Blizzard in the Northwest

Winter seasons has just begun and, on Monday, a vicious storm struck the western states as it starts the holiday break. In Seattle roads were covered with snow and ice causing at least three deaths and tens of thousands people's power went out. Mondays temperatures were in the mid-20s,  wind blowing snow around made it feel colder than that and temperatures are suppose to continue to drop throughout the week.

It is predicted that the blizzard will hit Utah tonight and create heavy snows surrounding the area. Idaho, Utah, and Nevada officials are telling people to stay off roads if possible and are even closing down some highways and schools for preparation. 

Winter storm are very dangerous and people who experience these winter storms need to be prepared for anything. Having the car filled up with a full tank of gas, blankets, boats, and extra warm gear in the car just in case is a smart idea.  There is no way to stop the snow or make it less dangerous, but by being prepared, ready, and smart decisions can help eliminate the damages done.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101123/ap_on_re_us/us_western_weather

Flood in China leaves coal miners trapped

On Sunday (Saturday 11/20 USA time) in Southwestern China, a 41 workers were underground, in a coal mine, when it started to flood and only 13 escaped which leaves 28 are missing. The workers were doing safety work to get the mine ready for an increase is productivity. It is not know what caused the flooding, but rescuers still haven't been able to find any of the 28 missing. There is an estimate of 141,000 cubic feet in the mining pit.

Coal mines are dug into mountain(hill)  creating the land to become less stable and more vulnerable for a disaster to happen. 
China depends on coal for 70% of its energy production and has the deadliest mines in the world. Working as a miner you need to know the danger you can be put in and what to do in an emergency situation. Also living around the mountain were the coal mine is the community needs to know the danger for them, the warning signs and the precautions to take.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101122/ap_on_re_as/as_china_mine_flood

Minnesota clean up after big snow storm

This past weekend a huge snow storm swept through Minnesota creating more than 400 traffic accidents and power-outage. Snowfall varies from a couple of inches to a foot across the state. Snow is common during this time of the year, but this has been the largest snowstorm during November within the past 2 decades. Over 200,000 people lost power during the storm and 10,000 of them didn't have their power restored until Monday afternoon. Normally when a large amount of snowfall is predicted people will try and stay off the roads, if possible, but since it forecasted accumulation of a few inches people were only prepared for those few inches.
This year, we have been lucky and haven't had much snowfall yet. It is only the beginning of the season and states that normally get snow needs to be prepared/expecting for the large amounts.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2010-11-13-midwest-snow_N.htm?csp=obinsite
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/winter/2010-11-15-minnesota-storm_N.htm

Costa Rica rainfalls creates deadly landslide

Early Thursday morning the Costa Rica government put out a red alert, the highest level, for the whole country and declared a national emergency due to the rainfall from Tropical Storm Tomas. After two days of heavy rainfall, the first landslide occurred around 12:30am in San Antonio de Escazu, a popular travel destination.  Which killed at least 20 people, 15 still missing, and sent 1,500 people to shelters. Throughout the day rescuers searched for survivors, but during the evening the rescue crews had to stop due to more dangerous rain conditions on its way.

On Wednesday, the town of Parrita receive at least 13 inches of rain which created more than 200 homes to be underwater and the bridge leading into town destroyed. More landslides were created due to the rainfall throughout Costa Rica.

Costa Rica country's national emergency fund had sufficient funds before the disaster, which will help with the relief period, but the president is requesting more aid relief to their ally countries.  Many infrastructure will need repair along with homes and fields. The landslide and torrents damaged tubing and the supply system throughout the country, leaving 700,000 people without clean drinking water.

http://www.ticotimes.net/News/Daily-News/Escazu-Landslide-Leaves-at-Least-20-Dead-10-Missing-Costa-Rica-on-Red-Alert_Thursday-November-04-2010

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gj2y2ws_Eo5nuD8qvjYiMLh9Zmhg?docId=N0171621288917288262A

Another Blast from Mount Merapi raise death toll

On October 26th, the initial eruption of Mount Merapi kill about 40 people. It occurred less than a day after a tsunami hit a remote island on the western end of Indonesia. After the first eruption it was predicted that there would be dozens of big explosions that would follow and ease pressure building up behind a magma done, but the eruptions are intensifying leaving experts who have been studying Merapi baffled. After the most recent eruption, early this morning, 77 people died in the village of Bronggang; making the death poll double at 122.

 Government thought Bronggang, which was 9miles away from the crater, would be a "safe zone" and did not have people evacuate. Gases avalanche down the volcano with a loud, thunderous roar; everything is covered in ash. People ran into the streets trying to escape. Most were killed by the gases or burns. The morgues are piled up with dead bodies and the hospitals are overflowing with injured people; mostly burns or respiratory problems and a few with broken bones and cuts.

Mount Merapi is one of the world's most active volcanoes; killing about 1,500 people within the last century. The greatest danger Mount Merapi has always been pyroclastic flows, which is the primary cause of death for volcano eruptions. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated into shelters within the last week. Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a horseshoe shaped string of faults that lines the Pacific Ocean, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanoes.

There was a warning out that it was going to erupt again, but the "safe zone" was not as big as it should have been. To avoid the death toll to increase, people need to stay clear of the area (make the safe zone larger), get aid, and be prepared for another. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101105/ap_on_re_as/as_indonesia_disasters

Hurrican Tomas kills 12

In Saint Lucia, hurricane Tomas swept across on Saturday having winds of 90 miles per hour. 12 have been confirmed dead, but there could be more buried under the pills of disaster.  It was only a hurricane one but it created a huge mess because of the area it hit was very populated. It created landslides that cut off road networks to the main town and some are scared that once they can reach the town it could add to the number of dead. Many communities are still without power and many homes roofs were ripped off; officials said that up to 100 million dollars of damage were done. Tomas has now weakened into a tropical Storm, but could regain strength as it headed towards Haiti.

Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January and is still recovering. 250,000 people died, many ill or injured, and millions lost there homes and are still living in tent camps.  Officials appealed to Haitains in the tent caps to start evacuating, they encouraged them to travel to homes of family and friends.  Haiti is very vulnerable right now and any heavy rains and powerful winds could pose a threat and create a longer recovery time. A rainstorm in mid-October created more problems, increased the complexity and killed at least 10 Haintain while it swept across the camps. Government officials are trying to do everything they can to perpare for this storm, but it is very hard with the limited resources. 


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101102/wl_afp/caribbeanstormstlucia
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Tropical+Storm+Tomas+downgraded+heads+Haiti/3754900/story.html