One to make you smile! Read the BBC report here
Friday 19 September 2008
Friday 12 September 2008
Sunday 7 September 2008
More flood alerts in UK
Flood warnings are in place across the country after more than two weeks of rainfall fell during 24 hours of gale-force winds and torrential downpours
The Environmental Agency has issued 33 flood warnings - which mean local homes and businesses are at risk of flooding
The south west was one of the worst hit areas. Residents had to be rescued from rising waters, roads were closed, events cancelled and motorists were injured by falling trees as winds reached more than 60mph.
In Gloucestershire, downpours led to road closures and firefighters had to pump out floodwater from homes
The Environmental Agency has issued 33 flood warnings - which mean local homes and businesses are at risk of flooding
The south west was one of the worst hit areas. Residents had to be rescued from rising waters, roads were closed, events cancelled and motorists were injured by falling trees as winds reached more than 60mph.
In Gloucestershire, downpours led to road closures and firefighters had to pump out floodwater from homes
Flooding in India and Bangladesh Sept 08
Hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by the floods in the northern Indian are panicking over the high risk of disease in the camps where they are sheltering.
There is a big threat from water-borne diseases and measles, and many people are suffering from snake bites.
More than 700,000 people have been to camps, but there are still tens of thousands of others who remain stranded. The government are asking for more medicines to be rushed to the area, particularly anti-venom, which is in high demand.
The River Kosi which flows down from the Himalayas burst its banks and levees in Nepal on August 18. It then changed course and surged down the centre of Bihar state in India - one of the poorest areas of the country. The water flooded more than 700 villages and affected around 15 districts, home to around three million people.
The rescue and relief operation has been consistently criticised for being slow and poorly organised.
An Oxfam representative said "Women and children are bearing the brunt of the disaster, whether huddled in cramped camps or exposed to heat and the rains under the open sky.
"Thousands of people are without safe water and are having to defecate in floodwaters. There is a serious risk of diseases breaking out."
"Hygiene and sanitation facilities are urgently needed to prevent the spread of a water-borne epidemic. More food and shelter is also needed immediately."
Times
There is a big threat from water-borne diseases and measles, and many people are suffering from snake bites.
More than 700,000 people have been to camps, but there are still tens of thousands of others who remain stranded. The government are asking for more medicines to be rushed to the area, particularly anti-venom, which is in high demand.
The River Kosi which flows down from the Himalayas burst its banks and levees in Nepal on August 18. It then changed course and surged down the centre of Bihar state in India - one of the poorest areas of the country. The water flooded more than 700 villages and affected around 15 districts, home to around three million people.
The rescue and relief operation has been consistently criticised for being slow and poorly organised.
An Oxfam representative said "Women and children are bearing the brunt of the disaster, whether huddled in cramped camps or exposed to heat and the rains under the open sky.
"Thousands of people are without safe water and are having to defecate in floodwaters. There is a serious risk of diseases breaking out."
"Hygiene and sanitation facilities are urgently needed to prevent the spread of a water-borne epidemic. More food and shelter is also needed immediately."
Times
Hurricane Ike - Hurricane season 2008
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Ike's eye was passing over the Turks and Caicos early Sunday (7th Sept). The NHC Web site showed hurricane force winds from Ike battering the island. It was moving west about 15 miles per hour with winds near 135 mph (215km/h). Its path would take it by the southeastern Bahamas early Sunday and near eastern Cuba Sunday night or early Monday.
There is a warning that Ike could dump 12 inches (30cm) of rain in places and cause storm surge flooding of up to 18ft (5.5m) above normal tide levels.
The hurricane is expected to reach the south-eastern Bahamas later on Sunday (7th Sept).
After weakening on Saturday, Ike regained strength as it approached the islands.
After weakening on Saturday, Ike regained strength as it approached the islands.
The NHC now classes it as "extremely dangerous" Category Four hurricane.
Preparations
Thousands of tourists and residents have left the islands.
The airport in Providenciales, the most populated of the island chains, has closed.
Areas likely to be affected:
The centre of the hurricane is forecast to pass to the north of Haiti
Haiti which is still recovering from Hanna will not be spared, where a humanitarian crisis was unfolding after flooding from Hanna left more than 500 people dead and thousands in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter.
Further flooding in Haiti is expected as the storm's outer rain bands were forecast to unleash torrential downpours up to 12 inches on the country's vulnerable northwest coast. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides over mountainous terrain
Further flooding in Haiti is expected as the storm's outer rain bands were forecast to unleash torrential downpours up to 12 inches on the country's vulnerable northwest coast. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides over mountainous terrain
Dominican Republic
Preparations are underwy with troops put on full alert with the potential risk of flooding. The ground is saturated and some of the dams in the south-east region are fairly close to their maximum capacity.
Heading west south-west at about 15mph, Ike should hit the northern coast of eastern Cuba by late Sunday or early Monday, according to the NHC forecast, putting the crumbling colonial buildings of the capital, Havana, at risk
source: BBC
Friday 5 September 2008
Winds and rain battering Britain
Heavy rainfall and strong winds are sweeping across Britain causing floods in many areas.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for Wales and many parts of England.
Some places have suffered more than a month of rainfall in 24 hours.
A major incident has been declared in Bridgend due to rising water levels in the River Ogmore. The council is evacuating staff from its civic offices
• The Jazz in the Park event in Pontypool has been cancelled, as was Cardiff Pride 2008
• A number of roads are under water in Gloucestershire
• Arriva Trains is advising people in south east Wales not to travel by train as all rail services are severely disrupted by flooding
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for Wales and many parts of England.
Some places have suffered more than a month of rainfall in 24 hours.
A major incident has been declared in Bridgend due to rising water levels in the River Ogmore. The council is evacuating staff from its civic offices
• The Jazz in the Park event in Pontypool has been cancelled, as was Cardiff Pride 2008
• A number of roads are under water in Gloucestershire
• Arriva Trains is advising people in south east Wales not to travel by train as all rail services are severely disrupted by flooding
Read the whole article from BBC here
South Wales Fire Service said it had received 350 flood-related calls in six hours on Friday, compared with a normal daily total of about 130.
Fire crews and council workers were called to homes in the Lydney area of Gloucestershire on Thursday after flash floods.
The ground is saturated after an unusually wet August, increasing the risk of flooding across the UK, experts said.
"We are expecting 20mm to 40mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours on already saturated ground, which is the biggest problem.
Flooding is likely to disrupt businesses in the worst affected areas.
Hurricane Gustav
Rise in 2008 hurricanes predicted 
Hurricane season 2008
Major hurricanes that cause devastation are getting stronger - article from The Telegraph herefrom BBC
from Independent
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