Latest Disaster planning and response News
Yellowstone floods reveal forecasting flaws as world warms
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Yellowstone National Park area's weather forecast the morning of June 12 seemed fairly tame: warmer temperatures and rain showers would accelerate mountain snow melt and could produce “minor flooding." A National Weather Service bulletin recommended moving livestock...
Favorable weather helps fight against California forest fire
JACKSON, Calif. (AP) — Favorable weather early Wednesday aided the fight against a wildfire in California's Gold Country that has forced evacuations in two counties. The Electra Fire had burned 6.4 square miles (16.6 square kilometers) of rural terrain but it was now 40% contained...
Ukraine's shadow: Deadly crises like Somalia starved of aid
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — More than two dozen children have died of hunger in the past two months in a single hospital in Somalia. Dr. Yahye Abdi Garun has watched their emaciated parents stumble in from rural areas gripped by the driest drought in decades. And yet no humanitarian aid arrives. ...
Facing severe drought, Somalia calls for Turkish support
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Somalia’s president on Wednesday called for assistance from Turkey to combat the effects of severe drought that is threatening the Horn of Africa. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made the comments during his first visit to Turkey since returning to office following an...
WVa gov to appeal denial of federal flood assistance
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said he plans to appeal a ruling that denied federal assistance for flooding in three counties. Justice said Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency ruled that May 6 storm damage was not severe enough to qualify...
New evacuations for communities near California forest fire
JACKSON, Calif. (AP) — Evacuation orders were expanded Tuesday for remote California communities near a wildfire that may have been sparked by fireworks or a barbecue on the Fourth of July in a mountainous region that's a top tourism destination. The Electra Fire in Sierra Nevada...
Body parts, gear found on Italian glacier after avalanche
CANAZEI, Italy (AP) — Rescuers found body parts and equipment as they searched Tuesday for hikers missing following a powerful avalanche that killed at least seven people and was blamed in large part on rising temperatures that are melting glaciers. Officials initially feared 13...
Sydney floods burden 50,000 around Australia's largest city
RICHMOND, Australia (AP) — Hundreds of homes have been inundated in and around Australia’s largest city in a flood emergency that was causing trouble for 50,000 people, officials said Tuesday. Emergency response teams made 100 rescues overnight of people trapped in cars on...
Drought emergency declared for northern Italy, frees up aid
ROME (AP) — The Italian government on Monday declared a state of emergency for much of the rain-parched north amid a drought, freeing up 36.5 million euros (about $38 million) in funds for the heavily agricultural regions. The aid was approved at a late evening Cabinet meeting. ...
Heavy rains, floods prompt evacuations of Sydney suburbs
SYDNEY (AP) — Thousands of residents in Sydney suburbs were told to evacuate their homes on Sunday after heavy rains caused floodwaters to rise and rivers to overflow in what authorities called life-threatening emergencies. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning...
