Major Events 2021

Fuel Truck Explosion (Haiti, December 2021)

• Gasoline truck explodes in Haiti, killing at least 60 and injuring dozens (CBS News, December 14, 2021)

Fire Storm (Colorado, USA, December 2021)

• The Return of the Urban Firestorm What happened in Colorado was something much scarier than a wildfire (The Intelligencer, January 1, 2022)
• How extreme climate conditions fueled unprecedented Colorado fire (Washington Post, December 31, 2021)

Passenger Ferry Fire (Bangladesh, December 2021)

• ‘Allah save them’: 37 dead in Bangladesh ferry fire horror (Barrons, December 23, 2021)

Structure Fire (Japan, December 2021)

• Arson suspected in Japan clinic blaze with 27 feared dead (Reuters, December 17)

Volcanic Eruption (Canary Islands, December 2021)

• La Palma’s volcanic eruption is officially over, but its devastating toll lingers (NPR, December 25, 2021): “Authorities on one of Spain’s Canary Islands declared a volcanic eruption that started in September officially finished Saturday following 10 days of no lava flows, seismic activity or significant sulfur dioxide emissions.”

Flooding (Malaysia, December 2021)

• Flooding in Malaysia leaves 8 dead and 41,000 displaced (CNN, December 21, 2021): “Floods are common on the eastern coast of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season between October and March, but unusually heavy rainfall that started on Friday has put a strain on emergency services across the country.”

Mine Disaster (Myanmar, December 2021)

• Myanmar jade mine landslide leaves dozens feared dead (CNN, December 22, 2021)

Typhoon Rai (Philippines, December 2021)

• Thousands left homeless and hungry at Christmas as Philippines faces up to climate crisis reality of super typhoon (December 27, 2021)
• Typhoon Rai: more than 3m people directly affected in Philippines (The Guardian, December 23, 2021)
• Philippines’ Typhoon Rai death toll rises further as areas remain cut off from help (CNN, December 22, 2021): “Super Typhoon Rai — known locally as Odette — has now claimed at least 375 lives since it ripped through the archipelago late last week, CNN affiliate CNN Philippines reported, citing the Philippine National Police (PNP). At least 515 people are injured and 56 still missing, the PNP said.”
• Super Typhoon Rai: Dozens feared dead in Philippines (BBC, December 21, 2021)

Italy Building Collapse (December 2021)

• At least three dead, 6 missing after building collapses in Ravanusa, Italy (CNN, December 12, 2021): “Italian authorities said the building collapsed following an explosion caused by a large gas leak, which destroyed three houses and damaged another, according to Italian news agency ANSA”

US Tornado Outbreak (December 2021)

• Incident Management Team heading from Chesapeake to Kentucky (13 News Now, December 31, 2021): This article details state-level mutual aid mechanisms.
• In rural Kentucky, small towns were already on the margins. Then came the tornadoes. (Washington Post, December 18, 2021)
• Searchers digging through mountains of debris left by deadly tornadoes in Kentucky (NPR, December 14, 2021)
• Kentucky tornado death toll reaches 74, but only 8 at candle factory (Reuters, December 13, 2021)
• Tornado Left Deadly Path of Destruction up to 250 Miles Long in Kentucky, Five Other States (Wall Street Journal, December 13, 2021)
• Maxar ‘slide’ imagery of the tornado outbreak’s destruction in different areas / facilities / structures (CNN, December 11, 2021)
• Deadly tornadoes leave path of destruction across 6 states: “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen” (Washington Post, December 11, 2021)
• More than 80 feared dead after tornadoes hit central and southern US (CNN, December 11, 2021)
• More than 70 killed in Kentucky’s worst ever tornadoes (BBC, December 11, 2021)

Java, Indonesia Volcano (December 2021)

• At least 14 dead, 56 injured in volcanic eruption on Indonesia’s most populated island (USA Today, December 5, 2021): “Mount Semeru in Lumajang district in East Java province spewed thick columns of ash more than 40,000 feet into the sky in a sudden eruption Saturday triggered by heavy rains. Villages and nearby towns were blanketed and several hamlets buried under tons of mud from volcanic debris.”

Peru Earthquake (November 2021)

• Peru’s president pledges support for those affected by 7.5-magnitude earthquake (CNN, November 28, 2021): “The earthquake’s epicenter was reported in the Amazonas region but was also felt in the capital of Lima and other neighboring towns. It had a recorded depth of 112 km. No tsunami alerts were reported.”

Mexico Bus Crash (November, 2021)

• At least 19 killed in bus crash in central Mexico (CNN, November 26, 2021): “The brakes on the bus, which was heading to a local religious shrine in the state of Mexico, failed, according to local media reports. State authorities did not disclose the possible causes of the accident.”

Bulgaria Bus Fire (November 2021)

• 12 children among 45 people killed in Bulgaria bus fire (CNN, November 23, 2021): “The cause of the accident was unclear but the bus appeared to have hit a highway barrier either before or after it caught fire, Bulgarian officials said.”

Turkey Wind Storm (November 2021)

• Extreme winds in Turkey kill 6 and injure 52 (CNN, November 30, 2021): “According to Turkey’s Meteorology General Directorate, winds reached 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour) in one of the country’s most aggressive windstorms in living memory. Turkey frequently has southwesterly winds known as Lodos winds, but their speed on this occasion, along with the damage they have caused is unusual for the country.”

US/Canada Northwest Floods and Landslides

• Canada issues weather ‘red alert’ for British Columbia (CNN, November 27, 2021): “Environment Canada has issued its first “red alert” for British Columbia ahead of what officials are characterizing as a dangerous weather system expected to push more atmospheric rivers into the province.”
• Military deployed as British Columbia grapples with devastating floods (The Guardian, November 17, 2021)

Global Supply Chain Failure

• Lack of Workers Is Hurting Supply Chains More than COVID, Defense Execs Say (Defense One, July 26, 2022)
• Chilli peppers, coffee, wine: how the climate crisis is causing food shortages (The Guardian, June 28, 2022)
• The Latest on the Formula Shortage and What the Government is Doing About It (Government Executive, June 27, 2022)
• Empty shelves and hungry kids: The U.S. baby formula shortage is a crisis (Grid, May 10, 2022)
• How climate change and extreme weather are crimping America’s pie supply (Washington Post, November 17, 2021)
• The Car Shortage Is About To Get A Whole Lot Worse (Jalopnik, October 19, 2021): This article explains how a shortage of magnesium caused by the Government of China limiting the number of factories that can produce the element, is resulting in a backup for all other parts that use magnesium in their production.
• Supply chain chaos is already hitting global growth. And it’s about to get worse (CNBC, October 18, 2021)
• When will supply chains be back to normal? And how did things get so bad? (Los Angeles Times, October 13, 2021)
• Supply chain issues could ‘last until the early parts of 2023,’ shipping analyst explains (Yahoo Finance, October 13, 2021)
• The global supply chain nightmare is about to get worse (CNN, October 13, 2021): “The supply chain nightmare is jacking up prices for consumers and slowing the global economic recovery. Unfortunately, Moody’s Analytics warns supply chain disruptions “will get worse before they get better.””

India/Nepal Landslides and Floods (October 2021)

• At least 150 dead in flooding and landslides in India and Nepal (The Guardian, October 20, 2022)
• Landslides, Floods kill at least 25 in Southwest India (Channel News Asia, October 18, 2021): “Thousands of people have been evacuated and at least 100 relief camps have been set up, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday.”

South Sudan Flooding (October 2021)

• South Sudan flooding affects more than 600,000: UN (Al Jazeera, October 8, 2021)

Lebanon Nationwide Power Outage

• Lebanon hit by electricity outage expected to last several days (The Guardian, October 9, 2021): Country’s two main power stations stop working due to fuel shortage plunging cities into darkness

Madagascar Famine

• ‘Heartbreaking’: Madagascar on brink of world’s ‘first climate-induced famine’ (Independent, November 2, 2021): “Drought-stricken island nation is ‘wake up call’ to what the world can expect in coming years due to climate change, UN warns.”
• Madagascar is suffering from a climate change famine (Quartz Africa, September 1, 2021)

Burundi Floods (September 2021)

• Lake Tanganyika’s water levels rise (BBC, September 20, 2021): “Natural disasters have forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes in Burundi in recent years, the Save the Children charity says.”

US Hurricane Season 2021

• A month after Ida’s landfall, Louisianians decry ‘Third World’ conditions (Reuters, October 6, 2021)
• As Hurricane Passes, Louisiana’s Response and Recovery Effort Begins (Maritime Executive, August 30, 2021): “Assessments of storm damage are ongoing, but social media posts and reports from local officials suggest multiple mooring failures. Near St. Bernard Parish, at least 22 barges broke loose on the Mississippi, officials told local WWL News. The barges were still loose as of Sunday night, as conditions were still too rough to try to recover them.”
• Storm tracker: At least 35 missing after Fred sweeps North Carolina; Hurricane Grace forms as Henri eyes New England (USA Today, August 19, 2021)

US Wildfires (2021)

• Thousands without power in Southern California as fierce winds fuel potential wildfire threat for 17 million people (CNN, 11/27/2021)
• California’s Alisal Fire has prompted evacuations, road and Amtrak closures. And the heavy winds are making it hard to tame (CNN.Com, October 13, 2021)
• ‘You can’t just hold your breath.’ Toxic smoke, fueled by wildfires, chokes California (PBS, October 13, 2021): “Wildfire smoke produced in the west reached as far east as Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, increasing the number of smoky days in the east by 40 percent, according to an analysis released in September by NPR’s California Newsroom and Stanford University’s Environmental Change and Human Outcomes Lab. Researchers analyzed more than 10 years of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
• Alisal Fire keeps major California highway closed, threatens ranch once owned by Reagans (USA Today, October 13, 2021)
• PG&E’s preemptive wildfire-prevention power shutdowns impact thousands in California (ABC News, October 11, 2021)
• The ‘Burn Scars’ of Wildfires Threaten the West’s Drinking Water (KHN, September 29, 2021): “Immense quantities of sediment choked the rivers that supply most of the state’s water.”
• Record heat, fire danger plague West after hottest summer on record for U.S. (Washington Post, September 17, 2021)
• New California wildfire forces evacuations and grows to 1,200 acres in less than 6 hours (CNN, August 29, 2021): ” The Chaparral Fire burning southwest of Murrieta began around midday Saturday and has burned more than 1,400 acres in Riverside and San Diego counties; it’s 10% contained as of Sunday.”
• These 7 states are under air quality alerts as wildfires rage in the West (CNN, August 26, 2021)
• Caldor fire pushes toward Lake Tahoe, causes record-breaking air pollution (LA Times, August 24, 2021): ” On Tuesday afternoon, Tahoe Vista, a census-designated place along the north shore of the lake, had a rating of 448 — the worst in the U.S. and a staggering 42 times above the World Health Organization’s exposure recommendation. “
• More than 42,000 Californians evacuate as state battles out-of-control wildfires (CNN, August 23, 2021)
• Caldor fire burns more than 440 homes as Lake Tahoe air quality ranks among worst in U.S. (LA Times, August 23, 2021)
• Thousands more evacuated as California wildfire swells 24 times its size in 2 days (CNN, August 19, 2021)
• ‘They just can’t stop these fires’: Caldor Fire explodes as California’s already nightmarish fire season drags on (Mercury News, August 17, 2021): “In just four days, the Caldor Fire has charred 62,586 acres in El Dorado County, burning through the 1,200-person town of Grizzly Flats and encroaching rapidly on other small communities nestled in the Sierra foothills. At least two civilians have been injured so far.”
• Wildfire smoke has spread dramatically across the US (Independent, July 21, 2021): “Air pollution has affected much of the country.”
• Only nature can extinguish huge Oregon fire, official says (Washington Post, July 19, 2021): ” The kind of weather needed to fully contain the Bootleg Fire is not expected in this part of Oregon until the late fall.”
• The largest wildfire in the US has grown about 1,000 acres every hour (CNN, July 16, 2021): “The Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire in the United States this year, has scorched more than 240,000 acres since it first started 10 days ago in southern Oregon, according to the latest report from InciWeb.”
• California hit by record-breaking fire destruction: ‘Climate change is real, it’s bad’ (LA Times, July 13, 2021): ” Already this year, there have been more than twice as many acres burned than during the same period last year — and hundreds more fires. “
• How bad is this year’s fire season? Even the firefighters are worried (LA Times, July 9, 2021): ” They’ve watched the rugged mountains of the forest around the Castaic station change before their eyes, from a place of seasons to a place that seems like it is in perpetual summer. And with homes encroaching farther into the terrain each year, there are more people in harm’s way.”
• Firefighters are tackling three major wildfires in California in worrying sign as summer begins (The Washington Post, July 2, 2021)
• Crews tried but couldn’t stop the Lava fire before it became California’s worst of 2021 so far (LA Times, July 3, 2021)
• Lava fire swells to 13,300 acres, forcing evacuations, as blazes ignite across California (LA Times, June 29, 2021): “Several major fires have been sparked in the last several days, and officials warn it is the harbinger of another bad fire season.”
• As the West begins to burn, Biden to talk wildfires with Newsom and other governors (LA Times, June 29, 2021): “The situation has alarmed experts and public officials, who warn that this year’s fire season could outpace last year’s, which was the worst on record. Blazes have already ignited around California, where dry vegetation has left large swaths of the state primed to explode into flames, even as the federal government struggles to hire firefighters.”
• A “Heat Dome” and Drought Are Threatening to Ignite the West (Slate, June 23, 2021): “Heat domes often contribute to record-breaking temperatures in the later summer months, but this particular system is exceptional for its early arrival and expansiveness.”
• Wildfires erupt after hottest week in history across parts of the West ignited them (ABC News June 21, 2021)
• The Fire Season Everyone Worried About Is Already Here (Vice, June 17, 2021): “Wildfire season is getting worse—and will continue to do so, as the climate changes—but was last year’s horrific fire season the new norm? Not necessarily, climate scientist Daniel Swain said.”
• Western States Prepare for Battle in Historic Wildfire Season (Route Fifty, June 17, 2021): “Multiple western states are planning to allocate hundreds of thousands, even billions, of dollars to fighting what experts say will be a historic wildfire season this year.”
• Wildfire in Montana explodes to 21,000 acres as heat wave continues (ABC News, June 17, 2021):
• Telegraph fire burns more than 80,000 acres to become 10th largest in Arizona history (The Guardian, June 9, 2021): “Officials said on Wednesday the fire was 21% contained, but straddled two counties, had forced thousands of evacuations in rural towns, and closed almost every major highway out of the area.”

Siberia Wildfires (August 2021)

• Siberia’s massive wildfires are unlocking extreme carbon pollution (National Geographic, August 19, 2021)
• For The 1st Time In Recorded History, Smoke From Wildfires Reaches The North Pole (NPR, August 10, 2021): “Smoke blankets the sky for about 2,000 miles from east to west and 2,500 miles north to south, the report noted. Smoke from those fires has even been recorded as having traveled more than 1,864 miles to reach the North Pole — an unprecedented distance.”

Haiti Earthquake (August 2021)

• ‘We don’t exist.’ In Haiti’s isolated villages, there’s fear help may never come (Miami Herald, August 20, 2021): “Still, many people in the isolated villages say it’s as if they’ve been forgotten.”
• Storm complicates earthquake response as it soaks Haiti (NBC News, August 17, 2021): “The storm system Grace had redeveloped into a tropical storm by 2 a.m. Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph as it moved over or near Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Extreme heavy rain was causing flooding in Hispaniola, it said.”
• Haitians hope earthquake recovery effort does not repeat mistakes of past disasters (Miami Herald, August 17, 2021): ” “We don’ t need visibility. We need strategy, we need plans and we need commitment.””
• ‘Haiti is reeling:’ Earthquake survivors overwhelm hospitals in disaster-hit nation (CNN, August 18, 2021): ” The humanitarian crisis created by the quake means that an estimated 600,000 people are in need of assistance and there is an urgent need for drinking water, especially in the commune of Pestel, where almost all of the drinking water reservoirs were destroyed, Haiti’s Director of Civil Protection, Dr. Claude Predtit, said at a Wednesday press conference.”
• Why Earthquakes In Haiti Are So Catastrophic (NPR, August 16, 2021): “Researchers say the country’s unique geology make it seismically active — and prone to devastating earthquakes. A combination of factors, however, leaves the country especially susceptible to damage from these events.”
• Haiti hospitals overwhelmed by quake victims as death toll hits 1,297 (Reuters, August 15)

Tennessee (US) Floods (August 2021)

• Survivors recount ‘living nightmare’ as Tennessee’s deadly floodwaters swept them up in moments (Washington Post, August 23, 2021): ” David Allen was inside his downtown Waverly home with his 84-year-old mother when an air conditioning unit floated by. That is when he knew they should flee. “

Mexico Drought (August 2021)

• In drought-plagued northern Mexico, tens of thousands of cows are starving to death (LA Times, August 1, 2021)

Turkey Floods (August 2021)

• Death toll from Turkey floods rises to 58 (CNN, August 16, 2021)

Lebanon Fuel Tank Explosion (August 2021)

• At least 20 people killed when fuel tank explodes in Lebanon (CNN, August 15, 2021): ” “There was a rush of people, and arguments between some of them led to gunfire which hit the tank of gasoline and so it exploded,” said a security source, who noted that there were members of army and security forces among the casualties.”

Greece Wildfire (August 2021)

• Thousands flee Greek island Evia by boat as ‘horror-movie’ wildfires rage (Washington Post, August 9, 2021): “
• Blaze sweeps through Athens suburbs in fifth day of Greece wildfires (August 7, 2021): ” Wildfires have erupted in many parts of the country amid Greece’s worst heatwave in more than 30 years, tearing through tens of thousands of acres of forestland, destroying homes and businesses and killing animals. “

Iran Drought (July 2021)

• At least three people killed in protests over water shortages in Iran (CNN, July 25, 2021): ” People have been demonstrating for more than a week over water shortages during Iran’s worst drought in over half a century that has affected households, agriculture, livestock farming, and led to power blackouts.”

India Landslides (July 2021)

• Monsoon rains trigger deadly landslides, disrupt traffic and water supplies in Mumbai (South China Morning Post, July 19, 2021)

China Floods (July 2021)

• Death toll from China floods jumps to 302, as Covid outbreak complicates recovery (CNN, August 3, 2021): ” In a statement on Monday, China’s State Council said it was establishing a team to “investigate and evaluate” the flooding and deaths. The team will review if there was “dereliction of duty,” and will “hold people accountable in accordance with laws and regulations,” said the statement. “
• In China, Zhengzhou mops up but other cities prepare for In-fa flood havoc to come (South China Morning Post, July 23, 2021): ” As China redoubles efforts to help the central province of Henan recover from floods that have left at least 56 dead, the typhoon that largely contributed to the deluge is fast approaching other parts of the country.”
• ‘We were lucky the dam didn’t give way’: how central China floods exposed risk of worse disaster (South China Morning Post, July 31, 2021): ” Locals and officials in Henan say they were unprepared for the sudden deluge, which threatened to overwhelm ageing flood defences.”
• Record-Breaking Flooding In China Has Left Over One Million People Displaced (NPR, July 25, 2021): ” Starting last Tuesday, storms dropped the equivalent of one year’s worth of water on the city in a 72 hour period before moving northward, flooding large swathes of Henan province in China. Authorities say the rains have displaced more than a million people and at least 63 people dead in what should have been – in theory – once-in-a-thousand-year floods. “

Texas (US) Chemical Leak (July 2021)

• At least two dead and dozens injured after an acetic acid leak at a facility near La Porte, Texas (CNN, July 27, 2021): ” The leak involved a chemical acid used in food grade vinegar, Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen said during a news conference.”

Germany Floods (July 2021)

• Germany’s deadly floods were up to 9 times more likely because of climate change, study estimates (CNN, August 24, 2021): ” At least 220 people were killed between July 12 and 15 — mostly in Germany, though dozens also died in Belgium — and homes and other buildings were destroyed in flash flooding that followed heavy rainfall. Some parts of the region experienced more rain in a single day than they would typically expect in a whole month. “
• Germany counts cost of floods as hopes of finding survivors fade (Reuters, July 21, 2021)
• Germany’s Merkel defends warning systems in wake of deadly floods (Al Jazeera, July 20, 2021): “She said that while those whose homes still had WiFi received warning messages, many who were out as mobile phone networks collapsed were deprived of emergency information. “Perhaps the good old siren is more useful than we thought,” she added.”
• Sensational Images Of European Floods Belied By Declining Deaths & Damages (Forbes, July 19, 2021): “But the reason the floods were so deadly is because European nations were so unprepared for them. Last fall, the German government held a national “warning day,” when loud sirens and text messages were supposed to alert people to danger. “It was a debacle,” The Times of London reports. “Most of the technology didn’t work.” A professor of hydrology who helped build Europe’s flood prediction and warning network said there was a “monumental failure of the system.”
• Germany knew the floods were coming, but the warnings didn’t work (The Times, July 18, 2021): ” The first signs of catastrophe were detected nine days ago by a satellite orbiting 500 miles above the tranquil hills around the Rhine river. Over the next few days a team of scientists sent the German authorities a series of forecasts so accurate that they now read like a macabre prophecy: the Rhineland was about to be hit by “extreme” flooding, particularly along the Erft and Ahr rivers, and in towns such as Hagen and Altena. Yet despite at least 24 hours’ warning that predicted, almost precisely, which districts would be worst afflicted when the rains came, the flood still caught many of its victims largely unawares.”
• Experts fear Germany’s deadly floods are a glimpse into climate future (National Geographic, July 16, 2021): ” While scientists are still piecing together how climate change might have influenced this one weather event, they say it shows key characteristics of how storms will be impacted by climate change: higher amounts of rainfall falling for longer. “
• At least 67 dead and hundreds missing as flooding rages across Germany and Belgium (Washington Post, July 16, 2021)
• Germany mounts huge rescue effort after floods leave dozens dead and many more missing (CNN, July 16, 2021)

Juice Factory Fire (Bangladesh, July 2021)

• Fire at Bangladesh factory kills 52 workers, police open probe (Reuters, July 10, 2021): “Dozens of disasters occur in Bangladesh each year due to poor fire and building safety standards. The latest incident is the worst since or August 2016, when more than 100 people fell ill in the southern Chittagong city after inhaling gas that leaked from a fertilizer factory.”

Tropical Storm Elsa (July 2021)

• Millions under tropical storm warnings and flash flood watches as Elsa moves up the East Coast (CNN, July 9, 2021)
• Elsa strengthens into hurricane as it hurtles toward Florida’s Gulf coast (The Guardian, July 6, 2021): “The National Weather Service said that Hurricane Elsa was packing winds as high as 75mph (121km/h). The category 1 storm is expected to make landfall between 8am and 9am on Wednesday, somewhere between the Tampa Bay area and the Big Bend region.”
• At least 1 dead, multiple injured as Tropical Storm Elsa whips north Florida, pushing toward Georgia and the Carolinas (CNN, July 4, 2021)

Lithium Ion Battery Factory Fire (July 2021)

• Pritzker Issues Disaster Proclamation in Response to Morris Industrial Fire (NBC, July 5, 2021): “Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for Grundy County Monday after a massive fire at an industrial building housing hundreds of thousands of pounds of lithium ion batteries released plumes of smoke and poisonous fumes into the air.”

REvil Ransomware Attack (July 2021)

• Kaseya says up to 1,500 businesses compromised in massive ransomware attack (CNN, July 6, 2021): ” Kaseya said in a statement on Monday that approximately 50 of its direct customers were breached in the attack that began to unfold on Friday. But hundreds more companies were affected because many of Kaseya’s customers provide IT services to small businesses such as restaurants and accounting firms.”
• Hackers behind holiday crime spree demand $70 million, say they locked 1 million devices (NBC, July 5): “Instead of locking an individual organization, as ransomware gangs usually do, REvil locked each victim computer as a standalone target and initially asked for $45,000 to unlock each one.”
• Massive Ransomware Attack May Impact Thousands of Victims (Bloomberg, July 3, 2021): “REvil, the group blamed for the May 30 ransomware attack of meatpacking giant JBS SA, is believed to be behind hacks on at least 20 managed-service providers, which provide IT services to small- and medium-sized businesses. More than 1,000 businesses have already been impacted, a figure that’s expected to grow, according to the cybersecurity firm Huntress Labs Inc.”
• Widespread ransomware attack is affecting hundreds of businesses (Washington Post, July 2, 2021)

Japan Mudslides (Summer 2021)

• At least 4 people presumed dead after mudslides hit Japan (CNN, August 15, 2021): ” Parts of Japan have been inundated this summer with unprecedented downpours. Ureshino City in Saga prefecture, for example, has seen seen more than 1,000 millimeters of rain — more than three times the usual amount for one month — since Wednesday, according to NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster.”
• Rescuers search for survivors in landslide-hit Japan town (Al Jazeera, July 4, 2021): “Two dead and 20 still missing as rescuers look for survivors after a landslide hits the town of Atami.”
• Massive landslide in Japan triggered by heavy rain (Today, July 3, 2021):

Ethiopia Famine (June 2021)

• Ethiopia is facing a human-made famine (VOX, June 25, 2021): “Ethiopia’s Tigray region is facing a deepening hunger emergency, with about 350,000 people threatened by famine. It is the most severe starvation crisis in the world right now, and it is almost entirely manmade.”

Canada Wildfires (June 2021)

• More than 1,600 evacuees leaving 4 Manitoba First Nations as wildfires burn near Ontario border (CBC News, July 20, 2021)
• Canadian village ‘devastated’ by wildfires a day after temperatures topped 121 degrees (CNN, July 1, 2021): “The fire destroyed “most homes and structures in the village” of Lytton and several residents are unaccounted for, British Columbia Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said at a news conference.”

Europe Heat Wave (June 2021)

• Records crumble in Europe, Russia amid scorching heat wave (Washington Post, June 24, 2021): “Moscow has its highest June temperature on record due to one of several heat domes baking the northern hemisphere.”

Czech Republic Tornado (June 2021)

• ‘It’s a real apocalypse’: rare tornado in Czech Republic kills five, injures hundreds (South China Morning Post, June 25, 2021): “One meteorologist called it the most damaging tornado in the country’s modern history. Over 40,000 households remain without electricity.”
• Rare tornado, storms rip through southern Czech Republic, killing three (Reuters, June 25, 2021): “Emergency workers and residents combed through wreckage in southern Czech Republic on Friday after a tornado and storm ripped roofs off buildings and overturned cars, killing at least three people and injuring hundreds.”

Miami Building Collapse (June 2021)

• Fire rescue crews leave site of Surfside condo collapse after month-long response (Miami Herald, July 24, 2021)
• Recovery operation at Florida condo collapse moves toward completion, death toll rises to 95 (CNBC, July 13, 2021)
• Surfside Officials: We Weren’t Notified Of Severe Deterioration Before Condo Collapse (NPR, July 8, 2021): “According to a document acquired by NPR from an anonymous source, the company’s probe, conducted between June and October 2020, found problems that appeared even more grave than those identified in an earlier 2018 study of the condo conducted by the same company.”
• Condo collapse response shifts from rescue to recovery as official says no chance of additional survivors (The Washington Post, July 6, 2021): “The search for victims entered its 14th day Wednesday.”
• Surfside search efforts are at ‘100% full strength’ as Tropical Storm Elsa nears the state, mayor says (CNN, July 6, 2021): “Rescue work was briefly paused over the weekend as preparations were made to demolish what was still standing of the building, a move that officials deemed necessary for the safety of rescue crews, particularly with forecasts of rain, wind and thunderstorms ahead this week.”
• Search and rescue pauses ‘temporarily’ pending demolition of remaining portion Florida condo (July 3, 2021)
• North Miami Beach orders 10-story condo evacuated after report declares it unsafe (Miami Herald, July 2, 2021)
• Death toll grows to 12 as rescue workers forge ahead at collapsed Surfside condo (Miami Herald, June 29, 2021)
• What Led To The Florida Condo Collapse? Here’s What We Know So Far (NPR, June 29, 2021)
• 4 dead, 11 hurt, dozens missing in high-rise collapse near Miami Beach, officials say (NBC News, June 25, 2021): “More than 150 people were unaccounted for after a high-rise condo building partially collapsed near Miami Beach early Thursday, leaving at least four people dead and 11 injured, officials said.”
• Asleep in their beachfront condos, they vanished into a mountain of rubble (Washington Post, June 24, 2021)
• At least 1 dead, dozens unaccounted for after high-rise collapse near Miami Beach (June 24, 2021): “Authorities got a call about the collapse at the 12-story building in Surfside, a town in Florida’s Miami-Dade County, around 1:30 a.m. ET, officials said during a morning press conference.”

Zimbabwe Drought

• Families sleep in water lines as drought grips Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo (Reuters, June 17, 2021): “As the parched southern African country endures its worst drought in years – a problem scientists link to climate change – ongoing water shortages in Bulawayo have left residents in some suburbs without running water for more than three months.”

China Gas Explosion

• At least 12 killed in huge gas explosion in central Chinese city (CNN, June 13, 2021): Authorities have rescued 138 from the area, including 37 with serious injuries, according to state-run news outlet CCTV, quoting local officials.

US Heatwave (2021)

• A Stifling New Heat Wave Is Baking the U.S. (Gizmodo, July 27, 2021): ” The U.S. has been besieged by yet another heat dome leading to stifling heat across not just the West but much of the eastern half of the country, too. While not as fierce as the Pacific Northwest heat wave in late June, the extent and timing of this heat are both notable. And by notable, I mean very concerning and dangerous. “
• ‘Nowhere is safe’: heat shatters vision of Pacific north-west as climate refuge (The Guardian, July 22, 2021): “Roads cracked and buckled in the heat, power cables melted, restaurants shut down. Hospitals suddenly found themselves overwhelmed, with several hundred people believed to have died in the heat. Slightly north, off the coast of Vancouver, an estimated 1 billion marine creatures perished, as helpless mussels and clams cooked in their own shells.”
• Extreme heat triggers mass die-offs and stress for wildlife in the West (National Geographic, July 22, 2021)
• Western US and Canada brace for another heatwave amid more than 70 wildfires (The Guardian, July 15, 2021): ” The fourth searing heatwave in five weeks is set to strike the west of the United States and Canada this weekend, aggravating wildfires that are already ravaging an area larger than Rhode Island as drought and record-breaking temperatures tied to the climate crisis pummel the region. “
• Heat wave roasts the West as wildfires explode in size (Axios, July 13, 2021): ” The heat, combined with a deepening drought and lightning strikes, has set more than 1 million acres of land in California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada ablaze, with smoke obscuring the skies thousands of miles away.
• Excessive weekend heat expected to hit 30+ million people in West with temps up to 130 degrees (USA Today, July 9, 2021): “All-time record high temperatures could be registered in cities such as Las Vegas and Sacramento, while notorious hot spot Death Valley should see highs approaching 130 degrees, only a few degrees short of Earth’s hottest temperature ever measured.”
• Record-breaking US Pacific north-west heatwave killed almost 200 people (The Guardian, July 8, 2021): ” The death toll from the record-breaking heatwave that struck the US Pacific north-west last week has risen to nearly 200, with health authorities reporting 116 deaths in Oregon and 78 in Washington state.”
• Heat wave in the West ‘virtually impossible’ without climate change (USA Today, July 7, 2021): “Last week’s deadly and record-breaking heat wave in parts of the Western U.S. and Canada would have been “virtually impossible” without the influence of climate change, according to a study released Wednesday by leading scientists, who said global warming made the extreme temperatures at least 150 times more likely to occur.”
• A Deadly Summer in the Pacific Northwest Augurs More Heat Waves, and More Deaths to Come (July 1, 2021): “Some scientists see a day when heat-related deaths may match those of all infectious diseases.”
• Hundreds of deaths reported as cities urge residents to conserve power during ravaging heat wave (CNN, July 1, 2021): ” More than 50 million Americans remained Wednesday under heat alerts and hundreds of deaths have been reported across the Pacific Northwest and Canada amid a devastating heat wave. But relief is coming for many, forecasters say.”
• Deaths surge in U.S. and Canada from worst heatwave on record (June 30, 2021): “The worst of the heat had passed by Wednesday, but the state of Oregon reported 63 deaths linked to the heatwave. Multnomah County, which includes Portland, reported 45 of those deaths since Friday, with the county Medical Examiner citing hyperthermia as the preliminary cause.”
• Portland, Ore., soared to 116 degrees — hotter than Dallas, Miami and L.A. have ever been (NBC News, June 29, 2021)
• Pacific Northwest Heat Wave Reaches Astonishing Peak on Monday (AXIOS, June 29, 2021): “This heat dome is yielding temperatures 25–50°F above average across multiple states and British Columbia.”
• In photos: Roads buckle as record-setting heat wave grips Pacific Northwest (Axios, June 29, 2021): “Seattle surpassed its record set Sunday by 4°F when it hit 108°F Monday evening and Portland for the third consecutive day recorded an all-time high temperature record high, reaching 116°F.”
• Dueling heat waves are baking the East and West Coasts. One is going to be worse than the other (CNN, June 26, 2021)
• Cooling centers open in U.S. Pacific Northwest ahead of ‘life-threatening heat’ (Reuters, June 25, 2021)
• All-time record triple digit heat forecast for many people that don’t have A/C (CNN, June 24, 2021): “The heat could be lethal in Seattle and Portland, which rank first and third respectively for major US cities with the fewest air-conditioned households. A US Census Bureau study in 2015 found that only 33% of Seattle-area homes were air conditioned.”
• ‘Historic’ heat wave takes aim at Pacific Northwest (Reuters, June 23, 2021): “A high-pressure dome was building over the upper northwest and Canada, the National Weather Service said, similar to the atmospheric conditions that punished California and U.S. Southwestern states last week.”
• The Record Temperatures Enveloping The West Are Not Your Average Heat Wave (NPR, June 19, 2021): “This heat dome’s reach is remarkable, too: It has set record highs stretching from the Great Plains to coastal California. And these aren’t just records for that specific date or month, but in a few spots, they are records for the singularly hottest day in the entire period of record, sometimes stretching back 100 to 150 years.’
• Heat wave in West enters Day 6 as entire state of Arizona soars to record highs (NBC News, June 17, 2021): “The scorching highs are also infiltrating eastward, breaking records in Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and more. Records will likely topple again in Las Vegas and Phoenix, where highs are expected to surge above 110 in the coming days. Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado, will likely break their previous records for Thursday of 98 and 100, respectively, by several degrees. The heat will also threaten record highs in Kansas City, St. Louis, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Omaha, Nebraska.”
• Record setting heat blasts the West: “Your skin is almost sizzling” (Washington Post, June 18, 2021)
• Southwest heat wave intensifies, breaks records and worsens drought (Axios, June 16, 2021): “The extreme heat is unusually intense for June, and is aggravating already dire drought conditions that could lead to another devastating wildfire season.”
• Heat wave enveloping West will shatter records, spark wildfires (Axios, June 15, 2021): “While the Southwest in particular is used to hot weather, this event could break all-time records in normally hot places like Las Vegas, where the all-time high temperature of 117°F could be toppled and overnight low temperatures won’t fall below 90°F for several days.”
• Historic heat wave brings 100-degree heat to 40 million people in western U.S. (Washington Post, June 15, 2021)
• Dangerous heatwave grips US south-west as temperatures hit 120F in some areas (The Guardian, June 14, 2021): California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah face extreme heat, worsening drought and raising risk of wildfires
• First heat wave of the year in the books weeks before official start of summer (NBC News, 6/8/2021): Twenty-one million people were under heat advisories again on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to soar into the 90s and feel close to 100 degrees.

Australia Mice Plague (Spring/Summer 2021)

• Australian prison to be evacuated after mice move in (ABC News, June 22, 2021): “Around 200 staff and 420 inmates will be transferred from the Wellington Correctional Center in rural New South Wales state to other prisons in the region during the next 10 days while cleaning and repairs take place, Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin said on Tuesday.”

Brazil Drought (June 2021)

• Historic drought threatens Brazil’s economy (phys.org, June 9, 2021): “The worst drought in nearly a century to hit two key regions in Brazil is wreaking havoc on hydroelectric dams and crops—and threatening the nascent pandemic recovery of Latin America’s biggest economy.”

China Tornado (June 2021)

• 1 killed, 16 injured as tornado, hail hit NE China (Shine News, June 2, 2021): “As of 6 am Wednesday, it was reported that the tornado had damaged or toppled 148 houses and ravaged through farmlands.”

Pakistan Train Crash

• Death toll rises to 40 in Pakistan train crash, as rescuers try to free survivors (Washington Post, 6/7/2021): “This is the worst train collision since 2005,” said Asad, the railways spokesman. Deadly train accidents are common in Pakistan, where the extensive rail system has suffered from government neglect for years.
• Video: Trains Collide in Pakistan, Killing Dozens (Wall Street Journal, 6/7/2021)

Tropical Cyclone Yaas (India)

• Tropical Cyclone Yaas will slam into eastern India within 24 hours (CNN, 5/26/2021): “Ahead of Yaas, West Bengal intends to evacuate at least 1 million people, the chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee said Monday at a news conference. At least 19,000 people had been evacuated as of Monday from low-lying areas in India’s Odisha state, its additional relief commissioner Kamal Mishra said.”

China Ultramarathon Disaster

• Extreme weather kills 21 ultra-marathon runners in China (CNN, May 24, 2021): Twenty one ultra-marathon runners have died after extreme weather conditions hit a 100-kilometer (62-mile) mountain race in northwest China.

Congo Mount Nyiragongo Volcano

• Thousands Return Home in East Congo After Volcano Eruption (US News, June 9, 2021): Thousands of people are returning to Goma and a surrounding region in eastern Congo hoping to find their homes intact weeks after a volcano erupted, but fearing the worst.
• DRC volcano eruption: Red Cross steps up its response amid fears of a “multi-hazard” emergency (IFRC Press Release, June 3, 2021): “The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal of 11.6 million Swiss francs to assist 80,000 displaced people in DRC and Rwanda and is calling for urgent support from donors and partners to help scale up operations.”
• ‘Fear everywhere’: hundreds of thousands flee DRC volcano’s river of death – in pictures (The Guardian, June 2, 2021)
• Thousands Evacuate Congo’s Goma Amid Renewed Volcano Threat (US News, May 27, 2021): “Tens of thousands of people are fleeing the city of Goma in eastern Congo fearing another volcanic eruption by Mount Nyiragongo, which spewed lava near the city last week.”
• Lava From Congo’s Volcano Eruption Emits Toxic Gas, 7 Dead (Associated Press, May 24, 2021)
• Congo’s Mount Nyiragongo Volcano Erupts, Sending Lava For Miles But Sparing A City (May 23, 2021)

2021 California Wildfire Season

• California drought has moved up 2021 wildfire season far ahead of schedule, PG&E warns (The Sacramento Bee, June 9, 2021): “The fuel moisture levels … are about a month or two months ahead of schedule,” Strenfel said. “They’re at a state where they’re typically this dry in mid-July, and we’re seeing them in June. We’re a month ahead of schedule, if not two months, in terms of fire danger.”
• “Mega-drought” in West means threat of extreme fire season ahead (CBS News, June 9, 2021): “A severe lack of rainfall over the past two years, combined with a steadily heating climate, has turned California into a tinderbox, setting the stage for what will likely be a catastrophic fire season ahead.”
• California Lacks Federal Firefighters as Dangerous Season Looms (Government Executive, May 21, 2021): “A third of Forest Service fire engines in California likely can’t run every day.”
• California Is Headed Toward Another Brutal Wildfire Season (Mother Jones, May 16, 2021): “Last year’s blazes set state records. This year, the drought’s even worse.”

Cyclone Tauktae

• Cyclone Tauktae: Ninety missing at sea in the wake of storm (BBC, May 18, 2021)

Mexico Metro Overpass Collapse (May 2021)

• Probe into Mexico City metro crash blames structural failure (Reuters, June 17, 2021): “The initial report by DNV, an external auditor, found “six deficiencies in the construction process” that helped to bring about the accident.”
• Anger mounts as death toll from Mexico metro overpass collapse rises to 24 (The Guardian, May 4, 2021): “Footage from security cameras showed the overpass collapsing on to a busy street about 10.30pm on Monday night, leaving one of the wagons dangling precariously.”

Sri Lanka Cargo Ship Fire (May 2021)

• Dead turtles and waves of plastic show Sri Lankan ship disaster’s deep ramifications (CNN, July 25, 2021): ” The Singapore-flagged X-Press Pearl caught fire on May 20 en route to Colombo carrying 350 metric tons of oil in its tanks and at least 81 containers of “dangerous goods,” including nitric acid — a highly toxic chemical used to make fertilizers.”

Israel Stampede

• Crush at Israeli religious festival kills 45 (Reuters, April 30, 2021)

Western USA Mega-Drought (Ongoing)

• Deadpool: US Mega Drought Spells Trouble At Hoover Dam (Barrons, July 4, 2022)
• ‘It’s such a strange thing to see’: Photos show Lake Mead on the verge of becoming a ‘dead pool’ (LA Times, July 1, 2022)
• As water crisis worsens on Colorado River, an urgent call for Western states to “act now” (LA Times, June 20, 2022)
• California threatens ‘mandatory water restrictions’ if people don’t cut back (The Guardian, May 23, 2022)
• Lake Powell officials face an impossible choice in the West’s megadrought: Water or electricity (CNN, April 30, 2022)
• Punishing Bay Area Drought Prompts Calls for Major Water Rethink (KQED, April 6, 2022): “The state’s traditional rainy season is over, and California’s summer forecast looks to be hotter than average. Meteorologists expect a heat wave this week, which poses a critical threat to what’s left of the snowpack.”
• The Texas Drought is the Worst in Years. Are We on the Brink of Disaster? (Star Telegram, April 8, 2022)
• Lake Powell water levels fall to historic low: Reservoir dips below 1,075meters and is now threatening to no longer have the capacity to generate hydropower (Daily Mail, March 29, 2022): “Lake Powell’s fall to below 1,075 meters (3,525 feet) puts it at its lowest level since it was filled after the federal government dammed the Colorado River at Glen Canyon in 1963 and threatens to hit ‘deadpool’ – the point at which water likely would fail to flow through the stream – if it drops even more.”
• California snowpack is critically low, signaling another year of devastating drought (CNN, April 3, 2022): “Snowpack in the California Sierra this winter is just 38% of normal, California water officials said Friday, in the latest sign the state’s drought is growing more devastating by the month.”
• As drought pushes east, more intense wildfires are sparking in new areas (CNN, March 29, 2022)
• The West’s megadrought will persist and may get worse in coming months. Water availability is a high concern (CNN, March 17, 2022)
• Newsom declares statewide drought emergency, urges California to conserve water (LA Times, October 19, 2021): “Gov. Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency Tuesday, as officials announced that Californians reduced water use an average of 5% in August.”
• California records driest year in a century (LA Times, October 18, 2021)
• Lake Tahoe runs dry: Severe drought leaves boats and docks hundreds of feet from shore and salmon unable to spawn as scientists warn of DIRE consequences (Daily Mail, October 17, 2021): “Lake Tahoe’s water levels have dropped about half-an-inch below its natural rim as experts warn that another dry winter could put the body of water at risk of becoming ‘terminal’ – meaning the lake will no longer be able to supply its only outflow, experts say.”
• Lake Tahoe has fallen to an alarmingly low level. Here’s what the impact could be (San Francisco Chronicle, October 12, 2021)
• After one of the driest years on record, it will take multiple years for some states to recover (CNN, October 2, 2021)
• The Southwest’s Most Important River is Drying Up (CNN, August 21, 2021): This is a beautifully designed webstory explaining the Western US drought.
• First-ever water cuts declared for Colorado River in historic drought (CNN, TAugust 17, 2021)
• Biggest US reservoir declares historic shortage, forcing water cuts across west (The Guardian, August 16, 2021)
• ‘Running out of options’: California resorts to water cutoffs as drought worsens (LA Times, August 4, 2021): ” California water regulators took unprecedented action this week, passing an emergency regulation that will bar thousands of Californians from diverting stream and river water as the drought worsens.”
• America’s second largest reservoir Lake Powell hits the lowest level since it was first filled fifty years ago – at just 33% capacity – as drought takes its toll (Daily Mail, July 27, 2021): “America’s second largest reservoir Lake Powell hits the lowest level since it was first filled fifty years ago – at just 33% capacity – as drought takes its toll.”
• NASA before-and-after photos from space show devastating effects of California’s record mega-drought (CBS News, July 16, 2021)
• Lake Powell water levels fall to historic low: Reservoir dips below 1,075meters and is now threatening to no longer have the capacity to generate hydropower (Daily Mail, March 29, 2022): “Lake Powell’s fall to below 1,075 meters (3,525 feet) puts it at its lowest level since it was filled after the federal government dammed the Colorado River at Glen Canyon in 1963 and threatens to hit ‘deadpool’ – the point at which water likely would fail to flow through the stream – if it drops even more.”
• California snowpack is critically low, signaling another year of devastating drought (CNN, April 3, 2022): “Snowpack in the California Sierra this winter is just 38% of normal, California water officials said Friday, in the latest sign the state’s drought is growing more devastating by the month.”
• As drought pushes east, more intense wildfires are sparking in new areas (CNN, March 29, 2022)
• The West’s megadrought will persist and may get worse in coming months. Water availability is a high concern (CNN, March 17, 2022)
• Newsom declares statewide drought emergency, urges California to conserve water (LA Times, October 19, 2021): “Gov. Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency Tuesday, as officials announced that Californians reduced water use an average of 5% in August.”
• California records driest year in a century (LA Times, October 18, 2021)
• Lake Tahoe runs dry: Severe drought leaves boats and docks hundreds of feet from shore and salmon unable to spawn as scientists warn of DIRE consequences (Daily Mail, October 17, 2021): “Lake Tahoe’s water levels have dropped about half-an-inch below its natural rim as experts warn that another dry winter could put the body of water at risk of becoming ‘terminal’ – meaning the lake will no longer be able to supply its only outflow, experts say.”
• Lake Tahoe has fallen to an alarmingly low level. Here’s what the impact could be (San Francisco Chronicle, October 12, 2021)
• After one of the driest years on record, it will take multiple years for some states to recover (CNN, October 2, 2021)
• The Southwest’s Most Important River is Drying Up (CNN, August 21, 2021): This is a beautifully designed webstory explaining the Western US drought.
• First-ever water cuts declared for Colorado River in historic drought (CNN, TAugust 17, 2021)
• Biggest US reservoir declares historic shortage, forcing water cuts across west (The Guardian, August 16, 2021)
• ‘Running out of options’: California resorts to water cutoffs as drought worsens (LA Times, August 4, 2021): ” California water regulators took unprecedented action this week, passing an emergency regulation that will bar thousands of Californians from diverting stream and river water as the drought worsens.”
• America’s second largest reservoir Lake Powell hits the lowest level since it was first filled fifty years ago – at just 33% capacity – as drought takes its toll (Daily Mail, July 27, 2021): “America’s second largest reservoir Lake Powell hits the lowest level since it was first filled fifty years ago – at just 33% capacity – as drought takes its toll.”
• NASA before-and-after photos from space show devastating effects of California’s record mega-drought (CBS News, July 16, 2021)

• California’s historic drought is causing drinking water to taste like dirt. Just ‘add lemon,’ officials say (CNN, June 22, 2021)
• Satellite images show just how bad California’s drought is (Verge, June 22, 2021): “In 2020, the landscape looks lush and green and the San Gabriel Reservoir is bright blue.Fast forward to this year, and the same location is so dry it looks like a scene out of a Mars movie. The forest is scarred red, and the San Gabriel Reservoir is almost empty. ”
• A California reservoir is expected to fall so low that a hydro-power plant will shut down for first time (CNN, June 18, 2021)
• The shocking numbers behind the Lake Mead drought crisis (CNN, June 17, 2021): “Lake Mead, a Colorado River reservoir just east of Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona border, is poised to become the focal point of one of the country’s most significant climate crises: water shortages in the West. Millions of people will be affected in the coming years and decades by the Colorado River shortage alone, researchers say, with some being forced to make painful water cuts.”
• ‘Dire situation’: Silicon Valley cracks down on water use as California drought worsens (The Guardian, June 12, 2021): “Santa Clara county issues restrictions in an already historic crisis, amid fears trouble could deepen over summer.”
• ‘Truly an emergency’: how drought returned to California – and what lies ahead (The Guardian, June 7, 2021): “Just two years after California celebrated the end of its last devastating drought, the state is facing another one. Snowpack has dwindled to nearly nothing, the state’s 1,500 reservoirs are at only 50% of their average levels, and federal and local agencies have begun to issue water restrictions.”
• “Mega-drought” takes dramatic toll on Colorado River system that provides water to 40 million people (CBS News, June 8, 2021)
• Hoover Dam, a symbol of the modern West, faces an epic water shortage (USA Today, June 6, 2021)
• A severe drought is gripping the Western U.S. as wildfire season begins (CNBC, June 4, 2021)
• Drought May Mean Changes to Oregon Fish-Stocking, Hatcheries (US News, June 3, 2021): “A drought is forcing Oregon to consider major changes to how it stocks fish in bodies of water across the state and to bag limits for fishermen.”
• Newsom Extends Drought Emergency to 41 California Counties (Los Angeles Times, May 10, 2021)
• ‘Megadrought’ persists in western U.S., as another extremely dry year develops (National Geographic, May 7, 2021)
• As a megadrought persists, new projections show a key Colorado River reservoir could sink to a record low later this year (CNN, April 19, 2021)

Florida Reservoir Incident (April 2021)

• Florida officials scramble to prevent ‘catastrophic flood’ of contaminated water from leaking reservoir (Washington Post, 4/4/2021)

Taiwan Train Accident (April 2021)

• Train crash kills 48 in Taiwan’s deadliest rail tragedy for decades (Reuters, 2021/04/03) A Taiwan express train with almost 500 aboard derailed in a tunnel on Friday, killing at least 48 passengers and injuring 66 in the island’s worst rail disaster in almost four decades.

Indonesia Cyclone (April 2021)

• Rescuers hunt for survivors after cyclone wreaks havoc in Indonesia (CNN, 4/6/2021)
• Floods, landslides, kill dozens in Indonesia and East Timor (CNN, 4/4/2021)

Cox’s Bazar Rohingya Refugee Camp Fire

• World Food Program Situation Report (April 12, 2021)
• Cox’s Bazar Fire: ‘I wanted to save them even if I died doing so’ (BBC, March 23, 2021)
• Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh Fear Deadly Fires (VOA, April 10, 2021)

Alabama Tornado (March 2021)

• At Least 5 Deaths Reported in Alabama After Tornado Touches Down (CNN, 3/26/2021)

Australia Floods (March 2021)

• Parts of Australia Declare Natural Disaster During ‘Once in 100 Years’ Floods (CNN, March 21, 2021)
• 40% of Australia’s entire population under severe weather warnings covering an area the size of Alaska (CNN, 3/23/2021)
• Aerial Videos Show the Devastation After Historic Floods in Australia (CNN, March 26, 2021)

India Glacier Flood (February 2021)

• Chamoli disaster: ‘It hit the valley floor like 15 atomic bombs’ (CNN, June 13, 2021): A wedge of glacier-covered rock more than 500m wide and 180m thick just suddenly let go.
• India Glacier Burst: Rescue Workers Looking for 177 People Feared Dead in Uttarakhand (CNN, February 8, 2021)

Texas Extreme Cold and Blackouts

• The Graveyard Doesn’t Lie (Buzzfeed News, May 26, 2021): The true number of people killed by the disastrous winter storm and power outages that devastated Texas in February is likely four or five times what the state has acknowledged so far. 
• The Texas Blackout is a Story of a Disaster Foretold (Texas Monthly, February 19, 2021)

Pakistan National Power Outage (January 2021)

• Power Outage Plunges Pakistan Into Darkness (CNN)

US Capitol Building Riots (January 2021)

• Photo Essay of the Riots (CNN, 1/6/2021)