Salem-News.com Disaster articles

FEMA Wants to Evict Vernonia Flood Victims from Trailers

Wyden says these highly resilient and tough people need a little more time; telling feds essentially to back off for four months.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency today to give Vernonia families ravaged by a December 2007 flood another four months to finish fixing their homes before being evicted from their FEMA trailers.

Under FEMA regulations, there is an 18-month limit on the use of the trailers. The period began in December 2007 when the disaster declaration was signed and ends on June 8 of this year. However, the trailers did not arrive in Vernonia until April 2008, four months after the flood.

New Maps Reveal Landslides Using Laser Based Imaging

New technology is helping state geologists create some of the most accurate landslide inventory maps in the world.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) has released two maps showing historic and pre-historic landslides in the West Bull Mountain area of Washington County and the northwest portion of Oregon City in Clackamas County.

Using a laser based terrain mapping system called lidar (light detection and ranging) DOGAMI geologists are working with local governments across Oregon to create a new generation of landslide inventory maps that are more accurate and comprehensive than any in the past.

Veterinarians Volunteer for Emergency Response Teams

The state has recruited, trained, and organized nearly 180 private practitioners and veterinary technicians in Oregon who can help during an event that requires a lot of emergency assistance.

(SALEM, Ore.) - It’s the animal health world’s version of a volunteer fire department.

But instead of firefighters, a team of veterinarians and technicians can now be called upon to help during an animal health emergency or a disaster event that affects animals.

Today is the Centenial Anniversary of Russia`s Tunguska Explosion

Scientists believe the blast was about 1000 times as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan and about one third the power of the Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated.

(SALEM, Ore.) - June 30th 2008 is the Centennial anniversary of an event that rocked the very soul of Russia, known as the Tunguska Event, or Tunguska explosion. Historic accounts describe it as a massive explosion that happened near the Podkamennaya or Lower Stony Tunguska River, in an area now known as Krasnoyarsk Krai of Russia. It happened June 30th, 1908 around 7:14 AM.

That is when Tungus natives and others living in the hills northwest of Russia's Lake Baikal reported seeing a column of bluish light, that they described as being almost as bright as the Sun, moving across the sky.

Salem Police Offer Advice on Disaster Donations

This detective says that whenever major disasters happen the scammers come out and try to make a profit on those willing to help.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Recently, there have been a number of natural disasters throughout the world, including the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Myanmar.

When these disasters happen, the good people of the world attempt to help the unfortunate victims of these events by donating time, money and goods. Unfortunately, criminals attempt to make another group of victims… the good Samaritans that are willing to donate to relief agencies.

UN Secretary-General Visits Cyclone-Ravaged Myanmar

Tomorrow, Mr. Ban is scheduled to meet with Myanmar’s leader Senior General Than Shwe.

(YANGON, Myanmar) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has now seen the devastation in Myanmar left by Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted the lives of 2.4 million others since it struck the country earlier this month.

He visited the makeshift Kyondah relief camp where many women and small children who have lost their homes and family members have taken shelter.

Top UN Official Visits Cyclone Ravaged Myanmar

The UN has deployed 100 satellite terminals to facilitate in-country coordination of the humanitarian effort.

(PYAPON, Myanmar) - The United Nations’ top relief official John Holmes has travelled to the Irrawaddy delta, the area in Myanmar hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis, which struck early this month and has affected up to 2.4 million people.

As the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs travels within Myanmar, UN agencies report that they are making progress in reaching victims of the cyclone, but that the operation still needs to be ramped up.

UN Humanitarian Chief Arrives in Myanmar Today

“If rice seed is not received within the next 40 to 50 days planting will not happen in time for harvesting this year.” - UN Food and Agriculture Organization

(GENEVA) - The top United Nations relief official plans to talk directly with the authorities in Myanmar in an effort to accelerate the relief effort for victims of Cyclone Nargis which may have left more than 100,000 people dead and severely affected up to 2.5 million others.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes flies into Myanmar today. UN aid officials say there has been some slow progress in getting relief supplies and humanitarian workers into the most affected areas across the Irrawaddy delta in the south of Myanmar.

Myanmar Faces New Catastrophe Without More Food Access

The official death toll reported by Myanmar’s Government has reached almost 32,000, with over 34,000 others missing.

(GENEVA) - Unless more access to Myanmar is granted to allow aid to flow more quickly to victims of this month’s deadly cyclone, a second catastrophe could result, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned today.

Despite some progress, efforts to help the 1.5 million people affected by Cyclone Nargis must be enhanced, a spokesperson for OCHA told reporters in Geneva.

Earthquake in China Leaves Thousands Dead, Some Buried (VIDEO)

China's state news agency estimates that 7,651 people have died from injuries suffered in the earthquake.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As many as 5,000 people were killed in China today during a major earthquake. The disaster that jolted southwestern China on Monday measured a magnitude of 7.8.

In China's Sichuan province alone, officials report an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 victims reported the Xinhua news agency said. The military was also dispatched to quake-hit areas.