The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For February 3, 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 Report on the Bitterroot Fires 2000 completed
=> Article Virginia Asks to Extend Deadline for Mobile Home Operation
=> Article USAID -- INDIA - Earthquake Fact Sheet #8
=> Article CWS Emergency Appeal: India Earthquake
=> Article OCHA Situation Report No. 6 India - Earthquake
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area - Kentucky: Coal Sludge Disaster LINKS:
=> 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 February 3, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Fri...83 At Ft Pierce Marathon Pembroke Pines And W Kendall FL
Low Sat...8 Below Zero At Marquette MI
=> Special Notes
Stratwarm Alert Exists Stratwarm Saturday
Comment: Strong minor warming continues. Temperature gradient
reversed at 100 HPa and above up to 5 HPa.
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Sat Feb 3 12:52:09 2001
Non Precipitation
North Dakota
WIND ADVISORY SOUTHWEST AND EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL THIS
AFTERNOON...
South Dakota
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA WILL BE CAUGHT TODAY BETWEEN STRONG LOW
PRESSURE TO THE EAST AND HIGH PRESSURE TO THE WEST. THIS WILL PRODUCE
STRONG GUSTY WINDS ON THE OPEN PLAINS FROM NORTHWESTERN THROUGH
SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA.
LOW PRESSURE OVER NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WILL MOVE
SOUTHEAST INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TODAY.
Winter Storm
Colorado
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO...
Iowa - NW
Minnesota SW
South Dakota - SE
Nebraska - NE
...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 3 PM CST...
WIDESPREAD FREEZING RAIN WILL END ACROSS THE ADVISED AREA FROM
NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON...ENDING IN LYON COUNTY
IOWA AND MURRAY COUNTY MINNESOTA FIRST...AND IN BUENA VISTA
COUNTY LAST.
HOWEVER THE LAST AREA OF FREEZING RAIN WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE
INTERSTATE 90 CORRIDOR OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...AND ALL OF
NORTHWEST IOWA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL LIKELY KEEP MANY
SURFACES GLAZED WITH ICE.
TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE ELSEWHERE...
HELPING TO MELT THE FREEZING RAIN ON TREATED SURFACES.
Michigan - NW
LAKE EFFECT SNOW CONTINUES ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE...
.ANOTHER 2 TO 4 INCHES IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE
IN BENZIE AND MANISTEE COUNTIES.
New York - CN
NORTHERN CAYUGA NY-WAYNE NY-
..LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...
Vermont -
SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT...
.SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE IN THE GREEN MOUNTAINS OF
VERMONT...BUT
ACCUMULATIONS WILL NOT BE SIGNIFICANT.
Washington
=> 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.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over north northwest
Washington, northwest central Oregon, and southern New Jeresy.
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 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
The moderate probability area is over northern Illinois, extreme northern
Indiana, southern
Wisconsin, southwest Michigan.
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
United States National flood summary are not currently available.
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2001 - 1000 MST
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL I
CURRENT SITUATION:
The Southern Area reported eight new large fires this past week. A cold
front stalled over central Florida and brought precipitation to the area,
which allowed crews to contain all the large fires except for one. Total
precipitation in central Florida ranged from a trace to almost two inches.
Initial attack activity continued on a daily basis in the Southern Area.
SOUTHERN AREA LARGE FIRES:
LAKE/HICKMAN, Florida Division of Forestry. This fire is near Lakeland,
FL. Crews continue with burnout operations.
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INCIDENT |ST|UNIT| SIZE | % | EST |TOTAL|CRW|ENG|HELI|STRC| $$$
NAME | | | |CTN| CTN |PERS | | | |LOSS|C-T-D
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LAKE |FL| FLS| 3825| 90| UNK| 88| 0| 8| 0| 0| NR|
OIL WELL ROAD |FL| FLS| 128|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|
MOUNTAIN COMMAN|FL| FLS| 150|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|
POST |FL| FLS| 175|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|
BELL |FL| FLS| 300|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|
SUPER BOWL COMM|FL| FLS| 200|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|
WINDING STAR |GA| CHF| 250|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|
TRAIL 3 |FL| FLS| 200|100| ---| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0|
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CHF = Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
OUTLOOK:
A cold front in central Florida will bring scattered showers to the area
today. The next frontal system will move into south Texas Saturday and
into Florida by Monday. Drier, cooler, and windy conditions are expected
in Georgia and Florida after this system passes through on Tuesday. High
temperatures will range from the mid 40's to 60, except for the 70's in
south Florida.
Winds will decrease in Southern California today. The Southwest will
remain dry until late next week. Storm systems continue to move into the
Pacific Northwest. Temperatures will range from the 30's and 40's in the
north to the 70's in the southern valleys and deserts.
=> 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 FEB 03 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 FEB 2 17:51:10.00 40.3 N 121.4 W 7 km 3.0
40 miles WSW of Susanville, California
2001 FEB 2 11:19:40.00 37.3 N 118.5 W 14 km 3.1
10 miles WSW of Bishop, California
2001 FEB 2 22:00:58.00 39.7 N 122.8 W 3 km 3.3
45 miles SW of Red Bluff, California
2001 FEB 2 03:41:27.00 37.8 N 122.2 W 12 km 3.5
NEAR Oakland, California
2001 FEB 2 23:03:11.00 39.7 N 122.8 W 10 km 4.0
45 miles SW of Red Bluff, California
EARTHQUAKES IN STATE OF ALASKA
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 FEB 2 04:18:07.97 51.6 N 179.6 E 54 km 5.0
160 miles W of Adak, Alaska
2001 FEB 1 18:19:30.11 51.5 N 177.9 W 33 km 5.6
55 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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=> Report on the Bitterroot Fires 2000 completed
FEBRUARY 2 -- HAMILTON, MT: During the summer of 2000, people of the
Bitterroot Valley
saw miles of mountains ablaze, air black with smoke, and homes and
possessions consumed in
historic wildfires that burned 356,000 acres of public and private land.
The Bitterroot National Forest has now completed a special report to provide
a perspective of what
happened, why it happened, where it happened, and what will happen next in
the Bitterroot Valley
and surrounding landscapes. This report, "Bitterroot Fires 2000" is now
available online at
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/bitterroot/recovery/bitterroot_fires_2000.htm
=> Virginia Asks to Extend Deadline for Mobile Home Operation
Courtland, VA January 29, 2001 -- With nearly 40 hurricane-displaced
families remaining in the
temporary mobile home park, the Commonwealth of Virginia has requested a
90-day extension of
the FEMA program that funds operations.
Hurricane Floyd struck Virginia in September 1999. The next month, the FEMA
Disaster Housing
Program purchased 50 manufactured (mobile) houses and 42 travel trailers to
shelter families
displaced by Floyd and established a temporary park in the Agribusiness
Park, 28230 Oakcroft
Drive, Courtland. Normally, FEMA may provide as much as 18 months of
temporary housing for
qualified disaster victims. On that basis, the park is scheduled to close on
March 17.
Robert J. Gunter, federal coordinating officer for the disaster recovery in
Virginia, said that in late
December the commonwealth asked FEMA to extend its park operation. The
letter, signed by
Michael Cline, state coordinator of the Commonwealth of Virginia Department
of Emergency
Management, asked for an additional 90 days. Gunter said the letter referred
to state efforts to find
long-term housing for the park residents and to "assume.overall site
management."
Gunter said he is pleased by the interest by the state and local entities to
take responsibility for the
park in the near future. He reported that FEMA has asked the commonwealth
for more information
and will review the request.
Thirty-one families, all from Franklin and Southampton County, still occupy
manufactured houses in
the temporary park. Some are in the process of purchasing their dwellings
from FEMA, but others
as yet have no provision for permanent homes, said FEMA Region III Recovery
Programs Branch
Chief Jack Schuback. Federal, state, municipal and volunteer-organization
officials continue to work
on housing alternatives for these families.
Another seven families live in travel trailers in the temporary park, and
seven more families are using
FEMA travel trailers on their own properties while their homes are being
repaired.
Since the disaster declaration in September 1999, FEMA has housed 51
families in manufactured
homes and 46 families in travel trailers.
=> USAID -- INDIA - Earthquake Fact Sheet #8
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
INDIA - Earthquake Fact Sheet #8, Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 February 2, 2001
Background
- On January 26, at approximately 8:46 AM local time, an earthquake
measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale occurred in western India. The United
States Geological Society (USGS) places the epicenter of the earthquake 43
miles northeast of Bhuj in Gujarat State. 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
- Official Government of India (GOI) figures place the death toll at
14,239 and the number of injured at 61,632. GOI sources estimate that the
total death count may reach 100,000.
- Preliminary GOI assessments indicate that 3.5 million people have been
affected.
- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(UNOCHA) estimates that 500,000 are displaced and that approximately
200,000 residents are homeless.
- An additional 14 people are reported dead and more than 100 injured in
the Pakistani towns of Hydrabad and Badin-located in the southern province
of Sindh.
Current Situation
- The search and rescue (SAR) phase of the emergency response has ended
and most international SAR teams are departing the country. Relief efforts
are well underway and initial plans for reconstruction and rehabilitation
are being set by the GOI.
- UNOCHA estimates that rehabilitation and reconstruction activities will
cost approximately $1.3 billion. While the GOI has pledged sufficient
funding to cover these costs, the World Bank has offered $300 million in
assistance.
- On February 1, the Urban Development Ministry announced draft
legislation requiring all new construction to follow earthquake-safety
standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
- The Indian military has approximately 22,500 troops in Gujarat to
support the relief operations. The military is distributing relief
supplies via truck and helicopter, and has taken the lead for coordinating
assistance in the water sector.
- As of February 1, power has been partially restored in Bhuj, Nakhatrana,
Anjar, Adipur, Gandhidham, Mandavi, and Mundra. In addition, power has
been partially restored in 198 of 949 villages throughout Gujarat state.
- Though landlines remain inoperable, cellular phone service is partially
restored in Gandhidham, Bhuj, Anjar, and Adipu.
Needs Assessments
- United States Agency for International Development/Disaster Assistance
Response Team (USAID/DART) assessments in Bhuj indicate that shelter
remains the principal need. The distribution of potable water and food aid
is underway and medical needs are being met. Fuel is not available in
Bhuj, but can be obtained in outlying areas.
- The GOI reports 7,303 dead and 17,644 injured in the Bachchao area,
where nearly 100 percent of the city has been destroyed. Approximately
20,000-30,000 residents remain in the Bachchao area, most of whom are men
protecting family property. Many women and children have departed the
area. The USAID/DART reports that shelter is the principle need. Relief
organizations appear to be meeting the potable water, food, and medical
needs of the affected populations. The Indian military is transporting
relief supplies from Bhuj to central distribution points in Bachchao.
Logistics and Distribution
- Logistical constraints continue delay the arrival and distribution of
relief supplies. Damage to the Surajbain Bridge is delaying the delivery
of relief supplies in transit to Bhuj and other affected areas.
Coordination
- The GOI and UNOCHA are coordinating relief operations from Ahmedabad.
UNOCHA has initiated plans to move its coordination efforts to the airport
at Bhuj, which will become the focal point for the collection and
dissemination of assessment information.
U.S. Government Assistance
- On February 1, the United States Agency for International Development
announced that it is prepared to provide $9 million in emergency
humanitarian assistance.
- On February 2, USAID/OFDA provided approximately $1.8 million to CARE to
implement emergency food distribution and community infrastructure
programs, benefiting 50,000 people in Kutch district. CARE will provide
basic survival kits and shelter to the affected population, operationalize
existing community tubewells, and provide temporary shelters to serve as
health/nutrition delivery centers and schools.
- United States Agency for International Development/Office of U.S.
Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) is providing technical equipment
for the relief effort, valued at $1,440,705. The estimated arrival date is
February 4.
- On February 2, the Indian Army began distributing USAID/OFDA-provided
relief supplies, including plastic sheeting, blankets, and water jugs, to
the affected population.
- On February 1, the USAID/DART, with assistance form the Indian Army,
brought one USAID/OFDA-provided water purification unit on-line in Anjar
and is preparing another unit for activation in Bachchao on February 2.
Two addition water purification unites are en route to Bhuj and will be
operational in the next few days. Each water purification unit produces
potable water for 10,000 people per day.
- USAID/OFDA provided $1.5 million to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for
the implementation of an emergency water and shelter program in Gujarat.
Benefiting 250,000 affected persons in Bhuj, Anjar and Bachchao, CRS will
purchase and distribute relief items and emergency shelter materials,
distribute 1,500 metric tons of title II emergency food assistance and
undertake trauma counseling for three months.
- On February 1, a six-person Department of Defense (DoD) humanitarian
assistance survey team arrived in India to assess potential support
requirements in coordination with USAID/DART.
- The DoD is preparing two airlifts of relief commodities and equipment
including 92 large tents, 10,000 blankets, 1,500 sleeping bags, two
three-ton rough terrain forklifts, two water trailers, and one 2.5 ton
truck.
- United States Agency for International Development/Office of Food for
Peace (USAID/FFP) has provided 1,813 metric tons (MT) of Title II
emergency food assistance valued at approximately $800,000. CRS and CARE
will distribute the food aid to 300,000 beneficiaries.
- A second airlift of USAID/OFDA emergency relief supplies including
plastic sheeting, water purification kits, 3,000-gallon water tanks, and
tents from USAID/OFDA's stockpile warehouse in Pisa, Italy will be sent to
the affected areas. The total value of these commodities with transport
costs is $725,650.
- The first airlift of USAID/OFDA-funded commodities, including plastic
sheeting, blankets, water containers, water distribution kits, water
purification units, generators, light stands, and electrical cords, has
arrived in Bhuj. The total value of these commodities with transport costs
is $822,156.
- USAID/OFDA provided an initial $100,000 in disaster assistance through
USAID/New Delhi to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for immediate
assistance to those affected by the earthquake.
- An eleven-member USAID/DART comprised of a team leader and logistics,
information, administration, press and communications personnel, as well
as a military liaison officer and a technical expert is operating in the
affected areas and New Delhi.
- A USAID/OFDA 24-hour Response Management Team in Washington, D.C.
continues to coordinate the U.S. Government response to the disaster.
- Since 1998, USAID/OFDA has provided funding in support of the Program
for the Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER), a regional training
initiative designed to promote, develop and strengthen Search and Rescue
(SAR) capabilities in earthquake-prone countries of Asia. This
collaborative program, implemented in partnership with the Asian Disaster
Preparedness Center (ADPC) and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department has
helped to increase earthquake preparedness and response capabilities in
India prior to this disaster.
Other Donor and International Organization Assistance
- The European Union (EU) provided $2.78 million in emergency assistance.
Additional donations have been made by Britain ($4.5 million), Netherlands
($2,510,000), Italy ($2.5 million), Australia ($1.5 million), Norway ($1.1
million), Japan ($900,000), Finland ($787,000), Canada ($662,000), Sweden
($523,000), Germany ($475,000), Ireland and Belgium ($920,000), Kuwait
($250,000), Greece ($270,000), South Korea ($100,000), and China
($50,000).
- The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has deployed a 350
bed mobile field hospital to Bhuj. IFRC, in partnership with the Indian
Red Cross, is providing 100,000 blankets, 22,000 tarpaulins, 600 large
tents, and 2,000 units of blood plasma.
- The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided 10,000 survival kits,
5,000 blankets, 1 million chlorine tablets, and 50,000 tarpaulins.
USG Funding Summary
USG Agency
Implementing Partner (if applicable)
Project/Sector
Location (if applicable)
Dollar Amount
USAID/OFDA
Prime Minister's Fund
All
$100,000
USAID/New Delhi
In-kind commodities
Bhuj
$843,806
USAID/New Delhi
Technical Equipment
Bhuj
$1,440,705
Commercial Aviation
Airlift
Bhuj
$704,000
CRS
Shelter, Water/Sanitation
Gujarat
$1,590,625
CARE
Emergency food distribution, community
infrastructure
Kutch
$1,800,000
USAID/OFDA
Total $6,479,136
USAID/FFP
CARE/ CRS
Title II Food Assistance
Gujarat
$800,000
USAID/FFP Total $800,000
Total USAID $7,279,136
DoD
Commodity Airlift
Relief Supplies and Equipment
All
$1,600,000*
DOD Total $1,600,000
Total USG Assistance $8,879,136
* This is a preliminary estimate that represents a portion of overall USG
assistance
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. Cash donations are the preferred response to the
emergency.
- For a list of non-governmental organizations providing disaster
assistance in the region, please visit USAID's website at www.usaid.gov.
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/
=> CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS EMERGENCY APPEAL: INDIA EARTHQUAKE
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT ##6924 for $500,000
February 2, 2001
SITUATION: The death toll from the severe Jan. 26 earthquake that
flattened most of the western Indian state of Gujarat continues to rise.
The death toll is currently estimated to be between 20,000 and 50,000
persons.
The most affected area includes the cities of Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Jamnagar,
Rajkot, and Surendranagar. In addition, many smaller towns and villages
are completely inaccessible. Some have simply been erased from the map.
Damage includes major losses to multi-storied buildings, rural housing,
roads, rails and electricity and telecommunication links.
Hope of finding more survivors is fading, and authorities and aid agencies
are turning their attention to providing shelter, food, water and clothing
to survivors. The most urgently needed items are shelter materials,
potable water, food, clothing and medical supplies and assistance. The
lack of water, electricity and sanitation facilities is increasing the
threat of disease. In addition, there is a strong possibility of an
epidemic resulting from the thousands of trapped, decomposing bodies that
are contaminating water supplies.
RESPONSE: CWS has responded to the disaster in India by expediting $75,000
in CWS Blanket Funds for long-time CWS partner Church's Auxiliary for
Social Action (CASA), which will provide blankets for 15,000 survivors in
the affected areas of Gujarat.
Today, CWS is forwarding $175,000 in further assistance to CASA: $100,000
in CWS Blanket Funds, and $75,000 in assistance from the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.).
CWS is also issuing this appeal for $500,000 to support the work of CASA,
as part of overall efforts by the Action by Churches (ACT) International
network.
CASA, which has a 54-year history of responding to disasters, is providing
shelter (plastic sheeting, tarpaulins); food (fresh and dry food ration
kits); non-food kits (blankets and clothing, kitchen utensils); and
potable water.
CASA now has at least 45 people on the ground involved with relief
operations in Gujarat, and has mobilized 4 teams in the communities of
Bhuj, Jamnagar, Gandhidham town and Rapar. CASA is being supported in its
activities by local partners.
As of Feb. 1, CASA had identified 10 vulnerable villages, and distribution
of relief material and feeding had started in the Bhuj area. In Gandhidham
town, eight villages have been identified as sites for food distribution,
and in Jamnagar, seven villages have been also identified. Food
distribution has started in both locales.
In all, CASA is helping feed some 12,000 persons daily and the number of
persons is increasing. Out of 20 trucks mobilized with relief supplies, 18
have already reached affected areas, and these trucks have been able to
deliver some 19,000 blankets. In addition, 200,000 pouches of drinking
water have been procured for distribution in villages.
Ultimately CASA hopes to assist 35,000 of the most affected families --
between 175,000 and 210,000 persons -- with priority given to those who
were most vulnerable before the disaster. These include women, children,
the aged, tribe and caste members who are generally agricultural workers,
share croppers or small farmers - in other words, those who comprise the
majority of the poor and the marginalized sections of Indian society.
CASA will do this by providing each family a tarpaulin and a lantern, food
and water, and by distributing relief kits, which will include essential
items of clothing, a blanket and a set of kitchen utensils. Each family
will receive a saree (women's attire), a dhoty (men's attire), one acrylic
handloom blanket and a set of 9 pieces of kitchen utensils.
In addition, two hot meals consisting of lentils and rice will be served
to families living in camps for displaced persons. A kit of a dry ration
food will be provided to each family. The components of the dry ration
will be defined according to the needs of the affected communities. A
pouch of drinking water will also be provided, as will a tarpaulin and a
lantern.
For further details about the response, including specific budget items,
contact CWS ERP. Or visit the ACT web site at www.act-intl.org
To support Church World Service Response efforts in India, please send
support to Account # 6924 India Earthquake. To support this effort please
direct assistance to:
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>
=> OCHA Situation Report No. 6 India - Earthquake
2 February 2001
1. The Government of India (GOI) has not made an appeal for international
assistance. However, as a matter of policy, assistance offered as a matter
of international solidarity in such cases is gratefully accepted.
2. The GOI received offers of assistance from a large number of foreign
countries and agencies following the devastating earthquake in Gujarat.
The GOI has decided that, while there will be no appeal for seeking
assistance, all offers made voluntarily will be gratefully accepted.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Priority in India is for items such as cutting concrete slabs, mobile
communication equipment, small generators as well as mobile surgical
operation theatres and other medical hardware. Offers for supply of
clothes, blankets and tents will be accepted if they can be airlifted to
Ahmedabad. Medical teams will be welcomed provided they come in their own
aircraft.
Coordination of earthquake relief is being done by the Disaster Management
Group in the Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi. The officers in charge
are Mr. Purukayasth, Commissioner, Natural Disaster Management, Ministry
of Agriculture and Ms. Rita Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture (Telephone number: + 91 11 338 2219 (Office), + 91 11 338 5574
or + 91 11 338 9453 (Control Room), Facsimile number: + 91 11 338 4555).
Those desirous of sending relief items as indicated above are advised to
get in touch with the nearest Indian Mission.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Situation and Damage
The search and rescue phase is all but over and attention is shifting to
emergency relief activities. Coordination continues to be the critical
need in the affected area. To this end and in cooperation with the Indian
authorities and the relevant UN agencies, the UN Disaster Assessment and
Coordination (UNDAC) team has established an On-Site Operations
Coordination Centre (OSOCC) in Bhuj.
Intense aftershocks are giving India no respite from the worst earthquake
the country has undergone since independence. Local people have been
advised not to enter the damaged or poorly built buildings.
Today's GOI report describes the impact of the catastrophe as follows:
Districts Affected
Kutch (Bhuj), Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surat, Surendranagar,
Banaskantha, Kheda, Bharuch, Gandhinagar, Patan, Junagadh, Navasari,
Porbandar, Vadodara, Sabarkantha, Bhavanagar
Worst affected districts
Kutch (Bhuj), Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar
People killed
14,976 persons, including 13,572 in Kutch (Bhuj), 729 in Ahmedabad, 785 in
Rajkot and 117 in Jamnagar
People injured
55,000 persons (as per telephonic report)
Population affected
35 million people
Houses/Huts
73,142 houses destroyed, 142,180 damaged (except Bhuj) (assessment
incomplete). Public propertiesAssessment incomplete
Transport
About 100 out of 650 km of National Highway in Kutch-Bhuj, Banaskantha,
Rajkot and Surendranagar affected due to cracks. Road network restored
except for Surajbain bridge. Train services up to Gandhidham restored.
Water supply
Water supply network damaged in Bhuj. Water is currently supplied through
water tankers and tanks.
Electricity supply
Disrupted. Power supply restored to the towns of Bhuj, Nakhatrana, Anjar,
Adipur, Gandhidham, Mandavi and Mundra as well as to 198 out of 949
villages of Kutch district.
Telecommunications
Disrupted. Immediate communication via satellite established with Bhuj
and followed up through Ham radio. Telecommunication services at Bhuj,
Anjar and Gandhidham. Mobile communication partially restored.
The in-country UN Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) reports that the
current issue is how to dispose of thousands of bodies so as to prevent
the onset of epidemics. The bodies are being attacked by hundreds of
vultures in the Kutch regions especially in the town of Anjaar. Mass
cremations are being held but the challenge is to extricate bodies from
the rubble, an undertaking which requires masks and special gear.
The initial rapid assessments in the surroundings of Bhuj conducted by the
UNDAC team and in-country UN staff members (UNDP and WHO) shows that
damage is much more serious in the north and east of Bhuj than in the
west. Rantal, Dudhai, Tappo and Anjar, all of which the UN assessment
teams visited, have been more severely damaged than Bhuj. Almost all of
the houses here have collapsed. The Indian authorities and local NGOs are
making medical assistance, shelter, food, clothing and water available.
According to the UK/DFID team, the most pressing problems over the next
few weeks will be the supply of clean potable water and public health,
particularly disease control. There are already reports of an increase in
gastric problems. In addition, psycho-social assistance, including trauma
counselling, is an important element in the rehabilitation of the affected
population.
National Assistance
On 30 January the Prime Minister constituted an Empowered Group of
Ministers headed by Home Minister to monitor the situation in the
quake-ravaged Gujarat. The group will have the power to issue appropriate
directions on the basis of the reports of the Crisis Management Group. The
Empowered Group of Ministers includes the Ministers of Defence, Finance,
Railways, Agriculture, Textiles, Power, Communications, Health and Family
Welfare and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
The relief activities mounted by the Indian authorities are reflected on
their Internet Website at http://www.nic.in
The main assistance mobilized to date is as follows:
- 962 medical personnel
- Rescue teams consisting of 22,500 army and para-military personnel,
together with 14 sniffer dogs
- 110,000 MT of food grain and sugar
- 169,000 blankets sent, 30,000 more on their way
- 11,110 tents/shelter provided
- 652 doctors and 785 para-medical staff as well as many voluntary
medical teams and international teams
- 11.5 tons of medicine along with medical equipment and supplies
provided
- 16 debris clearing machines, 3 recovery vehicles, 15 earthmovers and
17 MT of rescue equipment
- Other Indian States are providing Gujarat with relief assistance in
cash and kind, including food, blankets, medicine, medical personnel,
water, tankers and equipment.
- The State government of Gujarat has launched a multi-faceted relief
operation with the support of the armed forces, voluntary agencies and
international agencies.
International Assistance
United Nations System
The in-country UN Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) led by the UN Resident
Coordinator has been working closely with Government authorities and has
convened emergency meetings on a daily basis to review the situation. In
addition to the UN activities indicated in the OCHA Situation Report No.5
issued on 31 January 2001, the following initiatives were reported by the
UN-DMT.
15 UNICEF staff members, including experts in health, water and
sanitation, nutrition, education and community development areas are
working on assessments in the affected area. Additional UNICEF personnel
(emergency planning, logisticians and communication experts) are being
flown in.
UNICEF will also be working closely with state and national officials to
sustain immunisation coverage and provide trauma counselling training.
UNICEF's family survival kits - produced locally in India - cost about $43
a piece and include cooking utensils, blankets, clothing (dhoti, saree,
lungi, children's garments, etc.), oral rehydration salts to fight
diarrhoea, chlorine tablets to purify water, soaps, buckets, and other
hygiene items, candles and kerosene lanterns
A drought mitigation and drought-proofing programme that had been prepared
by state authorities, UNICEF and other agencies in response to recent
drought in Gujarat will be accelerated as part of the quake relief effort.
Safe water and sanitation systems will be essential in the coming days to
prevent the spread of disease.
WHO is deploying a couple of logisticians and communication experts to
Gujarat.
WFP is officially in charge of airlifts of relief material on behalf of
the UN system and donors who wish to route their relief through UN
agencies. WFP operations bases will be set up in Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
The International Network for Capacity Building in Integrated Water
Management (CAPNET), a new initiative supported by the Netherlands and
implemented by UNDP, will be put into practice in particularly poor areas.
Further information on activities of the in-country UN System see the UN
System in India Website at http://www.un.org.in
UNDAC team activities
The UNDAC team has established the OSOCC at Bhuj. The centre is located in
a building beside the Indian Disaster Commissioner's Office. The
communication lines available so far are via satellite phone at: + 873 762
097 150.
Another UNDAC member provided by the Danish Government arrived in New
Delhi today and will assist the UN-DMT there in liaising between the
capital and the affected area in order to strengthen the coordination
system in response to the disaster.
According to the UNDAC team, the needs identified are for water and
sanitation, temporary shelter, food, family emergency packs and technical
assistance for the rehabilitation phase and beyond though it is extremely
difficult to quantify the full extent of aid at this stage.
Contact details of the UNDAC team are as follows:
UNDAC team leader: Mr. Edward Pearn
E-mail: unmob4{at}server.unog.ch or undac4{at}server.unog.ch
Relief activities of the international donor community
International Search and Rescue (SAR) teams have been finalizing their
on-site operations and have started to leave the affected areas. The UNDAC
team reports that 17 SAR teams made up of 399 rescuers and 26 rescue dogs
and equipped with technical and rescue equipment assisted in the search
and rescue operation Their entry and capacities were recorded with the
help of a database established by the UNDAC team for coordinating on-site
operations. Now many airlifts carrying international medical teams as well
as relief materials are pouring into Gujarat. The SAR teams and/or medical
teams deployed so far were from Austria/Czech Republic, Denmark, France,
Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Poland, the Russian Federation, South
Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Detailed information
about international relief activities following the SAR phase will be
collected and coordinated by the OSOCC in Bhuj at the field operation
level.
In addition, the Governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Monaco, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, the Russian
Federation, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United
States as well as ECHO have pledged or provided cash and/or in-kind
contributions bilaterally or through NGOs or the UN System.
IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal for assistance on 30 January, seeking
CHF 25.6 million (USD 15.6 million) to assist 300,000 beneficiaries for 4
months. So far cash and in-kind contributions worth nearly USD 10 million
have been provided towards IFRC initiatives. IFRC has a small team base in
Anjar, south east of Bhuj and the emergency response unit (ERU) referral
hospital in Bhuj is currently being established. IFRC reports that the
most pressing needs are for funds to purchase 5,000 litre capacity
collapsible water tanks, plastic sheeting and cholera kits.
Many NGOs are providing emergency relief assistance in various ways. The
reports on their activities have been posted on the OCHA Internet Website
at http://www.reliefweb.int or on InterAction Internet Website at
http://www.interaction.org
The total amount of contributions/pledges reported to OCHA to date reaches
nearly USD 49 million.
3. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
as indicated below, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their
corresponding values by item.
4. Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by
clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on
the OCHA Internet Website (http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested
to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of
corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva
of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized
Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above
mentioned Financial Tracking Website.
5. OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used
for immediate relief assistance, in coordination/consultation with
relevant organizations in the United Nations system. Funds should be
transferred to OCHA account No. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at
the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - India
- Earthquake. OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent
details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.
6. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident
Coordinator in New Delhi and the UNDAC team as well as with the Indian
Permanent Mission to the UN at Geneva, and will revert with further
information as it becomes available.
7. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int
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=> Links Area
FIRES IN VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA
Venezuela and Colombia
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in Venezuela
and Colombia.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Venezuela/FSMHSven033_N4.jpg
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION
Indian Ocean
A weak tropical disturbance was located near 17.9S and 69.1E in the Indian
Ocean on Friday.
Tropical cyclone formation is possible according to the Joint Typhoon
Warning Center.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/IndOcean/TRC08s033_MT.jpg
FIRES IN CUBA
Cuba
Several small heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from
fires burning in Cuba.
Many of the fires are due to the seasonal clearing of farmland ahead of the
crop season.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Cuba/FSMHScuba033_N2.jpg
FIRES IN COLOMBIA
Colombia
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in Venezuela
and Colombia.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Colombia/FSMHScol033_N4.jpg
FIRES IN AFRICA
Sudan, Congo, Central African Republic, and Uganda
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in Sudan, Congo, Central
African Republic, and Uganda
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Africa_E/FSMHSsudan033_N4.jpg
SNOW COVER OVER AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan
In this NOAA-14 satellite image, snow cover (indicated by the yellow arrows)
is visible over
Afghanistan and over other surrounding countries. Residents in
Kabul, Afghanistan celebrated the heaviest snowfall in three years, spelling
some some relief from a
devastating drought. An estimated eight inches of snow
fell in Kabul on Wednesday.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Snow/Asia/SNWafg033_N4L.jpg
Kentucky: Coal Sludge Disaster LINKS:
Green Thumb, University of Kentucky Environmental Organization
http://www.uky.edu/StudentOrgs/GreenThumb/slurryhome.htm
Appalshop-Martin Co Coal Disaster
http://www.appalshop.org/cmi/
Coal Sludge Disaster
http://www.geocities.com/kyriverpal/martincoky.html
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
http://www.tngreen.com/cleanenergy/energy/coal/KYdisaster/index.html
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