Welcome to my Geography 361 Environmental Hazards Blog Page! On this blog, I will be posting a wide variety of environmental hazards and disasters that have occured either locally, nationally, or around the globe. Feel free to leave comments or browse my page anytime!
The Leader Telegram has been "flooded" with news stories across the front page concerning the record high levels of the Chippewa River. As mentioned yesterday in class, media coverage of a natural hazard depends on several factors including proximity, loss of lives, and of prominence and interest to the reader. Certainly, the large amounts of rain that have hit Eau Claire in the past few days has been worhty of reporting. Not only are numbers significant, but there was no news coverage leading up to the event so news reporters have been going biserk. Rain is not uncommon in an area like Wisconsin, but the amount of rain that has been unleashed has been so powerful in such a short amount of time, that the Chippewa River River could and will most likely cause significant flooding this weekend.
Additionally, Eau Claire County highway workers were called in yesterday to clean up a mudslide on the U.S. 53. The work temporarily caused a several-mile-long traffic backup, and yet another worry for Eau Claire.
"This year’s extreme heat is putting the world’s coral reefs under such severe stress that scientists fear widespread die-offs, endangering not only the richest ecosystems in the ocean but also fisheries that feed millions of people" (Gillis, New York Times). The coral reef stretching across a large portion of the world has begun to shows signs of stress, such a bleeding and shredding their bright colors. Scientists have said that this is the second time there has been a large bleeding of the reef, but they are hoping this recent event won't be so bad or intense. It will take months to know how bad this years toll on the reefs has been, and if the year continues in large monsoons the bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef may cause some problems.
CANCUN, Mexico - Tropical Storm Karl has been striking the Yucatan Peninsula hard these last few days, causing a bit of panic from the people of Mexico. Karl is expected to pick up steam as the days continue.
In addition, Hurricane Igor also began to pick up steam in the Atlantic and has reached a category 4 hurricane threatening much of the US East Coast.
Electricity has been failing along these areas and the government of Mexico is on a hurricane watch for much of the eastern gulf.
PAKISTAN - Six weeks have passed and yet Pakistan still continues to recover after floods hit the area of Islamabad. Not only did the flooding destroy hundreds of acres of cropland, displace millions of people, and destory villages, businesses, and homes, now disease is rampantly spreading throughout the area. Many of these new outbreaks are being caused by water- borne diseases such as cholera. Although much of the water near the north has receeded and contamination is not so prominent, much of the south is still underwater and at high risk for outbreaks. UNICEF members note that people must be aware of the risks and encourages the people of Paksitan to remain extremely vigilant of the ongoing risk factors.
The Forest Fires that swept through Boulder, Co. six days ago are still continuing to blaze through Four Mile Canyon, but firefighters have been making progress. A September 10th news article published in the New York Times said that the fire is now "50% contained... and about 2,000 people were returned to their homes on Friday". The fire, which is still being investigated for known causes, turned into a massive inferno after strong winds swept through the area. Hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed leaving people stranded throughout the area. However, things are beginning to look a bit more hopeful for the people of Boulder as firefighters continue to do all they can to contain the fire and place the evacuated back home.
