The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For January 28, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> 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-
=> Sponsored by The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
**** ARTICLES ****
=> Article New Fire Service Grant Program Update
=> Article Arizona Disaster Recovery Final Update
=> Article Extraordinary Measures By Ordinary People In The Face Of A
Disaster
=> Article USAID -- INDIA - Earthquake Fact Sheet #2, Fiscal Year (FY)
2001
=> Article CWS -- SITUATION REPORT: INDIA EARTHQUAKE January 27, 2001
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
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Sponsored by the The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
http://www.disastercenter.com/Rothstein/
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=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For January 28, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Sat...81 At Harlingen TX
Low Sun...22 Below Zero At West Yellowstone MT
=> Special Notes
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Sun Jan 28 13:37:22 2001
Flood
Missouri
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES WILL
BRING THE CHANCE OF HEAVY RAIN TO THE OZARKS SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY MORNING.
RAPID RISES IN AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS WILL BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY
THE MARMATON RIVER IN NEVADA AND THE SAC RIVER AT CAPLINGER MILLS.
Special Marine
Puerto Rico
...A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST AND
NORTH COASTS OF PUERTO RICO FROM RINCON TO QUEBRADILLAS EAST TO
FAJARDO AND FOR THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH FACING COASTS OF
CULEBRA...VIEQUES AND ALL OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...
...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH
COASTS OF PUERTO RICO...INCLUDING CULEBRA AND VIEQUES AND FOR
THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH FACING COASTS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.
Non Precipitation
California
A FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY FOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...
Texas
A WIND ADVISORY IS EFFECT FOR ALL OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS UNTIL 7 PM...
Winter Storm
Arizona
SNOW ADVISORY ABOVE 3500 FEET TODAY...
.A WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTHEAST ARIZONA
TODAY BRINGING SHOWERS OF RAIN AND SNOW TO THE VALLEYS AND SNOW
TO THE MOUNTAINS.
Colorado
...WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND SNOW ADVISORIES CONTINUE THROUGH
NOON TODAY FOR THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHEAST UTAH AND
SOUTHWEST COLORADO...
...WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND SNOW ADVISORIES CONTINUE TODAY FOR
THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST UTAH AND SOUTHWEST COLORADO...
...SNOW ADVISORIES CONTINUE TODAY FOR THE WEST CENTRAL COLORADO
MOUNTAINS...
Iowa
Illinois
...SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION THIS AFTERNOON...TONIGHT AND
MONDAY...
.A LARGE STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER THE GREAT BASIN THIS
MORNING... WILL LIFT NORTHEAST TONIGHT AND MONDAY.
Indiana
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY LATE TONIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING...
Kansas
WINTER STORM WARNING DOWNGRADED TO A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY
THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...
Minnesota
A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICING POSSIBLE...
Missouri
THE VIGOROUS WEATHER SYSTEM THAT PRODUCED AN EXPANSIVE AREA OF
FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW OVER NORTHEAST KANSAS AND NORTHERN
MISSOURI THIS MORNING HAS BEGUN TO BRING WARM AIR INTO NORTHERN
MISSOURI AND EASTERN KANSAS. FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE
TO RAIN FROM A LINE SOUTH OF SAINT JOSEPH...TO CHILLICOTHE...TO
MOBERLY.
New Mexico
WINTER WEATHER TO CONTINUE ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER OF NEW
MEXICO THROUGH TONIGHT AND IN THE SOUTHEAST INTO TONIGHT...
New York
LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY THIS AFTERNOON FOR OSWEGO JEFFERSON
AND LEWIS COUNTIES...
Oklahoma
A WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR FAR NORTHWEST
OKLAHOMA. AN ICE STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST... WEST-
CENTRAL... AND NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS
IN EFFECT FOR A NARROW CORRIDOR FROM NEAR VERNON TEXAS NORTHEAST
TO LAWTON...ANADARKO...EL RENO...GUTHRIE AND STILLWATER.
Texas
A POWERFUL UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY MOVE
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES TODAY AND INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS
TONIGHT. THE STORM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING A WINTRY MIX OF
PRECIPITATION TO THE PANHANDLES THROUGH TODAY.
A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR A NARROW CORRIDOR FROM
NEAR VERNON TEXAS NORTHEAST TO LAWTON...ANADARKO...EL
RENO... GUTHRIE AND STILLWATER.
Utah
WINTER STORM WARNINGS CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST UTAH AND SOUTHWEST COLORADO...
Wisconsin
A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICING POSSIBLE...
Wyoming
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
EXTREME SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND THE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA
PANHANDLE...
=> 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 a 2% probability of a tornado covering south central through
southeast Texas and far
western Louisiana.
Hail Risk - Slightly Moderate
There is a 5% probability of hail 3/4 inch or larger covering central south
through east central Texas.
The 15% probability area covers south central Texas.
Wind Risk - Moderate
There is a 5% probability of winds in excess of 50 knots central south
southeast and northeast
Texas, southeast Oklahoma, central west and southwest Arkansas and west
northwest Louisiana.
The 15% probability area covers south central, east southeast Texas,
southeast Oklahoma,
southwest Arkansas and far west northwest Louisiana.
the 25% probability area covers southeast central through northeast central
Texas.
Tomorrow's Risk - Moderate
There is a 5% probability of any severe weather tomorrow extreme east
southeast Texas, Louisiana,
Arkansas except the west northwest area, the southeast 1/3 of Missouri,
southern Illinois, extreme
southern Indiana, western Kentucky, western and central Tennessee,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
except the north northeastern area, South Carolina except the north
northwestern area, and the
northwest 1/3 of Florida.
There is a 15% probability of Louisiana except the extreme west northwest
area, southeast
Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama except the far northeast corner, Georgia
except the northern area,
south southwest South Carolina and the Florida panhandle.
The 25% probability area covers the southeast 1/2 of Louisiana, southern
Mississippi, southern
Alabama and the central and western portions of Florida's panhandle.
Isolated cells can develop ahead of the main convective line. Highest severe
threat is expected from
southern la across southern parts of ms and al into northwestern fl where
low level moisture and
instability is likely to be strongest. Activity is forecast to continue
eastward during the overnight hours
as 100 kt mid level jet streak moves eastward across al toward
Georgia...with storms possibly
reaching parts of South Carolina by the end of the period.
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or
Significant
Icing Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 2 inches of
precipitation in a band from east
central through northeast Oklahoma, far southeast Kansas, and a portion of
central west Missouri.
Over 1 inch of precipitation is forecast from central, east central, central
north to northeast Texas,
the east southeast 2/3 of Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, Missouri except the
far north northwest and
the southeast 1/3 of the State, far central west Illinois, and far western
Arkansas,
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over central north
and from central through southern Iowa, far southeast Nebraska, far
northeast Kansas, north
northwest Missouri, extreme central west Illinois, north central through
central south Louisiana,
extreme southwest and east southeast Mississippi, Alabama except the north
northwest 1/3 and the
far east southeast areas, and the far western portion of Florida's
panhandle.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is expected to approach flash flood values over east central
through central north northeast
Texas, the southwest 1/2 of Oklahoma, extreme southeast Oklahoma, far
northeast Arkansas, and
southwest Missouri.
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 far
northeast Colorado and Nebraska except the far southern, far northern and
north northeastern
areas.
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is low over the
eastern portion of the
Texas panhandle, from southwest through central north Oklahoma, the
southeast 1/2 of Kansas
except the extreme south southeast area, extreme southeast Nebraska, central
through southern
Iowa, the northern 1/2 of Missouri, Illinois except the extreme north
northeast and southern areas,
and central through central west and central west northwest areas.
The moderate probability area is over a portion of central north Oklahoma,
from central south
through northeast Kansas, the northern 1/2 of Missouri, the south southeast
1/3 of Iowa, Illinois
except the northern and southern areas,
The high probability area is over east central through northeast Kansas, the
northern 1/3 of Missouri,
south southeast Iowa, central west Illinois.
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is is less than
20%
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is low over
northeast Kansas, extreme
southeast Nebraska, the south southeast 2/3 of Iowa, southern Wisconsin,
northern Missouri, central
and northern Illinois, central and northern Indiana, and from central
through central west to northwest
Indiana.
The moderate probability area is over northern Missouri, the south southeast
1/2 of Iowa, far south
southwest Wisconsin and the northwest 1/3 of Illinois.
The high probability area is over far north northeast Missouri, the south
southeast 1/3 of Iowa and
west northwest Illinois.
Current USA Snow and Ice Cover
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/us_NESDISsnow.gif
=> USA Flood Report
United States National flood summary are not currently available.
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2001 - 1000 MST
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL I
CURRENT SITUATION:
Two new large fires were reported in the Southern Area. Initial attack
activity continued on a daily basis in the Southern Area. Florida Governor
Jeb Bush has ordered the activation of the Florida National Guard aviation
resources for incident support.
SOUTHERN AREA LARGE FIRES:
LAKE, Florida State Division of Forestry. This fire is near the Lake-Polk
county line. Current threats are to approximately 900 homes and the
possible shutdown of I-4 due to smoke.
=> 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 2001 JAN 28 at 00:15 UTC
EARTHQUAKES IN WEST CENTRAL UNITED STATES
(35.8 TO 40.3 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) LatLong DepthMagnitude
2001 JAN 27 10:28:07.0036.9 N121.4 W 8 km 2.9
NEAR Hollister, California
EARTHQUAKES IN STATE OF ALASKA
Date Time (UTC) LatLong DepthMagnitude
2001 JAN 27 09:08:46.7453.1 N166.8 W33 km 4.3
60 miles S of Dutch Harbor, Alaska
2001 JAN 27 01:58:15.4251.3 N179.7 W33 km 4.4
135 miles WSW of Adak, Alaska
=> 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
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**** ARTICLES ****
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=> New Fire Service Grant Program Update
Emmitsburg, MD -- Work continued this week on the new $100 million federal
grant program for
our nation's fire service community. Representatives from major fire service
organizations met with
officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its United
States Fire
Administration (USFA) Jan. 23 - 25 at the National Emergency Training Center
to help develop the
criteria for evaluating grant proposals.
"The participation of these organizations is critical to the success of this
new program," said Ken
Burris, acting USFA Administrator. "Their support and expertise will help us
meet our goal to award
all the grants before the end of September."
Several key actions have been taken to speed this process:
In addition to the traditional paper form, an online application form is
being developed. Fire
departments will be able to log onto the FEMA/USFA web site, fill out the
application and submit it
electronically via the Internet.
As previously announced, grants will be awarded in six specific categories.
They are training,
wellness/fitness programs, vehicles, firefighting equipment, personal
protective equipment, and fire
prevention programs.
Each fire department will be allowed to apply for grants in a maximum of two
different categories.
"We are also soliciting input on how we should to run the new grant program
from rural, suburban
and urban fire departments as well as volunteer, combination and career
departments, " Burris said.
"They are both our partners and customers in this effort and must be part of
the development
process if we are going to be successful."
A Federal Register notice announcing specific regulations governing the
grant program will be
published in the near future. Fire departments are encouraged to monitor the
USFA web site for the
latest grant program information at www.fema.gov. An e-mail list is also
available for news updates.
To sign up, Internet users can go to the USFA web site and click on the
e-mail list link at the bottom
of the page.
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/
=> Arizona Disaster Recovery Final Update
Phoenix, AZ, January 26, 2001 -- The following is the final summary of
disaster recovery efforts in
Arizona in the wake of the flooding last October :
More than 440 flood disaster victims in Arizona have registered for
assistance by telephone through
FEMA's toll-free registration line since the presidential disaster
declaration of Oct. 27, 2000.
To date, FEMA has issued approximately over 280 checks to eligible
individuals or families for
temporary disaster housing, totaling more than $556 thousand. More checks
may be issued to these
disaster victims as their recovery needs continue to be reassessed.
Over $743 thousand in grants, jointly funded by FEMA and the state, have
been approved for 164
individuals and families for serious, disaster-related needs not met through
other sources.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved over $1 million in
low-interest disaster
loans.
$1.2 million has been obligated to the state by FEMA's Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program in support
of mitigation measures to fortify the state against future disasters.
Approximately $4.4 million in FEMA funds is estimated to be given to the
state in support of
ongoing repairs to infrastructure throughout disaster affected areas:
Cochise, La Paz, Maricopa,
Pinal, Santa Cruz counties and the Gila River Indian Community.
=> Extraordinary Measures By Ordinary People In The Face Of A Disaster
Little Rock, AR, January 26, 2001 -- When we look back on our lives, we find
that we are most
proud of what we did when it mattered the most. In Arkansas, numerous unsung
heroes can be
proud of what they did during this disaster.
"The recent winter ice storms pulled at the very fabric of Arkansas life,"
said Joe Bray, federal
coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"But Arkansans are
a hardy bunch. I am grateful to community and state disaster workers for
their professionalism."
Individuals, local and city government officials, members from voluntary
organizations, and the
National Guard all came to the aid of their neighbors during a time of great
need. " Extraordinary
measures were taken by ordinary people in the face of this disaster," Bray
added.
"I have never been more proud to be an Arkansan. The response from our
communities in this
situation is a testament that working together we can weather any crisis,"
said David Maxwell, state
coordinating officer.
The following is only a small example of a state that worked together. There
are many other untold
stories.
The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) activated the State
Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) in Conway, December 12 during the first ice storm.
Their staff worked
around-the-clock for several weeks. With expectations of Christmas and a
well-deserved break
looming ahead, they were surprised to be recalled on Christmas afternoon to
resume 24-hour
operations.
As emergency response operations evolved into a disaster recovery, more than
70 percent of
ADEM's personnel were deployed across the state and to the joint
state/federal Disaster Field
Office to work with county and municipal governments. Many of those
employees remain on
extended duty through today.
"When all the phone service, cell phone and radio networks were not working,
amateur radio
operators came to the rescue providing emergency communications," said Jerry
Roberts, county
coordinator for Sebastian County. "They assisted in restoring communication
to the county sheriff
and the emergency medical services. Radio-operators even rode with sheriff's
deputies to provide
radio communications."
In the cold and ice with no way to get to the sheriff's and emergency
management services
communication tower due to blocked roads, the 188th Air National Guard
Fighter Wing provided a
bulldozer and an operator to cut a new road in addition to providing
generators.
The Arkansas National Guard's 39th and 87th Infantry Brigade patrolled I-30
and I-40 providing
generator support. The 2nd of the 132nd, Field Artillery Brigade out of Ft.
Smith also furnished
generators and refueled those generators for shelters and fire stations in
the cities of Bonanza,
Mansfield, Hartford and Jenny Lynn, and at Ramsey Jr. High School. They
supplied more than
1,000 households with necessary water by providing generators for the
Milltown-Washburn water
system. The 223rd Combat Communications Squadron offered additional
generator support.
More than 100 people who were unable to get to a community shelter or their
homes were
transported thanks to the National Guard. Several people received their
first ride in a HUMVEE
ambulance, provided by the Guard.
To the many people who were house-bound and on oxygen support systems the
rural volunteer fire
department, driving to their door with supplemental oxygen, was a welcomed
relief from the stress
they were experiencing.
"People with special needs such as oxygen and breathing machines are on a
list," said Jim Johnson,
Dallas County emergency management coordinator. "We responded immediately to
those needs.
There was a man who had recently undergone back surgery. He was in the
middle of adjusting his
bed when the power went out. He also received the use of an emergency
generator."
Johnson related that within eight hours the public works department had the
water system up and
running thanks to the quick response of Arkansas Department of Emergency
Management (ADEM).
The community helped one another. "Individuals without any heat or
electricity themselves prepared
hot coffee, on portable camp stoves, for the electric repair crews." Johnson
added. "Others took up
chain saws to clear roads and driveways. Neighbors who had been fussing and
fighting for 10 years
helped each other."
All communications in Garland County, including the eight radio stations,
were out of commission as
a result of the ice storm. "Had it not been for the amateur radio clubs and
the ham radio operators, I
don't know how we could have done it," said Joy Sanders, emergency
management coordinator for
Garland County. "They supplied us with the equipment and operators that
allowed us to keep
communications open and to shuttle messages to Little River, Hot Spring and
Montgomery
counties."
The rural volunteer fire departments in Garland County logged in more than
3,500 hours from
December 27 to January 1. "They shuttled nursing home residents to shelters
by day and returned
them to the home at night," said Sanders. "They delivered the food that was
provided by The Baptist
Men and the American Red Cross twice a day to residents. In the middle of
all of this there was a
50-car wreck on the highway. They delivered food to the state troopers as
well."
The Arkansas Baptist Men prepared enough food for the 80,000 meals delivered
by the American
Red Cross. More than 3,300 people found refuge in the many shelters set up
by voluntary agencies.
When disaster strikes, getting the job of recovery done, and doing it well,
requires teamwork,
cooperation and innovation between all levels of government, voluntary
agencies and each individual.
Now everything is starting to settle down. For the most part, people have
resumed their daily
activities. "Garland County was granted funding by the city and county to
upgrade their
communication needs," said Sanders. The debris clearing is underway across
the state, and FEMA
has already issued more than $4 million in individual and family assistance.
=> USAID -- INDIA - Earthquake Fact Sheet #2, Fiscal Year (FY) 2001
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
INDIA - Earthquake Fact Sheet #2, Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 January 27, 2001
Background
- On January 26, at approximately 8:46 AM local time, an earthquake
measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale occurred in western India. The
epicenter of the earthquake was located 13 miles northeast of Bhuj in
Gujarat State, India. Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh were also impacted.
- The earthquake was the most powerful to strike India since August 15,
1950, when an 8.5-magnitude earthquake killed 1,538 people in northeastern
Assam state. Numbers Affected
- Initial field reports indicated that more than 15,000 have died as a
result of the earthquake in India, with as many as 13,000 dead in Bhuj.
Local government officials in Bhuj, a town with a population of 150,000,
report that 30,000 have been injured.
- An additional 8-15 people are reported dead in Pakistani towns of
Hyperbad and Badin-located in the southern province of Sindh. Current
Situation
- According to the Government of India (GOI), the affected areas in
Gujarat State include Bhuj, Kutch, Surat, Ahmadabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot,
Surendranagar, Jamnagar, and Jodia.
- The Kutch district was the most severely affected area and remains
isolated from surrounding areas. Local government officials indicate that
90% of the buildings in Bhuj have suffered significant structural damage,
while 10% have completely collapsed.
- In Ahmadabad, the commercial capital of Gujarat, the local media
reported that the Nehru bridge, which spans the Sabarmati river, was
structurally damaged. In addition, as many as 100 high-rise and
multi-story buildings have collapsed. Ahmadabad has a population of
approximately 4.5 million residents. Initial media reports cite damage to
power lines, phone infrastructure, gas lines, railways, and water systems.
- A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team was deployed
to the affected area on January 27.
U.S. Government Assistance
- An airlift of United States Agency for International Development/Office
of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA)-funded commodities is
scheduled to depart Washington, D.C. at 2:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
(EST) on January 28 to meet the immediate needs of 8,000 affected
families. The aircraft includes 800 rolls of plastic sheeting, 16,000
blankets, 16,000 5-gallon water containers, 10 water distribution kits, 2
water purification units, 10 generators, 20 light stands, and 20
electrical cords. The total value of this shipment is approximately
$380,000. A USAID/OFDA logistics officer will accompany the airlift.
- A USAID/OFDA regional advisor has arrived in India to assess the impact
of the earthquake, as well as an information officer to meet reporting
requirements.
- The Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) began
distributing 100 metric tons (MT) of U.S. Title II food commodities on
January 27. The emergency food assistance was already in-country and
consists of ready-to-eat food aid that will meet 40-50% of the daily food
requirements for 4,000 families in Bhuj for 15-20 days.
- On January 26, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $25,000 in disaster
assistance through USAID/Delhi to the Prime Minister's National Relief
Fund for immediate assistance to those affected by the earthquake.
- On January 26, USAID/OFDA activated a 24-hour Response Management Team
to coordinate the U.S. Government response to the disaster.
- Since 1998, the Program for the Enhancement of Emergency Response
(PEER)-a collaborative regional initiative between the Asian Disaster
Preparedness Center (ADPC), USAID/OFDA, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Department-has promoted, developed, and strengthened search and rescue
training capabilities in India at the regional, sub-regional, and national
levels.
USG Funding Summary
USG Agency
Implementing Partner (if applicable)
Project/Sector
Region (if applicable)
Dollar Amount
USAID/OFDA
Prime Minister's Fund
All
$25,000
USAID/Delhi
In-kind commodities
Bhuj
$387,156
Skylink Aviation
Airlift
Bhuj
$435,000
USAID/OFDA
Total $847,156
USAID/FFP
CARE
Title II Food Assistance
Bhuj
$43,000
Total USG Assistance $890,156
Public Donation Information
- In the interest of effective coordination of public response, USAID
encourages the public to contact directly those private voluntary
organizations (PVOs) currently working in the region in order to provide
monetary donations.
- A list of the PVOs may who are responding to the earthquake in India are
listed by InterAction, a coalition of voluntary humanitarian and
development organizations that work overseas. InterAction can be
contacted at 1- 202-667-8227 x106, or via the Internet at
http://www.interaction.org/. Those interested in providing specific
technical relief services or commodities can obtain guidelines for private
voluntary organizations through Volunteers in Technical Assistance's
(VITA's) Disaster Information Center at http://www.vita.org.
- USAID will not deviate from standard Denton Program procedures for
transporting privately-donated relief supplies. USAID will prioritize
delivery of essential relief commodities. For more information on the
Denton Program, please refer to the USAID website at
http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/pvc/denton.html.
- For additional information about the relief effort in India, please
refer to the Natural Disasters section of ReliefWeb at
http://www.reliefweb.int/
=> CWS -- SITUATION REPORT: INDIA EARTHQUAKE January 27, 2001
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
SITUATION: The death toll in Friday's devastating earthquake (Jan. 26) in
western India may rise to 15,000, authorities said today. At least 33,000
are injured and hundreds of thousands are now homeless, the BBC reported.
The quake -- measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale -- was the most serious
earthquake to strike India in 50 years.
The worst damage is in the western and central parts of the state of
Gujarat. Though initial efforts had focused on rescuing people from
collapsed buildings, authorities said today they had given up such efforts
and were now focusing on the recovery of dead bodies.
Worst hit was the city of Bhuj, near the quake's epicenter, which was
described as completely flattened, resembling a "bombed zone," according
to the BBC.
The earthquake hit as citizens of India were preparing to celebrate
Republic Day, a day commemorating the country's transition to an
independent republic following British colonial rule. Because of the
holiday, many people were at home when the earthquake struck.
The quake also affected neighboring Pakistan, where at least eight people
were reported killed in the southern province of Sindh. Pakistan, long a
rival of India's, has promised to provide its neighbor with disaster
relief assistance.
RESPONSE: Long-time CWS partner Church's Auxiliary for Social Action
(CASA) is responding to the disaster in what CASA Director J.K. Michael
describes as "a major way."
"The situation remains grave as more and more bodies are being recovered
from the debris by rescue workers," he said.
Michael said CASA relief teams had reached the affected areas and were in
contact with local partners on the ground. Relief teams would be working
in the cities of Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Bhuj and would be conducting
assessments as well as beginning to distribute food, water and blankets.
"Our initial plans are to start distribution of cooked food, drinking
water, blankets for protection against the severe cold in the region, and
tarpaulins for shelter for at least 35,000 families," Michael said.
CASA is working with CWS and the Action by Churches Together (ACT)
International network office in Geneva on an appeal that will be issued
shortly. The major component of the CASA response will be the distribution
of food, cooking utensils, shelter, water, blankets, clothes and other
basic relief items.
In Pakistan, CWS Pakistan is assessing needs in Pakistan with its local
partners in the field, such as Lower Sindh Rural Development Association
(LSRDA) and Caritas.
An upcoming emergency appeal of more than $1 million is expected
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. India Earthquake, #6924, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart,
IN 46515. Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext. 222.
On-line contributions to: <http://www.churchworldservice.org>
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