TheRepublic.com - Natural disasters News

Japan formally OKs new nuclear safety requirements

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:41:07 -0400

TOKYO - Japan's nuclear watchdog formally approved a set of new safety requirements for atomic power plants on Wednesday, paving the way for the reopening of facilities shut down since the Fukushima disaster in a move critics charged was too hasty.

More than 56K tons of debris cleared in Moore

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:11:49 -0400

MOORE, Oklahoma - More than 56,000 tons of debris has been removed from neighborhoods in Moore as the city reaches the one-month mark since a deadly tornado carved through the Oklahoma City suburb on May 20.

Neighbors: Couple killed waited for order to leave

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:07:21 -0400

DENVER - Bob and Barbara Schmidt dashed to their home on a dirt road in a heavily wooded area northeast of Colorado Springs as smoke from what would become the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history filled the air.

Tropical depression heads toward Mexican coast

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:46:51 -0400

MIAMI - Forecasters say a tropical depression crossing Mexico's Bay of Campeche is getting better organized and is expected to become a tropical storm before making landfall along Mexico's Gulf Coast.

Hundreds more allowed back home in Calif. wildfire

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:31:06 -0400

MARIPOSA, California - Hundreds of Northern California residents were allowed to return to their homes, as crews aided by lower temperatures and higher humidity made progress Wednesday against a wildfire near a main route into Yosemite National Park, a fire official said.

Crews near full containment of Black Forest Fire

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:25:22 -0400

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - Firefighters are getting closer to surrounding the wildfire near Colorado Springs but they probably won't be getting help from the weather.

Superstorm Sandy flood claims exceed $31M in RI

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:55:41 -0400

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - The National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than 800 claims totaling more than $31 million to property owners in Rhode Island after Superstorm Sandy.

Silver Fire may grow another 9 square miles

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:15 -0400

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - A large blaze charring through southern New Mexico's Gila National Forest is expected to grow and become more visible thanks to high winds and low humidity.

Monsoon floods kill 102 in India, strand pilgrims

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:37:26 -0400

LUCKNOW, India - India's prime minister said Wednesday that the death toll from flooding this week in the northern state of Uttrakhand had surpassed 100 and could rise substantially.

Tornado cleanup tab for St. Charles Co.: $2.4M

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:28:05 -0400

ST. CHARLES, Missouri - The tornado that ripped through St. Charles County in late May, and flooding that has ravaged portions of the county, are proving costly.

La Plata County, Southern Utes set fire rules

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:26:04 -0400

DURANGO, Colorado - La Plata County officials and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe are setting restrictions in southwest Colorado to prevent wildfires.

Moss Point board plans to have debris firm ready

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:49:12 -0400

MOSS POINT, Mississippi - The Board of Aldermen approved a request to advertise for debris pickup in case of a storm.

Wildfire forcing evacuations near Prescott

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:52:11 -0400

PRESCOTT, Arizona - A wind-whipped wildfire in northern Arizona grew to nearly 8 square miles by Tuesday evening and was within 400 yards of some homes west of Prescott, authorities said.

Inmates return to prison evacuated by wildfire

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:28:08 -0400

CANON CITY, Colorado - Inmates who were transferred from a prison in Canon City due to the wildfire near the Royal Gorge Bridge are heading back.

Officials: Unattended campfire caused Calif. fire

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:55:31 -0400

MARIPOSA, California - An unattended campfire near a main route into Yosemite National Park grew into a blaze that led to the evacuations of 1,500 people from 800 homes, but nearly half were allowed to return as firefighters gained ground late Tuesday.

Ex-volunteer firefighter pleads to setting fire

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:11:19 -0400

ELBERT, Colorado - A former volunteer firefighter in Elbert County has pleaded guilty to intentionally setting a wildfire.

Philly man finds sinkhole filled with green ooze

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:05:05 -0400

PHILADELPHIA - A man checking out a sinkhole in a street saw something unexpected inside - a pool of what looked like green ooze.

Radar shows tornado touched down at Denver airport

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:30:19 -0400

DENVER - Radar indicated a tornado briefly touched down Tuesday over the east runways of Denver International Airport, where thousands of people took shelter in bathrooms, stairwells and other safe spots until the dangerous weather passed, officials said.

Authorities: Unattended campfire caused Calif fire

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:29:29 -0400

MARIPOSA, California - An unattended campfire near a main route into Yosemite National Park has grown into a more than 2-square-mile blaze that officials said Tuesday has led to the evacuations of 800 homes and 1,500 people.

Malloy meets with Conn. utilities on storm prep

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:28:39 -0400

HARTFORD, Connecticut - State officials and representatives of utility companies across Connecticut met Tuesday to discuss steps they are taking to prepare for the hurricane season, which Gov. Dannel P. Malloy warned may be busier than usual.

New NYC evacuation zones include almost 3M people

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:27 -0400

NEW YORK - Nearly 3 million New Yorkers' homes are now in evacuation zones that cover more than a third of the city's population, under new maps released Tuesday.

Wildfire burns acreage east of Fairbanks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:31:05 -0400

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Division of Forestry says a wildfire east of Fairbanks has consumed 120 acres and could affect traffic.

Oregon Editorial Rdp

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:25:51 -0400

Editorials from Oregon newspapers

Wyo. dries out, wildfire likelihood increases

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:37:14 -0400

CHEYENNE, Wyoming - The likelihood of large wildfires is increasing in Wyoming with the dry weather much of the state has seen over the past month or so.

Crews make progress on 3 wildfires in eastern Utah

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:09:16 -0400

SALT LAKE CITY - Fire crews have made progress on three lightning-caused wildfires burning in eastern Utah.