The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For December 22, 2000
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
=> Special Notes
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or Significant
Icing Forecast
=> USA Flood Report
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
=> USA Earthquake Report
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
=> Guest Column- OCHA Situation Report No. 3 Mexico - Volcano Popocatepetl
=> Sponsored by The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
**** ARTICLES ****
=> Article U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Watch - December 21, 2000
=> Article CSB Restructures Accident Data Program, Withdraws '600K' Study
=> Article FEMA and other Disaster/Hazard-Related Agencies Funded for
Another Year
=> Article Federal Agencies Recommend New Approach To Wildfires
=> Article EDA Announces Availability of Funds for Hurricane Floyd and
Other Disasters
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsored by the The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
http://www.disastercenter.com/Rothstein/
------------------------------------------------------------
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For December 22, 2000
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Thu...79 At Hemet And San Bernardino CA
Low Fri...29 Below Zero At Roseau MN
=> Special Notes
Stratwarm Alert Exists Stratwarm Friday
Comment: A strong anticyclone, tilting from Western Europe in the lower
stratosphere to Northern Russia in the upper stratosphere,
dominates the circulation over Europe and Asia while the
center of the cold polar vortex is situated between the
Canadian Arctic in the lower stratosphere and Alaska in the
upper stratosphere. A return to normal Winter conditions
is expected within the next 5 days.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Fri Dec 22 11:35:39 2000
Flood
California
COASTAL FLOOD WATCH TODAY ALONG THE COAST FROM POINT ARENA TO
POINT PINOS...
...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM POINT ARENA TO POINT
PIEDRAS BLANCAS...
Non Precipitation
Alabama
SUB-FREEZING COLD TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTH ALABAMA AND
THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
Florida
SUB-FREEZING COLD TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTH ALABAMA AND
THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH WEST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY.
Georgia
A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR INLAND AREAS OF THE
FLORIDA BIG BEND AND EASTERN PANHANDLE...FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH
CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
Illinois
WIND CHILL ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR NORTHEAST MISSOURI AND WEST
CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS MORNING...
Indiana
VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WESTERLY WINDS OF 1O TO 20 MPH ARE
EXPECTED TO CAUSE WIND CHILLS OF 20 TO 30 BELOW MOST OF THE
AFTERNOON.
Kentucky
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING
REMAINS IN EFFECT...
Louisiana
A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI
AND PORTIONS OF EXTREME SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
Michigan
WIND CHILLS IN THE 30 TO 40 BELOW ZERO RANGE OVER MUCH OF SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN.
A COLD ARCTIC AIR MASS MOVING ACROSS LOWER MICHIGAN HAS BROUGHT
TEMPERATURES OF ZERO TO 7 BELOW ZERO TO PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN THIS MORNING.
Minnesota
AREAS FROM MARSHALL MINNESOTA TO
STORM LAKE IOWA...WILL STILL HAVE WINDS AVERAGING 10 TO 20 MPH
THROUGH 2 AM.
Missouri
WIND CHILL ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR NORTHEAST MISSOURI AND WEST
CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS MORNING...
Mississippi
ANOTHER NIGHT OF SUB-FREEZING COLD TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTH ALABAMA AND
THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED FOR THE
INLAND AREAS NORTH OF THE COASTLINE.
North Carolina
.ANOTHER BLAST OF ARCTIC AIR ARRIVING EARLY THIS MORNING.
A STRONG ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE
MORNING HOURS...RESULTING IN GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND BITTER
WIND CHILLS THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON.
Ohio
ARCTIC AIR WILL BE IN CHARGE THIS AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION
OF VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND A WESTERLY WIND WILL CAUSE WIND
CHILL
INDICES OF MINUS 15 TO MINUS 30.
Pennsylvania
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL 1000 PM...
Virginia
WIND CHILL ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... IN THE MOUNTAINS
TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE TEENS BY MID MORNING TODAY...
West Virginia
THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR THIS AFTERNOON
Winter Storm
California
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW CONTINUES ABOVE 4000 FEET OVER SOUTHERN
OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...
Idaho
...A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS AND
SALMON RIVER REGION OF NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO ABOVE 4000 FEET
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...
PRECIPITATION HAS DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY AS DISTURBANCES
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SNOW MOVE OUT OF EASTERN WASHINGTON AND
NORTHERN IDAHO.
Kansas
LOW CLOUD DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS MORNING OVER CENTRAL AND
SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS.
ANY DRIZZLE THAT DEVELOPS WILL INSTANTLY FREEZE ON ALL
EXPOSED SURFACES.
Maryland
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THIS MORNING IN DORCHESTER COUNTY...
Maine
COASTAL WASHINGTON ME-INTERIOR WASHINGTON ME-
...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE 2 TO 4 INCHES BY EVENING WITH A STORM TOTAL
ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 7 INCHES BY LATE TONIGHT.
Michigan
BRISK WEST WINDS OFF OF LAKE MICHIGAN AND COLD ARCTIC AIR ARE
COMBINING TO GENERATE HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS ALONG WITH
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW OVER BERRIEN COUNTY IN MICHIGAN.
Minnesota
SNOW QUICKLY PILING UP ON THE SOUTH SHORE TONIGHT...
Montana
A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS AND
SALMON RIVER REGION OF NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO ABOVE 4000 FEET
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...
New Jersey
ATLANTIC NJ-OCEAN NJ-
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW THIS MORNING
New York
HEAVY LAKE SNOWS TODAY AND TONIGHT EAST OF THE GREAT LAKES...
.A BRISK FLOW OF ARCTIC AIR WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION TODAY AND
TONIGHT.
IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE SINGLE
NUMBERS WITH WIND CHILLS AS COLD AS 30 BELOW.
OFF LAKE ERIE...LAKE SNOWS OVER THE BUFFALO METRO WILL MOVE SOUTH
DURING THE AFTERNOON INTO SOUTHERN ERIE AND WYOMING COUNTIES.
EVENTUALLY THE LAKE SNOWS WILL DRIFT SOUTH INTO CHAUTAUQUA
COUNTY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THERE TONIGHT AND ALSO
OVER CATTARAUGUS COUNTY.
OFF LAKE ONTARIO...THE LAKE SNOWS OVER JEFFERSON COUNTY WILL DRIFT
SOUTH ACROSS LEWIS COUNTY LATER TODAY AND INTO OSWEGO AND
NORTHERN CAYUGA COUNTIES TONIGHT.
Ohio
LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING FOR THIS LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING...
Oregon
THERE WILL BE SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY BUT
ACCUMULATIONS OF ONLY UP TO TWO INCHES ARE EXPECTED. HOWEVER...THE
SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES INCLUDING CRATER LAKE ARE EXPECTED
TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 4 INCHES.
Pennsylvania
LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING FOR THIS LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING...
Virginia
A BAND OF PRECIPITATION FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA...THROUGH
THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. LIGHT SNOW IS FALLING OVER MOST
AREAS...WITH A MIX OF RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW TOWARD THE COAST.
Washington
A DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE WASHINGTON COAST HAS BEEN
ROTATING A SERIES OF PRECIPITATION BANDS ACROSS THE INLAND
NORTHWEST SINCE THURSDAY. THE LAST BAND OF PRECIPITATION
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS EASTERN WASHINGTON AND
NORTH IDAHO TODAY. THIS WILL BRING SNOW TO THE NORTHERNMOST AREAS
AND A MIX OF SNOW...FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN TO THE SOUTHERN AREAS.
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
The forecast probability of an event is by the stated percentage or greater
for the event, within 25 miles of any point for the area described.
Tornado Risk - Slight
There is less than a 2% probability of a tornado.
Hail Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of hail 3/4 inch or larger.
Wind Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of winds in excess of 50 knots.
Tomorrow's Risk -
There is less than a 5% probability of any severe weather tomorrow.
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or
Significant
Icing Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over portions of central
west and western Washington and northwestern Oregon.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over coastal areas of
northwest and far southwest Oregon and coastal areas of far northwest
California.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is not expected to exceed flash flood values.
USA heavy snow and/or significant icing
>From noon to midnight today EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low over north
central portion of Michigan's northern peninsula, western Michigan, extreme
northwestern
Pennsylvania, central north and western New York and eastern Maine.
The moderate probability area is over central north and western New York.
The high probability area is over a portion of western New York
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 12 inches or greater
of snow is low over
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low over
extreme northwestern Pennsylvania, central north and western New York
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
Current USA Snow and Ice Cover
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/us_NESDISsnow.gif
=> USA Flood Report
The USA Flood Report has not been updated.
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
The USA Fire Report and Forecast has not been updated.
=> USA Earthquake Report
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION CENTER
GOLDEN, COLORADO
LISTS OF U.S. EARTHQUAKES IN THE LAST 30 HOURS
Prepared by USGS/NEIC 2000 DEC 22 at 00:15 UTC
EARTHQUAKES IN NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
(40.3 TO 50.0 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2000 DEC 20 23:33:20.00 41.0 N 121.7 W 14 km 3.1
35 miles ESE of Dunsmuir, California
2000 DEC 21 00:38:03.00 41.0 N 121.7 W 15 km 3.4
35 miles ESE of Dunsmuir, California
2000 DEC 20 22:55:51.00 41.0 N 121.7 W 13 km 3.8
35 miles ESE of Dunsmuir, California
2000 DEC 20 22:59:38.00 41.0 N 121.7 W 14 km 3.8
35 miles ESE of Dunsmuir, California
2000 DEC 20 23:22:54.00 41.0 N 121.7 W 11 km 4.3
35 miles ESE of Dunsmuir, California
2000 DEC 20 23:39:14.00 41.0 N 121.7 W 19 km 4.6
35 miles ESE of Dunsmuir, California
MAGNITUDE 6.0, OCCURRED AT
1541 AST ON DEC 21, OR 1641 PST ON DEC 21, OR 0041 UTC ON DEC 22.
THE EARTHQUAKE WAS LOCATED 25 MILES NE OF CHIGNIK, AK.
OR 435 MILES SW OF ANCHORAGE, AK.
AT 56.6N, 158.1W, 25 MILES DEEP.
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
Note: All data is considered preliminary
Tornado Reports
No reports received
Hail Reports
No reports received
Wind Reports
No reports received
Fields marked UNK are unknown
All Times UTC
Wind Gusts in MPH
Hail Sizes in 1/100 of an Inch (75 = 0.75")
=> Guest Column -- OCHA Situation Report No. 3 Mexico - Volcano
Popocatepetl -
Volcanic activity 21 December 2000
-----------------------------------
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Mexico - Volcano Popocatepetl - Volcanic activity 21 December 2000
Summary of recent activities
1. After spewing hot rocks and ash on 18 and 19 December 2000 in the
biggest eruption in 75 years, the Popocatepetl appears to be calming down.
Technical officials state that in spite of the strong explosions, there
seems to be no risk of mudslides.
2. However, the Government emphasizes that people should stay alert since
the risk has not
diminished. The danger zone has been extended to 13 km, and the alert stage
stays at Yellow, Phase
III.
3. So far more than 41,000 people have been evacuated. Out of 180
shelters available, 64 are being used. According to the Secretary of
Public Education, a total of 130 schools in the states of Mexico, Morelos
and Puebla have been
prepared to serve as shelters (41 are currently in use).
Request for international assistance
4. The Government has not requested international assistance.
5. OCHA is monitoring the situation in close cooperation with the UN
Resident Coordinator's Office in Mexico City.
6. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are
also available on the
OCHA website at http://www.reliefweb.int
------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
THE ROTHSTEIN CATALOG ON DISASTER RECOVERY
The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery is the largest on line source of
Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, IT Disaster Recovery, Software,
CD/Diskette Products,
Videos, Management Issues, Exercising Contingency Plans, Telecommunications,
Networks, Call
Centers, Help Desks, Crisis Management, Crisis Communications, Risk
Management, Business
Impact, Disaster Prevention, Avoidance Info, Network Security, Info
Protection, Service Levels,
Service Quality, Natural Hazards -- Earthquakes, Hurricanes.... Business
Records, Libraries,
Media, Banking, Finance, Govt Regs/Guidelines, Emergency Management,
Industrial, Terrorism,
Workplace Violence, Crime, Physical, Financial Security, and other Valuable
Resources, Tools.
http://www.disastercenter.com/Rothstein/.
--------------------------------------------------------------
**** ARTICLES ****
--------------------------------------------------------------
=> U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Watch - December 21, 2000
Residents on slopes of Popocatepetl Volcano heed evacuation notice
For the past two weeks, numerous reports of increased seismic activity
heralding a possible large eruption at Popocatepetl Volcano in Mexico have
been in the news. A disturbing commentary in the reports was that
residents living on the slopes of the volcano were hesitant to comply with
the government's order to evacuate.
The reluctance of the residents to evacuate is understandable. They fear
that they will lose their crops and animals if they are not tended.
Popocatepetl, located 60 km (36 mi) southeast of Mexico City, came back to
life six years ago after nearly 70 years of dormancy and has been erupting
intermittently since then. The last large eruption occurred a year ago and
caused the airport in Mexico City to close, but thus far, no casualties,
except for five hikers near the 5,452-meter (17,883-ft) summit in 1996,
have been reported. Many residents living on the lower slopes and base of
the second highest volcano in North America feel that they are not in
danger.
On Monday, December 18, the largest eruption of Popocatepetl in 1,200 years
occurred and convinced people to leave immediately. Over 56,000 evacuees
of the 40 villages within 12 km (7.2 mi) of the volcano crowded the roads
heading away from the eruption.
Popocatepetl Volcano, locally called "Popo," is one of more than 400 active
volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Basin. These volcanoes are located where
two tectonic plates collide with one plate subducting beneath the other.
Magma is generated in the subduction zone and rises through the mantle and
crust to erupt and form a range of volcanoes. Many of these
stratovolcanoes have the classical steep-sided and symmetrical shape that
we envision for a volcano. Eruptions from these volcanoes are usually
explosive and violent.
The shape and explosiveness of the Pacific Rim volcanoes can be attributed
to the high silica content of the lavas they erupt. The higher the silica
content of the magma, the more viscous it is. The more viscous the magma,
the more difficult it is for gases to escape from it. The more gas within
a magma, the more explosive is the eruption.
Explosive eruptions create great clouds of ash that can collapse and race
down the steep slopes of the volcano as a suspension of gas and ash,
attaining speeds up to 150 km/hr (90 mph). Such pyroclastic flows are also
generated by the crumbling of a volcanic dome or by directed explosions.
Another hazard at Popo is the possibility of the eruptive material melting
glacial ice on the volcano and causing a large mudflow or lahar. This is
what killed over 25,000 people in Colombia during the eruption of Nevado
del Ruiz Volcano in 1985.
The high viscosity of the magma increases the internal pressure of the
volcano, and this higher pressure can cause the volcano's flank to fail.
The climactic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, started with a
slope failure and a debris avalanche.
Unlike Hawaiian eruptions, Pacific Rim eruptions pose many life-threatening
hazards. Residents of Mexico are wise to heed the evacuation warnings of
government officials. They gamble with their own lives by not evacuating.
Kilauea Eruption Update
Last week we reported that there was a slow deflation of the Kilauea summit
region on December 13 and 14. The deflation, which lasted 17 hours and
totaled nearly 5 microradians, was accompanied by intensified tremor in the
caldera. Although there was no immediate effect of the subsidence on the
eruption at Pu`u `O`o, a pause in activity was observed from late December
15 to the early morning hours of December 17. The pause in activity was
nearly coincident with the reinflation of the summit region which started
at 5:00 p.m. on December 15 and continued until December 17. The renewal
of activity on December 17 caused lava to breach the tube system above
Pulama pali and produce surface flows. Four incandescent tongues of lava
are flowing down Pulama pali and presenting visitors at the end of the
Chain of Craters road in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park with a spectacular
view. The flows have advanced up to nearly a kilometer (0.6 mi) from the
base of the pali toward the sea coast, and no lava is entering the ocean at
this time.
No earthquakes were reported felt during the week ending on December
21.
Volcano Watch is a weekly feature provided by scientists at the U.S.
Geological Survey
USGS scientist C. Dan Miller has provided the following in response to
questions about Popo and what the USGS is doing:
At the present time, we are not providing assistance to the Mexican
Government's Center for Natural Disasters (CENAPRED) team of scientists.
We have in the past worked with our colleagues at CENAPRED, and we are
familiar with the situation at Popo, but we have not been asked to provide
assistance to CENAPRED during the present activity at the volcano. From
our perspective, this makes good sense because the CENAPRED staff are very
experienced in evaluating activities at Popo, and they are operating a
state-of-the-art monitoring network. There is no reason for CENAPRED to
ask us for assistance; they appear to be doing a great job without our
help.
In my experience, and based on information obtained during discussions with
staff at CENAPRED and from the CENAPRED website, yesterday's level of
activity is consistent with the relatively low-level of eruptive activity
that has characterized the eruption of Popo since 1994. Events so far at
Popo have been of the type and character anticipated by the CENAPRED team
and I believe that the team has provided timely and accurate advice to
Government officials.
=> CSB Restructures Accident Data Program, Withdraws '600K' Study
(Washington, DC - December 22, 2000) - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation
Board (CSB) has approved measures to refocus and improve its chemical
accident data program, in
keeping with the Board's recent five-year Strategic Plan.
That Plan noted, "There is no accepted measure of the frequency of chemical
accidents that are
within the purview of the CSB." Better accident data will be helpful in
targeting future prevention
efforts, according to Board officials. The CSB will now focus attention on
its five-year strategic goal
to establish a "system for chemical accident data collection and analysis."
Earlier Accident Data Study Withdrawn
Board Members voted unanimously to withdraw the agency's 1999 preliminary
accident data study,
which was entitled The 600K Report: Commercial Chemical Incidents in the
United States
1987-1996. The "600K" of the title referred to a calculated total of
600,000 chemical incidents
reported to the federal government between 1987 and 1996.
The then-Chairman of the CSB submitted The 600K Report as part of written
testimony to a House
of Representatives panel in February 1999. However, The 600K Report had
never been voted on
by the full Board, whose Members must approve all CSB reports.
The Board also said today it was suspending work on a final accident
"baseline" report, which relied
on the same composite database as The 600K Report.
Flaws in Integrated Database Cited
Internal staff review found serious flaws in the composite database that was
developed by CSB staff
and formed the basis of The 600K Report. For example, the database
contained casualty data for
transportation accidents where the presence of hazardous materials was only
coincidental. At the
same time, information on known serious chemical accidents - like a series
of fatal refinery blasts in
the late 1980s and early '90s - was absent from the report or incomplete,
according to the staff
review.
Commenting on the withdrawal, Board Member Irv Rosenthal said, "The 600K
Report was an
ambitious attempt to get a complete snapshot of chemical accidents
nationwide. Unfortunately, the
five existing federal accident databases that formed the basis of the report
were not designed with
this purpose in mind. These federal databases were created to serve
specific statutory purposes,
such as the initiation of emergency response activities. The failure of the
'600K' data integration
project only underscores the importance of a concerted effort to get
high-quality accident data."
The composite database was assembled in 1999 by compiling ten-year records
from five
government sources: the National Response Center's Incident Reporting
Information System (IRIS),
EPA's Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS), OSHA's Integrated
Management
Information System (IMIS), the Department of Transportation's Hazardous
Material Incident
Reporting System (HMIRS), and the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire
Incident Reporting
System (NFIRS). Preliminary screening was done in an effort to eliminate
non-chemical events and
duplicate records.
Better-Quality Data Needed
According to Board Member Rosenthal, "One conclusion of The 600K Report -
that chemical
accidents occur too often and cause unnecessary deaths, injuries, and
disruption - is surely true. The
EPA Risk Management Program's five-year accident data, which only cover a
limited sphere of
industries, show there are hundreds of casualties each year from
fixed-facility chemical accidents.
Without a better yardstick, however, it will prove difficult to direct
resources to the areas of greatest
need or measure progress in accident prevention. To improve safety systems
we need
comprehensive, industry- and chemical-specific accident statistics."
Laying out the Board's future direction, Rosenthal said, "Over the coming
months, we will be
working closely with stakeholders and tapping our best expertise internally
to arrive at meaningful
accident data goals. Other federal agencies also have an important role to
play, and we look
forward to cooperating with them. We need to develop readily accessible,
high-quality accident
data without placing unnecessary or duplicative reporting requirements on
industry. Ideally, data
quality can improve while reporting mechanisms actually get simpler." In
the interim, the CSB will
include a new accident data directory page on the Board's website,
www.chemsafety.gov. In 2001,
CSB will convene a stakeholder roundtable to discuss proposals for improving
chemical accident
data.
The CSB is an independent federal agency whose mission is to ensure the
safety of workers and the
public by preventing chemical incidents. The CSB is a scientific
investigatory organization, not an
enforcement or regulatory body. The Board determines the root causes of
accidents, issues safety
recommendations, and performs special studies on chemical safety issues.
=> Classified Ads
Door-to-Door CoPilot Version 2.0 GPS TravRoute
List Price:
$299.99
Our Price:
$250.99
Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT
Media: CD-ROM
Availability: This item usually ships within 2-3 days.
Features:
Enter the street address of your destination, and CoPilot computes the exact
route
CoPilot speaks instructions telling you where to turn--every step of the way
Gives you new directions if you miss a turn, encounter traffic, or choose
another route
Complete nationwide information on one CD that features more than 96 million
addresses
GPS receiver picks up satellite signals and uses them to pinpoint your
location on earth
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000J495/thedisastercenteA/
FREE 30 days of StormWarn by Email, Pager, PCS/GSM Phone, Business Fax at no
cost*
Sign up today and you'll receive no obligation, no commitment StormWarn . If
you find it helpful, you can then decide to continue service at very low
rates. Your account is held in strictest confidence and you won't keep
hearing from us if you decide not to keep the service. We believe in the
value of StormWarn, and we think you will too.
*Direct pages and faxes are limited to 50 bulletins during the trial period.
http://www.stormwarn.com/index.asp?a=10296
=> Links Area
ASH CLOUD IN MEXICO
Mexico
The GOES-8 movie loop was produced by subtracting channel 5 (12 micron) from
channel 4
(11 micron which often enhances the signature of airborne silicate
particles. Volcanic
ash (depicted by the yellow arrows is depicted over Southern Mexico, across
the Gulf
of Mexico, and into the Yucatan Peninsula.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Volcano/Mexico/VSHpopo355_G8.avi
WINTER STORM SYSTEM IN MIDWEST US
Midwest US
This GOES-8 image shows clouds from two low pressure systems in the Upper
Midwest and in the
Southeast. The storm system over the Upper Midwest spread snow across
Minnesota, Wisconsin,
and
Michigan overnight. A second low pressure system glazed areas in Mississippi
and Alabama with
freezing rain and sleet. Snow cover (indicated by the yellow arrows) is
visible over the Plains
and the Upper Midwest.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Storms/US_Midwest/STMusMW356_G8.jpg
FIRES IN ARGENTINA
Argentina
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in Argentina.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Argentina/FSMHSarg356_N4.jpg
* Reducing Tobacco Use A Report of the Surgeon General
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4916a1.htm
* Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis --- United States, 2000
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a1.htm
* Foodborne Outbreak of Group A Rotavirus Gastroenteritis
Among College Students --- District of Columbia,
March--April 2000
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a2.htm
* Blood Lead Levels in Young Children ---United States and
Selected States, 1996--1999
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a3.htm
* Notice to Readers: Public Health Service Recommendations
for the Use of Vaccines Manufactured with Bovine-Derived
Materials
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a4.htm
* Notice to Readers: Availability and Use of Parenteral
Quinidine Gluconate for Severe or Complicated Malaria
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a5.htm
* Notice to Readers: Availability of MMWR Mirror Website
in Spain
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a6.htm
* Notice to Readers: Epidemiology in Action: Intermediate
Methods
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a7.htm
* Notice to Readers: Epi Info 2000: A Course for Teachers
of Epidemiologic Computing
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a8.htm
* Notice to Readers: Combined Issues of MMWR
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a9.htm
* Notifiable Diseases/Deaths in Selected Cities Weekly
Information
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950md.htm
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
If you have report or notice that you think would be of interest to the
readers of the SitRep please send an email to: host{at}disastercenter.com
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
The information presented here is not authoritative.
It contains preliminary and partial information reports. It is intended to serve as a general daily digest of disaster related reports. Any other use is not intended or authorized.
The Disaster Center is a partner with CASI - Central Atlantic Storm Investigators. CASI is a group of over a thousand amateur and professional meteorologists, storm spotters, and weather observers from around the world dedicated to the observation and documentation of weather events
http://www.weatherwatchers.org
The Current Report can be accessed at:
http://www.disastercenter.com/current.htm
If you wish to send a report please use our Disaster Center Situation Report Form form located at:
http://www.disastercenter.com/email/formSR.htm
To subcribe or unsubscribe to this list send an e-mail to:
sitrep-request{at}disastercenter.com
with the word
subscribe
or the word
unsubscribe
only, in the body of the message.
If you wish to contact the list owner send an e-mail to: host{at}disastercenter.com
Copyright The Disaster Center
Please feel free to to pass this e-zine along to your friends.
However we ask that keep it intact and forward it along in its entirety.
===================================================
CASI StormReports Email List
TOO MUCH StormReport EMAIL?
Set yourself to "Digest" to receive only ONE Email per day!
http://stormreports{at}casi-internal
CASI StormReports Administration Addresses:
Post message: stormreports{at}casi-internal
UNSUBSCRIBE: stormreports-unsubscribe{at}egroups.com OR
http://stormreports{at}casi-internal
ReSubscribe: stormreports-subscribe{at}egroups.com OR
http://stormreports{at}casi-internal
List owner: stormreports-owner{at}egroups.com
TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE THEN RESUBSCRIBE
Posting Suggestions URL:
http://www.weatherwatchers.org/members/casisr.html
===================================================
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Dec 31 2000 - 19:41:16 EST
