AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Friday Briefing: East Coast Braces for Blizzard, Emergency Declared in Many States, EPA Official Resigns

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Emergency and disaster management Friday Briefing for January 22, 2016: The Washington D.C. region is bracing to take the brunt of a massive winter storm that is heading to the East Coast, multiple states in the eastern U.S. declare a state of emergency as the dangerous winter storm approaches, and a top EPA official resigns amid the Flint, MI water crisis.

  1. As of yesterday evening, [link url=”http://www.weather.com/storms/winter/news/winter-storm-jonas-forecast-blizzard-watch-january-21″ title=”approximately one in every four Americans was part of a major weather-related warning or watch“], as blizzard watches, blizzard warnings, winter storm watches, winter storm warnings, winter weather advisories, and freezing rain advisories spotted regions from Kansas all the way to the East Coast.
  2. Washington D.C. is bracing for a potentially [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-region-braces-for-snowstorm-as-it-continues-to-struggle-with-one-inch-from-last-night/2016/01/21/8744619e-c041-11e5-83d4-42e3bceea902_story.html” title=”historic blizzard“] that is predicted to hit the area today. Winter Storm Jonas is [link url=”http://www.weather.com/storms/winter/news/winter-storm-jonas-forecast-blizzard-watch-january-21″ title=”bringing a crippling snowstorm“] to the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic region, and D.C. is expected to be right in its crosshairs. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser [link url=”http://dcist.com/2016/01/bowser_declares_a_state_of.php” title=”declared a state of emergency“] ahead of the blizzard.
  3. Following suit with D.C., multiple states declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the dangerous winter storm, including [link url=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-state-of-emergency-20160121-story.html” title=”Maryland“], [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2016/01/21/morning-commute-is-a-mess-as-many-area-roads-still-untreated-from-overnight-snow/” title=”Virginia“], [link url=”http://wncn.com/2016/01/21/gov-mccrory-to-hold-press-conference-on-nc-winter-weather/” title=”North Carolina“], [link url=”http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/snow_state_of_emergency_york_d.html” title=”Pennsylvania“], and [link url=”http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2016/01/21/nashville-temps-rise-above-freezing-before-more-rain-and-snow-hit/79105282/” title=”Tennessee“]. Officials are expecting whiteouts, dangerous driving conditions and possible power outages.

  4. Major airlines [link url=”http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Major-Airlines-Prepare-for-Blizzard-366072911.html” title=”canceled and delayed flights“] ahead of the winter storm that [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/monster-storm/mid-atlantic-blizzard-could-make-legitimate-history-n501601″ title=”could dump more than 30 inches of snow“] in some regions over the weekend. United, Southwest Airlines, Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Frontier [link url=”http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Major-Airlines-Prepare-for-Blizzard-366072911.html” title=”all made public statements“] regarding the cancelations and delays associated with the impending storm.
  5. A top Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official, the head of the Midwest region of the U.S., [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-michigan-water-epa-idUSKCN0UZ31K” title=”resigned amid the Flint water crisis“]. Susan Hedman, whose resignation will take effect February 1, is now the second official to resign since the water emergency came to light. Dan Wyant, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director, [link url=”http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/12/29/deq-director-wyant-resigns-over-flint-water-crisis/78027052/” title=”resigned in December“] as details emerged about the man-made disaster.

    6. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/flint-michigan-water-crisis-seeking-an-innovative-hero/”]

  6. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said that [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/21/463861880/flint-mayor-politics-and-profit-perpetuated-lead-tainted-water-crisis” title=”‘politics and profit’ perpetuated the Flint water crisis“]. Flint used to source its water from the Detroit system but changed to the local Flint River as its main source in April 2014. Weaver was elected in November 2015, long before events leading to the crisis occurred. Weaver spoke harshly about accountability and said that if other officials [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/21/463861880/flint-mayor-politics-and-profit-perpetuated-lead-tainted-water-crisis” title=”‘have to be removed, so be it.’“]

    7. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/education/lets-avoid-billion-dollar-disasters-before-they-happen/”]

  7. As the [link url=”http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Porter-Ranch-Gas-Leak-FAQ-365803171.html” title=”natural gas leak crisis in Porter Ranch, CA“] continues on, experts estimate that the Porter Ranch leak [link url=”http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/california-natural-gas-leak-just-one-of-thousands-across-country/” title=”is one of thousands of methane leaks across the nation“]. Some environmentalists are raising alarm, as the primary component of natural gas, methane, is said to [link url=”http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/california-natural-gas-leak-just-one-of-thousands-across-country/” title=”warm the earth at 84 times the rate of carbon dioxide“].

    8. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/the-dangers-of-hidden-infrastructure/”]

  8. President Barack Obama [link url=”http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2016/01/21/pres-obama-signs-missouri-disaster-declaration/” title=”declared parts of Missouri federal disaster areas“] after late 2015 floods ravaged the state. Federal assistance is now available in 33 counties in the state. USDA agencies are also [link url=”http://www.missourinet.com/2016/01/19/missouriusda-meetings-on-flood-recovery/” title=”holding meetings this week in Missouri“] to explain flood recovery assistance options to farmers, landowners and local governments that have damages from recent flooding.

    9. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/water-water-everywhere-except-maybe-where-you-need-it/”]

  9. Ukraine energy utilities [link url=”http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/21/ukraine_energy_utilities_attacked_again_with_open_source_trojan_backdoor/” title=”were targeted by hackers again“] using techniques similar to those seen in the BlackEnergy attacks from December 2015. [link url=”http://www.wired.com/2016/01/everything-we-know-about-ukraines-power-plant-hack/” title=”Ukraine officials blamed Russia“] for the December attacks that led to widespread blackouts in Western Ukraine.

    10. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/a-look-at-cyber-security/”]

  10. The recent outbreak of Zika Virus is likely [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-virus-likely-to-spread-to-southern-u-s-experts-say/” title=”to spread to the southern U.S.“], according to health experts. The mosquito-borne virus is especially dangerous to pregnant women, as it has been [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-virus-likely-to-spread-to-southern-u-s-experts-say/” title=”linked to birth defects“]. Officials are also warning that Zika Virus could be [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/world/americas/zika-virus-may-be-linked-to-surge-in-rare-syndrome-in-brazil.html?_r=0″ title=”linked to a separate rate syndrome“] that can leave those afflicted completely [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/world/americas/zika-virus-may-be-linked-to-surge-in-rare-syndrome-in-brazil.html?_r=0″ title=”paralyzed for weeks“].

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