Death Toll From Typhoon Bopha Now Over 200

Typhoon Bopha’s death toll is rapidly climbing as Philipino officials start to reach areas of the country cut off by flooding and mudslides.

One small province in the eastern part of the country has reported at least 156 dead. Over 43 died in one village when a mudslide buried a school and village hall that served as a evacuation center.

The province along the coastline where the storm made landfall has reported 50 dead with many small villages still inaccessible to rescue personnel.

Governor Arturo Uy told the BBC that the storm has caused catastrophic damage to the region’s food supplies. In the areas they have been able to access, Uy estimated up to 80% of the crops were destroyed…most of them bananas marked for export. The exports bring the majority of income for the region.

The town of Cateel had more than 95% of their buildings completely destroyed by the storm.

Typhoon Bopha Kills At Least 40 In Philippines

Typhoon Bopha slammed into the Philippines with wind gusts of 130 m.p.h. destroying homes, flooding towns and causing lethal mudslides.

At least 43 are dead and 25 reported injured in the village of Andap according to local news sources. A “torrent of water” rushed down a bordering mountain and swept through the town. The regional governor said some of the dead and wounded are villagers who sheltered in the village hall only to have the facility destroyed by the flood waters. Continue reading

Human Waste Flooding Into New York Harbor

Superstorm Sandy struck October 29th and since that day billions of gallons of untreated human waste has flowed into New York Harbor.

A 12-foot storm surge overcame the Newark sewage plant that serves over three million people. It’s the fifth largest sewage treatment facility in the United States. The damage from the surge has resulted in untreated and partially treated human waste flooding into the Harbor close to the Statue of Liberty. Continue reading

New Orleans Levees Save City; First Isaac Fatality Reported

Unlike Hurricane Katrina which rushed through New Orleans and Louisiana, the remnants of Hurricane Isaac have stalled sending over two feet of rain that has flooded the areas around New Orleans.

The upgraded levee system put in place after Hurricane Katrina spared the city itself of flooding but surrounding towns are under several feet of water. Continue reading

Two Feet Of Rain In Louisiana Threaten To Cause Dam Failure

Over two feet of rain has fallen over New Orleans and Louisiana as the remnants of Hurricane Isaac move very slowly to the north. The continual heavy rain is causing massive flooding issues including threatening to cause a dam to fail.

An immediate evacuation of Kentwood, Louisiana was issued just before 2pm on Thursday due to the possible failure of the Lake Tangipahoa Dam. The dam is located just across the Mississippi/Louisiana border in McComb, Mississippi. Mayor Whitney Rawlings said it was a 50/50 chance the dam would fail. Continue reading

Nigerian Floods Kill 33

The death toll from heavy flooding in central Nigeria has killed at least 33 people. The flooding has not only destroyed homes and villages but has washed out roads and bridges compromising rescue efforts.

The flooding which has covered six districts has impacted over 12,000 people. Officials are warning that more flooding is likely over the next few days.

Last month, 39 people were killed in flooding in a nearby region.

The coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency said hundreds of families are left homeless.