Deadly Blast

This morning the most powerful volcanic blast of the week occured in Indonesia.  This blasts comes in the same week that a tsunami hit killing 413.  Because of the two events happening in the same week the emergency response crews have been pushed to the limit.  Some problems that they are having are things we have talked about class.  Some people returned to their houses to check on crops and livestock to only be hit by another eruption.  They have warning systems and once a warning has gone off soldiers have been put in place to evacuate those, especially the reluctant ones, who live on the mountainside.  The biggest concern is that there will be a more powerful blast soon like we have learned about in many disasters.  That is people think that once there is a powerful event it is safe, while a more powerful event can easily occur.  Educating these people is very important has disasters like this are high risk because of the location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101030/ap_on_re_as/as_indonesia_disasters

Strong Winds in Wisconsin

The storm that passed over Wisconsin and the rest of the Midwest this week was similar to a hurricane.  The National Wheather Service said that the systems pressure was an all time record low on Tuesday.  This pressure was worst than the worst storms of the last century including the storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald freighter.  This storm had the force of a blizzard and I got to experience it first hand.  The storm made our football practice almost unbearable as temperatures dropped into the 30's with winds up to 50 mph that led to horizontal rain.  While the worst part of the storm was the wind, it is nothing to take lightly.  As many know a Notre Dame student was killed this week as he filmed practice on a high rise that tipped over in the storm.  Attached is a link about the Notre Dame accident.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5742081

Argentina Tornado

A tornado hit northern Argentina yesterday, killing four and injuring over 100 more.  Those killed included a 1, 19, 28, and 87 year old.  Among the injured 10 more are listed in critical condition.  The serious injuries included blows to the head, fractured limbs, and internal injuries.  This obvioulsy means that some people were not prepared for this tornado and did not take appropriate action for safety.  Most likely the people who were killed or hurt have lower incomes and did not have a sturdy enough place to take shelter.  Among the 10,000 residents of the town 80% are still without electricty or cell-phone service.  Those with damaged homes have been able to take shelter in nearby schools and churches though.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/22/argentina.tornado/index.html

Typhoon Megi

A typhoon the left 11 dead in the Phillipines is headed towards China.  Currently Typhoon Megi is about 370 miles away from China and is expected to make landfall by October 23.  On the Saffir-Simpson scale Megi is a catetgory 4 (2nd highest rating) and is capable of producing catastrophic damage with winds over 200 kph.  A big concern is the heavy rains that are expected since over 2000 have already died in flooding in China this year.  The good news is that China is already preparing for this typhoon.  A low level warning as been sent out to notify people of the oncoming storm.  Many businesses are closing up shop to prevent damage.  This is good since in the Phillipines Typhoon Megi caused as estimated $32 million is damage.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-19/typhoon-megi-strengthens-to-category-4-storm-heads-toward-southern-china.html

Cost of Pakistan Flood

The Pakistan flood that occured this summer caused around $9.7 billion in damage.  This flood cost more than an earthquake that hit Pakistan in 2005 that killed over 86,000 people.  Specifically agriculture and livestoke were hit hard along with homes and the infrastucture of Pakistan.  Some of the results to the human population were 1,700 deaths, 20 million displaced, 700,000 cases of acute diarrhea, 800,000 cases of acute respitory infection, 1 million cases of skin infection, and 183,000 cases of malaria. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said there needs to be economic reforms to help out those affected by the flood. "The most important step that Pakistan can take is to pass meaningful reforms that will expand its tax base. The government must require that the economically affluent and elite in Pakistan support the government and people of Pakistan."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/14/pakistan.flood.cost/index.html

2nd Toxic Spill Looming

If it wasn't bad enough that there was a toxic spill that killed 8 people last week in Honduras, now it is expected that it is only a matter of time for a 2nd spill to occur.  500,000 cubic meters of the red sludge is in another resovoir which has signs of ruptures and cracks.  It is expected that this one will rupture to spilling out more of the toxic red sludge so there have been 3 emergency dams built to contain a future spill.  The owner of the facility was arrested eariler this week for endangering people and harming the environment.  The company made a statement saying that they have been following safety regulations and they will set up a fund for those who have been evacuated. 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/10/12/hungary.toxic/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Hurricane Threatens Cancun

Hurricane Paula ripped through Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday night.  It has damaged homes and has forced schools to close in Honduras as it has gained force and been upgraded to a category 2 hurricane with winds up to 100 mph.  It is expected to hit the Yucatan Peninsula tomorrow morning so warnings have been given out.  The Yucatan Peninsula is covered with tourist resorts and many offshore tourist attractions.  This hurricane has caused many of those attractions to cancel reservations as many have taken their boats ashore.  Paula dumped 6 inches of rain in Honduras and destroyed 19 homes so many are preparing for the damaging storm. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101013/ap_on_bi_ge/tropical_weather

Nigerian Lead Poisoning

In Nigeria at least 400 children have died since March due to lead poisoning and there are potentially 30,000 that could be affected by lead contamination.  This contamination is the result of illegal gold mining that is occuring in Nigeria.  Many villagers are practicing small scale gold extraction from lead containing ore inside their homes which has led to contaminated soil. The clean up started in June, replacing top soil, but the rainy season in August stopped the clean up process for some time.  As for patients the focus are on children but once treated patients should not return to contaminated areas, which often happens.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/05/nigeria.lead.poisoning/index.html

Red Sludge

Red sludge flowed into the Danube River in Hungary today.  The Danube is the second largest river in Europe and is a key water source for many European nations.  On Monday a waste storage reservior of an aluminum plant collasped and released a red sludge with a high concentration of metals, some that cause cancer.  Crews have been cleaning up dead animal carcasses and at least four people have died.  Even though, the sludge was considered hazardous the Hungarian Academy of Sciences said it was not dangerous to the environment.  The main concern is the damage the sludge is going to do to the topsoil and if it contaminates drinking water for several nations.  Also if the sludge dries it can turn to airborne dust which can cause respirtory problems.  It is thought, and hoped, that it will not cause any more environmental damage.  At first the pH level of the water reached 13, which is the same as bleach, but now has been reduced to 10.  While there is hope to contain the spill some spots where the spill first hit are now dead zones.  It was said that if this occurred at night most people would have died. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEMWh6EjJoY

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101008/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_hungary_sludge_flood

Tropical Storm Continues to Dominate

Tropical Storm Nicole's death toll in the U.S. has risen to 6 total; 5 in North Carolina and 1 in Pennsylvania.  North Carolina has declared a state of emergency and many eastern states have flood warnings issued.  Many records for rain have been set including 21.5 inches in North Carolina.  Many are without power and there are rescue crews out on hovercrafts reaching people stranded in homes and cars.  To go along with heavy rains there are also strong winds of 45 mph that makes this storm similar to a hurricane.  Outside the U.S. this storm has been linked to 12 deaths and 8 more missing people in countries south of Florida.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101001/us_nm/us_storm_nicole