Kara: December 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010

Spain flooding cause thousands to evacuate

Strong torrential rains hit southern Spain on Tuesday caused flooding and 3,000 people to evacuate their homes. In the town of Ecija, 30% was under six feet of water. Since Saturday, December 4th, there has been heavy rainfall and strong winds across Spain and Portugal, the rain continued through Wednesday. The flood killed a boy when he could not get out of this dads car. Most people were prepared for the rain and stayed away from flooding areas. Even though a lot of homes were damaged and people had to evacuate their homes only two people were killed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8188905/Boy-9-washed-away-in-flood-in-Spain.html

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=47633&src=nhrss

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Thousands+evacuated+floods+southern+Spain/3940751/story.html

Ecuador volcano erupts

Last Saturday, December 4th, Ecuador authorities evacuated anyone within 8 miles from the Tungurahua volcano as a precaution. On Sunday the volcano started blowing ashes and gases into the sky and super-hot pyroclastic flows surging down its slopes. Who ever was not evacuated the day before was told to leave the area immediately. It was under red alert and no one was aloud in the area. No deaths have been report and little damage. Recently this volcano has been more active and scientists have been keeping and eye out for any eruptions like this one. The surrounding area knew the warning signs a volcano and started to prepare themselves for the eruption. Once they saw the gases and ashes some started evacuating and others waiting until the could hear the rumbling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11920406
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jEB4oKdCOZ_KX0oTyLvTq1xj3eoA?docId=681abba0fb7849d59c78c20adae5ddd6

Flood Watch for Western Washington

Western Washington has a flood watch from Saturday night into Monday. Chehalis, Skookumchuck and Cowlitz rivers are expected to get some flooding, but forecasters are uncertain about the duration and exact location of the heaviest rain. A watch is just means that conditions are favorable for flooding, but there might not be any. People should be aware of this watch and be prepared; people should have all traveling around the watch areas done before Saturday afternoon.
Even though this is just a watch Washington authorities wants all people ready just in case conditions worsen. Many times people don't take watching seriously and when it comes they are not prepared causing more damage than should have.

http://www.chronline.com/article_5acea938-03e2-11e0-961e-001cc4c03286.html

Flooding in Panama causes Canal to close

The Panama Canal has only closed down two other times in it's 96-year history. On Wednesday heavy rains caused it flood and shut down. The Canal runs 48 miles long and is an important element for shipping between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. The canal was closed down until Thursday evening (17hours later). This rain is expected to come and go throughout the next few months. Every year during winter seasons heavy rains ruins crops and roads, but this time it had it highest record.
Floods can damage a lot of homes and make people go missing or kill others. This flood did some damage to homes around surrounding rivers, about 50 people order to leave their homes, only three missing, and 8 dead in central America. It also created lost revenue for some whose ship couldn't get through. Now that the waters are lower ships can travel through and people can return to their homes. The Panamanian people need to be prepare for the rains this season as predicted to be heavy than normal.

In this picture above you can see how high the canal is by looking at the surrounding trees.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/12/08/panama.canal.closed/index.html
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/12/10/Panama-Canal-closed-due-to-flood-reopens/UPI-43211291963866/
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/12/201012962741835420.html

Heavy rains flood parts of Australia

On Friday December 10th authorities in Australia declared 45 communities along the country's east coast disaster areas. For weeks there has been drenching rains that have killed four people, destroyed crops and houses. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes. December is the normal time for rains, but this seasons there has been more heavier rains; in one area up to 4inches in one night. Sandbags have been placed around homes and businesses to try and lessen the damage. Drier weather is predicting for a short period of time, but than more heavy rain is the be expected for the end of the week and early next week.
There's not much people can do to minimize rain damage, but hopefully more people can evacuate and get away to try and keep the death toll at only 4.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101210/ap_on_re_as/as_australia_flood;_ylt=ArMbx7PTPSW9n3UokKuLpwtvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJvdGd1Nm00BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAxMjEwL2FzX2F1c3RyYWxpYV9mbG9vZARwb3MDMjcEc2VjA3luX2FydGljbGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNoZWF2eXJhaW5zZmw-

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Snow batters Europe

On Thursday, Dec 2, snowfall swept through northern Europe causing problems from travelers. Roads covered in snow, airports closed, the Eurostar international rail services cancelled and thousands of Schools closed, Thursday and Friday. The unseasonable cold snap which was around minus 33 degrees caught people by surprise and killing 28 people. On Thursday, in the northern French region of Normandy snowfall was around 60 centimeters which is the largest snowfall in more than 40 years.

More rain for Venezuela

Additional torrential rains are predicted to come throughout much of Venezuela; which wouldn't that big of a deal except last week torrential rains caused widespread flooding and mudslides. Thousands of homes were destroyed and 34 people killed. Many of the deaths that have occurred were in poor areas caused by landslides that swept away the houses on the steep hillsides. About 75,000 people have taken refuge at many shelters. Relief shelters are already overcrowded and more help is needed. Since many of the States that have been hit hard are expected to get more rain today, Sunday, they are very vulnerable and not ready for this "second wind".