The last of the central Texas residents in Bastrop, Texas have been given the 'all clear' and are allowed to return home after a devastating wild fire which killed two people, destroyed 1,600 homes and burned approximately 50,000 square miles. Officials say the wild fire is 75% contained. more »
An earthquake measuring 7.4 magnitude occurred near Fiji this afternoon but did not prompt a tsunami alert. Subsequent news reports have since downgraded the quake to 7.2 magnitude. The epicenter of the quake seventy-four miles south-southwest of Ndoi Island . NOAA states that, based upon “on the depth of more »
Texas is not the only state burning, Minnesota is experiencing one of the largest wildfires on record. The out of control fire moved at breakneck speeds and burned 100,000 acres along the Minnesota-Canada border. Plumes of smoke from the fire drifted into Michigan, Wisconsin and northern Illinois on Tuesday. more »
At just before 6:00 PM yesterday, a 3.0 magnitude earthquake stuck Alabama 12 miles East Northeast of Birmingham in Jefferson County with the epicenter a little more than 3 miles below the surface. Jefferson County sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian said the sheriff's office started receiving calls at 5:59 p.m. more »
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake has struck Crete, Greece at 4:19 PM on Tuesday, September 13, 2011. The earthquake had a depth of 24.2 km (15 miles). The epicenter was 125 km (77 miles) SSW of Chania, Crete, Greece. The earthquake affected an unpopulated region and has a high resilience more »
Wildfire update by Texas Forest Service – Sept. 13, 2011 Current situation: · Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 10 new fires for 179 acres. · In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 127 fires for 9,205 acres. · Assessment crews continue to survey the more »
A mild earthquake hit Oklahoma this morning rattling nerves and windows but caused no major damage or injuries. Some residents said the earthquake sounded like "a 747 landing in the neighbors' yard". People from seven states reported to the U.S. Geological Survey that they felt the quake. According to Oklahoma more »
Wildfire Update – Sept. 12, 2011 Current situation: · Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 19 new fires for 1,099 acres, including new large fires in Harrison and Rusk counties. In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 141 fires for 34,933 acres. · The latest drought more »
At 7:27 AM this morning, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit 11 miles North-Northeast of Snyder, Texas. This is followed by an aftershock of 2.5 at 1:39 PM. The earthquake was not strong enough to cause severe damage but it did scare people as 911 calls came in across the region. There more »
Tropical Storm Nate made landfall over southeast Mexico just north of Veracruz. Nate will weaken throughout the day and will soon become a tropical depression then a remnant low over the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is forecast to dump several inches of rain over the region. The government more »
Wildfire update – Sept. 11, 2011 Current situation: · Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 24 new fires for 100 acres. · In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 181 fires for 166,475 acres. · Initial attack activity was light yesterday, giving firefighters an opportunity to more »
Bastrop County Fire Complex FACT SHEET Acres: 34,068 Total Start date of fire: September 4, 2011 Cause: Under investigation Location: 6 miles northeast of Bastrop, Texas Containment: 50% (Bastrop Fire); 90 percent (Union Chapel Fire) Fuels: Timber/residential area Total personnel: 1093 Resources: 16 crews, 126 engines, 8 water tenders, 26 dozers UPDATE-Firefighters are working diligently to contain more »
Update September 11, 2011 at 10:45 AM on Riley Road provided by Texas Forest Service. Location: Montgomery, Waller and Grimes Counties, Texas Date of Fire Start: Sept. 5, 2011 Cause: Under Investigation Size: 18,468 acres -acreage has been dropped due to more accurate G.P.S. measurements of the fire perimeter. Containment: 65 percent – this number more »
Current situation: · Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to 24 new fires for 1,154 acres. · In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 179 fires for 170,686 acres. · 250 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans. · Daily detailed fire information can be found here or more »
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck close to the coast of Vancouver Island Friday afternoon, sending out tremors that were felt hundreds of kilometers away. The quake hit at 12:41 PM local time and initially measured as a magnitude 6.7. The exact magnitude of the quake was revised later in the day more »
Historic flooding is taking place across Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey due to the remnants of what was Tropical Storm Lee. Rivers are nearing levels that haven't been seen since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Portions of Pennsylvania and other northeastern states continue to receive heavy rain and roads more »
Trained fire fighters from around the state traveled all night to help with Bastrop and Smithville (Bastrop County Complex) fires today only to be sent away by federal officials as they arrived on the scene and took command. The fire fighters were at a command post setting up strike teams more »
Texas A&M has put together a great handout on how to prepare a grab and go box, in the event of an evacuation. Somethings to include: copies of important papers, health and dental records, deeds, titles, wills, keys to safe deposit box, photos, computer user names and passwords, list more »
The Digital Journal reports that Governor Rick Perry and the GOP helped push through drastic budget cuts to the Texas Forest Service (TFS) in what is now an obvious mistake as the wildfires roar across Texas. Texas continues to battle the wildfires in a season which has now extended for more »
A low-pressure system over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula is showing “signs of organization” and has a 70 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression within two days, according to the center. This system is Tropical Storm Nate. Nate has not moved much during the past several more »