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President Barack Obama declared on Monday afternoon that the flooding and tornadoes that hit Mississippi in late December constitute an official major disaster. The declaration frees up federal dollars to go toward aiding five particularly storm-struck areas in the state: Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman and Tippah counties. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant expressed gratitude to Obama and… Continue reading Obama: Mississippi Flooding an Official Disaster |
Category Archives: Natural Disasters
Mississippi River is About to Have a Record Flood
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The Mississippi River is flooding in a big way right now, at the wrong time of year, and is forecasted to match or break 22-year-old crest records over the next few days. Meteorologists are calling it “insane.” Over the next three to four days, the Mississippi is predicted to reach a crest height of 49.7 feet… Continue reading Mississippi River is About to Have a Record Flood |
Texas tornado’s winds topped 200 mph; 11 dead in storms
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A tornado that blew through Garland, Texas, killing eight people Saturday night has been classified as an EF4, with winds up to 200 mph. It was one of two confirmed tornadoes that tore through North Texas in a storm that killed 11 people, including an infant. The National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado that touched… Continue reading Texas tornado’s winds topped 200 mph; 11 dead in storms |
Three German backpackers reported among dead in Australian bushfires
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Sydney (dpa) – Three German backpackers and a local farmer were reported killed in bushfires on the south coast of Western Australia Wednesday. The German man and two women were killed in their car as they tried to flee the raging bushfires, the broadcaster ABC reported local people near Esperance saying. A police spokesman declined to… Continue reading Three German backpackers reported among dead in Australian bushfires |
Major Earthquake Rocks Southeast Asia
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A massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan Monday, with its effects felt in parts of Pakistan and India, as well. The earthquake’s epicenter hit Jarm, Afghanistan, a city about 150 miles from Kabul. More than 52 people were killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to local news outlet Dawn, with Al Jazeera reporting casualty tolls higher… Continue reading Major Earthquake Rocks Southeast Asia |
Philippines braces for Typhoon Koppu
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Manila (dpa) – Philippine authorities on Friday prepared evacuation plans and deployed emergency teams and relief supplies as Typhoon Koppu barrelled towards the country’s north-eastern coast. Koppu was packing maximum winds of 130 kilometres per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 160 kph as it moved west at a speed of 15 kph, the weather… Continue reading Philippines braces for Typhoon Koppu |
Guatemala Mudslide Death Toll May Soar
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The death toll in the massive mudslide in Guatemala is likely to climb from dozens to hundreds as hopes for finding survivors faded two days after the disaster struck. At least 85 people have been confirmed dead so far in the mudslide which struck the town of El Cambray near capital, Guatemala City. “The figure we… Continue reading Guatemala Mudslide Death Toll May Soar |
Tropical Storm Joaquin, Upgraded to Hurricane, May Head to East Coast
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Tropical storm Joaquin, which some meteorologists expect could be headed toward the East Coast of the United States over the weekend, was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday morning by the National Weather Service. Joaquin formed late Monday over the Atlantic Ocean and strengthened east of the Bahamas on Tuesday afternoon, with wind speeds… Continue reading Tropical Storm Joaquin, Upgraded to Hurricane, May Head to East Coast |
Taiwan evacuates thousands as ‘super typhoon’ nears
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Taiwan has evacuated thousands of residents and tourists as “super typhoon” Dujuan headed towards the island, gathering strength on its approach to the east coast. Torrential rains and high winds are forecast across Taiwan from Monday afternoon, with landfall predicted around 15:00 GMT. Almost 3,000 people, most of them tourists, were evacuated on Sunday from Taiwan’s… Continue reading Taiwan evacuates thousands as ‘super typhoon’ nears |
Chile declares state of emergency after quake
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Santiago (dpa) – The Chilean government declared a state of emergency in a central region Thursday after a magnitude-8.3 earthquake killed 11 people and caused widespread disruption. President Michelle Bachelet declared the state of emergency for the region around the port city of Coquimbo, near the epicentre of the quake which struck late Wednesday, daily El… Continue reading Chile declares state of emergency after quake |