wreak havoc in Pakistan, taking the death toll to more than 1,000 people, officials said on Sunday (August 28).
As of now, the monster monsoon in the neighbouring country has killed at least 1,033 people, including 348 children, and left 1,527 more injured, according to the recent figures released by Pak's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
More Than 33 Million People Affected
The heavy downpour is said to have affected more than 33 million people and continues to scourge parts of Pakistan, with at least 110 districts being hit by the floods. A total of 72 districts in the country have been declared calamity hit as it grapples with its worst natural disasters in over a decade, according to Geo News.
A total of 949,858 houses have been ruined in overflows, out of which 287,412 have been entirely damaged while 662,446 homes have been partially destroyed. More than 700,000 livestock has also died in flood-related incidents, reported Hindustan Times. Warning Issued & Rescue Services On Alert Pak's Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) issued a warning on Saturday (August 27) that very high and above-level flooding is expected to continue in River Kabul at Nowshera during the next 24 hours. Further, River Indus at Kalabagh and Chashma are also likely to reach high flood levels during the next 24 to 48 hours.
Planning Minister Indicates Pakistan Floods Cost at Least $10 billion August 29, 2022
Introduction:
(Reuters via the Asahi Shimbun) ISLAMABAD--Early estimates put the damage from Pakistan’s recent deadly floods at more than $10 billion, its planning minister said on Monday, adding the world has an obligation to help the South Asian nation cope with the effects of man-made climate change.
Conclusion:
Iqbal said 45 percent of cotton crops had been washed away with early wheat sowing in southern Pakistan also affected, as large swaths of land remained inundated with flood water, and severe damage to rice fields as well as vegetable and fruit crops.
Pakistan’s finance ministry in its latest economic outlook update has warned of the impact on critical seasonal crops, particularly cotton, which is key for Pakistan’s textile sector that makes up more than 60 percent of the country’s exports.
Analysts say the impact could be devastating for the country, which was already in the midst of an economic crisis, faced with high inflation, a depreciating currency and a current account deficit.
The IMF on Monday approved long awaited over $1.1 billion in bailout funds to resume a program that had been stalled since early this year.
Governor declares water emergency for Mississippi capital
Source: AP
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS and MICHAEL GOLDBERG
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday night that he is declaring a state of emergency after excessive rainfall exacerbated problems in one of Jackson’s water-treatment plants and caused low water pressure through much of the capital city.
The low pressure raised concerns about firefighting and about people’s ability to take showers or flush toilets.
Reeves said that on Tuesday, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will start distributing both drinking water and non-potable water in the city of 150,000 residents, and the National Guard will be called in to help. The governor said he understands people in Jackson don’t want to have water system problems.
“I get it. I live in the city. It’s not news that I want to hear,” Reeves said. “But we are going to be there for you.”
U.N. Offers $160 Million to Help Flood-hit Pakistan, Deaths Top 1,100 August 30 , 2022
Introduction:
(Kyodo News) GENEVA - The United Nations on Tuesday offered a $160 million aid to help Pakistan address damage from heavy rain and floods that have killed more than 1,100 people and affected 33 million since mid-June.
The six-month aid package is mainly aimed at helping 5.2 million people who have been hit hardest by the natural disaster, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, calling on other countries for further financial support and cooperation.
According to a tally by the Natural Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan, the death toll topped 1,100 and 3,500 others were injured as of Tuesday.
More than 250 bridges were swept away and the total length of damaged roads surpassed 5,000 kilometers, making it difficult to transport food and other disaster relief materials, it said.
"The devastation is evidence of seriousness of the threat posed by climate change," Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet Tuesday. Despite having less than 1 percent share in carbon emission, Pakistan is ranked eighth in terms of exposure to climate hazards, he said.
Afghanistan Reels from Deadly Flash Floods and Landslides August 30, 2022
Introduction:
(Al Jazeera) Several provinces across the eastern, central, southern and western regions of Afghanistan have been hit by heavy rains, resulting in flash floods and landslides that have caused the deaths of more than 180 people, displaced at least 8,000 others and damaged at least 3,000 houses.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the provinces of Kunar, Laghman, Logar, Wardak, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktia and Parwan have been the hardest hit.
Conclusion:
More than half of Afghanistan’s 39 million people need humanitarian help and six million are at risk of famine. More than a million children are “estimated to be suffering from the most severe, life-threatening form of malnutrition” and could die without proper treatment, he said.
The Taliban has not been formally recognised by any foreign governments and is still subjected to international sanctions, which the UN and aid groups say are now hindering humanitarian operations in the country.
Sure, it was hot across the Los Angeles region, but was it Death Valley hot?
The national park, famous for being one of the hottest places on the planet, set a new record for the hottest September day anywhere on the planet when its Furnace Creek thermometer hit 127 degrees on Thursday.
And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
Flooding washes away homes in southern Indiana; woman's body found downstream
Source: WLKY.
Torrential rains caused flooding in parts of Kentucky and Indiana on Saturday, and an area in southern Indiana got hit particularly hard.
According to the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency in Indiana, Brushy Fork Creek Road northeast of Madison was impacted by a devastating flash flood.
Officials report a woman's body was found 5 miles downstream that may be that of a woman whose home washed away.
It happened around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday when 9 inches of rainfall in Switzerland and Jefferson Counties in just three hours caused the flood.
Emergency declared as flash flooding hits northwest Georgia
Source: AP
SUMMERVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Thunderstorms and heavy rain pounded parts of northwest Georgia on Sunday, sparking flash flooding in some areas. Local news reports showed roads under water and homeowners struggling to keep water out.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon in Chattooga and Floyd Counties, directing all state resources to help with “preparation, response and recovery activities.” The National Weather Service said rainfall of up to one inch per hour was causing creeks, streams, roadways and urban areas to experience unusually high levels of water. Up to 12 inches of rain was estimated to have fallen in the area, according to Kemp’s executive order.
“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order,” the service said.
The service declared a “flash flood emergency” for Summerville, Lyerly and James H. Floyd State Park in Chattooga County. Floyd County — just to the south — was also under a flash flood warning.
Death toll in Pakistan floods passes 1,280 -- and a third of them are children
Source: CNN
By Idris Mukhtar, Hannah Ritchie and Tara Subramaniam,
(CNN)Humanitarian agencies have warned Pakistan is in need of long-term aid as the death toll from its catastrophic flooding continues to climb.
The cumulative number of deaths since June 14 rose to 1,282 on Saturday, the country's National Disaster Management Authority reported, and almost a third of the victims are children. On Saturday alone there were a further 57 deaths, 25 of them children.
Aid agencies warn the country's woes are far from over -- and that as the disaster continues to unfold children will be among the most vulnerable.
The flooding -- the result of a combination of record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in Pakistan's northern mountains -- has been described as the worst the country has ever seen.
California weathers heat wave without rolling blackouts
Source: AP
By ADAM BEAM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A brutal Western heat wave brought California to the verge of ordering rolling blackouts but the state’s electrical grid managed to handle record-breaking demand.
The state’s 39 million people were warned Tuesday that demand — some of it from people cranking up the air conditioning — might outstrip supply as temperatures in many areas soared past 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which oversees the electrical grid, issued a Stage 3 emergency power alert — one step below ordering utilities to start rotating outages to ease the strain on the system. The move allowed it to draw on emergency power sources.
Demand swelled in the late afternoon and into the evening, with everyone from Gov. Gavin Newsom to the state’s legal marijuana business control agency urging people to turn off lights and reduce power or use backup generators.
CAISO said the peak electricity demand on Tuesday hit 52,061 megawatts, far above the previous high of 50,270 megawatts set on July 24, 2006.
UN chief asks world to 'massively' help flood-hit Pakistan
Source: AP
By MUNIR AHMED
ISLAMABAD (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world owes impoverished Pakistan “massive” help recovering from devastating floods because other nations have contributed more to the climate change thought to have triggered the deluge.
Months of monsoons and flooding have killed 1,391 people and affected 3.3 million in the Islamic nation. A half-million people there have become homeless. Planeloads of aid from the U.S., the United Arab Emirates and other countries have begun arriving. But there’s more to be done, Guterres said.
Nature, the U.N. chief said in Islamabad, has attacked Pakistan, which contributes less than 1% of global emissions, according to multiple experts. Nations ”who are more responsible for climate change...should have faced this challenge,” Guterres said, seated next to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“We are heading into a disaster,” Guterres added. “We have waged war on nature and nature is tracking back and striking back in a devastating way. Today in Pakistan, tomorrow in any of your countries.”
Floods in Italy kill 10; Survivors plucked from roofs, trees
Source: AP
By FANUEL MORELLI and FRANCES D'EMILIO
CANTIANO, Italy (AP) — Flash floods swept through several towns Friday in hilly central Italy after hours of exceptionally heavy rain, leaving 10 people dead and at least four missing. Dozens of survivors scrambled onto rooftops or up into trees to await rescue.
Floods invaded garages and basements and knocked down doors. In one town, the powerful rush of water pushed a car onto a second-story balcony, while elsewhere parked vehicles were crumpled on top of each other in the streets. Some farm fields near the sea were meters (yards) under water.
“It wasn’t a water bomb, it was a tsunami,” Riccardo Pasqualini, the mayor of Barbara, told Italian state radio about the sudden downpour Thursday evening that devastated his town in the Marche region near the Adriatic Sea.
He said the overnight flooding left the town’s 1,300 residents without drinking water. A mother and her young daughter were missing after trying to escape the floods, Pasqualini told the Italian news agency ANSA. Elsewhere in town, a boy was swept away from the arms of his mother, who was rescued.
Storm battering western Alaska causes widespread flooding
Source: AP
By MARK THIESSEN and JOCELYN GECKER
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A powerful storm traveling north through the Bering Strait on Saturday caused widespread flooding in several western Alaska coastal communities, knocking out power and sending residents fleeing for higher ground.
The force of the water moved some homes off their foundations, and one house in Nome was floating down a river until it got caught at a bridge.
The storm is what remains of Typhoon Merbok, a storm that is also influencing weather patterns as far away as California, where strong winds and a rare late-summer rainstorm were expected.
In Alaska, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths from the storm, said Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Officials had warned communities that some places could see the worst flooding in 50 years and water could take up to 14 hours to recede.
