Tag: flood

Russian-Annexed Crimea Declares State of Emergency Over Floods

MOSCOW—Authorities in Russian annexed Crimea declared a local state of emergency on Thursday after heavy rain caused flooding in parts of the peninsula’s east including the city of Kerch. The flooding affected nearly 300 homes and a city hospital, the emergencies ministry said. Whole streets were submerged in water in parts of the city. In…


Thousands of Australians Warned Not to Drink Tap Water After Winter Storms

Thousands of residents in the city of Melbourne’s outer east have been told not to drink their tap water, even after it is boiled, due to contamination. The Department of Health issued an urgent warning early Wednesday morning advising people who live, work or are in Kallista, Sherbrooke or The Patch not to drink tap…


Coastal City Launches New Emergency Alert System

A new outdoor emergency system to alert residents of disasters was put to the test May 27 in Laguna Beach, Calif. “Nothing presents a greater risk to our public safety than a wildfire or a major earthquake,” Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said in a press release. “This outdoor emergency warning system will save lives in the event of…


Heavy Rains in Texas, Louisiana Add to Misery in Flood Zones

BATON ROUGE, La.—Heavy rain kept pounding parts of Texas and Arkansas before moving over Louisiana on Wednesday, adding to the misery for people whose homes and cars were flooded by an earlier drenching. The prospect of more rain wasn’t welcome in southern Louisiana, where heavy downpours earlier this week swamped vehicles and closed a major…


Australia Ready to Provide Emergency Aid to East Timor

Australia is on standby to offer emergency aid to East Timor after the worst floods in 40 years have ravaged the island country and left at least 34 dead and thousands displaced. The natural disaster comes as East Timor prepares for its rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine after receiving its first batch on April 5. “We…


Tropical Cyclone Kills at Least 113 in Indonesia, East Timor

MALAKA, Indonesia—Floods and landslides triggered by tropical cyclone Seroja in a cluster of islands in southeast Indonesia and East Timor have killed 113 people, with many still unaccounted for and thousands displaced, officials said on Monday. At least 86 deaths were reported on several islands in Indonesia’s West and East Nusa Tenggara provinces, while 71…


Indonesia Death Toll Reaches 55 From Floods, 40 Missing

JAKARTA—The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by the tropical cyclone Seroja in a cluster of islands in southeast Indonesia rose to at least 55, with 40 still missing, the disaster agency BNPB said on Monday. At least 400 people in the East Nusa Tenggara province, which comprises of several islands, were evacuated after…


US Rolls out First Update to Flood Insurance Pricing in 50 Years

NEW YORK—Hundreds of thousands of Americans will pay significantly more to insure their homes in coastal areas and flood zones under new rules released on Thursday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the first major update to its pricing system in half a century. The agency said that, over the coming year, it will…


Australia to Rescue Thousands as Sydney Faces Worst Floods in 60 Years

PITT TOWN, Australia—Australia was set on Monday to evacuate thousands more people from suburbs in Sydney’s west, battered by the worst flooding in 60 years, with torrential rains expected to continue for another day or two. Reuters images showed submerged intersections, marooned livestock, and cars up to their windshields in water, out of which poked…


Disaster Payments for Flood-Hit NSW Areas

Residents who have suffered home damage or severe injuries in the devastating floods sweeping across New South Wales (NSW) are being granted immediate access to disaster relief payments. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced the activation of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance for 18 NSW local government areas. Under the AGDRP,…