Latest news with #disasterresponse
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Climate
- Bloomberg
How I Became a Doomsday Prepper
Opinion Natural disasters are on the rise. Bloomberg Opinion's Lara Williams explains why it's time to get prepared. (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erick At Category 4 Intensity Nears Mexico Landfall With Life-Threatening Flooding, High Winds
Hurricane Erick is nearing a destructive landfall in southern Mexico at Category 4 intensity with life-threatening storm surge, rainfall flooding and high winds. Erick rapidly intensified from a 40 mph tropical storm Tuesday morning to Cat. 4 intensity at midnight Thursday morning. Just hours from landfall, Erick may be the first known Cat. 4 E. Pacific hurricane to landfall in Mexico prior to October in records dating to the late 1950s. (MORE: What Is Rapid Intensification?) Erick became the Eastern Pacific's second hurricane of the season early Wednesday morning, almost four weeks ahead of the season's average second hurricane pace. The season's fifth storm has historically formed by July 23, based on the 1991-2020 average. -Alerts: Hurricane warnings are posted for parts of Mexico's Guerrero and Oaxaca states, including Acapulco. Hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings extend to the west and east of this hurricane warning, as shown in the map below. -Timing: Erick is just hours from landfall either over western Oaxaca or eastern Guerrero states east of Acapulco, and conditions will deteriorate rapidly with heavy rain and high winds. Once inland, Erick is expected to weaken rapidly and dissipate by late tonight or early Friday. -Intensity: As mentioned earlier, Erick will landfall as an intense hurricane, most likely a Category 4. -Surge, Wind Impacts: Erick's worst storm surge and devastating wind impacts will be along and just east of where the center comes ashore in parts of western Oaxaca and eastern Guerrero states. Those greatest threats will most likely be east of Acapulco, but strong wind gusts are also possible in the city, particularly over higher terrain. -Heavy Rain A More Widespread Threat: The heaviest totals of 8 to 12 inches, with locally up to 16 inches possible, are forecast in the Oaxaca and Guerrero states. Life-threatening flash flooding is likely and mudslides are a threat in the mountainous terrain near this coast.
News24
2 days ago
- News24
Eastern Cape floods death toll climbs to 92 as province holds day of mourning
The death toll from last week's flooding in the Eastern Cape has risen to 92 after the recovery of two more bodies on Wednesday night. One of the two bodies was that of a teenage girl, Premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement. It was discovered along the Mthatha River. Mthatha is the hardest-hit part of the province, with 68 of the 92 fatalities. 'Progress has been made with the processing of the bodies, as 86 bodies have now been positively identified, with 83 collected by family members,' Mabuyane said. He urged people to report any missing persons to their nearest police stations. 'The provincial government continues to work tirelessly to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 4 308 individuals who have been left homeless across the province, and processes are under way to ensure the provision of temporary residential units. Significant progress has also been made in the restoration of critical infrastructure,' he said. The premier said an intensive response and recovery effort was under way across all three spheres of government. The assessment and quantification of damages were ongoing. 'We are encouraged by the outpouring of love and support from all corners of the globe. The provincial government remains committed to working alongside municipalities, national departments, and civil society to restore dignity and livelihoods across the province,' he added. A day of mourning is being held in Mthatha on Thursday for those who died in the flooding.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Erick strengthens into a Category 3 major hurricane approaching Mexico's coast
Southern Mexico's Pacific coast braced for a Thursday morning impact as Hurricane Erick spun toward shore as a powerful Category 3 major hurricane, threatening to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge on the region in coming hours, forecasters said. Swiftly strengthening from a Category 1 hurricane hours earlier, Erick had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (200 kph) by nightfall as it churned offshore about 55 miles (85 kilometers) southwest of Puerto Angel, the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Erick was also about 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Punta Maldonado and moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph) toward an expected landfall sometime early Thursday, according to the center's latest advisory. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher and wind speeds of at least 111 mph (180 kph). Forecasters said further strengthening is expected and devastating wind damage is possible near where the eye crashes ashore. Storm moves south on approach Late Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centered on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. Earlier in the day, fishermen in Puerto Escondido pulled their boats out of the water ahead of the storm's arrival. Some surfers continued to ride waves at the Zicatela beach, even with red flags up to warn people to stay out of the water. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. The city of nearly 1 million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Acapulco still scarred by Otis Acapulco residents said they were bracing for Erick's arrival with more preparation and trepidation because of the memory of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Otis two years earlier. Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado said via X that all movement in Acapulco and other beach communities was to be suspended at 8 p.m. Schools across the state were to remain closed for a second day Thursday. Carlos Ozuna Romero, 51, lost his restaurant at the edge of an Acapulco beach when Otis slammed the resort with devastating winds. On Wednesday, he directed workers storing tables and chairs. 'Authorities' warnings fill us with fear and obviously make us remember everything we've already been through,' Ozuna Romero said in reference to Otis. Elsewhere, workers nailed sheets of plywood over shop windows and stacked sandbags outside doorways. Cars lined up to fill their tanks and shoppers made last-minute purchases before rushing home. Verónica Gómez struggled through the streets of Acapulco with a large jug of water. 'We're all afraid because we think the same thing could happen,' said the 40-year-old employee of a shipping company. But she said she and others learned a lot from Otis. 'Now it's not going to catch us by surprise," she said, holding out a bag of canned food as evidence. In Acapulco on Wednesday, there was a strong presence of National Guard and police in the streets, but most visible were trucks from the national power company. Crews worked to clear drainage canals and brush. Rain could be Erick's legacy Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. A hurricane warning was in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Ángel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane center advisory. Laura Velázquez, Mexico's national civil defense coordinator, said Erick was forecast to bring 'torrential' rains to Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico. The mountainous region along the coast is especially prone to mudslides with numerous rivers at risk of flooding. Guerrero Gov. Evelyn Salgado said all schools would remain closed and the state had alerted all of the fishing and tourism operators to make their boats storm-ready. Acapulco's port closed Tuesday evening. Salgado said 582 shelters were set to receive people who might evacuate their homes. Sheinbaum warned in her daily briefing that those in the hurricane's path should heed government instructions and wait out the storm in their homes or designated shelters. Erick quickly doubled in strength Having doubled in strength in less than a day, Erick was churning through an ideal environment for quick intensification. Last year, there were 34 incidents of rapid intensification — when a storm gains at least 35 mph in 24 hours — which is about twice as many as average and causes problems with forecasting, according to the hurricane center. __ Sánchez reported from Acapulco, Mexico.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
‘Abolish FEMA' Memo Details Trump's Plan to Scrap Agency
A March 2025 memo seen by Bloomberg details how the Trump administration plans to drastically shrink the Federal Emergency Management Agency's key disaster response functions. The document, titled 'Abolishing FEMA' and addressed from then-acting FEMA head Cameron Hamilton, proposes ending federal aid for smaller disasters that aren't of 'national significance,' cutting long-term housing assistance for survivors and halting new enrollments in the National Flood Insurance Program, among other things. Such reforms would transfer responsibilities to state and local governments, even as the memo acknowledges that many are currently 'unprepared' to expand their roles. The changes could come as early as late 2025, though many of the proposals would require congressional action. Read more from Zahra Hirji, Jason Leopold and Lauren Rosenthal today on CityLab: 'Abolishing FEMA' Memo Outlines Ways for Trump to Scrap Agency
