2012-06-29 07:34:38 – Flash Flood – United Kingdom

Rail passengers trying to travel North via the east coast are facing a second day of disruption after storms caused flash floods across the region. Dozens of schools are closed and Northern Powergrid said about 7,300 homes were without power after lightning strikes hit cables. Emergencies services dealt with more than 1,500 calls in Tyne and Wear. The deluge hit the region on Thursday, causing travel chaos for drivers and rail passengers. Police and firefighters also worked through the night to rescue many people stranded in their cars in gridlocked traffic. A landslide near Berwick at Spittal has shut the line between Berwick and Newcastle and there is a replacement bus service. East Coast Mainline is also operating buses between Berwick and Edinburgh. A spokesman said: “Network Rail is working hard to fix the line quickly following various problems caused by the severe weather experienced yesterday. Flooding and landslides also mean there will be no no trains between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed on Friday morning with no replacement buses. Areas affected by power strikes include Whitley Bay and Shiremoor on North Tyneside, Prudhoe in Northumberland and Consett in Durham. A spokesman for the power firm said: “Flash flooding is making access to some substations and power lines difficult at present but we are committed to restoring supplies to customers as soon as possible.” On Thursday firefighters were called to a house fire in Angel View, Benwell, caused by lightning striking a solar panel. Police also said people were evacuated from flood-hit homes in Felling, Gateshead, Lanchester and County Durham. The Environment Agency said there were two flood warnings in place in the for the Smallhope Burn in Lanchester, County Durham, and Ouseburn at Woolsington and Brunton Park on Tyneside. There are also still flood warnings in place for the Rivers Rede, Pont, Blyth, Wear and Tyne.

Posted:2012-06-29 07:34:38 [UTC]

2012-06-28 14:33:18 – Forest / Wild Fire – USA

!!! WARNING !!!

The massive Wood Hollow fire blitzed into Utah County Tuesday afternoon, prompting new evacuations in the Birdseye area, just hours after officials found a body in a previously evacuated area. Fire officials reported at about 3:30 p.m. that the fire was possibly crossing the boundary between Sanpete and Utah counties. By 4:47 p.m. the Utah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the fire had entered Utah County and was forcing the evacuation of Birdseye. Utah County Sheriff’s Lt. Yvette Rice did not know how many acres had burned in Utah County but said authorities were conducting an aerial assessment Tuesday evening. “We have no idea on size, dimensions, anything like that,” Rice said. Rice did not immediately know how many people would have to leave. She said the area is home to a ranch for troubled boys as well as an assortment of homes. Rice mentioned that information was limited due to spotty cell phone coverage in the area around Birdseye. Rice also did not know if a shelter had been set up for Utah County evacuees. Rice added that sheriff’s deputies and Utah County wildland firefighters were on the scene to battle the blaze as it took over more turf. The fire also had forced some livestock evacuations near Birdseye. As those evacuations were taking place Tuesday, Ray Andrus was trying to get through Spanish Fork Canyon to his cabin in the Fairview area. Andrus hit a roadblock where U.S. 89 meets U.S. 6, then saw authorities whizzing by.rnrn”I was passed by a dozen police cars to do the evacuation,” Andrus said, adding that he hopes to make it out to his cabin Wednesday. He said the area had not been evacuated but has little protection if the fire does move in that direction. The blaze ultimately forced the closure of U.S. 89 in all directions from U. S. 6 to Fairview and the junction at State Road 31. The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office also reported the first fatality of the fire Tuesday afternoon. According to a news release, the body was discovered as search and rescue crews entered evacuated areas. The victim has not yet been identified. The crews that found the body were assessing the possibility of reopening evacuated zones. On Tuesday morning, evacuations were lifted for the east side of U.S. 89 and the Fairview Ranchos area. However, residents of those areas are being asked to remain prepared in case further evacuations are needed. Only emergency personnel and residents are being allowed to enter those areas. No utilities will be turned on in those areas at this time. Interagency fire spokesman Don Carpenter said weather conditions Tuesday afternoon were turning out to be less volatile than initially expected. He said there were breezes fanning the flames, but the gusts that previously drove the blaze haven’t materialized. “It’s not super high winds but there’s probably enough to fan the flames,” he said.rnrnSpokeswoman Dorothy Harvey further estimated on Tuesday morning that 290 structures, including 100 homes, had been destroyed, but “we have received word that those numbers are incorrect. The number of homes destroyed is still being evaluated.” By 5:30 p.m. Sanpete County Sheriff’s officials also reported that Fairview was being evacuated and structures were possibly threatened. The Red Cross was receiving new refugees at North Sanpete High School in Mt. Pleasant, located at 390 E. 700 South. Just over the mountain from the Wood Hollow Fire, another blaze was spotted Tuesday afternoon. Fire spokeswoman Rosann Fillmore said the newly named Seeley Fire was likely sparked by thunderstorms on Monday or later. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, the fire had burned more than 600 acres and forced the evacuation of LDS girls camp Mia Shalom. Fillmore said roughly 100 girls were taken to a church building in Fairview as a precautionary measure — though Fairview itself was later evacuated as the Wood Hollow Fire advanced. The Seeley Fire did not force any other evacuations, though it did threaten a historic guard station that had been turned into a museum. Fillmore added that aerial searches revealed that the fire was the only one burning on the Wasatch Plateau, despite rumors to the contrary. According to Fillmore, the Seeley Fire was being fought by one helicopter, a 12-person crew, two fire engines and a 12 “smoke jumpers” who skydive into hard-to-access fire zones. Another hand crew was en route Tuesday evening and scheduled to begin work Wednesday.

Posted:2012-06-28 14:33:18 [UTC]