Natural disasters

May 12, 2008 -- ATLANTA – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in seven additional counties affected by tornadoes that struck on Sunday. The seven counties are Clayton, Crawford, Emanuel, Glynn, Jenkins, McIntosh, and Twiggs. The announcement follows an emergency declaration released on Sunday declaring six Georgia counties in a state of emergency: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Jefferson, Johnson and Laurens.

“We are working together to ensure response efforts reach all Georgians affected by these storms,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Joint local, state and federal assessment teams will continue to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, state facilities and residences.”    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Arkansas and Phillips Counties state disaster areas due to the damage caused by tornadoes and thunderstorms on Saturday, May 10. The declarations are the latest in a long season of severe weather.

Tornado devastation in Arkansas: Photo by Debra (CC)

Beebe declared 11 counties disaster areas after the May 2 tornadoes, 60 counties after the floods and tornadoes of March and April and 13 counties following the record-setting tornado outbreak of February 5.    » read more »

India, ASEAN Also Need to Push Generals to Accept International Help

New York, May 10, 2008 – China, India, Thailand and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should work to convince Burma’s government to lift restrictions on international assistance so aid can reach survivors of Cyclone Nargis, Human Rights Watch said today.

Residents work with cleanup in aftermath of Cyclone Nargis: Photo by Mohd Nor Azmil Abdul Rahman (CC)    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- May 11, 2008 — Today, a commercial airplane carrying the first shipment of American Red Cross relief supplies touched down in Yangon, Myanmar, to assist survivors of cyclone Nargis. This newly arrived shipment includes an initial supply of 8,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help prevent the spread of malaria.

Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, Burma: Photo by Mohd Nor Azmil Abdul Rahman (CC)    » read more »

May 11, 2008 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry made the following remarks today after surveying tornado-ravaged sections of Picher, Oklahoma. At least six deaths and more than 150 injuries occurred as the result of a tornado that swept through the Ottawa County town Saturday, May 10.

Oklahoma tornado damage: Photo by Matthew Minnix (CC)

The Governor toured Picher with state Department of Emergency Management director Albert Ashwood, Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert, state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward and state Adjutant General Harry M. Wyatt III.    » read more »

5/9/2008 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today dispatched damage assessment teams comprised of state and local officials to Guilford, Forsyth, and Davie counties to begin the process of assessing damage from the storm that swept through the area late Thursday and earlier today.

“Sending these damage assessment teams is a vital step in the recovery process, and one that will help get life back to normal,” Easley said. “I ask people to take caution so as not to put themselves or others at risk by avoiding downed power lines, flooded roads and rain-swollen waterways.”    » read more »

May 11, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Since yesterday evening Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has been in contact with state emergency management officials regarding tornadoes that inflicted severe damage and took the lives of many of our fellow citizens in southwest Missouri.

Tornado damage: Photo by William Redman (CC)

The state emergency operations plan is activated to allow state agencies to assist with the local emergency response efforts. The hardest hit areas include Barry, Jasper and Newton Counties.    » read more »

05/09/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued Executive Order S-03-08, which boosts the state's preparedness for wildfire season and directs the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to immediately mobilize critical firefighting resources and personnel to save lives and homes statewide.

California Governor Schwarzenegger takes action on firefighting: Photo courtesy California Governor's office    » read more »

08 May 2008 -- The U.N. Children's Fund estimates one-third of all those killed by Cyclone Nargis in Burma are children. Burmese authorities report more than 22,000 people lost their lives and more than 40,000 are still missing.

The U.N. Children's Fund says in any disaster, children suffer the most. And, the disaster, which hit Burma a few days ago, is no exception.

Deputy Director of UNICEF's Office of Emergency Programs, Pierrette Vu Thi, says children are most at risk from getting sick. During a disaster, she says children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.    » read more »

After Devastation of Cyclone, Resolution Asks that Roadblocks to Aid be Lifted, Evaluation of Aid Strategy

May 8, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate has passed a resolution introduced by Senator John Kerry and a bipartisan group of 19 Senators urging humanitarian aid to the Burmese people following the devastation of the cyclone and accompanying tidal wave.

Cyclone Nargis, Burma: Photo by Mohd Nor Azmil Abdul Rahman (CC)    » read more »

7 May 2008 -- The senior U.S. diplomat in Burma said Wednesday the death toll from the cyclone that hit the southeast Asian country late last week could exceed 100,000. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meawnhile says the United States is trying to mobilize countries in the region to press the Burmese government to admit more aid workers and supplies.

Typhoon Nargis prior to making landfall in Burma: NASA photo

The top U.S. diplomat in Burma says the situation in the stricken areas of the country is sounding more and more horrendous as reports of damage and casualties trickle in. She says when the final death toll emerges, there could be well over 100,000 fatalities.    » read more »

5/5/2008 -- The cyclone that hit Burma over the weekend is one of the worst natural disasters since the Asian tsunami of 2004. It appears that many thousands have been killed and countless others are missing or otherwise hurt by the cyclone. My heart goes out to the victims of this horrible natural disaster and I hope the United States and the international community will respond to the needs of the Burmese people, who have suffered so much over the years.

Burma cyclone, May 2008: Photo by Mohd Nor Azmil Abdul Rahman (CC)    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced President Bush has approved his request for Disaster Declarations for Public Assistance for 47 Missouri Counties as a result of the March flooding.

“The damage assessment teams identified over $28.5 million in damaged public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and critical facilities,” Gov. Blunt said.

A Coast Guard member assisting with Missouri flood relief: Photo by Coast Guard News (CC)    » read more »

April 8, 2008 - Brazilian civil defense officials report that at least 21 people have died and 82,000 have been driven from their homes by floods and mudslides in the country's northeast.

The Brazilian government is releasing more than $300 million in emergency aid for the states affected by the flooding.

Scene of a 2005 flood in Brazil: Photo by Shelly "Nikki" Montes (CC)

Governors of the affected states met with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia on Monday to request aid.

Officials say 17 of the dead drowned in the state of Paraiba, where 14,000 have become homeless.

Source: VOA News

Washington, D.C., March 17, 2008 -- The Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB), an independent Presidential advisory committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will announce a new report Wednesday in Washington on how U.S. and Mexican officials can improve their cooperation in coping with floods and other natural disasters and their effect on the environment along the border.    » read more »