The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For March 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 Cannibal Coronal Mass Ejections
=> Article National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats Valid Friday,
March 30, 2001
- Tuesday, April 10, 2001
=> Article Washington Drought Update: Underground Water Could Be A Victim,
Too
=> Article FAA -- United States Moves Closer to Accident Reduction Goal
=> Article Mennonite Disaster Service Update
=> 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 March 28, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Tue...93 At Death Valley Thermal And Indio CA
Low Wed...7 At Bellaire MI
=> Special Notes
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Wed Mar 28 11:05:42 2001
Flash Flood
Louisiana
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHWEST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
Texas
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES THROUGH NOON TODAY OVER THE
EASTERN PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THE WATCH COVERS
COMAL...GONZALES...WILSON... BASTROP ...BLANCO...TRAVIS...HAYS...
LAVACA... DEWITT... BURNET... WILLIAMSON... LEE...LLANO... GUADALUPE..
.CALDWELL... FAYETTE AND KARNES COUNTIES.
Flood
Louisiana
FOR THE WHITE OAK CREEK AT TALCO...MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING WITH
South Dakota
A FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE JAMES RIVER...
Texas
FOR THE BUFFALO BAYOU AT SHEPHERD DRIVE, MAJOR FLOODING IS
OCCURING
FOR THE PEACH CREEK NEAR SPLENDORA, THE STAGE WAS 10.9 FEET AT 1 AM.
FOR THE WHITE OAK CREEK AT TALCO...MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING WITH
Special Marine
Louisiana
* SPECIAL MARINE WARNING FOR...
COASTAL WATERS OUT 20 TO 60 NM
FROM ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO CAMERON OVER GULF OF MEXICO WATERS
* UNTIL 1030 AM CST
Non Precipitation
California
HIGH WIND WARNINGS AND WIND ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
PORTIONS OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY UNTIL 9 AM...
Winter Storm
Idaho
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS/IDAHO
PORTION-..SNOW ADVISORY THIS MORNING...
Utah
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS/IDAHO
PORTION-..SNOW ADVISORY THIS MORNING...
WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-...SNOW ADVISORY THIS MORNING...
=> 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 3 inches of precipitation
over south southeast except
the extreme south southeast area, extreme southern Mississippi, and extreme
south southeast
Alabama.
Over an inch of rainfall is forecast over the southeast 1/2 of Louisiana,
southern Mississippi, south
southeast Alabama, and the western portion of Florida's panhandle.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for 2 inches of
precipitation over east southeast
South Carolina, and the western portion of far southern North Carolina.
Over 1 inch of precipitation is forecast over the eastern portion of far
southeastern Louisiana, far
southern Mississippi, far southern Alabama, the northern 1/2 of Florida, the
southeast 3/5 of
Georgia, the southeast 2/3 of South Carolina, the southeast 1/2 of North
Carolina, southeast
Virginia, far southern Maryland, the southeast 1/2 of Delaware and extreme
southern New Jersey.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall is expected to exceed flash flood values over isolated areas of the
southeast 1/2 of
Louisiana, and the southeast 1/4 of Mississippi.
USA heavy snow and/or significant icing
>From noon to midnight today EST the probability of snow exceeding warning
thresholds is less than
20%
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low over far
eastern west Virginia, far eastern Maryland, extreme northern Virginia, and
far central south
Pennsylvania.
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
NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY ... CORRECTED ISSUE DATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
0810 AM EST WED MAR 28 2001
FLOOD SUMMARY
LOCALIZED FLOODING IN TEXAS
POCKETS OF INTENSE RAIN (UP TO 9 INCHES) CAUSED URBAN AND LOW
LAND FLOODING THAT EXTENDED FROM THE SAN ANTONIO AREA EASTWARD
THROUGH HOUSTON TO THE GULF COAST.
OUTLOOK FOR TODAY
FLOOD WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN
TEXAS FLASH FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI
AND ALABAMA.
FLASH FLOODING:
FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS AND/OR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD
ADVISORIES WERE ISSUED OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS FOR:
TEXAS: BURNET, CHAMBERS, FORT BEND, HARRIS, LEE, LLANO,
TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES
I-10 WAS CLOSED IN HARRIS COUNTY
RIVER FLOODING:
RIVERS AND STREAMS WITH LOCATIONS EITHER ABOVE FLOOD STAGE OR
EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE INCLUDE:
ALABAMA: THE ALABAMA RIVER
ARKANSAS: THE OUACHITA RIVER
FLORIDA: THE APPALACHICOLA AND ESCAMBIA RIVERS
GEORGIA: THE ALTAMAHA, OCMULGEE, OGEEEHEE, OHOOPEE AND
SATILLA RIVERS
IOWA: THE CEDAR, IOWA AND WAPSIPINICON RIVERS
ILLINOIS: THE ILLINOIS RIVER
LOUISIANA: THE ATCHAFALAYA, BOEUF, OUACHITA, PEARL, RED AND
SABINE RIVERS; RED CHUTE BAYOU AND BAYOU DORCHEAT;
BAYOU BODCAU RESERVOIR
MASSACHUSETTS: THE ASSABET, CHARLES, CONCORD, IPSWICH AND
SUDBURY RIVERS
MINNESOTA: THE RED LAKE RIVER
NORTH CAROLINA: THE NEUSE RIVER
NORTH DAKOTA: THE SOURIS RIVER; PIPESTEM CREEK
TEXAS: THE ANGELINA, NECHES, COWLEECH AND SOUTH FORKS OF THE
SABINE, SABINE, SOUTH SULPHUR, SULPHUR AND TRINITY RIVERS;
BUFFALO BAYOU; PEACH AND WHITE OAK CREEKS
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
Not 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 2001 MAR 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) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 MAR 27 02:10:17.00 36.1 N 117.6 W 3 km 2.9
30 miles N of Ridgecrest, California
2001 MAR 27 11:47:52.00 39.4 N 120.5 W 12 km 3.7
30 miles S of Portola, California
EARTHQUAKES IN NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
(40.3 TO 50.0 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 MAR 27 12:21:49.00 40.4 N 124.3 W 27 km 3.0
25 miles SSW of Eureka, California
EARTHQUAKES IN STATE OF ALASKA
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 MAR 27 03:29:50.18 51.9 N 170.1 W 43 km 4.4
85 miles SW of Nikolski, 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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=> Cannibal Coronal Mass Ejections
Fast-moving solar eruptions that overtake and devour their slower-moving kin
can trigger
long-lasting geomagnetic storms when they strike Earth's magnetosphere
March 27, 2001 -- Fast-moving solar eruptions apparently overtake and often
devour their
slower-moving kin. This discovery was made by a team of astronomers working
with a pair of
NASA spacecraft.
Strange radio fireworks were first heard by the team using NASA's Wind
spacecraft. The link to the
cosmic collisions came when researchers matched the timing of the radio
outbursts to images of solar
eruptions consuming each other. The dynamic pictures of the so-called
"cannibal coronal mass
ejections" were captured by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
spacecraft from
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
A coronagraph on board the ESA-NASA SOHO spacecraft captured this example of
CME
cannibalism in action on June 6, 2000.
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/GSFC/SpaceSci/sunearth/cannibalcmepix.htm
Solar eruptions directed toward Earth are potentially harmful to advanced
technology, including
communications and power systems, and this cannibalistic behavior may result
in longer magnetic
storms. These collisions change the speed of the eruption, which is
important for space weather
prediction because it alters the estimated arrival time of Earthbound
coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
"Coronal mass ejection cannibalism is the most violent form of interaction
between CMEs," says
NASA Goddard's Dr. Natchimuthuk Gopalswamy, lead author of a research paper
presented today
during a meeting of the European Geophysical Society in Nice, France. "This
happens when a slow
CME is expelled before a fast one from the same general region on the Sun.
The fast CME simply
gobbles up the slow one," resulting in a single, complex outward-moving
front.
Coronal mass ejections are billion-ton clouds of electrified, magnetic gas
that solar eruptions hurl into
space at speeds ranging from a few hundred to 2000 km/s. Earth-directed CMEs
can trigger
magnetic storms when they strike our planet's magnetic field, distorting its
shape and accelerating
electrically charged particles trapped within.
The researchers believe cannibal eruptions may be larger and more complex in
structure than typical
eruptions. These traits cause "complex ejecta" CMEs to trigger protracted
magnetic storms when
they envelop the Earth.
This sequence of images is from a computer animation illustrating an
artist's concept of Coronal
Mass Ejection (CME) cannibalism. Credit: NASA, Walt Feimer, Max-Q Digital
Group, Honeywell
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/GSFC/SpaceSci/sunearth/cannibalcmepix.htm
Severe solar weather is often heralded by dramatic auroral displays (also
known as Northern and
Southern Lights), but magnetic storms are occasionally harmful, potentially
affecting satellites, radio
communications and power systems. Understanding what happens to CMEs on
their way to Earth is
important for assessing their impact on the near-Earth space environment.
Observations from Wind's Radio and Plasma Wave experiment revealed
occasional intense bursts of
emission originating far away from the Sun. When Gopalswamy and his
colleagues were searching
for the source of these radio outbursts, they discovered the ejection
interaction, which produces
high-energy electrons and cause the radio outbursts.
After the initial discovery, 21 cannibalistic ejections have been identified
since April 1997. There
may be even more events that aren't detected because they are less energetic
and do not produce a
radio outburst, according to the researchers.
This dramatic photo captured on March 24, 2001 by Jan Curtis near Fairbanks,
Alaska, shows
what can happen when a CME strikes Earth's magnetosphere. To view more
images of recent
Northern Lights, visit SpaceWeather.com's aurora gallery.
http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_20mar01.html
"Collisions between CMEs may be more common than previously thought and may
play a key role
in determining the interplanetary traffic of CMEs," Gopalswamy added.
The astronomers expect an elevated rate of CME interactions during the
current peak in the 11-year
cycle of violent solar activity, called solar maximum, because more
ejections are expelled in quick
succession. During solar minimum, only one ejection every few days is
common; during maximum,
several ejections can occur in a day.
The cooperative SOHO project is part of NASA's and ESA's Solar Terrestrial
Science Program
(STSP), comprising of SOHO and CLUSTER. SOHO was launched Dec. 2, 1995. The
SOHO
spacecraft was built in Europe, and instruments were provided by European
and American scientists.
=> National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats Valid Friday, March 30,
2001 -
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
Summary of Forecasts & Threats
SYNOPSIS: A period of fairly typical unsettled to stormy springtime weather
across much of the
nation is expected to produce a variety of threats. Models agree on a broad
mean upper level trough
over the center of the nation for the next seven days which should lead to
generally unsettled
weather. However, the significant weather will come from individual storms
moving through the
large- scale trough, and the details of these are more difficult to forecast
and show a greater degree
of disagreement among the various model solutions today.
THREATS
Heavy rain with local flooding is possible across parts of the Southeast on
Fri Mar 30.
Abnormally heavy snowpack and snow water content pose a spring flood threat
in parts of the
Upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains, and in New England. A
series of storms
bringing rain and warmer temperatures across New England on Fri Mar 30
through Wed April 4
could trigger the flood potential in that region.
Long-term drought continues over most of Florida, and over western portions
of the Carolinas,
eastern Tennessee, and northern Georgia. Some relief is expected.
Low mountain snowpack conditions that have developed over much of the West
are likely to
experience some relief during the next two weeks.
There is a chance of a strong storm with heavy rain, snow, and ice possible
from the central Plains
eastward through the middle Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley, the Great
Lakes, and the
Northeastern states Sat Mar 31 through Tues Apr 3. Details of this storm are
still quite uncertain
however.
DETAILED SUMMARY
For Friday March 30 through Sunday April 1: A storm is expected to form
along an old frontal
boundary across the Gulf Coast states. With good moisture inflow from the
Gulf, heavy rainfall
amounts are possible over portions of the Southeast on Fri Mar 30. As this
storm lifts northeastward
across the Atlantic Coast states, it is expected to bring warm air and heavy
rain to New England.
With the heavy snowpack in that region from recent late winter storms,
flooding is a distinct threat
due to the rainfall coupled with rapid snowmelt and the possibility of ice
damming. Another storm is
forecast by some models to be starting in the central Plains on Sat March 31
and move eastward
affecting much of the northeastern quarter of the nation with a mixture of
rain, sleet, ice, and snow,
with possibly large total precipitation accumulations. Details are still
quite uncertain, with various
model solutions ranging from almost nothing to a major storm.
For Monday April 2 through Tuesday Apr 10: Indications for this period are
very uncertain, but the
general unsettled weather pattern for much of the nation looks like it will
remain. The storm forecast
by some of the models to develop across the Great Plains on Sat March 31 may
bring heavy
precipitation from the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley to the Northeast Mon
April 2 through Tues
April 3. Details of this storm are still quite uncertain. The generally
stormy pattern may bring
continued relief to regions that have had below normal precipitation in
recent months.
=> Washington Drought update: underground water could be a victim, too
OLYMPIA - Following is the Department of Ecology's weekly report about the
status of drought conditions, assistance being provided by state agencies,
and what citizens can do or are doing to conserve and share water.
Ground-water update
Like lakes and rivers, underground water also may experience low water
levels during this summer's drought.
Many cities in Washington rely partially or entirely on ground water for
drinking water, and tens of thousands of homeowners have small individual
wells to supply their homes and yards with water. In Western Washington,
about 65 percent of the people's drinking water comes from aquifers; in
Eastern Washington, it's about 85 percent.
Water levels in wells can be dramatically affected by droughts. During the
drought in 1994, ground-water levels the Yakima basin declined by two to 20
feet. Once the water level in an aquifer has been lowered, it can take
several years to recover through the normal recharge process.
During a drought, homeowners should closely monitor their wells to determine
if the water level is declining. If the water level in a well drops to the
point where the pump is set, the homeowner may experience air or increased
sand in the drinking-water supply.
To avoid trouble, people should first cut back on the amount of water they
use. In some cases, it may be necessary to lower the pump in the well. In
Western Washington, if the water level drops too far, the property owner may
need to hire a licensed well driller to dig the well deeper. In Eastern
Washington, most wells are already quite deep, and digging deeper may not
help.
Maintaining a well is the responsibility of the well owner. However, if
people have questions about the quality of the water in their wells, some
local health authorities will test water samples for contamination.
Updated water-supply information
This year has been compared to 1977, when many low-water records were set.
However, 1977 and 2001 actually unfolded quite differently, according to
Doug McChesney, a hydrogeologist with the Department of Ecology.
"The water year started out much drier in 1977, but then we had a very wet
spring - which has not been the case so far in 2001," McChesney said. "The
likelihood of breaking many of those records looms very large."
Statewide precipitation for the first three weeks of March was generally
between 50 to 75 percent of normal. While that is better than previous
months this winter, the precipitation for the water year is still well below
average, said McChesney.
How state and federal government is helping
The Department of Ecology is moving to adopt an emergency regulation that
will quickly and fairly distribute $5.1 million in drought assistance to
areas where it is needed most. The agency anticipates a high number of
requests from people who want to sell or lease their water to keep it in
streams to help fish survive. Irrigation districts and public utilities also
will be seeking money to pay for conservation activities.
Gov. Gary Locke has continued urging farmers and cities that have extra
water to consider making it available to others that will not have enough to
cover their needs during the drought.
To date, two applications have been filed with Ecology to change or transfer
existing water rights due to drought-related water shortages. One of those
applications has been approved - for a neighborhood in Franklin County.
Ecology also has received two applications for emergency water permits from
farmers who are seeking access to new sources of water. The department is
obligated to make sure the water people are asking to use isn't already
being used by another farm, business or city or could cause water levels for
fish habitat to decline further. Under the drought emergency, a decision
must be made within 15 days.
Department of Agriculture and Conservation Commission staff are working with
farmers to determine who will need water and who might have extra water to
share. Conservation Commission staff have made initial inquiries to farmers
in the Upper Yakima Valley, and farmers have started calling the local
conservation districts to find out how they can help and how they can get
help.
Through the Employment Security Department, unemployment benefits are
available to qualified workers who lose their jobs due to the drought.
Applications for benefits can be filed with the department by calling local
Unemployment Claims Telecenters or via the Internet at http://go2ui.com/.
Unemployment relief also may be available for employers. State law allows
employers to request that they not be charged for unemployment benefits for
their workers when the unemployment is caused by a natural disaster, such as
a drought. Businesses may seek the waiver from the Employment Security
Department after one or more workers file a drought-related unemployment
claim.
In addition, the federal government is lending a hand to help Washington
state during the drought. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is taking
a heightened interest in Washington's drought situation and has been invited
to participate on the Drought Emergency Executive Committee, chaired by the
Governor's Office.
Conservation is important
Citizens can play a big role in offsetting the effects of this summer's
drought.
"It may sound trite, but truly if we all do our part to cut back on the
water we use every day, we will have more water for all of us - for
drinking, irrigating, and fish," said Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons. Some
simple things people can do to help:
Taking a quick shower instead of a bath saves 20 gallons of water.
Turning off the water faucet while brushing teeth or shaving can save five
gallons of water per day. If half the residents of Washington adopted this
conservation measure, it would save more than 14 million gallons of water a
day.
Using water wisely when watering lawns and outdoor plants. Outdoor watering
uses more than half of Washington's residential water during the warm summer
months.
"Nurseries, landscapers and home-improvement stores have lots of good
information about how to maintain attractive landscaping with minimal
irrigation," said Fitzsimmons. "There are drought-tolerant plants and super
efficient watering systems available so those of us with green thumbs don't
have to completely abandon our gardens this year.'
Visit Ecology's Web site for more conservation tips: www.ecy.wa.gov/ (click
on the drought link).
=> FAA -- United States Moves Closer to Accident Reduction Goal
WASHINGTON - Three years into a 10-year plan to reduce aviation accidents,
government and
industry safety experts today reported that their data-driven Safer Skies
approach is on a steady
course toward preventing both commercial and general aviation accidents.
The plan has already
produced 13 actions that are being used in day-to-day commercial operations
to prevent some of
the leading causes of accidents.
As part of Safer Skies, the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) is
well on its way toward
implementing safety interventions for two leading causes of commercial
accidents: controlled flight
into terrain (CFIT) and uncontained engine failures. CAST has developed
intervention strategies for
approach and landing accidents and is beginning the implementation phase.
Government and
industry CAST participants continue to develop intervention strategies for
runway incursions, loss of
control, and weather. These are the leading causes of commercial aviation
accidents based on an
in-depth CAST analysis process.
"These initiatives are more like base hits than home runs, but as all
baseball fans know, a lot of
base hits can produce a lot of runs and win the game," said Capt. Edmond
Soliday, vice president
for corporate safety, quality assurance and security at United Airlines
and CAST co-chair.
In 1997, a group of industry associations, aerospace companies, and pilot
unions came together in
an effort to reduce the U.S. commercial aviation fatal accident rate by 80
percent by 2007. NASA,
which does substantial aviation safety research, also joined the group.
Recognizing that cooperation
is essential to enhancing safety, the group agreed in June 1998 to merge
their efforts with the
commercial aviation portion of the broader Safer Skies plan developed by
the U.S. Department of
Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). That effort operates
under CAST. Safer
Skies' general aviation component uses a team similar in structure to CAST
that aims to eliminate an
entire year's worth of general aviation accidents. A third team has already
addressed cabin
safety-related issues.
"Although commercial and general aviation accident patterns are quite
different, we know that the
Safer Skies approach is the right way to reduce accidents for both industry
segments," said Nick
Lacey, director, FAA's Flight Standards Service and CAST co-chair.
"Top-level buy-in from
operators, manufacturers and the government gets results faster."
Both the commercial and general aviation teams use working groups for
in-depth analysis of the
top accident categories. They then develop "intervention strategies" to
reduce such accidents.
Additional working groups then prioritize and coordinate the plans for
implementing those
strategies.
The General Aviation Joint Steering Committee has completed analyses for
CFIT and
weather-related accidents. Intervention strategies differ from those being
implemented for
commercial aviation due to the unique general aviation operating
environment. The general aviation
team is currently working on improving low-altitude procedures and
awareness training to prevent
CFIT accidents. Improved weather information and training, as well as
better low-altitude
procedures and synthetic vision technology are being developed to prevent
weather-related
accidents. Other areas under analysis include pilot decision-making, loss
of control, survivability
and runway incursions.
"Safer Skies is an efficient framework for combining the resources of the
entire aviation community
and building upon general aviation's ongoing safety programs," said Jack
Olcott, president of the
National Business Aviation Association and co-chair of the General Aviation
Joint Steering
Committee. "Using Safer Skies' data-driven approach toward accident
analysis, the general
aviation community is expanding a culture of safety and is developing
meaningful programs to
enhance overall safety for private and non-scheduled commercial
operations."
One of the benefits of the Safer Skies plan is that industry is
voluntarily implementing agreed-upon
recommendations. For example, airlines are using improved inspection
methods to prevent
uncontained engine failures and are incorporating improved training, new
standard operating
procedures and technology to prevent CFIT accidents.
Key players in aviation safety participate on the CAST and general
aviation teams. Government
members include the FAA, NASA and the Department of Defense. Industry
members include the
Aerospace Industries Association, Airbus Industries, Air Transport
Association, Aircraft Owners
and Pilots Association, Boeing, Experimental Aircraft Association, Flight
Safety Foundation,
General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association
International, National Air
Carrier Association, National Air Transport Association, National Business
Aviation Association,
Pratt & Whitney (also representing General Electric and Rolls-Royce) and
the Regional Airline
Association. Employee groups include the Allied Pilots Association, Air
Line Pilots Association,
International Federation of Air Line Pilots, and the National Air Traffic
Controllers Association.
CAST recognizes that improving commercial aviation safety requires a
global effort. International
participation in CAST efforts includes the Air Transport Association
Canada, Association of Asia
Pacific Airlines, International Civil Aviation Organization, International
Air Transport Association,
European Joint Aviation Authorities, Safety Authority Australia, and
Transport Canada.
=> Mennonite Disaster Service Update
MDS is now accepting volunteers in Mississippi, Oklahoma and Princeville.
Read
on for more information....
Princeville, North Carolina
FLOOD - VOLUNTEERS TO DATE: 294, JOBS: 22, JOBS COMPLETED: 11
The volunteer schedule is opening up. To contact the project call or email
the
project directors, Ray and Martha Zimmerman (252) 824-5234 mdsods6{at}juno.com
Mail can be sent to 310 Mutual Blvd., Princeville NC, 27886
Whiteville, North Carolina
FLOOD - Whiteville is full thru the close date of March 30. If you would
like
more information about Whiteville, call the project at (910) 646-5200. The
project directors are Don and Mary Oesch. Mail can be sent to 1935 Pierce
Cemetery Road, Hallsboro, NC 28442. E-mail: mennods1{at}juno.com
Apache, Oklahoma
FLOOD - VOLUNTEERS TO DATE: 88 - JOBS: 9, JOBS COMPLETED: 4
Apache is now accepting volunteers. The Love's who were featured in the news
article are now receiving assistance. Karla Amstutz is the project director.
To
inquire about volunteering, contact Karla at (580) 588-3248. E-mail:
apachemds{at}juno.com
Snow Hill, North Carolina
FLOOD - VOLUNTEERS TO DATE: 363 - JOBS: 49, JOBS COMPLETED: 41
The volunteer schedule in Snow Hill is booked through the close at the
beginning
of April. The project directors, Henry and Pearl Dueck, can be contacted at
(252) 747- 9261. Mail can be sent to 398 Highway 58 South, Snow Hill, NC
28580.
E-mail: mennods2{at}juno.com
Burgaw, North Carolina
FLOOD - VOLUNTEERS TO DATE: 870 - JOBS: 61, JOBS COMPLETED: 49
The Burgaw schedule is full thru April.
the program. It will be an evening that will not soon be forgotten. To
contact
the project call (910) 259-8601. The project directors are Vic and Bev
Plessinger. Mail can be sent to 321 Pinkney Road, Burgaw, N.C. 28425.
E-mail:
mennods1{at}juno.com
Columbus, Mississippi
WIND - MDS needs volunteers now in Columbus, Miss. where storms blew down
trees,
crushed roofs and smashed windows on February 17. There are still homes that
have not been covered in plastic and volunteer assistance will help to
protect
these homes from further damage. Willis and Phyllis Troyer are project
directors. To volunteer call (662) 241-5884 between 8am and 5pm Central
Time.
After 6pm, call ( 662) 241- 6357.
Mennonite Disaster Service
http://www.mds.mennonite.net
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STORM SYSTEM OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS
Plains US
This GOES-8 image shows a storm system over the southern Plains.
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SNOW COVER OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST AND PLAINS STATS
Upper Midwest and Plains US
This GOES-8 image shows snow cover (off white) over the upper Midwest and
Plains states.
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