7, 1923, during a tropical storm. The men were headed to Mobile after a stop in Cuba. While the men aboard the Rachel survived, others on nearby schooners weren't so lucky. Read More.
This is just Gross!
Officials have begun cleanup efforts on Mississippi beaches littered with thousands of nutria rats,
killed and swept onshore by Hurricane Isaac.
Officials with the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency say that parts of Beach Boulevard from Lakeshore Road to Washington Street in Bay St. Louis have been closed while workers in hazardous materials suits try and pick up the carcasses.
Hancock County EMA officials estimate more than 15,000 swamp rats were killed
by Isaac's storm surge and washed up on the beaches. This is a significant increase
from the estimated 5,000 earlier reported. Read more and view photos.
Potential Mississippi Dam Break
The excessive rainfall drenching Mississippi from Tropical Storm Isaac has prompted a flash flood emergency and the evacuation of thousands ahead of a potential dam break.
The river is forecast to rise rapidly to nearly one foot above its record flood stage of 18.7 feet by Friday afternoon. NWS says the river could hit 19.4 feet. Officials believe this will likely cause the 700-acre Lake Tangipahoa earthen dam, also known as the Percy quin dam to break, causing widespread and significant flooding downstream of the river. Read more.
Drought Sunken Mississippi River
The prolonged drought across the Mid-South and Upper Midwest has lowered the Mississippi River to its lowest levels since 1988, halting traffic along an 11-mile stretch of the river near Greenville, Miss.
The Mississippi River at Greenville had fallen to a stage of only 7.75 feet as of early Tuesday.
This is the lowest river level here on the river since 1988, when the river dipped to 7.30 feet. It is forecast to continue to fall, reaching the 1988 low mark over the weekend, tying it with 1981
for the 4th lowest river level at Greenville on record. Click here to read more and see photos.
A steamboat trip for hundreds of passengers from Louisville, Ky. to Vicksburg, Miss. had to be halted at Memphis, Tenn. due to the drought sunken Mississippi River.
Tim Rubacky, senior vice president of the American Queen Steamboat Company, said low water levels and navigation problems mean it wouldn't be wise for the Queen to go any further south than Helena, Ark. Read more and see photos.
Emergency management professionals, agencies and volunteers are coming together to help families, neighborhoods, and community prepare for emergency situations. Some of the valuable information will include senior citizen care, financial preparedness, severe weather, emergency essentials for pets, short term food storage, family emergency communication plans and more.
After the huge success of the 2011 Emergency Preparedness Fair,
we are excited to present the 2012 East Tennessee VOAD Emergency Preparedness Fair!
September 22nd, 2012
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Cokesbury United Methodist Church, North Campus
9915 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Hundreds of people in two Idaho towns packed their belongings and left Wednesday ahead of a massive blaze expected to hit the area later this week. They joined scores of weary residents across several dry and hot western states that are dealing with one of the worst fire seasons in memory.
Not only are more wildfires flaring up in the West this year than last, but the nation's fires have gotten bigger, said Jennifer Smith, of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. As of Wednesday, nearly 43,000 wildfires had been reported in the U.S. this season, burning a total of 6.4 million acres, or 10,000 square miles. The 10-year average for this period is 52,535 fires but covering only 5 million acres, she said. Read More.
400-foot deep sinkhole in Louisiana
A nearly 400-foot deep sinkhole in Louisiana has swallowed all of the trees in its area and enacted a mandatory evacuation order for about 150 residences for fear of potential radiation and explosions.
The 400-square-foot gaping hole is in Assumption Parish, La., abou