Washington, U.S.A. — The American Red Cross had more than 55 shelters open with as many as 1,180 overnight residents Saturday, June 30 from California to the east coast as people sought relief from the soaring temperatures, wildfires in the west and this week’s massive flooding in Florida.

“The Red Cross is helping people who have no power during this dangerous heat wave while continuing to feed and shelter people impacted by the wildfires out west and flooding in Florida,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Services. “We urge people to stay safe and follow the direction of local officials during these emergencies.”

Power outage

Millions are still without power after Friday’s strong storms and officials say it could be several days until electricity is restored in some areas. The Red Cross is operating shelters and supporting numerous cooling centers in West Virginia, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Indiana, Kentuckyand Ohio, as well as in and around Washington, D.C. More than 900 people spent Saturday night in Red Cross and community shelters due to the power outages.

If someone needs to find a Red Cross shelter they can go to www.redcross.org or access the free Red Cross phone app. Both are refreshed with updated information every 30 minutes. People can also watch local media reports to find out where shelters are located.

Safety Tips

If a community is without power, people should check on those who are alone or more likely to be affected by the heat. They should also make sure animals have plenty of water and a shady place to rest. Many people are resorting to generator power. They should connect the equipment they want powered directly to the generator outlets, and never connect a generator to the home’s electrical system.

• While the power is out, people should keep their refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. If the refrigerator remains closed, it can keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer can hold its temperature for about two days if the door remains closed.
• People should turn appliances and electrical equipment off and unplug them, leaving one light on to know when the power is restored.
• Those affected should travel only if necessary. Traffic lights are out and roads will be congested.

Wildfires

As wildfires continue to scorch several states out west, more than 200 people spent Saturday night in 12 Red Cross shelters in Colorado, Utah and Montana. Hundreds of Red Cross disaster workers are providing people with a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support. Red Cross workers are focused on providing emotional support and mental health services to families as they wait to learn about damage to their homes.

Florida Flooding

Almost 75 people in Florida are staying in Red Cross shelters as communities clean up after the massive flooding from Debby. Several hundred disaster workers and a fleet of emergency response vehicles are providing safe shelter, warm meals and distributing relief supplies like flashlights, work gloves, rakes, shovels and tarps.

Image Courtesy of  Cesar Rodriguez/American Red Cross 

The article Red Cross Provides Help from Heat and Fires appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Alexandria, U.S.A. – Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and its agencies are preparing for Tropical Storm Debby, which has impacted much of Florida, and could move in two directions—along the southern coast of the US or northward across Georgia. Catholic Charities USA is ready to help respond to flash floods and spinoff tornadoes in these areas and is currently in coordination with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida.

Additionally, Catholic Charities USA is providing timely assistance to several regions that are currently suffering from flooding and wildfires. Severe thunderstorms hit areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin on June 18th, causing extreme flooding. Catholic Charities USA’s disaster response team is coordinating with the Catholic Office of Concern for the Diocese of Duluth, MN and Catholic Charities Bureau of Superior, Wisconsin to reduce the damage. Catholic Charities USA is also active in Colorado, where intense wildfires have been growing since June 10th.

“Our Catholic Charities agencies have been active in assisting disaster situations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado, and we are monitoring and preparing to respond to any damage Tropical Storm Debby may cause. As always, the need for funding support is imminent,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA.  “With the summer hurricane season beginning, we are hopeful that our cities, coasts and residents are unaffected, but we stand ready to provide immediate and long-term help if needed.”

To help support disaster victims, individuals can visit the Catholic Charities USA disaster donation webpage. Individuals can also contribute from a mobile device by visiting the mobile website and clicking on the homepage banner to access the donation app.

Catholic Charities USA’s members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrated its centennial anniversary.

Image Courtesy of  Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

The article Catholic Charities USA Helps Disaster Victims appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The High Park Fire in Colorado is now up to 65,738 acres, and is only about 55 percent contained. As of Tuesday, June 18, the estimated cost of the blaze is $17.2 million. Temperatures warmer than normal temperatures and strong winds during Father’s Day weekend made containing the blaze even harder. More than 1,700 personnel are trying to contain the fire.

The fire began June 9, when lightning struck the dry area. It has since destroyed 189 homes and caused thousands to evacuate. So far only one person has died, a 62-year-old woman in her home. There is the possibility that some evacuees will be allowed back to their homes shortly, but they must be prepared to evacuate again if necessary.

However, hopes are up since the weather on June 20th and 21st was a little cooler, although temperatures were predicted to rise again on Friday June 22nd. According to Brett Haberstick, the fire information officer, “the expected winds were not as strong as they were. The amount of fire activity in the big timber on the western perimeter was not as extreme. We have a lot less smoke and a lot better working conditions for the crews.”

Bill Hahenberg, the fire incident commander, stated about the better conditions, “We are going to be very aggressive. We have an opportunity with these conditions.”

Several other fires have begun across the Western United States. In Pagosa Springs there is a fire that began last month that was also caused by lightning. The fire has destroyed 13,000 acres and only 30 percent is contained.

Pueblo saw another fire start on Father’s Day, June 17, that is now at 200 acres in size, and has residents preparing to evacuate.

New Mexico also has its own blaze around Whitewater Baldy. So far the fire has burned 296,000 acres according to the Secretary of Agriculture. There are 3,200 personnel from across the United States who have been helping control this fire. As of Monday, 82 percent of the fire was contained.

North Carolina has also been experiencing fires, with a wildfire tearing through Croatan National Forest, destroying 21,248 acres. Six thousand of those acres were set on fire intentionally under a controlled blaze to prevent the wildfire from spreading in that particular direction. The nearby town of New Bern has been experiencing thick smoke which is reducing visibility.

According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration the number of fires in the United States is below average although the at-risk regions are still dry and warm. May 2011 was the second warmest May ever on record. May 2011 was also extremely dry throughout the Southwest. These dry and warm conditions in May are the reasons why these areas in Colorado and New Mexico have been burning so uncontrollably and quickly.

The article Several Western Wildfires Still Burning Out of Control appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Countries across the world are currently experiencing extreme weather and droughts. The largest freshwater lake in China is at its lowest water levels for years thanks to a drought, according to state officials and media. The shrinking lake does not bode well for fishermen who rely on it for their livelihoods and for the local ecology.

The Xinhua news agency stated that Poyang Lake, located in East China’s Jiangxi province, is shrinking quickly and has experienced over a decade-long dry spell. This is due to the Gan River, which is connected to the lake, not receiving enough rain and causing the water levels to hit record lows. “This year’s level is very low,” an anonymous official declared, affirming that the rainfall for the area was 65 percent less than average for December.

Texas is also experiencing its worst drought on record. The year 2011 was the driest ever for the state, says the National Weather Service, and it was the second hottest. Meteorologists do not believe this will improve for the year 2012 and the result will be further restrictions on water and the death of millions of trees. Lake Lavon has shrunk by 12 feet due to North Texas’ lack of rain and record-setting heat. “It is a challenging time, especially to bring awareness to our consumers and businesses how critical our drought has impacted our reservoirs,” stated Denise Hickey, spokesperson for the North Texas Municipal Water District. “As we’re planning to move through this drought period, we’re also planning and initiating additional strategies to bring additional sources online.” The Texas Forest Service believes that so far, the severe drought has killed 500 million trees.

In Latin America, nations have also been dealing with a plethora of problems stemming from the extreme weather, including wildfires, droughts, and floods. Many have wondered if climate change and global warming are responsible for the unusual weather and according to experts, this is most likely the case. Chile experienced an uncharacteristic heat wave, which resulted in rampant burning wildfires, while Northern Mexico has been dealing with its worst drought in 70 years.

On the other hand, Colombia has had two seasons of heavy rain, which has killed 182 people and resulted in about $2 billion in damage. A rose farm in a Colombian town named Chia sustained an estimated $6 million dollars in damages from the April and December floods. Javier Castellanos, the rose farm manager, stated, “Never in the history of this farm- and it’s a business with 30 years in the market- have we ever had any such problem.” Researchers assert that Latin America is at more risk to the extreme weather changes worsening in the future than any other region in the world because of deforestation and its sprawling construction. These elements cause it to be more vulnerable to landslides and flooding.

The article Global Drought Defines Extreme Weather Worldwide appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.