Flooding in the UK

Heavy rains flooded the UK earlier this week and forecasters say nearly a month's worth of more rain (70 mm) could fall by the end of the week.  There were more than 500 flood warnings and alerts in place and with cold weather coming, there may be treacherous freezing conditions as well.  A total of three people died in the flood over the weekend including a 21 year old girl, 50 year old man and a 77 year old man.  More than 100,000 people were  contacted via telephone, letter, or text message of the flood coming because they had signed up for the Environment Agency's free Floodline Warnings Direct system.  Train networks were closed down or delayed up to seven hours, while some residents just kayaked down the streets.  Residents were also warned to boil tap water for fear that the water may have been contaminated by the floods.  The Environment Agency estimated that 940 properties have been flooded since last Wednesday and also flood defenses in England and Wales have protected nearly 50,000 properties.

We just talked about floods in class on Tuesday and one of the statistics was that the United Kingdom has a 4.8% flood-prone population which isn't very high compared to Bangladesh at 80%.  Flood prone environments include areas that are low lying parts of major floodplains, low lying coasts and deltas, small basins, areas below unsafe or inadequate dams, low lying inland shorelines, and alluvial fans.  The article did not touch on if the area was flood prone, but they did mention how flood defenses protected nearly 50,000 properties which shows how MDCs have ways to prevent damage.  Overall the major physical cause of this flood was heavy excessive rainfall and they were lucky to have forecasting and warning systems in order to prepare for what was to come.  Insurers and the government are attempting to strike up a deal in order to help the residents get back on their feet, but as the water level continues to rise, people are getting more uneasy.  The insurers want the place a surcharge on all insurance premiums to create new funding to cover flooding, but they also want the government to back up any shortfalls during intense flooding; so far there has been no deal on that  The events that just happened in the UK shows why insurance is so important and it is also important for homeowners to learn their rights and what they can ask of insurance companies why they pay claims.

http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC121127-0000072/More-flooding-in-the-UK,-icy-weather-on-the-way

A Blast from Natural Gas

A gas leak triggered an explosion in Springfield, Massachusetts that injured 18 people.  The explosion blew out every window within a three block radius and a 6 story apartment building was evacuated because the foundation started to buckle.  People were literally knocked off their feet by the blast and those that were injured included firefighters, policemen, gas company employees, and civilians.  According to Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, the blast was heard for miles and  it was a miracle that no one was killed.  The gas leak was located in a strip club, but thankfully everyone was had evacuated by the time it ignited.  A fire marshall told the press conference that the explosion took place 15 minutes after the gas was shut off.

A gas leak is a serious concern as you can see in the case of the explosion in Springfield.  Most people can tell a gas leak by the rotten egg odor or a hissing sound.  If someone hadn't noticed these signs in the strip club, many more people may have been injured or killed.  It is important to leave the area immediately and to not use any electrical devices that could trigger the gas to ignite. It is important for pipes to be checked for leaks regularly by a professional.  Also it is essential for land use planning, that buildings or houses are not to built over natural gas pipelines.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/23/15394216-blast-tied-to-natural-gas-rips-through-springfield-mass-buildings-18-hurt?lite#__utma=238145375.1944660864.1346965793.1353642130.1353727584.30&__utmb=238145375.8.9.1353727627939&__utmc=238145375&__utmx=-&__utmz=238145375.1353727584.30.28.utmcsr=google|utmccn=%28organic%29|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=%28not%20provided%29&__utmv=238145375.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc|us%20news=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.msnbc.msn.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=164249980

7.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Guatemala

Today off the Pacific coast of Guatemala, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred killing at least 39 people.  San Marcos, a mountain village 80 miles from the epicenter suffered most of the damage where 30 homes collapsed.  More than 300 people worked at rescuing 7 people that were buried alive at a sand extraction site.  The earthquake was about 20 miles deep and was shaking buildings as far away as Mexico City and El Salvador.  President Otto Perez Molina asked civilians to stay put and not travel due to dangerous highway collapses and debris.  He also encouraged civilians that were in the affected areas to evacuate and stated that the country was "on the highest level of alert for subsequent earthquakes in the next few hours" and that there is a very high risk of aftershocks.  There has not been any immediate reports of a tsunami on the Pacific coast, but Nicaragua's disaster management agency has issued a local tsunami alert.  Located along Guatemala's Northwest border, landslides cut off several highways and it may take 24 hours to reestablish transport links.  Many people throughout the country had felt the earthquake and fled to their homes in El Salvador, but there are no reports of injury or serious damage. 

This earthquake was located along the 'Ring of Fire' where about two thirds of all large earthquakes occur.  The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly about the hypocenter where earthquakes are measured.  And magnitude is measured on scales that describe the total energy released by the earthquake in the form of seismic waves that radiate outward from the fault plane.  The impact on people could have been worse from this major earthquake due to building quality, population density, distance from the fault, and duration of shaking.  Preventing earthquakes is not possible, but mitigation of the hazard is important for protection.  Most earthquakes losses are due to the collapse of buildings so it is important to have a building code which requires a site to be suitable for construction.  It is important to ensure that buildings won't be built over faults and that the building foundation are strong enough to withstand earthquakes.  Having trained rescue operations and plans to bring in assistance from outside the affected area is vital, overall it is important for a community to be prepared for a possible earthquake occurrence.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57546549/7.4-earthquake-shakes-guatemala/

Nor-easter Could Possibly Cause More Damage

As I've mentioned in a previous blog, a nor'easter is taking aim on the already ravaged coastline hit by Hurricane Sandy.  On Election day, the system affected part of the South with rain and thunderstorms, but is not making its way North towards the coast of New Jersey.  Enough rain may fall along the Atlantic coast to cause minor flooding problems where there may be street and highway flooding due to storm drains being blocked with sand and other debris. As the rain continues to move north into colder air, heavy snow may fall in some areas.  In addition to rain and snow, strong winds will hit the coast again gusting at 50 to 55 mph.   Winds of this magnitude can easily topple trees that are already damaged over and toss debris around making it dangerous.  With all the progress already made after Hurricane Sandy hit, this nor-easter may undo some of the progress made by power companies and public workers.   


http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/noreaster-to-cause-flooding-da/1138252

Heath Risks Victims of Hurricane Sandy May Face

There are some major health risks that victims of Hurricane Sandy may face in the wake of the storm.  Carbon monoxide exposure is the number one risk for people returning to their homes.  The weather is getting colder and many still lack power, so one may get carbon monoxide poisoning by using generators or stoves indoors to heat their homes.  Flood waters may contain bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that could make people sick, as well as sewage in the water can lead to intestinal diseases and infections.  People may be at risk of hypothermia in cold weather especially without power.  It is important to wear layers of clothing and drinking warm, sweet things to help maintain body temperature.  Drinking water may be contaminated because of sewage overflows in water treatment plants, so many areas are under a boil-water advisory.  Food may have been exposed to sewage water, flood waters, and improper refrigeration so it's important to think about food safety.  Lastly people who have heath conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure may not have access to their prescriptions which can be a major issue if they cannot get to pharmacies or in touch with a doctor.

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/02/7-health-risks-in-the-wake-of-superstorm-sandy/?iid=article_sidebar

Nor-easter may hit New York and New Jersey

The last thing the East coast needs is another storm after the devastating impact Hurricane Sandy has had already, but a nor'easter is predicted to hit and experts are concerned about further damage to the shorelines.  Hurricane Sandy has already torn apart hundreds of miles of dunes and protective sea walls along the coast and this lack of protection could lead to lowland flooding near the coast.  Due to storms in the past such as Hurricane Ida and Irene, many beaches along the Atlantic coast have become more vulnerable because of the erosion.  With dunes almost completely eroded away, communities are much more vulnerable to future storms that may hit.  A preventative measure that may minimize damage from future storms is to quickly repair and restore the coast.  The Department of Environmental Conservation has issued emergency permits for repairs in the coastal areas of New York.
The nor'easter storm is predicted to move from the Southeast Tuesday night to New Jersey on Wednesday.  It will be nowhere near the level of Sandy's tropical force winds, but because of the vulnerability of the coast, it could increase the damage dramatically.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/03/noreaster-new-york-new-jersey_n_2068916.html#slide=1706820

Hurricane Sandy death toll

On Saturday, the death toll from Hurricane Sandy is now at more than 110, New York has been the hardest hit at 48 deaths.  Some of the hardest hit parts of the state are still under rubble and areas are still flooded and officials fear that the number of deaths could continue to climb.  In New Jersey, state police confirmed 24 deaths linked to Sandy and some communities still remain under evacuation.  At least 9 deaths have been reported due to cases of hypothermia and car crashes with last week's snow and excessive wind.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-hurricane-sandy-deaths-climb-20121103,0,6945430.story

Hurricane Sandy's Damage

Hurricane Sandy did considerable damage to New York City services some of these include subways and buses, trains and airports, and power failures.  Subways services in areas of New York City were suspended until the weekend do to flooding in the tunnels. The major concern was getting the water out of the tunnels which is a daunting task due to inspecting, cleaning, and repairing all the electrical components.  Some of these electrical components include signalling systems which prevent train collisions, power to propel the trains, and communications, pumps, and vent systems that release exhaust.  Seven subway tunnels were flooded by the storm where a 14 foot storm surge topped the subways entrances and grates, MTA crews pumped out the water into the East River. 
Mayor Bloomberg expects that most of the power in the city would be restored by Sunday, but areas in Westchester and Long Island will most likely wait the longest for full power restoration.  One of the most serious challenges to the city is restoring the tunnels which need to be cleaned of sludge and debris.  Some airports have started to receive some flights on Wednesday October 31, but most airports and all railroads remain closed.  New York's wastewater treatment plants have been flooded and now New York's waterways are mixed with sewage and stormwater which are flooding into the streets and buildings. In Breezy Point, Queens, at least 111 homes were destroyed due to wind-fueled fire and fire engines were kept from the blaze because of severe flooding.  

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/30/nyregion/hurricane-sandys-aftermath.html

Why We Need FEMA

Hurricane Sandy has destroyed millions of homes and in some cases loss of life and livelihood.  Not only has there been flooding, but homes businesses, and cars have also been damaged or lost.  There have been estimates of up to $20 billion in damage which most of it may be replaced by insurance payouts.  When states face disasters of this proportion, the first place people may turn to is the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Sandy shows us why we need FEMA that can respond to states in their time of need.  It is of course expected that states and private citizens our to respond as much as they can, but we cannot do it all ourselves.  Mitt Romney has previously advocated that he wants FEMA to be eliminated, privatized, or handed off to states in a block grant.  A block grant is a fixed amount that will be unable to expand in times of need which is unimaginable that federal disaster relief could be administered this way.  It is important to really listen to what the candidates are saying when they want to get rid of federal government functions such as FEMA.  People may not think about what kind of impact this may have when a natural disaster does occur, but it is important to have a funded federal government when we meet challenges like Hurricane Sandy.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/31/opinion/bernstein-fema/index.html?iref=obinsite

How will Hurricane Sandy affect the Election?

Hurricane Sandy posed a huge test for Obama as the whole country watched to see how he would react to this natural disaster.  This crisis offers him an opportunity to show the rest of the country how he can command which some believe he has been lacking.  Both candidates had canceled their campaigns and decided to focus on the troubled East coast.  It would be wise for Romney to redesign his ads and focus more on hope of new leadership rather than generating criticism.  The effect Sandy has on the media which mainly focused on weather and much less the presidential campaign, gives the candidates less space and time to influence events.  This is an extremely valuable time for the campaigns being that it is only days before the election.  People on the East coast are going to be preoccupied with personal hardships and are focusing less on politics, some fear that voting in lower income areas will be depressed and this may hurt Democrats. 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/29/opinion/zelizer-weather-campaign/index.html