Tag Archives: Flooding

Study Shows Rising Sea-Levels Will Bring Drastic Flooding to the U.S.

In the latest study, a team of scientists discovered that millions of Americans may already live on land that is destined to be reclaimed by the sea.

While some locations are only at risk of flooding, others are doomed to flood in the distant future. However, the process could speed up due to the rise of carbon dioxide emissions and the destabilization of West Antarctica’s ice sheet.

“Future emissions will determine which areas we can continue to occupy or may have to abandon,” note the report’s researchers, led by Benjamin Strauss of Climate Central in Princeton, N.J. The research appeared Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and was co-authored by Scott Kulp of Climate Central and Anders Levermann of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany.

The research states: “Carbon choices determine US cities committed to futures below sea level.” For every one degree Celsius of warming, the scientists estimate that the sea-level will rise about 2.3 meters over the next 2,000 years. However, there is a possibility that it could happen sooner.

Using the link between climate warming and eventual ice melt, the researchers estimate that with current carbon emissions, the world is already destined to see the sea-level rise 1.6 meters – more than five feet. That isn’t taking into consideration the increase of carbon emissions that will exist in the future, which could make the sea-level rise by more than seven feet.

If no action is taken on climate change, the locations of over 26 million Americans could be flooded with more than 1,500 U.S. cities and municipalities overrun with water.

“If we don’t cut emissions,” Strauss said, “we’re talking about losing American land [that’s] home to more people than live in any state, except for California and Texas. Home to more people than the state of Florida and New York.”

The authors of the study also directly acknowledge gaps in the research. This includes cities that have taken steps to deal with extreme flooding scenarios like New Orleans’ 26-foot-high sea wall. Louisiana is also contemplating diversions of the Mississippi River that would not only create new wetlands, but keep pace with the rising seas. This means that as the sea-levels slowly rise, cities might be able to adapt.

“A Different Kind of Bad” 2nd Wave of Flooding to Hit South Carolina Coast

Predictions for more rain in South Carolina are throwing more concerns on an already battered state as the low areas of the coast brace for the water heading their way.

Gov. Nikki Haley said at a news conference that people in flood-prone parts of four counties should “strongly consider evacuating,” including the 10,000 residents of Georgetown.

“If you’re in the area of Georgetown you’re going to see people knocking on your door telling you to get out,” she said.

The Governor is concerned that residents who have already gone through the historic rainfall and have been through hurricanes, will be complacent about this new wave of flooding heading their way.  “This is a different kind of bad.”

Churches have risen to provide essential support for those affected, according to Vocativ, an online publisher that used geo-location technology to assess social media posts from areas hardest hit by the flooding,

NewSpring Church, which has 10 locations throughout the state, has launched a massive effort tagged #FloodSCWithLove to provide aid to families affected by the disaster.

The church has delivered truckloads of supplies, including water, non-perishable food items and blankets, to local shelters.  Other churches have manned together to volunteer and also help distribute these much needed items.  

South Carolina Suffers and Braces for More Flooding

The Rivers are rising to historic levels as dams break with others at the brink.  The death toll has risen to 17 in the Carolinas with no end in site to the massive flooding as most of the waterways have not reached their crest.   

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley says state wildlife officials have made at least 600 rescues during the flooding that has ravaged the state.

She says the central area of the state is recovering as the waters recede, but officials are keeping a close eye on the southeastern part of the state.

She added 62 dams across the state are being monitored and 13 had already failed.

More than 400,000 state residents were under a “boil water advisory” affecting about 16 water systems, said Jim Beasley, a spokesman for the S.C. Emergency Response Team.

The damage in South Carolina is still being assessed and numbers are up in the air regarding how many have lost homes and their businesses.  Costs in recovery are being estimated at close to a billion and will not be truly known until the flooding recedes.

South Carolina Declared Major Disaster

President Obama has declared several counties in South Carolina as major disaster areas. With some areas of the state that have received up to 24 inches of rain, 18 dams that have breached, lakes and creeks overflowing as well as roadways completely washed away, South Carolina is indeed a major disaster. With billions of dollars in damage and over a dozen deaths reported, South Carolina is still waiting for the rivers and lakes to crest.  

Although the bulk of the rain has ended, high waters are still a very dangerous reality after the historic flood event in South Carolina. Rescue crews went door to door in South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia as officials continued to free residents that were trapped by severe flooding that swamped virtually the entire state.

In a press conference Tuesday morning, Governor Nikki Haley gave an update on the current recovery efforts. Over a dozen deaths have been reported with over 600 National Guard that are now in the state assisting with rescue and recovery efforts.  More than 31,000 homes are without power. Boil water advisories are in effect with up to 40,000 people currently without drinking water or reporting low water pressure.  State and Government officials are working closely with hospitals in Columbia that are reporting water problems and over 400 roads and over 150 bridges have been closed due to flooding conditions.   

Some rivers in the state and in states further south are not expected to crest for up to two weeks leading residents to realize that this flooding event is far from over.   

Death Toll in South Carolina Rises to 9 Due to Flooding and Torrential Rain

In a news conference on Monday, Governor Nikki Haley stated that nine people are now dead in South Carolina due to the extreme weather.

Authorities have encouraged residents to stay home the past few days as more than 25 inches of rain has fallen, causing half the state to be affected by flooding Monday morning. Dozens of roads and interstate highways are closed. Of the nine people who were killed, four were killed in traffic accidents. First responders received 910 calls for collisions since the downpour began.

Over the weekend, at least 600 National Guardsmen, 11 aircraft, and 8 swift water rescue teams performed more than 200 water rescues. Over 1,000 law enforcement and 1,000 workers for the transportation department were on duty. Two dozen shelters have opened for those displaced, and utility crews are still trying to restore power to 30,000 customers.

Gov. Haley also addressed another issue: getting clean drinking water to 40,000 people who don’t have it.

“We have quite a few water issues,” Haley said. “Either people are without water or contaminated water.”

Walmart has donated 80,000 bottles of water, and officials are setting up water distribution stations throughout the state.

State officials are calling the situation a 1,000 year storm – a reference to a weather term describing a storm with a 1-in-1,000 chance of happening in any given year. The National Weather Service reported that Sunday was the wettest day in the history of Columbia, with the rainfall total at 6.87 inches.

While the rain is slowing and will soon move out of the region, meteorologists report that as much as two inches could still fall and that most rivers will not crest for another two weeks.

Some South Carolina residents were absolutely devastated by the storm. Columbia resident, Angela Williams, told CNN that the storm destroyed her neighborhood.

“We have lost everything. What I got on my body is what we have,” she told CNN affiliate WIS-TV. “Pretty much everybody down that hill there has lost everything … our vehicles, our clothes, everything.”

She added: “But the best thing is that we still have our lives.”

Dangerous Joaquin Now a Category 4 Hurricane

Hurricane Joaquin intensified to an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm Thursday afternoon, and continues to hammer the central Bahamas with hurricane-force winds, storm surge flooding and torrential rain.

The most severe flooding reported so far was on Acklins island, where power went off overnight and phones were down. Some of the roughly 565 people who live there were trapped in their homes. Capt. Stephen Russell, the director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency.Russell said.

Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey were the latest to declare a state of emergency, warning residents that the severe weather already predicted could be significantly worse if Joaquin veers northwestward. East coast states are alerting residents to prepare as potentially historic rainfall and flooding is set to create havoc into the weekend whether or not Hurricane Joaquin makes U.S. Landfall.  

With the Category 4 hurricane passing close to the islands at a relatively slow speed, a catastrophic situation may unfold there with a prolonged period of intense hurricane conditions. Intense flooding and storm surge is expected to continue.  

170,000 Evacuated in Eastern Japan from Massive Flooding

Typhoon Etau has dumped more than 2 feet of rain in areas of Eastern Japan since Monday causing unprecedented flooding. Raging waters have torn houses from their foundations, uprooted trees and forced more than 170,000 people from their homes. Those who didn’t leave found their houses submerged within minutes.

Helicopters hovering over swirling, muddy waters rescued 101 people from the roofs of their homes as of Thursday. Seven people are missing and at least 17 were injured, one seriously.

“Tochigi Prefecture is facing a grave danger and is in an emergency situation,” Japan Meteorological Agency Spokesman Takuya Deshimaru said. “It is experiencing unprecedented downpour.”  

The disaster is far from over. Parts of eastern Japan will get another 2-4 inches of rain over the next 36 hours, according to CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam.

The mountains will help induce more rain and will funnel the precipitation, intensifying flooding and causing an even greater risk of mudslides.

Remnants of Tropical Storm Erika Cause Flooding

Tropical Storm Erika collapsed before making landfall in Florida but the remnants of the storm are wreaking havoc across parts of three states.

Parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are being doused with torrential rains which has led to flooding and even mudslides.

“It is difficult to pinpoint exactly which locations will see the heaviest rainfall on any given day, but a general swath from the Florida peninsula to the coastal plain of the Carolinas may see heavy rainfall through the first half of the new week,” The Weather Channel said.

ABC 4 Charleston reported that 6.43 inches of rain fell by 10 a.m. making the day already the fifth wettest in the city’s history with the rest of the day to go.  Schools across the region were closed and even the city’s trolley service had to be shut down by the flooding.

Fire officials said there was at least one water rescue.

They also reported a dangerous animal situation: a gator was photographed swimming down a flooded residential street.  Officials even used drones to patrol the area to make sure the gator couldn’t sneak up on some of the animal control officials sent to capture it.

Much of the city of Charleston is at or just above sea level and the rainfall struck the same time as high tides.

Erika claimed 21 lives before it broke apart after crossing Cuba.

Six Missing in Mudslides Created by Tropical Storm Erika

Tropical Storm Erika has devastated the tiny island of Dominica, triggering landslides that have left at least six people missing and hundreds of people without homes.

The Antiqua Weather Service says the storm dumped 9 inches of rain onto the mountainous island late Wednesday and then 6 more inches on Thursday.

About 80 percent of the island is without electricity.  The country’s airport has been closed after flood waters covered cars and at least one small airplane.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says that the storm is moving west with sustained winds of 50 m.p.h. and is expected to cover Puerto Rico Thursday.  The storm continues to be what forecasters call “poorly organized” and is not expected to strengthen over the next two days.

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla said that while the storm could cut off power and water service, the storm would also bring much needed rain to the parched nation.

“We’re happy given the dry conditions, but it does highlight the need to be on alert,” he told CBS.

Forecasters say it is still too early to know whether or not the storm will reach Florida with any kind of tropical storm or hurricane strength.

Meanwhile in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Ignacio strengthened into a hurricane.  The storm is moving slowly westward, about 1,100 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.

Oklahoma Toddler Swept Away In Storm Related Flood

An Oklahoma toddler was swept out of the arms of his father by flood waters near Ardmore.

“The man and his 2-year-old son were trying to leave Ardmore as a flash flood swept through Wednesday night, likely from the swollen Hickory Creek,” said Hamblin. “The father was unable to hold onto the boy and he was swept away.”

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said that six inches of rain fell in the Ardmore area in 24 hours and that other parts of the state had more than 10 inches from the remnants of Tropical Depression Bill.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol shut down parts of Interstate 35 due to flood waters completely covering the highway.  States of emergency were declared in all 77 counties in the state.

Residents north of Dallas, Texas near Grapevile Lake are dealing with flooding even after the rain because of runoff causing rising lake levels.  The lake’s excess drains into Denton Creek and the flooding of that river will cause communities to be cut off because of impassable roads.

“We’ll take measures once we are 100% certain that it’s going there,” Chief Darrell Brown of the Grapevine Fire Department told CNN affiliate KDAF. “We believe it will be in the next 24 to 48 hours, so we are doing everything we can to ensure we give them ample notice to have a way out before we evacuate those apartments.”

The Trinity River is still above flood stage and officials are urging residents not to return to the area until the river returns to its banks.