Posts tagged with "usa"
Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:57:51 PM
molecular_change, vital_research, influenza_virus, CDC
...
Small Changes in 1918 Pandemic Virus Knocks Out Transmission Research Provides Clues for Assessing Pandemic Potential of New Influenza Viruses.
Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that a molecular change in the 1918 pandemic influenza virus stops its transmission in ferrets that were in close proximity, shedding light on the properties that allowed the 1918 pandemic virus to spread so quickly and potentially providing important clues that could help scientists assess emerging influenza viruses, such as H5N1.
The study, which is published in the Feb. 5 issue of Science, showed that a modest change of two amino acids in the main protein found on the surface of the 1918 virus did not change the virus's ability to cause disease, but stopped respiratory droplet transmission of the virus between ferrets placed in close proximity. The experiments were conducted with ferrets because their reaction to influenza viruses closely mimics how the disease affects humans.
"With this vital research, we are learning more about what may have contributed to the spread and deadliness of the 1918 pandemic," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. "By better understanding how this virus spreads, we can be better positioned to slow down or stop the spread of the pandemic virus and hence be better prepared for the next pandemic."
To spread and cause illness, the influenza virus must first bind to host cells found in humans and animals. The Science study suggests that the hemagglutinin (HA), a type of protein found on the surface of influenza viruses, plays an important role in the 1918 virus's ability to transmit from one host to another efficiently. This research suggests that, for an influenza virus to spread efficiently, the virus's HA must prefer attaching to cells that are found predominately in the human upper airway instead of cells found predominately in the gastrointestinal tracts of birds. Other changes may be necessary as well. Current H5N1 viruses prefer attaching to avian cells, suggesting the virus would need to make genetic changes before it could pass easily between humans.
"Work on the 1918 virus is providing clues that are helping us evaluate other influenza viruses with pandemic potential, such as H5N1, that may emerge," said Dr. Terrence Tumpey, lead author of the paper and a CDC senior microbiologist. "Though we still don't know what changes might be necessary for H5N1 to transmit easily among people, it's likely that changes in more than one virus protein would be required for the H5N1 virus to be transmitted among humans."
Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain emerges to which people have little or no immunity. Most experts believe another pandemic will occur, but it is impossible to predict which strain will emerge as the next pandemic strain, when it will occur or how severe it will be.
The 1918 pandemic caused an estimated 675,000 deaths in the United States and up to 50 million worldwide, in the worst pandemic of the past century.
The research was done in collaboration with Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory. All laboratory work with 1918 virus was conducted at CDC in a high containment Biosafety Level 3 laboratory with enhancements, using stringent biosecurity precautions to protect both laboratory workers and the public from exposure to the virus. Currently available antiviral drugs have been shown to be effective against the 1918 influenza virus and similar viruses.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 8:38:05 AM
Wedding, US_Airforce, Alaska, Alaska
...
Wedding bells were ringing at Elmendorf Jan. 26 when an officer from the 611th Air Intelligence Squadron and his fiancee tied the knot in the 611th AIS conference room after he received news of a short-notice deployment to Iraq.
Maj. Greg Soukup's notification came only 32 days before the large out-of-town ceremony his fiancee Kristen Owens and him had been planning. Among the numerous deployment checklist items was, "marry my love," he said.
After finding out about the deployment, the bride and groom made numerous phone calls telling 50 loved ones and many businesses the planned wedding would not happen.
They were both astonished when the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas and Alaska and Delta Airlines refunded all hotel and airline commitments after finding out about the deployment.
"These businesses have been nothing but supportive and understanding with no questions asked," Kristen said. "We are so lucky they are supportive of the military."
By Jan. 24, new plans were in motion. The bride and groom asked Lt. Col. Christine Morris, 611th AIS commander, to be their marriage commissioner and marry them at the squadron.
"I never imagined presiding over a ceremony like this. I am truly honored and privileged to help make this day happen for them," she said.
From there, the plans snowballed as the 611th Air Operations Group and 611th AIS banded together to organize a wedding.
By noon Jan. 26 there was a wedding cake, decorations, flowers, champagne, rings and a room full of supportive Air Force family members dressed in blues with cameras in hand. As Pachelbel's Canon in D played and the lights were dimmed, Kristen Owens walked down the hallway to her groom.
After the ceremony and cheers from the teary eyed crowd, Major Soukup said his thanks.
"A month from now we would have been with our biological family. Today, we are with our Air Force family," he said. "Thank you for going above and beyond making today unforgettable."
Major Soukup wasn't expecting to deploy until his Air Expeditionary Force rotation in January 2008. Since his career field is undermanned, the Air Force attached him to another AEF. Next week, he will venture to Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq and return to his bride in about six months.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Fraser, Alaskan Command commander, had a chance to congratulate the couple.
"We are very proud of them both and thank them for their dedication to our nation and our Air Force," the general said. "I'm grateful that our nation is blessed with men and women willing to make these types of sacrifices to defend our freedom."
After all the cake was gone, the bride and groom made their way to a decorated car, but not before walking through a row of Airmen tossing shredded paper like confetti. As the happy couple's wedding day ended, they enjoyed a wedding gift from the 611th Air Operations Group a stay at a hotel downtown as part of what Kristen refers to as their "mini moon."
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 8:38:05 AM
Wedding, US_Airforce, Alaska, Alaska
...
Wedding bells were ringing at Elmendorf Jan. 26 when an officer from the 611th Air Intelligence Squadron and his fiancee tied the knot in the 611th AIS conference room after he received news of a short-notice deployment to Iraq.
Maj. Greg Soukup's notification came only 32 days before the large out-of-town ceremony his fiancee Kristen Owens and him had been planning. Among the numerous deployment checklist items was, "marry my love," he said.
After finding out about the deployment, the bride and groom made numerous phone calls telling 50 loved ones and many businesses the planned wedding would not happen.
They were both astonished when the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas and Alaska and Delta Airlines refunded all hotel and airline commitments after finding out about the deployment.
"These businesses have been nothing but supportive and understanding with no questions asked," Kristen said. "We are so lucky they are supportive of the military."
By Jan. 24, new plans were in motion. The bride and groom asked Lt. Col. Christine Morris, 611th AIS commander, to be their marriage commissioner and marry them at the squadron.
"I never imagined presiding over a ceremony like this. I am truly honored and privileged to help make this day happen for them," she said.
From there, the plans snowballed as the 611th Air Operations Group and 611th AIS banded together to organize a wedding.
By noon Jan. 26 there was a wedding cake, decorations, flowers, champagne, rings and a room full of supportive Air Force family members dressed in blues with cameras in hand. As Pachelbel's Canon in D played and the lights were dimmed, Kristen Owens walked down the hallway to her groom.
After the ceremony and cheers from the teary eyed crowd, Major Soukup said his thanks.
"A month from now we would have been with our biological family. Today, we are with our Air Force family," he said. "Thank you for going above and beyond making today unforgettable."
Major Soukup wasn't expecting to deploy until his Air Expeditionary Force rotation in January 2008. Since his career field is undermanned, the Air Force attached him to another AEF. Next week, he will venture to Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq and return to his bride in about six months.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Fraser, Alaskan Command commander, had a chance to congratulate the couple.
"We are very proud of them both and thank them for their dedication to our nation and our Air Force," the general said. "I'm grateful that our nation is blessed with men and women willing to make these types of sacrifices to defend our freedom."
After all the cake was gone, the bride and groom made their way to a decorated car, but not before walking through a row of Airmen tossing shredded paper like confetti. As the happy couple's wedding day ended, they enjoyed a wedding gift from the 611th Air Operations Group a stay at a hotel downtown as part of what Kristen refers to as their "mini moon."
Monday, January 29, 2007 2:07:23 PM
bibberle, CENTAF, Central_Command_Air_Force, Airforce
...
bibberle
In Afghanistan Jan. 27, U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force troops in contact with enemy forces near Moqor and Worzhanah Kalay. An F-15 expended a guided bomb unit-39 on enemy positions.
A B1-B Lancer provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Jalalabad. The B1-B expended GBU-38s on enemy positions.
A B-1B and Royal Air Force M-2000 provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Carlson.
In total, 27 close-air support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
Additionally, eight Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
In Iraq, F-16 Fighting Falcons conducted a strike against anti-Iraqi forces near Taji. The F-16s expended GBU-31s on enemy targets.
Navy F-18s also conducted a strike against anti-Iraqi forces near Fallujah. The F-18s expended rockets on enemy targets.
F-16s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad, Tikrit and Diyala.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.
Additionally, 15 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. An Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with electro-optical and infrared sensors.
Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew more than 160 airlift sorties, delivered more than 470 tons of cargo and transported more than 4,200 passengers. This included about 24,000 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews from Canada flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On Jan. 26, Air Force, Royal Air Force and French Air Force tankers flew 29 sorties and off-loaded more than 1.7 million pounds of fuel.
"The air refuelers are critical to mission success. They provide us with a great deal of flexibility. They also complete their missions with a high degree of professionalism and tenacity," said Navy Capt. Stephen Foley, Combined Air Operation Center battle director.
Saturday, January 27, 2007 3:52:56 PM
Fourpeaked, Volcano, Katmai_National_Park, usa
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As of the 27th of January, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has reported that seismic activity of the volcano continues. The activity of the summit volcanic crater, possibly, could affect international and low-flying aircraft. Seismicity was at background levels during the week. About 170 weak seismic events into the volcanic edifice and volcanic tremor were registered all weak. According to visual observations, gas-steam plumes up to 5.8 km (19,000) ASL on January 21 and 23 and up to 5.3 km (17,400 ft) ASL on January 20, 22 and 24 were observed. The volcano was obscured by clouds in the other days. According to satellite data, a weak thermal anomaly was registering over the volcano on January 20-21.
Saturday, January 27, 2007 1:23:33 PM
Illinois, Lincoln_Park, Lakeview_Ave, fire
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USA,Illinois,Chicago,Lincoln_Park,Lakeview_Ave,Fire,Firefighters
Two people were killed and three hurt when a fire erupted on the 26th floor of a Lincoln Park high rise Friday night, officials said.The blaze in the 42 floor building at 2626 N. Lakeview Ave. was reported in a 911 call at 6:16 p.m., said Chicago Fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco. Firefighters found flames blowing from the unit's windows but had the fire extinguished within 20 minutes, Orozco said.A man found in the burning apartment and a woman living below died later Friday night at St. Joseph's and Illinois Masonic Hospitals, officials said.Two residents were in fair condition, and a firefighter had minor injuries, Langford said.Officials were not sure whether the building was equipped with a sprinkler system.The unit where the fire started, on the northwest side of the building, was the only one damaged, officials said. Orozco said residents of all other units were to be allowed back into the building later Friday night.Only the three floors above and two floors below were evacuated, Langford said.Caroline Olson, 27, lives on the 37th floor. Olson said the first sign that something was wrong were the emergency vehicles gathering on the street.Olson said she tried to leave, but as she headed downstairs, she encountered heavy smoke."When I was in the stairwell, my lungs were starting to hurt," she said.
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Saturday, January 27, 2007 8:42:29 AM
life, Greenland, Thule, US_Airforce
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Landing on a snow-packed winter runway 700 miles north of the Arctic Circle can be a harrowing experience for anyone who journeys here. Snow-blinding winds howling in excess of 50-miles-per-hour, temperatures plunging below zero, and 24-hours-a-day without sunshine are commonplace and make it unlike nearly anywhere on Earth.
But from the moment their feet touch the ground outside the aircraft, Air Force people here find an irreplaceable experience beginning with handshakes from the base commander and senior staffers who stand at the bottom of the exit stairs, enduring the extreme runway cold to welcome each and every person who arrives here. Airmen serve a one-year remote, unaccompanied tour here in a multinational environment on a pristine, deserted, rocky, frozen landscape that illustrates the most extreme of environments found anywhere.
"This is not something you get to experience every day, or even in a lifetime. The beauty here ... you cannot express the magnitude, the gracious beauty of it," said Col. Edward A. Fienga, 821st Air Base Group commander here.
"It looks like the moonscape here. It has an incredible, rugged beauty of its own," said Lt. Col. Bob Pavelko, commander of Detachment 3, 22nd Space Operations Squadron.
"Not many people can say they've been this far north or to Greenland. You've got to try it once. I'd rather be here than in Korea," said Staff Sgt. Alisha Miles, 821st Air Base Group.
The base is the Department of Defense's northern-most base. Built in the 1950s during the nuclear arms race, this location was strategically selected because it is halfway between Moscow and Washington D.C. Since 1961, Thule AB has evolved with two major space missions supporting the Air Force Space Command. Two tenant units contribute to the space superiority mission here.
The 22nd SOS's Detachment 3 is a tenant unit and is part of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. The unit's primary mission is to communicate with polar orbiting satellites by sending information to and receiving data from these satellites using three massive satellite dishes at the automated remote tracking station. They provide telemetry, tracking and command operations for U.S. and allied government satellite programs.
"Space is the ultimate high ground. If we lose the ability to communicate, we lose the battle," said Colonel Pavelko.
Detachment 3 specialists communicate with polar orbiting satellites 10 to 14 times per day and receive and relay data used for communications, navigation and weather. They make more than 22,000 satellite contacts per year. Indirect support to war fighters is made by moving data and information that may be used on the battlefield.
The Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, or BMEWS, is operated by the 12th Space Warning Squadron, a tenant unit from the 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. They have a primary mission of intercontinental ballistic missile and sea-launched ballistic missile detection high over the northern polar cap. They have a secondary mission of space surveillance, monitoring all the objects in space that come through their polar coverage area. They perform these missions with a large two-faced, solid-state, phased-array radar system. They relay gathered space information to Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., to update a master space catalog. Two or three American or Canadian servicemembers monitor the console at all times.
"Up to 3,000 miles away, we can see a piece of metal the size of a softball," said Lt. Col. Timothy Lincoln, 12th Space Warning Squadron commander. He said because there are still emerging threats in the world, the BMEWS mission continues to be of great importance.
Located 13 miles from the center of the base, the BMEWS site sits atop a large hill, allowing its radar to have an open view northward. Because of the severe winter weather here, the BMEWS site has it's own "storm dorm" with 15 rooms to house personnel when travel to the base is suspended. Security forces Airmen stand at the ready at the BMEWS site 24-hours-a-day.
BMEWS is undergoing an upgrade to its radar and will become a part of a new missile defense system called the ground-based midcourse defense. The new capability will support a larger Department of Defense system that could destroy incoming missiles before they enter our atmosphere.
"For the most part, we have a very normal base with lots of facilities for quality of life that keep people at the edge of mental acuity so they can perform their jobs as well," said Colonel Fienga.
Airmen at Thule work with civilians and contractors who are Canadian, Danish and Greenlandic, totaling a work force of 600, 52 percent of which are Danish.
"The continuity here is represented by the contractors who are here for the long term, whether it's the U.S. or Danish contractors," said Colonel Fienga.
Along with the primary space missions, Thule Air Base also functions like a more typical base. With the closing of Keflavik Air Station, Iceland, Thule has become an alternate landing base for transiting aircraft. Alaska Air National Guard aircraft often stop here for fuel when moving to or from a theater of operations.
"It's a unique opportunity here ... just being in the darkness," Colonel Fienga said. "With a one-year assignment, you can roll up your sleeves and really get something done, because you're likely to only be one deep in your job. You have a lot of responsibility at junior rank up here."
Airmen and civilians here develop ways to deal with the harsh environment. Senior Airman Tom Gast said the first thing he does in the morning is turn on his "happy lamp" to keep his circadian rhythms in balance.
"The cold is one of the biggest challenges. If you're trained and know what you're doing, you'll do all right," said Airman Pedro Pita, 821 Security Forces Squadron.
"During the summer there is a lot to do here," Airman Pita said. "You can climb Mount Dundas or go Thule Tripping. You can go down to the waterfall or to the ice caves. During the winter, everyone here misses the sun. During the summer, you'll stay up all day and not realize that it's two or three o'clock in the morning. We have shades in our rooms to blacken out the light, but it's definitely difficult to sleep during the summer time.
"A couple of civilians had a 'run in' with some Arctic foxes. But actually, the wildlife is pretty calm around here. If you don't mess with it, it won't mess with you," he said.
Thursday, January 25, 2007 1:20:27 PM
Cruise_Ship, Epidemic, California, Queen_Elizabeth_II
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The Queen Elizabeth II has been struck by a stomach bug sickening at least 300 passengers and crew, US health officials confirmed. The cruise ship docked in San Francisco on Wednesday.Cunard Line, the owner of the Queen Elizabeth 2, had already informed the U S Centers for Disease Control in January 11 that some passengers had fallen ill with flu-like symptoms.Such symptoms are usually associated with norovirus, which causes an acute form of gastroenteritis leading to stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. In recent days around 276 of the 1652 travelers have fallen sick, while 28 of the ship's 1,002 crew were also affected.On Friday, US health officials went aboard the QEII in Acapulco, Mexico in order to assess the illness that is spreading rapidly. Later on the crew increased cleaning and disinfection measures on the ship.The QE2 is to dock in Auckland on February 11 and Sydney on February 20.
Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:45:00 AM
AFB, celebrates, 20_years, Ellsworth
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ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE,USA
The 28th Bomb Wing received its first B-1B Lancer on Jan. 21, 1987. Over the course of its 20 years of service with the wing, the aircraft and its mission have changed significantly.
The B-1B has roots in the 1970s, when it became obvious that winning the Cold War required stepping up technology. Originally, Rockwell International won the bid to build four prototype aircraft. The Air Force wanted a fast jet that could cruise efficiently at subsonic speeds and at speeds as high as Mach 2.2, with the additional capability of low-altitude, near sonic capability. The result was the B-1A, which made its maiden flight in December 1974. President Jimmy Carter cancelled the program in 1977.
President Ronald Reagan revived the program and called for 100 B-1Bs to comprise a fleet of supersonic strategic bombers. Plans, however, called for speed to be sacrificed for payload, with the end result being a jet that could carry a larger bomb load than the B-52 Stratofortress while having the capability to achieve speeds greater than Mach 1.
The first Lancer, "The Wings of Freedom," tail number 85-0073, arrived at the 28th BW Jan. 21, 1987. Gen. John T. Chain Jr., Strategic Air Command commander, delivered the first jet on that cold day 20 years ago. After he landed, the general made remarks that now seem prophetic:
"Too often, people think of SAC bombers ... only as carriers of nuclear weapons," General Chain said. "We have to change that perception. The B-52 and B-1 have an enormous capability to contribute to this nation's conventional capability ... their firepower is awesome. They could strike a terrorist-type target anywhere in the world flying nonstop from the United States and return with air refueling."
Speaking those words nearly 20 years ago, it seems unlikely that General Chain could know just how accurate his prediction would be.
"As General Chain envisioned this plane 20 years ago, the vision 20 years from now can be significantly more lethal than we see today," said Col. Jeffry Smith, 28th BW commander. "The current iteration of the B-1B can be lethal in every air spectrum from surface to altitude with extraordinarily capable aircrews."
The bomber handily fulfilled its strategic role in the 1980s and 1990s, and began breaking records right out of the gate. In September 1987, a 37th Bomb Squadron crew broke 18 speed, distance and payload records on a closed course. Meanwhile, 28th BW B-1Bs began participating in global exercises like Giant Warrior 89-3 in Guam as early as 1988.
As time passed, the B-1B continued to break records. In 1992, Colonel Smith broke three time-to-climb world records while assigned to the 46th BS at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. In August 1993, two 28th BW bombers made the first B-1B circumnavigation of the globe.
The B-1B transitioned to a full-time conventional mission and had its combat debut in 1998 during Operation Desert Fox. The 28th BW's 77th BS, now the 77th Weapons Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flew bombing missions in support of Operation Allied Force in the Balkans in 1999.
Today, B-1Bs have been engaged in support of the current war on terrorism. While supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, B-1Bs also participated in Operation Southern Watch in 2003 and saw it transition to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Even today, the B-1B is evolving as a weapons platform. The aircraft continues to receive technological upgrades and cutting edge standoff munitions.
"The B-1B started as an untested, immature airplane initially, even lacking technical order manuals ... the airplanes just sat on alert for several years," said Colonel Smith. "Today, the airplane is capable and flexible. With the Block E modification, we provide combat capability, flexibility and an extended range greater than any other aircraft in United States history. We not only carry the most firepower of any United States Air Force aircraft, we carry multiple varieties of multiple weapons on the same airplane. That gives the combatant commander tremendous lethality in support of the global war on terror."
Maj. Jon Creer, an assistant operations officer at the 34th BS, participated in the first launch of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile by an operational B-1B on Aug. 30.
"The avionics suite and weapons capability of the B-1B is better now than it has ever been," Major Creer said. "Over the last three years, the software and hardware upgrades, plus the addition of global positioning system guided munitions like the (guided bomb) unit - 31 and GBU-38, have increased the combat capability and will continue to improve as the airframe received planned upgrades."
Even as the Air Force plans to develop a next generation bomber, the B-1B continues to surprise supporters and critics alike. As the aircraft continues to serve, it will continue to improve and remain the backbone of the American bomber force, 28th BW aircrews agree.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:20:53 AM
CENTAF, Jan_23_2007, airpower_summary, US_Airforce
...
bibberle
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In Afghanistan Jan. 22, Air Force F-15 Eagles and a B-1B Lancer provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with enemy forces near Carlson. The B-1B expended Guided Bomb Unit-38s and GBU-31s on enemy positions.
The Combined Force Air Component Commander goes through very strict procedures for approval prior to weapons expenditures and does all he can to avoid collateral damage. From using precision-guided weapons to preplanning air strikes and coordinating with ground commanders, the primary objective of the commander is to ensure targets are properly identified and Air Force warfighters are able to avoid any harm to civilians and their property.
Air Force F-15s provided close air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Deh Rawod.
In total, 23 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
Additionally, nine Air Force and Royal Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan .
In Iraq , U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad and Al Taji.
RAF GR-4 Tornados provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad , Mamudiyah and Al Taji.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.
Additionally, 13 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq . An Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with its electro-optical and infrared sensors.
Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. Nearly 140 airlift sorties were flown; approximately 360 tons of cargo was delivered, and approximately 2,850 passengers were transported. This included about 12,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in eastern Afghanistan .
Coalition C-130 crews from Australia and Canada flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On Jan. 21, Air Force and RAF tankers flew 29 sorties and off-loaded almost 1.6 million pounds of fuel.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 6:37:53 AM
Stratofortess, B52, California, cold_weather
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Aircraft B52 Stratofortess undergoes synthetic-fuel cold weather testing
A B52 Stratofortess powered by a mix of synthetic fuel arrived Jan. 17 2007 for cold-weather testing, the last step in the testing and certification process to help reduce Air Force dependence on imported fuel.
The aircraft, permanently assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing , will undergo ground testing Jan. 22 through the beginning of February to determine how well the synthetic fuel, made from a 50-50 blend of traditional crude oil-based fuel and a Fischer-Tropsch fuel derived from natural gas, performs in extreme weather conditions.
"The B-52 is leading the way in carrying out the Air Force's vision for conservation," said Col. Eldon Woodie, the 5th Bomb Wing commander. "Hopefully, the weather will allow us to complete cold-weather testing."
The first B-52 flight using Fischer-Tropsch fuel occurred Sept. 19 2006 at Edwards AFB, California USA It was an aviation first. Since then, the aircraft has been tested extensively up to the point of flying with synthetic fuel in all eight engines. Ground testing here will occur with synthetic fuel in all engines.
After testing here is done, the cold weather data will be analyzed along with the data from Edwards AFB, and a complete test report is scheduled to be issued in June 2007
"The maintenance and aircraft support at Minot have been outstanding," said Robert Aguilar, the project manager for cold-weather testing, who's is from California.
Monday, January 22, 2007 6:20:12 AM
Snow_Storm, Park_County, Colorado, Bailey
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A fast moving storm hit the Denver Area,including parts of Park County, on Sunday, and left some icy, snow-packed spots on the Turkey Creek Canyon portion of U.S. Highway 285, between C-470 Freeway and Conifer. But Sunday Afternoon, the snow had resulted in no chain laws or highway closures in Park County or the Conifer area of Jefferson County, according to Bob W., a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Transportation. Wilson said about six inches of snow were expected to fall in metro Denver. At Afternoon, several inches had already fallen in Pine Junction, and the wind was blowing fairly hard. Member of the Waetherserice, who reports precipitation for Bailey to the National Weather Service, said Bailey had received about an inch of snow, maybe an inch and a half in Early Afternoon., and the snow had started there at about Early Sunday Morning. "It's just such a fine snow that it doesn't accumulate," she said. Only one highway in the state had been closed because of the snow storm at Afternoon., Wilson said, and that was Highway 86 near Kiowa. The storm was moving fast and wasn't expected to stay around metro Denver long, he said. It's expected to move northeast.
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Sunday, January 21, 2007 11:32:48 AM
Heavy_Snow_Storm, Nebraska, Omaha, usa
A winter storm marched across the Plains, causing numerous accidents that killed at least eight people in three states, including four in Nebraska. Heavy snow hit parts of Nebraska on Saturday, limiting visibility and creating hazardous driving conditions. A car slid across the median on Interstate 80 between Kearney and Minden and was struck by a tractor-trailer, killing the 28-year-old driver and her two children, ages 5 and 3, police said. On U.S. Highway 281 south of St. Paul, a 76-year-old man was killed when the car he was in crossed the center line and was struck by a pickup. The man's 60-year old wife was seriously injured. In western Kansas, a couple and their 20-month-old daughter died when their car drove off U.S. 50 and collided with two others cars, authorities said. The couple's 6-year-old daughter was critically injured, they said. In Oklahoma, a 5-year-old boy died after being thrown from a sport utility vehicle that rolled over after it left a snow-covered highway. In Kansas, a heavy snow warning was in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday from areas around Wichita westward, the National Weather Service said. Up to 6 inches of snow were forecast for some sections by Sunday, with more to follow. Farther south, the storm spared much of Oklahoma, though snow fell in western and north-central regions. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reported Saturday night that about 36,500 customers in the state remained without power a week after a crippling ice storm.
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Sunday, January 21, 2007 6:09:57 AM
Cold_Wave, California, Catastrophical, San Diego
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San Diego was among six additional counties declared in a state of agricultural emergency yesterday as officials continued to assess damages from a winter cold spell. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger extended a state of emergency declaration to San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara and Yuba counties. He asked the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture and the Small Business Administration to provide farmers and growers there with immediate assistance. The California Farm Bureau yesterday released a commodity-by-commodity assessment of losses across the state, which ranks first in the nation with more than $32 billion in annual farm revenue. The survey showed that the freeze has particularly hurt citrus crops, avocados and winter vegetables. It also might affect the availability of spring vegetables.
Meanwhile, California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura continued his tour of devastated fields and groves. He plans to visit San Diego County today, visiting an orchard and a flower farm. The 10 counties declared in agricultural emergency earlier in the week: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura. Billions of dollars worth of crops hang in the balance. The Farm Bureau said any commodity that was on the tree or above ground was likely hurt to some degree. A number of farmers expect to take a total loss on their crops,” the organization said in a statement. “Others say their crops may have escaped severe damage. In 2004, the most recent year for the state's annual agriculture report, fruits and nuts accounted for $9.66 billion in revenue, vegetables and melons $7.28 billion, nursery and floriculture $3.31 billion and field crops $2.93 billion.
The Farm Bureau's summary of the freeze impact to date:
Citrus fruit: Successive nights of temperatures in the mid-20s or lower took a severe toll on navel oranges, lemons and other citrus fruit. California Citrus Mutual estimates citrus damage at $500 million, and it expects that number to increase.
Avocados: Freeze damage to stems has caused avocados to drop from trees in Southern California. The California Avocado Commission estimates as much as 20 percent of the state's more than $380 million crop might be lost.
Strawberries: California strawberries, a $1.2 billion crop, will be affected for up to six weeks because of the severe cold in Southern California's coastal growing regions. Strawberries being readied for harvest were damaged. The California Strawberry Commission, characterizing the losses as a temporary setback, says strawberry plants will begin to generate new berries within weeks and that the freeze might even stimulate stronger production later in the season.
Winter vegetables: The freezing weather has slowed the winter vegetable harvest in the Imperial and Coachella valleys and caused crop damage. Farmers report damage to lettuce and other leafy greens, and say artichokes have suffered extensive losses.
Spring vegetables: Young vegetable plants in desert harvest regions also have suffered extensive damage. That could affect where sweet corn, bell peppers, cantaloupes and watermelons will be available.
Olives: New wood on olive trees might have been affected by the freeze. A similar freeze in 1990 caused a 50 percent reduction in the crop that year. There were freezing temperatures in all growing areas, including those where boutique olive oil is produced. Olive revenue was $59 million in 2004.
Flowers: Nursery plants and field-grown flowers, including flowers being readied for Valentine's Day, also suffered losses. Greenhouse-grown plants and flowers were not affected. The total flower industry in the state is valued at more than $1 billion.
Sunday, January 21, 2007 5:07:46 AM
Dead_Ducks, Denver, Colorado, Biological_Hazard
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Almost 200 dead ducks have been found in a chlorine basin at a wastewater treatment facility. An engineer first noticed several distressed ducks on site January 2nd, and then a week later, the staff discovered a pattern; hundreds of ducks dead in the water. The Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife are investigating, as lab tests are being performed in Fort Collins to find a cause to the problem. For the past 20 years, hundreds of ducks flock to the warm water at this plant, but this is the first time the staff has noticed such an ominous scene. “It's not unusual at all to have ducks here. The ducks come every winter, but we just don't see ducks die,” said Steve Frank, spokesperson for Metro Wastewater Reclamation District. Maintenance workers at the plant have a sound gun firing off blank shots each half hour to keep the ducks away from the water, until the root of the problem is confirmed. Workers are also skimming the water to find any remaining ducks. Several of the surviving birds sit in cages and towels, with their feathers no longer waterproof, possibly suffering from hypothermia. The plant increased the amount of chlorine in the water in December, but the staff says there’s no connection. “When we increased the chlorine dosage we didn't notice any additional ducks, dead or alive, when we decreased it, we didn't notice any change either,” said Frank. The staff plans to put a net over the basin to keep birds out of the water. Lab results are expected within the next few weeks.
Saturday, January 20, 2007 1:45:31 PM
Africanized_Honeybees, Animal_Attack, Florida, usa
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A Fort Lauderdale woman was attacked by Africanized honeybees, the first such documented attack in Broward County. Nicole Sinder was washing her dog last month behind her home when thousands of bees swarmed around her and began to sting her. The Florida Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the attack was the work of Africanized honeybees, also known as killer bees. The killer bees have been found 11 times in recent years in Broward County, but Sinder is the first known human attack. She was treated and has now recovered. Africanized bee stings are no more potent than an ordinary bee, but they are far more aggressive and attack in swarms. In 2005, killer bees stung a city meter reader in Port St. Lucie and killed a horse in Hendry County. Emergency responders across the state are now learning how to react to the attacks.
Saturday, January 20, 2007 11:28:40 AM
Mountain_View, California, Animal_Attack, Squirrels
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Parents at Cuesta Park in Mountain View keep an eye not only on their kids, but on the squirrels. "There was a squirrel, I guess it smelled food somewhere on the playground, so it was ransacking the strollers," says Susan Moriarity, who comes to the park everyday with her 21-month-old son Jack. "I didn't realize until we got back to the car that he had chewed a hold through my stroller." They've even attacked humans. Since May of last year, squirrels have bitten or scratched 18 people, including two attacks in the past month. City officials are still planning to trap and kill the aggressive squirrels. They initially planned to use tube traps that would squish the squirrels to death, but the plan itself was squashed after hundreds of people expressed outrage. City workers are now switching tactics. "The animal is captured alive and then is humanely euthanized," says David Muela, the city's community services director. It's not enough to satisfy critics-- 730 people have signed an online petition asking the city of Mountain View to not kill the squirrels. Animal lovers from around the world have signed on with messages like "Why are they aggressive? Maybe they are tired of us. Can you blame them?" "I don't like the idea of killing them. They're just going after food," Moriarity said. City officials have put up signs warning about aggressive squirrels. Rangers now patrol the children's play area, where food is no longer allowed. When a ranger saw a four-year-old boy holding a cookie near the slide, she told his father to "dispose of it, please, the squirrels can smell it." Some parents say if the attacks continue, the squirrels need to go. "If the problem gets worse, and it's between killing some squirrels or our sons and daughters out here getting hurt, they might not have a choice," said Charlie McKellai, who was sitting on a swing while holding his four-month-old daughter Kristen. The squirrels are not only hungry, however, they're smart. How many have been trapped so far?
Friday, January 19, 2007 3:43:13 PM
Gastrointestinal_Illness, Epidemic, Boston, Massachusetts
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More than 3700 patients stricken with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea have visited Boston's emergency rooms during the past 6 weeks in a wave of gastrointestinal illness that has swept cities across North America. Federal health authorities are so concerned that they will conduct a telephone conference call this week with disease trackers from across the nation to gauge the impact of an outbreak attributed to norovirus infection. [Noroviruses are] intestinal [viruses] that travel easily from person to person.
Dr Marc-Alain Widdowson, a norovirus specialist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the current outbreak of illness appears to be the worst since 2002-2003. "But the bottom line is we don't really know why," said Widdowson, who speculated that the virus currently circulating may be a different strain, one that is more easily transmitted or one that spawns more severe symptoms. For Dr Anita Barry, Boston's director of communicable disease control, any lingering doubts about the breadth and severity of the outbreak were erased when she saw figures delineating ER visits on Christmas [day] -- a day when patients do almost anything to avoid a trip to the hospital. On that day, 73 patients with gastrointestinal woes turned up in Boston's 10 emergency rooms. "If people are coming to the emergency room on Christmas Day," Barry said, "that suggests to me this illness is more severe than your routine gastrointestinal illness."
Day by day, the Boston Public Health Commission has been tracking the march of the intestinal infection, using a surveillance network that monitors patients' ailments in emergency rooms. It creates something akin to a daily Dow Jones of disease, showing trends in infectious illnesses and other
medical conditions. The network, activated shortly before the Democratic National Convention in 2004, acts as an early-warning system that gives health authorities a potentially decisive edge in their battle with microscopic foes. The system does not provide an actual diagnosis, but it can identify clusters of patients with similar symptoms. "This gives us a clue earlier on that something may be up," Barry said. By the middle of December [2006], Barry knew that the increase in ER patients with their hands clutching their stomachs was no fluke. And while the volume fluctuated, it was generally increasing. Health Commission specialists know more than just how many people are coming to the ER: They also know patients' ages and their ZIP codes. While certain neighborhoods were hit harder than others -- Roxbury had the highest concentration of gastrointestinal illness -- no community escaped the virus.
That was another major clue for disease specialists, and it showed them that they needed to direct their efforts to the whole city, not just individual communities. City health authorities said they do not know for sure why certain neighborhoods generated more ER visits, but speculated it could reflect everything from patients lacking primary care physicians to some neighborhoods having greater population density, allowing the virus to spread more swiftly. Sophisticated, real-time disease-tracking systems had been in the works for years, but the terrorist attacks of 11 Sep 2001, as well as the arrival of anthrax-laden letters a month later, caused researchers to expedite development of the networks. Initially, the tracking systems, known as syndromic surveillance networks, were trumpeted for their potential to detect bioterror attacks. But since dozens of public and private health agencies activated the networks, specialists have increasingly recognized that the first-generation systems now in operation may be better suited for identifying large outbreaks of gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses.
"Diseases that tend to have explosive onset with a large number of cases early on do show up quite nicely," said Dr James Nordin, a clinical investigator at HealthPartners Research Foundation in Minnesota, which runs a tracking system in the Twin Cities. Norovirus [infection] is one of those diseases. And the consequences are seen in hospitals like Boston Medical Center, where ER doctors have treated a steady stream of patients. "We have seen a large number of cases of what appears to be a sudden onset and intense, short-lived diarrhea, nausea, and some abdominal pain," said Dr Jonathan Olshaker , Boston Medical's emergency department chief. "Although if you're going through it, it doesn't seem short-lived."
Thursday, January 18, 2007 1:15:00 PM
Saratoga_County, Power_Outage, Albany, usa
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Utility crews had restored service Wednesday to all but 13,000 homes and businesses that lost power in the holiday weekend ice storm. More than half the remaining outages were north of Albany in Saratoga County, which took the brunt of the wintry storm that glazed roads and trees with a crust of ice. About 115,000 customers were without electricity across the state at the storm's peak Monday. Widespread outages were reported Wednesday in Fulton and Washington counties, according to National Grid. The utility, which called in six neighboring utilities for help, said it expected to hook up most customers by Thursday. Skies were clear in the ice-ravaged areas Wednesday, though single digit temperatures were forecast through the night.
A number of warming centers remained open in the Saratoga area.
Thursday, January 18, 2007 12:15:16 PM
Malibu, Snow_Storm, California, Blizzard
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A fast moving cold storm dropped snow in the mountains above Malibu, left white coats of hail in the city and unleashed a blizzard that temporarily closed Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles on Wednesday. It was the latest blast from a cold snap that has kept California in an icy grip for a week. Sleet made driving treacherous on Kanan Dume Road, a steep route through the Santa Monica Mountains where it's more typical to see beach-bound cars loaded with surfboards than a snowplow. "One of our sergeants said he hadn't seen anything like this in 20 years," said California Highway Patrol Officer Leland Tang at the West Valley Station. A probation officer at a juvenile camp in the Santa Monicas said he was traveling down Kanan Dume when it began to snow. "It was snowing pretty good," said Officer Oscar Cross. "The road was covered in ice and slush, and I saw one car slide into a ditch. Everyone seemed scared to drive." Cross said that when he reached Pacific Coast Highway, the weather turned "nice and sunny." "I've never seen such a weird change like that," he said.
Architect Doug Rucker heard powerful thunderclaps as he watched the snowfall from his home studio on a ridge at an elevation of 1,700 feet. The snow stayed on the ground for about an hour before the sky cleared and the sun melted it into "gray mush," he said. In the Tehachapi Mountains, midmorning heavy snow and ice caused big-rigs to jackknife on Interstate 5 and block traffic over 4,144-foot Tejon Pass between the Los Angeles Basin and the San Joaquin Valley. "It was a cell that hit us. We had no idea that it was coming, it just hit us all at once," said Officer Dave Pokorny of the CHP's Newhall Station. In Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, a portion of State Route 33 about 12 miles north of Ojai, was closed due to snow and ice, said Marie Raptis, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Transportation. Snow mixed with hail also fell at lower elevations of northern Los Angeles County, leaving some neighborhoods with rare coatings of white.
The National Weather Service said the wintry precipitation was from an upper-level low moving through the region. The cold set in late last week, bringing night after night of freezing overnight temperature to many parts of the state and causing extensive agricultural damage. In the high desert north of Los Angeles, the early morning low was 8 degrees at Lancaster and 14 at Palmdale. Numerous other points in Southern California had lows in the 30s, with some areas in the 20s. Downtown Los Angeles was 44 overnight. In the Van Nuys area of the San Fernando Valley, where the morning low was 35, a 6-inch water main broke and flooded a street. Service was cut to 30 homes, said Carol Tucker, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The city's water mains don't freeze because they are underground, but extremely cold water can cause the cast iron pipes to crack, Tucker said. Fire departments across Southern California have reported hundreds of calls in recent days about burst pipes. The Victorville courthouse got flooded when sprinkler heads ruptured, and broken irrigation lines may have caused a mudslide that blocked a private road to five Pasadena homes with 150 tons of debris Monday night.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 7:52:02 PM
Epidemic_Hazard, Scarborough, bacterial_meningitis, Maine
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5-year-old girl contracted bacterial meningitis and her family and seven others are being treated with antibiotics as a precaution, health officials said. The child, who's a student at Eight Corners Primary School in Scarborough, is doing well and responding to treatment, officials said. Six to 12 Mainers get this form of meningitis every winter and there's no reason for people to be overly concerned, said Dr. Dora Anne Mills of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Augusta. But the condition can be dangerous if untreated. A Bangor woman who was a student at the University of New Hampshire died earlier this month from bacterial meningitis. People should call a doctor if they have symptoms like high fever, stiff neck, headache, rash or nausea and vomiting, Mills said.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 3:26:19 PM
Biological_Hazard, Florida, Red_Tide, usa
After fading away for weeks, Red Tide has returned to gulf waters off Sarasota and Charlotte counties, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission reported Tuesday. Scientists found the Red Tide organism ranging from background to medium levels in the New Pass area of Sarasota County. to high levels at Gasparilla Pass. Low concentrations were detected at both Boca Grande Pass and Redfish Pass, while concentrations at Captiva Pass were medium. No red tide was found in samples collected inside Pine Island Sound, and samples collected in the Florida Keys between Marathon and Key West. The FWC said a fish kill report was received from the Venice area of Sarasota County and may be due to red tide in the area. The next status report is expected to be issued on Friday.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 10:38:05 AM
freezing_rain_toppled_lines, Buffalo, Power_Outage, usa
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Like the set of a disaster movie, the rural Dallas County seat of Buffalo was dark, icy and shuttered Tuesday as it struggled with a total power outage three days after a winter storm knocked out electricity in much of southwest Missouri. Buffalo is among scores of rural communities left with little or no power after freezing rain toppled lines. Fixing the problem could take days, as nighttime temperatures drop into the single digits, officials said. "We're planning on this thing lasting into next week at least before we get any power back here," Buffalo Mayor Jerry Hardesty said. An estimated 210,000 Missouri customers, mainly in the southwest part of the state, remained without power Tuesday, as the Bush administration declared a major disaster area in 34 counties and St. Louis after a weekend storm coated power lines and trees with ice and snow. The storms that spread ice and sleet from Friday through Sunday contributed to at least nine deaths in Missouri. Seven were traffic-related, with one each in southwest Missouri's Lawrence and Jasper counties blamed on carbon monoxide exposure, state officials said.
The State Emergency Management Agency said power was still out to 34,500 customers in the St. Louis area and 161,000 customers of Empire Electric and various rural cooperatives in southwest Missouri. In Springfield, the state's third-largest city, about 25,000 of City Utility's customers were without power Tuesday, down from as many as 75,000 of its roughly 100,000 customers over the weekend, General Manager John Twitty said. "Things are getting better. We are in the recovery phase," Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson said during a news conference. But the aftermath of the ice storm continued to impact daily life. The Springfield school district canceled classes for the rest of the week as it repairs storm damage, as did Missouri State University, Drury University and Ozarks Technical Community College. Power lines were still coated with ice Tuesday. Broken limbs and trees littered residential neighborhoods, and some intersections were snarled because major traffic lights were out, reducing four-lane crossings to four-way stops.
In Buffalo, a town of 2,840 people about 35 miles north of Springfield, nearly all stores, gas stations and restaurants were closed because they lacked electricity. One gas station reopened Tuesday with the help of a generator, and a farm supply store has stayed open but unlit. "There are no services," Mayor Hardesty said. "I've talked to residents who have lived here 50 years and nobody can remember it ever being this bad." The town lost about half its power Friday night in the first wave of ice and the rest late Saturday. It's water towers ran dry Sunday and water only began flowing again late Monday, after the National Guard hooked a generator to the pumping station, the mayor said. One grocery store opened briefly Monday, allowing customers in one at a time to pick up supplies by flashlight, Hardesty said. Cell phone coverage is weak because of ice on area towers. Land lines are mostly working, but cordless phones are useless without power.
Three emergency shelters in town housed about 240 people Monday night, with double that number coming in for a meal or just to warm up during the day, he said. National Guardsmen arrived Monday to help check door-to-door for people unable to leave home. "One lady who came in, she was so cold her hands were shaking," said Red Cross shelter volunteer Laura Gentle. Carl and Connie Foster, of the small community of Long Lane, east of Buffalo, said they were getting by with a wood stove and bottled water. "We came into town to get birdseed. We're fine, but our birds need feeding," said Carlson, outside the Buffalo farm supply store. The State Emergency Management Agency warned that the National Weather Service was forecasting lows Tuesday night in the single digits and a possibility of more freezing precipitation arriving in the state during the weekend. A White House statement released Tuesday said that federal funding now is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis. The money could be used for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 7:48:28 AM
Minnesota, Monticello, Power_Plant, usa
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nuclear plant at Monticello has been shut down indefinitely while experts investigate why a large component broke loose and triggered the plant's automatic safety systems. Federal officials said on Tuesday that a 35,000-pound control box fell off a steel beam inside the plant, but outside the reactor, last Wednesday. That caused the automatic shutdown, and no radiation was released, federal and company officials said. "We're working as quickly and safely as possible to get the plant back online," said Arline Datu, spokeswoman for the Nuclear Management Co., which operates the plant for Xcel Energy. "I can't speculate one way or another how long or how short that will take." Jan Strasma, spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said the control box is about 20 feet long, 6 feet wide and 6 feet high, and had been welded in place. "The initial assessment is that the welds broke due to vibration over the years," he said. One side of the box dropped about a foot onto a large steam pipe, and probably damaged the pipe and perhaps insulation on other steam lines, he said. "There was no release of radioactivity, no threat to public health and safety, and all of the reactor's safety systems functioned normally," Strasma said. Monticello began operating in 1970. Last November, regulators renewed Xcel's license to operate it for 20 years beyond 2010, when its original 40-year license will expire.
The plant is about 45 miles northwest of the Twin Cities. Xcel spokeswoman Mary Sandok said the temporary loss of Monticello's power will not significantly affect the regional supply or price of electricity. A side-effect of the shutdown was that it killed over 3,000 fish in the Mississippi River near the plant. Nonradioactive water used to cool the plant is normally discharged into the river, Datu said, creating warm spots. When the discharge stopped, she said, the river water quickly cooled, and the fish died of thermal shock. A planned shutdown typically kills around 100 fish, she said. About 2,400 of the fish were smallmouth bass, while many of the rest were rough fish, said Paul Diedrich, area fisheries supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Most were 6 inches or smaller, and the loss probably won't be noticeable to anglers, he said.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:07:22 AM
Saint_Louis, Power_Outage, Missouri, usa
Aside from a few lingering snow showers and a few flurries here and there, most of Missouri was expected to see sunny skies on Monday after the third round of a powerful storm dumped ice and sleet across much of the state. But with temperatures expected to get to near zero Monday night and wind chills going even lower, utility crews across the hardest-hit areas were racing to restore power to about 330,000 households that still were without electricity Sunday night. Most of the outages — a majority in southwest Missouri — were caused when freezing rain caused tree branches to break off and crash onto power lines, officials said. The storm contributed to six deaths, hazardous driving conditions and power outages throughout the weekend. Five of the deaths were traffic-related, with one in Franklin County a result of carbon monoxide exposure, state officials said. A state of emergency declared Saturday continued and the National Guard was called out in areas where slick roads, downed trees and utility lines posed hazards.
Guardsmen went door-to-door checking on the health and safety of residents in the hardest hit parts of the state and helping to clear slick roads. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt said the worst of the storm damage was in a 50-mile swath along Interstate 44. “We have what appears to be a three-wave storm,” Blunt said Sunday. “We’re in the final wave of it.” “We’ve had three real pushes of rainfall,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kramper in the St. Louis suburb of Weldon Spring. One was Friday, one Saturday and a third was expected to continue into Sunday night. Amtrak canceled Sunday service between Kansas City and St. Louis due to fallen trees and other debris on railroad tracks. Meteorologist Noelle Runyan of the Pleasant Hill weather service office said temperatures were expected to plummet into the single digits Monday night, but should warm up to around 30 by Wednesday. “It’s going to get colder,” Runyan said. “Arctic high pressure is moving into the region. That is going to bring some colder temperatures in, and initially it’s going to be on the breezy side. Wind chills will get pretty low.”
In areas like the southwest Missouri city of Springfield, temperatures around 30 degrees led to icy complications over the weekend, with 70,000 households without power according to the city utilities and another 100,000 elsewhere in southwest Missouri. Guardsmen fanned out in the area Sunday and found some house and garage damage due to fallen tree limbs. In the St. Louis region, about 150,000 people remained without power Sunday afternoon, after a pattern of freezing and thaws. Anthony Younger, 29, on a break from his job as a fast food restaurant manager Sunday, said his family has lost power three times in stormy weather since this summer, once for about two weeks. “Here we go again,” he said when his power, provided by the Ameren utility, went out in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant this weekend. It has since been restored.
He said relatives now are in the habit of checking with one another, figuring out who still has electricity and shuttling between homes. Although it’s happened several times, disruptions due to weather don’t get easier, he said. Blunt said he doesn’t think Ameren should be able to increase rates until the utility can prove it is prepared for storms. Ameren spokeswoman Susan Gallagher said more than 2,500 linemen from nine states are working to restore power. She said the company also has done a detailed analysis of the St. Louis region’s weather in 2006, and found it had the most “weather events” in the nation. “Things we had not seen recently, we’re seeing a lot more of,” she said, pointing to damaging wind storms this summer and a massive wintery storm last year.
Monday, January 15, 2007 3:41:22 PM
Vehicle_Accident, seven_people_died, Oklahoma, Interstate_40
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Oklahoma Highway patrol has confirmed seven people died in a fatal car crash in western Oklahoma this morning.The wreck occurred along Interstate 40, five miles east of Elk City.OHP troopers say the crash involved a van carrying 12 people and a semi truck.Officials say the eastbound van hit a slick spot on the road early this morning.
They add the van slid through the center median and struck a westbound tractor-trailer.Several passengers of the van were taken to a nearby hospital.
Sunday, January 14, 2007 11:50:57 AM
coal_mining, Technological_Disaster, Virginia, Roanoke
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Two members of a coal mining crew removing pillars in a mine died Saturday when a portion of the tunnel collapsed and the men were buried in debris deep underground, authorities said.None of the other miners in the 35-member crew was injured, said Ted Pile, a spokesman for Alpha Natural Resources, whose subsidiary, Brooks Run Mining, operates the mine.Pile said the crew was working on a process called retreat mining in which the miners work back toward the entrance extracting coal from the pillars that support the ceiling, Pile said.Dispatchers said the accident scene was up to 1 1/2 miles beyond the entrance to the mine, about 90 miles west of Roanoke, Va.
The state mine safety director, Ron Wooten, said it was unclear whether a pillar or portion of the ceiling collapsed. He had earlier said the miners apparently were caught when a pillar fell."There's no need for rescue teams, the individuals have been recovered," said Wooten, director of the state Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training.
Wooten said the bodies were taken to a hospital about 11 miles away in Welch. Their identities were not released.The mine was closed following the fatal incident and would remain closed until regulators allow it to reopen, Pile said.Additional details weren't immediately available. Wooten expected to learn more once a team of investigators returned from underground. Federal mine safety investigators were also on the scene.The federal Mine Safety & Health Administration was "saddened by the tragic accident" and would work closely with the state to find out the cause, said agency director Richard Stickler.The Brooks Run mine began operating in 2004. The fatalities were among the first at the mine. In October, a miner was killed in a wall collapse at Alpha's Whitetail Kittanning Mine in Newburg.Alpha, based in Abingdon, Va., operates 66 mines in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Nationwide, it employs about 3,500 people, including 118 at the Brooks Run mine.Federal inspectors cited the Brooks Run mine 65 times last year and proposed penalties totaling $5,000, according to the MSHA's Web site.The deaths are the first in West Virginia's coal mines this year and the second and third in the nation. A miner was killed Jan. 6 at a Colorado mine, according to MSHA.Last year, 47 miners _ 24 of them from West Virginia _ died in the nation's coal mines. The toll was the highest since 1995. The deaths included 12 men killed in an explosion at the Sago Mine in Upshur County. Also last January, two miners died in a fire at the Aracoma Alma No. 1 Mine in Logan County.In China, an underground gas explosion in a coal mine killed 13 people and injured nine, a news report said Saturday. The cause of the blast was under investigation. China has the world's deadliest coal mines, with more than 5,000 fatalities a year in fires, floods and other disasters.
Saturday, January 13, 2007 8:15:54 AM
California, Cold_Wave, San_Jose, usa
The cold snap settling over the Bay Area has prompted a state of emergency to be declared to warn of the threat to the homeless. Santa Clara County's executive officer, Pete Kutras said too many homeless people are at risk. "We have 3,000 unsheltered people in this county and we think it is too cold to be out and there is a peril to their safety. Literally, we believe this is a life and death situation," he said. Kutras said the emergency declaration will last through the weekend. What it does is allow the county to work with agencies to provide emergency shelters and warming centers.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007 6:17:15 AM
Chemical_Accident, Prudhoe_Bay, usa, Alaska
The Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) was shut down Tuesday after an oil spill was detected nearly 200 miles (322 km) south of the giant Prudhoe Bay field, regulators and the line's operator said. Up to 500 gallons (1,893 liters) of crude oil were spilled before the line was shut down, Alaska environmental regulators said. The spill has since been contained and is being cleaned up. Alyeska spokesman Mike Heatwole said the company had no immediate estimate of when oil flow would resume. "We're looking at a wide range of options for repair and restart," he said. Normal oil flow is about 800,000 barrels per day, he said. The shutdown has not affected oil shipments from the pipeline's marine terminal in Valdez, Heatwole said. "We had high inventories, so loading continues," he said. The federal-state Joint Pipeline Office told Reuters the problem appeared minor and the line could restart later in the day. "The line will probably be restarted fairly soon, my best guess is today," said JPO spokeswoman Rhea DoBosh.
The cause of the spill is believed to be a faulty weld, said Ed Meggert, on-scene coordinator for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. "And we really don't know why at this point," he said. The spill is confined to a gravel pad and has affected an area no more than 25 feet (7.6 meters) across, Meggert said. "In terms of cleanup, it really shouldn't be too difficult," he said. The leak occurred on a small-diameter bypass line that is associated with a remote-gate valve, a device that is designed to shut automatically in the event of a breach or rupture, the officials said. Heatwole said the spill was discovered by a worker doing a routine maintenance check. The pipeline was shut down within minutes of the discovery, at 8:35 a.m. Alaska Standard Time (17:35 GMT), he said.
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