Natural disasters

13 February 2008 -- A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 rocked eastern Indonesia early Thursday, prompting a tsunami alert.

The country's meteorological agency said the tremor was centered 275 kilometers southwest of Maluku province at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The agency said the quake had the potential to cause a tsunami, but later retracted it after no waves were reported.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries as a result of the quake.    » read more »

12 February 2008 -- Bolivian President Evo Morales has declared a national disaster in the Andean country following heavy rains and flooding that have killed at least 50 people in recent weeks.

Mr. Morales issued the decree Tuesday to release government aid to flooded areas. On Monday, he toured the hard-hit city of Trinidad, where officials have pitched tents to accommodate people fleeing the town's flooded outskirts.

Officials say the flooding has affected some 45,000 families across Bolivia.

Source: VOA News

07 February 2008 -- Emergency teams are fanning out across several U.S. states to assist survivors of violent storms that killed at least 55 people.

Federal and state workers spread out across the southeastern United States to clean up debris and help victims of the deadly tornadoes that swept through the area late Tuesday and early Wednesday. The twisters blocked roads, cut power to many residents and triggered an explosion that shut down a gas pipeline in Tennessee.    » read more »

ARLINGTON, Va. (02/06/2008) - More than 160 National Guardmembers turned out Wednesday to support tornado recovery missions in three of the states hit by a violent string of twisters Tuesday night, Feb. 5.

The National Guard Bureau reported that Guardmembers were called out to perform search and rescue missions, provide security at traffic control points, and to support civilian authorities in other ways in Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee.    » read more »

06 February 2008 -- In a display of natural fury unusual for this time of year, tornados and violent thunderstorms have killed at least 50 people in five south-central states.

Rescue crews are hard at work in a wide area hit by tornadoes overnight Tuesday. In Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky storms killed and injured people and damaged homes and places of business. In many areas power lines are down and streets are filled with debris.

One of the worst hit areas was Jackson, Tennessee, where local resident Michael Denny described what the storm's devastation.    » read more »

02/06/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen received detailed briefings last night and this morning from Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) officials in the wake of deadly tornadoes that struck Tennessee on Tuesday. The storms have resulted in an estimated two dozen fatalities, 150 injuries and widespread damage in seven counties across Tennessee.    » read more »

02/06/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen made an aerial tour Wednesday of Macon, Sumner and Trousdale Counties in the wake of deadly tornadoes that struck Tennessee on Tuesday. The storms resulted in an estimated 28 fatalities, 150 injuries and widespread damage in seven counties across Tennessee.

Bredesen spoke with first responders in Macon County, which was one of the hardest hit with more than 68 injured and 12 storm-related fatalities.    » read more »

February 06, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley issued the following statement about the deadly tornadoes that hit north Alabama early Wednesday:

“Early this morning I spoke with President Bush on the phone and he assured me his administration stands ready to help Alabama if we need federal assistance. State agencies are already working closely with local officials and first responders to help the victims of these terrible storms.    » read more »

13 December 2007 -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says people who suffer discrimination are often overlooked in times of disaster and may not survive those crises. This year's World Disaster Report tackles the problem of discrimination in disasters and examines ways to help marginalized people get a fair share of assistance.

The report says disasters do not discriminate, people do. And this often can lead to loss of life, disability and increased poverty.    » read more »

August 29, 2007 -- THE PRESIDENT: We have just -- Laura and I have just been given a tour by the Whites in their new home. And they're going to be moving into this home this weekend maybe.

MS. WHITE: This weekend.    » read more »

BET News Half-Hour Special to Premiere at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Thursday, Aug. 30 Encore Showing to Air at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT on Sunday, Sept. 2