A swarm of more than 70 earthquakes rocked southern California near the Mexico border Sunday. The most power quake measured 5.5 and damaged buildings in Brawley near the epicenter. Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com including details of the areas ‘shaky’ past and maps of the latest quakes.
To monitor earthquakes closer to Colorado, check out our earthquake activity page.
Colorado’s central mountains experienced an earthquake Tuesday afternoon that rattled towns in the area. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the magnitude 3.3 temblor occurred at 3:21pm MDT. The epicenter was in Eagle County 10 miles north of Basalt or 16 miles east of Glenwood Springs. It occurred at a shallow depth of 3.1 miles. Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com including details on Colorado’s ‘shaky’ past.
Just nine days after an earthquake claimed the lives of seven people in northern Italy, a second temblor struck the area early Tuesday morning. Rescuers were continuing to comb the rubble as officials confirmed that at least 15…
According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the U.S. has seen a record number of billion dollar disasters in 2011. Thus far this year the nation has seen 10 such disasters and with hurricane season far from over, it seems likely the number will grow.
The events range from the Groundhog Day Blizzard to Hurricane Irene’s recent devastating blow to the East Coast. In all, the disasters represent more than $35 billion in losses and that is no including Irene’s yet to be determined toll.
Below is the list and narrative for each disaster from the NCDC. For the latest disaster news, be sure to check out the Natural Disasters Examiner.
Hurricane Irene, August 20-29, 2011 While it will take several months to determine an accurate estimate of the damage from Hurricane Irene, there is no question it will rank as the 10th billion-dollar weather event of the year. This 10th U.S. billion-dollar disaster officially breaks the annual record dating back to 1980.
Upper Midwest Flooding, Summer, 2011 Melting of an above-average snow pack across the Northern Rocky Mountains combined with above-average precipitation caused the Missouri and Souris Rivers to swell beyond their banks across the Upper Midwest (MT, ND, SD, NE, IA, KS, MO). An estimated 11,000 people were forced to evacuate Minot, North Dakota due to the record high water level of the Souris River, where 4,000 homes were flooded. Numerous levees were breached along the Missouri River, flooding thousands of acres of farmland. Estimated losses exceed $2.0 billion as the event continues to unfold (as of 8/15). The flooding also stretched into the Canadian Prairies, where property and agriculture losses were expected to surpass $1.0 billion, at least 5 deaths.
Mississippi River flooding, Spring-Summer, 2011 Persistent rainfall (nearly 300 percent normal precipitation amounts in the Ohio Valley) combined with melting snowpack caused historical flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Estimated economic loss ranges from $2.0-4.0 billion; at least 2 deaths. Below are more detailed stats, which are preliminary, as the event continues to unfold (as of 8/15): $500 million to agriculture in Arkansas; $320 million in damage to Memphis, Tennessee; $800 million to agriculture in Mississippi; $317 million to agriculture and property in Missouri’s Birds Point-New Madrid Spillway; $80 million for the first 30 days of flood fighting efforts in Louisiana.
Southern Plains/Southwest Drought, Heatwave, & Wildfires, Spring-Summer, 2011 Drought, heatwave, and wildfires have created major impacts across the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Arkansas and Louisiana. In Texas and Oklahoma, respectively, 75% and 63% of range and pasture conditions were classified in ‘very poor’ condition as of mid-August. Wildfire fighting/suppression costs for the region are also ~$1 million / day with over 2,000 homes and structures lost. The total direct losses (as of August 15) to agriculture, cattle and structures are well over $5.0 billion; both direct and total economic losses will rise dramatically as the event continues.
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, May 22-27, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (MO, TX, OK, KS, AR, GA, TN, VA, KY, IN, IL, OH, WI, MN, PA) with an estimated 180 tornadoes and 177 deaths. Notably, an EF-5 tornado struck Joplin, MO resulting in at least 141 deaths, making it the deadliest single tornado to strike the U.S. since modern tornado record keeping began in 1950. Over $4.9 billion insured losses for event; total losses greater than $7.0 billion; 177 deaths.
Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes, April 25-30, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (AL, AR, LA, MS, GA, TN, VA, KY, IL, MO, OH, TX, OK) with an estimated 305 tornadoes and 327 deaths. Of those fatalities, 240 occurred in Alabama. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak, an EF-5, hit northern Alabama, killing 78 people. Several major metropolitan areas were directly impacted by strong tornadoes including Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville in Alabama and Chattanooga, Tennessee, causing the estimated damage costs to soar. Over $6.6 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $9.0 billion; 327 deaths.
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 14-16, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (OK, TX, AR, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, VA, PA) with an estimated 160 tornadoes. Despite the large overall number of tornadoes, few were classified as intense, with just 14 EF-3, and no EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes identified. Over $1.4 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.0 billion; 38 deaths [22 of which were in North Carolina].
Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes, April 8-11, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (NC, SC, TN, AL, TX, OK, KS, IA, WI) with an estimated 59 tornadoes. Over $1.5 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.2 billion; numerous injuries, 0 deaths.
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 4-5, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (KS, MO, IA, IL, WI, KY, GA, TN, NC, SC) with an estimated 46 tornadoes. Over $1.6 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.3 billion; 9 deaths.
Groundhog Day Blizzard, Jan 29-Feb 3, 2011 Large winter storm impacting many central, eastern and northeastern states. The city of Chicago was brought to a virtual standstill as between 1 and 2 feet of snow fell over the area. Insured losses greater than $1.1 billion; total losses greater than $2.0 billion; 36 deaths.
Nearly a dozen earthquakes have hit southern Colorado in the past 24 hours including a strong magnitude 5.3 temblor, the largest in the state since 1973. The quakes are occurring nearly 10 years ago to the date that a similar earthquake swarm struck the same area near Trinidad.
Yesterday morning a minor magnitude 2.9 quake struck but that was merely a warm up for what was to follow. A magnitude 4.6 quake then struck in the evening followed by the magnitude 5.3 quake just before midnight.
The USGS reports that the most powerful quake was felt as far away as the Denver metro area. Some homes and highways were damaged in the area of the quake.
For the complete story on the quake, be sure to read the story on Examiner.com: Earthquake swarm strikes Colorado; Strong magnitude 5.3 biggest of 11 temblors
You can also monitor earthquake activity in Colorado on our earthquake page here.
Nearly 8,000 miles away the power of the tsunami caused by the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake was felt in a resounding fashion. New satellite imagery released by NASA shows 50 square miles of ice from the Sulzberger Ice Shelf on the coast of Antarctica being broken off due to the waves.
Scientists have speculated that a tsunami could cause flexing of ice and result in pieces breaking off. The quake and resultant tsunami in Japan have now proven that theory.
NASA researchers utilized imagery from the European Space Agency’s Envisat satellite. The before and after pictures clearly show numerous icebergs having been calved from the shelf.
18 hours after the quake, the tsunami reached Antarctica. Imagery taken just prior to the waves reaching the Sulzberger Ice Shelf show it complete intact. Five days later, imagery shows massive icebergs floating away from the shelf.
The tsunami is estimated to have been only one foot high when it reached the Earth’s southernmost continent. However the stress was enough to break apart the 260 foot thick shelf and calve an area of ice equal to the size of Manhattan Island in New York.
Douglas MacAyeal of the University of Chicago and one of the researchers who made the discovery said the event shows how connected the planet’s systems are.
“This is an example not only of the way in which events are connected across great ranges of oceanic distance, but also how events in one kind of Earth system, i.e., the plate tectonic system, can connect with another kind of seemingly unrelated event: the calving of icebergs from Antarctica’s ice sheet,” MacAyeal said in a statement.
Satellite imagery from governments and private industry has been useful to scientists and the public in analyzing the disaster. NASA has trained its eyes in the sky on the disaster struck region and Google has released stunning imagery from its partners.
This story was originally posted on Examiner.com for the Natural Disasters Examiner. Be sure to check there for the latest natural disasters news.
Japan is continuing to recover from the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the resultant tsunami that struck the nation in March. This past week Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) released new images of its Fukushima power plant as the massive waves struck the facility.
Damage at the power plant was extensive and in seeing the new photos one can understand why the nuclear facility was unable to withstand the blow. Waves are seen in the photos sweeping over a sea wall and soon enveloping the interior of the plant.
Waves of more than 30 feet resulted from the earthquake, the fourth largest since 1900, and were responsible for extensive damage and a staggering death toll. More than 91,000 structures were totally destroyed by the waves that swept away entire towns.
According to the National Police Agency, 15,129 lives were claimed. The toll however is expected to continue to climb as another 9,034 people are reported missing. As it stands now the quake ranks as Japan’s fifth deadliest in history but will likely hit the number four spot when the final death toll is calculated.
Related: Extensive damage from within Japan’s stricken nuclear power plant (Examiner.com)
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The situation brought on by last week’s earthquake and tsunami continues to worsen in Japan. Aftershocks continue at an astounding rate, the humanitarian disaster is growing and the threat of a nuclear disaster has prompted the United States to begin evacuations of military families.
As reported by the Natural Disasters Examiner, the Department of Defense announced this morning that the State Department was planning voluntary evacuations of military families and the families of government employees from Japan. The U.S. will also work to evacuate civilians that live within a 50 mile radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The power facility sustained significant damage in the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last Friday. Critical cooling systems at the plant continue to fail, and Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the plant, has struggled to regain control of the reactors.
Col. Otto Feather, 374th Airlift Wing commander at Yokota Air Base, told his command in a radio address, “I know there are a lot of people trying to figure out how to get out of here, and I’m not surprised that there are people that want to get on the road.”
The international community has joined with Japan’s own resources in aiding with the recovery. More than 100,000 Japanese Self-Defense Force personnel have been deployed, and tens of thousands of agencies from across the globe, including the United States military, are on scene or rushing to provide assistance. The U.S. Navy had aircrews contaminated with radiation and has since repositioned its ships in the area.
The disasters have led to an unfolding humanitarian crisis as more than one million are without power and supplies such as food and water are becoming scarce. The catastrophe the nation faces has been called the worst crisis for Japan since World War II.
On Tuesday, March 9th, a sizeable magnitude 7.2 quake struck off the east coast of Japan. It triggered a small tsunami and was considered a minor event. Several smaller quakes followed but they were only the opening act.
On Friday, March 11th the earth let loose with what was the fourth largest earthquake to strike the globe since 1900. The massive 9.0 temblor shook the Japanese island of Honshu and triggered a tsunami 23 feet high that struck the coastline. The waves traveled across the Pacific causing damage as far away as California.
Since that time, earthquakes continue to roil under the ocean and on the Japanese mainland. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has recorded more than 500 earthquakes over magnitude 4.0 in the past seven days in the area. Several of these were substantial quakes of magnitude 6.0 or higher.
An animation, seen below, show the tremendous level of activity has been released and is absolutely astounding to watch. Two foreshocks are seen before the massive quake on Friday and then the swarm of aftershocks begins with startling frequency and intensity.
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The massive magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday has brought incredible devastation to the nation. The death toll continues to climb and there are reports of thousands of people missing even as a nuclear power plant threatens to release dangerous radiation.
Commercial buildings and homes were reduced to rubble in the magnitude 8.9 earthquake – the fifth largest seen globally since 1900. Along the cost of Japan’s main island of Honshu, a monstrous tsunami 23 feet high pushed ashore wiping away everything in its path. The devastation was so massive it was easily spotted by NASA satellites.
The death toll has now climbed over 600 people with at least 1,000 missing. The Kyodo News Service is reporting that according to city officials, 9,500 people in the town of Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture are missing. The town normally has a population of 17,000.
An explosion at a damaged nuclear power facility increased concerns that a deadly radiation leak may be imminent. The blast at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant sent smoke billowing into the air and is reported to have injured four workers.
Government officials insist no dangerous levels of radiation have been released. Nevertheless, they have increased the evacuation radius around the damaged plant from 6 miles (10 km) to 12 miles (20km). A 6 mile (10 km) evacuation zone around the Fukushima No. 2 plant to the south remains in place. As many as 300,000 will be evacuated due to the danger.
With the concern of a nuclear disaster possibly being in the offing, rescuers continued to comb through the rubble in search of possible survivors. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said more than 3,000 people had been rescued but an untold number likely remain buried.
International aid began streaming into the nation including search and rescue teams and supplies from dozens of nations.
The U.S. military in Japan leapt into action and immediately began delivering relief supplies to stricken areas. The Marine Corps and the Navy will have extensive resources in the area, particularly once the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its strike group arrives tomorrow.
Aftershocks continue to rumble in the ocean near the epicenter of yesterday’s quake. More than 100 significant temblors have occurred, some onshore on the island of Honshu.
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We are providing complete coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the Natural Disasters Examiner on Examiner.com.
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Christchurch, New Zealand was struck by a powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake on Tuesday that wreaked havoc across the nation’s second largest city. Buildings were reduced to rubble and people buried alive in what is being called the ‘darkest day’ in the New Zealand history.
The quake, which struck at 12:51pm local time and at a shallow 3.1 mile depth, has been followed by a serious of significant aftershocks. The seven additional temblors have ranged from magnitude 4.1 up to magnitude 5.6.
In September the area was struck by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake and recovery efforts from that quake were still underway when the new quake struck. Buildings that were already weakened by last year’s quake, then the initial quake today struggled to hold up with the ongoing aftershocks.
Prime Minister John Key said, “It is just a scene of utter devastation. We may well be witnessing New Zealand’s darkest day.”
Digging through the rubble to reach those who may yet be buried remained a priority. At least 65 people have been confirmed killed but as rescuers continue to search collapsed buildings and they fear the toll may rise further. Continue reading New Zealand suffers ‘darkest day’ as at least 65 killed in earthquake
