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☆ Atmospheric River Drenches California, With More Storms on the Way
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jill Cowan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A powerful storm known as an atmospheric river swept over California on Thursday, soaking the state with rain and leaving a trail of damage that has become familiar to residents in recent years: fallen trees, flooded roads and snarled travel. Though the storm was not expected to cause the kind of chaos that was sown by a succession of atmospheric rivers last winter, forecasters and officials urged Californians to stay alert and be ready for an even larger tempest arriving over the weekend. “We are in full preparation mode,” said Jackie Ruiz, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. “We’re definitely encouraging people to stay local, hunker down and if there’s no urgent need to be on the road, stay off the road.”Communities in Santa Barbara County, tucked between the mountains and the sea, are especially vulnerable to flooding and mudslides. But meteorologists said that significant rainfall from the back-to-back storms was likely to affect almost the whole state.

Persons: ”, Jackie Ruiz, “ We’re Organizations: Santa, Santa Barbara County, Emergency Management Locations: California, Santa Barbara, ”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will visit the eastern Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment in February 2023 that displaced thousands of residents and left many fearing potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled when a Norfolk Southern train went off the tracks. A White House official said Wednesday that Biden will visit East Palestine in February, a year after the derailment. The absence of a visit by Biden had become a subject of persistent questioning at the White House, as well as among residents in East Palestine. The Biden administration defended its response right after the toxic freight train derailment, even as local leaders and members of Congress demanded that more be done. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesAsked last week about a potential Biden visit to Ohio, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she had nothing to announce.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “, Biden didn't, Karine Jean, Pierre, ”, ” Jean Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Democratic, Environmental Protection Agency, National Transportation Safety, Biden, Norfolk Southern, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Ohio, Norfolk Southern, Palestine, Pennsylvania, East Palestine, Maui, Florida, East Palestine , Ohio

(AP) — Residents of an east Arkansas town have been without running water for the past two weeks after the state was hit by below-freezing temperatures, and the outage has forced them to line up for bottled water, fill up jugs or take showers at a truck brought in by the state. The town faced a similar crisis last summer, when the same part of the city was without water in June. The outages are affecting one of two water systems for Helena-West Helena, which was two separate cities until 2006. Each day, distribution sites for the water have seen a steady line of people filling up on water to use for their homes. He said citizens in general have been understanding of the emergency water distribution process.

Persons: ”, John Edwards, ” Russell Hall, ” Mack Williams, “ You’ve, ” Gerald Jennings, “ I’ve, “, ” Laprece, Pipes, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Sanders, ” Hall, Edwards, “ We've, ___ DeMillo, Rebecca Reynolds Organizations: HELENA, WEST HELENA, — Residents, Emergency Management, National Guard, ”, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Associated Press Locations: Arkansas, Helena, West Helena, Memphis , Tennessee, Mississippi, Phillips, Tennessee, Mason, Kentucky, Virginia, Little, Louisville , Kentucky

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Several elected leaders in Oregon declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for downtown Portland over the public health and public safety crisis fueled by fentanyl. The declaration is a recommendation from a governor-established task force that met for several months last year to determine ways to rejuvenate downtown Portland. The effort also extends the Portland Police Bureau’s partnership with Oregon State Police to jointly patrol downtown streets for fentanyl sales. At the state level, Oregon lawmakers have introduced a new bill that would undo a key part of the state’s drug decriminalization law. Public opinion has soured on it as public drug use has become more visible because of growing homelessness.

Persons: Tina Kotek, Ted Wheeler, Jessica Vega Pederson, ” Kotek, Mike Myers, Nathan Reynolds, Kotek, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Oregon Gov, Staff, Portland, Portland’s Community Safety Division, state’s, Resilience, Emergency Management, Portland Police, Oregon State Police Locations: PORTLAND, Oregon, Portland, Multnomah, Portland’s, Narcan, China, America, Mexico, U.S

☆ Three Firefighters Among Six Killed in Gas Truck Explosion in Mongolia - Officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - At least six people were killed including three firefighters after a truck carrying 60 tons of liquefied natural gas exploded in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, according to Mongolia's emergency officials. At least 11 people were injured in the fire near the Dunjingarav market, Mongolia's Emergency Management Office said in a post on Facebook. More than 600 firefighters 100 vehicles were involved in putting the fire out, which was eventually extinguished. According to local online news outlets, the fire quickly engulfed several nearby buildings, including a residential building. "Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected and we wish a fast recovery to those injured in this tragic event."

Persons: Fiona Blyth, Lidia Kelly, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, Emergency Management, Facebook, 63rd, Unit, National Fire Service Locations: Mongolian, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Melbourne

“The people of Maui have shown strength in the face of adversity," said Green, a Democrat. Green aims for all 5,000 to move into long-term housing by March 1 in part by encouraging owners of vacation rentals to make their units available to wildfire evacuees. More broadly and longer-term, Green proposed a two-year “tax amnesty” to encourage owners of vacation rentals around the state to sell to owner-occupants or long-term rental landlords. Democratic House leaders identified common priorities with the governor, particularly on affordable housing, mental health care and climate change. “We need to solve problems in our state, and we need to find solutions that are going to be workable,” Saiki said.

Persons: Josh Green, Keahi Ho, Koa Bonnell —, Dee Morikawa, ” Morikawa, Green, ”, ” Green, Kyle Yamashita, ” Yamashita, Scott Saiki, Saiki Organizations: —, Democrat, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Democratic, Finance Locations: HONOLULU, — Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina, Kauai, Niihau, Hawaii

On Sunday, crews in Memphis, Tennessee continued to work around the clock to find and fix broken pipes that were causing low water pressure throughout the system. Elsewhere, freezing rain, sleet and high wind gusts later Sunday would make traveling in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma particularly treacherous, the National Weather Service said. “With no additional replenishment of arctic air from Canada, a steady warm-up is in store for the mid-section of the country,” the weather service said. Trees and power lines already coated with ice could topple if they get more, the National Weather Service warned. “Stay safe out there over the next several days as our region tries to thaw out,” the weather service said.

Persons: Doug McGowen, “, ” McGowen, McGowen, Sam Roth, ”, Eddie Noeman, —, David Collins, Curt Anderson Organizations: Sunday, Memphis, Water, Rhodes College, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Firefighters, WMC, Tennessee Department of Health, National Weather Service, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Highmark, Associated Press Locations: Tenn, U.S, Texas, Florida, Memphis , Tennessee, Memphis, Nashville, ” Memphis, Tennessee, Tipton County, Mason, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Iowa’s, Des Moines, Canada, New York, Orchard, Erie, West Coast, Columbia, Hartford , Connecticut, St . Petersburg , Florida

☆ US Launches Disaster Relief Reforms as Climate-Driven Events Rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday said it was launching the most major reforms to disaster management relief in two decades as climate change-driven extreme weather events, such as floods and fires, increase. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reforms of its federal assistance policies and expanded benefits for disaster survivors aim to cut red tape that victims have said makes it difficult for them to access resources after a disaster. FEMA said the reforms follow feedback from disaster survivors. Previously, the payment was assessed on a disaster-to-disaster basis. FEMA said the changes will take effect for new disasters declared on, or after March 22, 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden's, ”, Deanne, Valerie Volcovici, Sharon Singleton Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, U.S, Small Business Administration Locations: U.S, Maui, California

New rules announced Friday by the federal agency in charge of emergency management aim to simplify and speed up the process. With natural disasters now affecting more people across the United States, insurance markets in many states are buckling under the weight of payouts to those hit by wildfires and hurricanes. Previously, FEMA couldn't help them because their insurance payout already exceeded the agency's assistance cap of $42,500 per disaster. GETTING RID OF THE LOAN RULEUnder previous rules, disaster survivors first had to apply for a loan with the Small Business Administration and get rejected before they could apply for FEMA assistance. And FEMA is creating a new category of aid called displacement assistance, designed to help those who can't return to their home.

Persons: —, Deanne Criswell, Nature, ” Criswell, ”, Criswell, deductibles Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Small Business Administration, SBA, https Locations: United States, Louisiana, Florida, California

CHICAGO (AP) — As temperatures hover below freezing in Chicago, dozens of asylum-seekers are staying in the lower level of a library until the bitter cold gripping much of the country lifts. But after that, Chicago’s plans for offering immediate shelter to the growing number of migrants arriving in the nation’s third-largest city remain murky. Last week, it was parked city buses. “The city’s favorite word for everything is ‘temporary,’” said Vianney Marzullo, a volunteer who has helped migrants staying at O’Hare International Airport. Marylin Gonzalez, 34, slept on the buses last week along with her husband and three children, ages 15, 16 and 18.

Persons: ’ ”, Vianney Marzullo, “, Greg Abbott, Brandon Johnson, Abbott, Johnson, ” Johnson, J.B, Pritzker, Marylin Gonzalez, Gonzalez, ”, Harold, Angel Alberto Chourio Organizations: CHICAGO, Chicago, O’Hare International, Texas Gov, Illinois Gov, O’Hare, Emergency Management, Harold Washington Library Center, Associated Press Locations: Chicago, New York, Denver, Democratic, Big, Texas, Venezuela

West Maui's tight housing market, which is heavily populated by expensive vacation rentals, is one reason. Lawmakers said solutions to these problems are badly needed for Maui but would also help communities across the state. Fire mitigation would a top Senate priority, Senate President Ron Kouchi, a Democrat, said. Hashimoto said lawmakers know Lahaina Strong wants stable housing for the people of Lahaina. Last year lawmakers didn't increase funding for behavioral health care but she hopes they will this year.

Persons: Ron Kouchi, ” Kouchi, Scott Saiki, Saiki, “ It’s, ” Saiki, “, haven’t, Nadine Nakamura, Sen, Troy Hashimoto, “ We've, ” Hashimoto, ”, Jordan Ruidas, ” Ruidas, Hashimoto, Joy San Organizations: Wednesday, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, University of Hawaii, Democrat, Protesters, Capitol Locations: HONOLULU, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, West Maui, Honolulu, Oahu, Joy San Buenaventura

Residents in the southwestern state of Oyo’s densely populated Ibadan city heard a loud blast at about 7:45 p.m., causing panic as many fled their homes. By Wednesday morning, security forces cordoned off the area while medical personnel and ambulances were on standby as rescue efforts intensified. Preliminary investigations showed the blast was caused by explosives stored for use in illegal mining operations, Oyo Gov. Seyi Makinde told reporters after visiting the site in the Bodija area of Ibadan. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesIt was not immediately clear who stored the explosives, and no arrest has been announced.

Persons: Seyi Makinde, ” Makinde, Saheed Akiode, Makinde, Anthony Adejuwon, ” Adejuwon Organizations: Emergency Management Agency, Associated Press, ”, Urban Alert Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo, Bodija, “, trooped

HOUSTON (AP) — The arctic blast of winter weather that is gripping much of the U.S. this week is also bringing with it various hazards that people have to contend with to keep warm and safe. These dangers can include carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia and frozen pipes that can burst and make homes unlivable. Public safety officials and experts say there are multiple ways people can prepare themselves to avoid these winter weather hazards and keep themselves safe. STAYING SAFE INSIDE YOUR HOMEOfficials say that during a winter storm, people should stay indoors. “The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be really insidious.

Persons: Alex Harding, ”, Samuel Peña, ” Peña, ” Harding, …, ” Hardin, Julian Ochoa, Jose Parra, ” Parra, ___, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Fire, Houston Office, Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning, Electrical Locations: U.S, Houston

☆ Volcano Erupts in Southwestern Iceland After Thousands Evacuate
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Volcano Erupts in Southwestern Iceland After Thousands EvacuateA volcano erupted in southwestern Iceland near the town of Grindavik on Sunday. Thousands of residents were evacuated overnight, according to the Associated Press. Photo: Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management/AFP/Getty Images

Organizations: Associated Press, Icelandic Department of Civil, Emergency Management, Getty Locations: Southwestern Iceland, Iceland, Grindavik

☆ 'Powerful' storm dumps heavy rain over East Coast with 59M under flood alerts
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-18 | by ( Angela Yang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The East Coast is reeling from the impacts with almost 700,000 people across New England and New York without power as of 1 p.m., according to PowerOutage.us . "The associated heavy rain will create mainly localized areas of flash flooding, with urban areas, roads and small streams the most vulnerable," the weather service said. In New York City, a travel advisory is in effect due to flooding conditions on roads, power outages and high winds on bridges. In New York City, a travel advisory is in effect because of flooding conditions on roads, power outages and high winds on bridges. By the end of today, every single state on the East Coast will have experienced at least 2 inches of rain.

Persons: There's, Eric Adams, Sean Smith, Warden Stefan Pratt, Yasmeen Persaud Organizations: Charleston, Big Apple, NYC Emergency Management, New, New York City Emergency Management Office, Danbury Emergency Management Office, Boston's Massachusetts College of Art, Amtrak, Central Maine Power, Hillsdale Fire Department, NBC News, LaGuardia, Boston Logan International Airport, Boston Logan International Locations: Elmsford , New York, New England, New York, Florida, Carolinas, Charleston, Gainesville , Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Maine, New York City, Manhattan, In Connecticut, Danbury, Providence , Rhode Island, Boston, New Jersey, Hillsdale , New Jersey, Glendale, Moretown , Vermont, Brookhaven Calabro, Shirley , New York, Canada, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Indiana, Lake Erie, Ohio, West, Sierra Nevada

☆ Nigeria’s president calls for investigation after drone attack kills 85
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into a military drone attack that the state emergency agency in northern Kaduna state said killed at least 85 people at the weekend. The state’s governor, a religious leader and witnesses told Reuters on Monday that dozens of civilians were killed following the military drone attack that was targeting insurgents and bandits on Sunday night. The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency said on Tuesday at least 85 people had died during the attack, giving the first official confirmation of the toll from the weekend incident. “The President directs a thorough and full-fledged investigation into the incident and calls for calm while the authorities look diligently into the mishap,” said Ngelale. The Nigerian Army is yet to comment on the incident but the Air Force has denied being involved in the mission that led to Sunday’s attack.

Persons: Reuters —, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, ” Organizations: Reuters, Emergency Management Agency, Zonal, Nigerian Army, Air Force Locations: Kaduna, Dubai, Tundun, United States, Britain, Abuja

☆ LaPorte, Texas, Issues Shelter in Place After Altivia Plant Leaks Toxic Gas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Altivia Chemical was working to contain a toxic gas leak from its LaPorte, Texas, plant on Monday, as the city's emergency management agency ordered some nearby residents and five neighboring facilities to shelter in place out of caution. Halliburton's Multi-Chem Bayport site, Stepan's Pasadena facility, and three others belonging to Kuraray Americas, Evonik, and NCTI, were sheltering in place after the offsite release of a toxic gas called phosgene, according to community alerts. Located about 30 miles (48 km) east of Houston, La Porte's Office of Emergency Management (LPOEM) said the city issued a cautionary shelter-in-place until the amount of phosgene released is determined. "A chemical emergency has occurred and residents south of Fairmont between Bay Area and S. 16th Street need to immediately shelter in place," LPOEM said on X, formerly Twitter. Exposure to phosgene may cause vomiting, breathing difficulty, chest pain and, when liquid, frostbite.

Persons: LPOEM, Altivia, Chris Reese, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Kuraray, Porte's, Emergency Management, U.S . Centers for Disease Control Locations: LaPorte , Texas, Pasadena, Kuraray Americas, Houston, Fairmont, Bay, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Australia faces an increased risk of bushfires during the approaching summer, authorities warned on Thursday, with the El Nino weather pattern expected to generate hotter and drier conditions across large swathes of the country. Three years of incessant rain has increased vegetation, but the intense heatwaves common during Australia's December-February summer can quickly turn this into tinder-dry bushland, fuelling fires. Australia declared an El Nino weather pattern - which usually brings below-average rain and above-average daytime temperatures - was under way in September. The Bureau of Meteorology said it was not unusual to have wet weather during El Nino as it increases but does not guarantee drier conditions. Reporting by Renju Jose and Cordelia Hsu in Sydney; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Murray Watt, Simon Bradshaw, Renju Jose, Cordelia Hsu, William Mallard Organizations: New South, New South Wales Rural Fire Service, REUTERS, Rights, El, Emergency, Sydney, National Council for Fire, Emergency Services, Climate Council, Meteorology, El Nino, Thomson Locations: New, New South Wales, Arcadia, Sydney, Australia, Turkey, El Nino, Australia's, El

Homeless people and their advocates say the sweeps are cruel and a waste of taxpayer money. The AP submitted data requests to 30 U.S. cities regarding encampment sweeps and received at least partial responses from about half. “Unfortunately, it’s becoming a way of life, and that is 100% incorrect.”For homeless people, sweeps can be traumatizing. But never an end solution.”There are many reasons why someone might reject shelter, say homeless people and their advocates. We’re walking around saying, ‘What do you need?’”In Portland, the encampment dismantled in July was cleared again, in September and November.

Persons: Will Taylor, ”, Taylor, he's, …, ” Angelique Risby, it’s, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, David Sjoberg, ” David Ehler Jr, Crews, Sara Angel, “, Masood Samereie, ” Samereie, Roxanne Simonson, Sam Dodge, Dodge, Michael Johnson, aren't, Charise Haley, “ There’s, pare, Francis Zamora, Zamora, Brad Lander, ” Lander, Eric Adams, Charles Lutvak, Lutvak, Danielle Werder, Kieran Hartnett, who's, ____ Har, Casey, Thomas Peipert, Angeliki Kastanis, Christopher Weber Organizations: Contractors, U.S, The Associated Press, American Civil Liberties Union, Democratic, Republican, Supreme, ACLU, Northern, Politico, AP, San, Police, Public Works, Department of Emergency Management, Democratic New York City Locations: PORTLAND, Portland, West Coast, Los Angeles, New York, U.S, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Miami, Albuquerque, Anchorage, Boulder , Colorado, California, San Francisco, Northern California, Denver, Connecticut, Colorado, “, New York City, Hennepin County, Boston

State officials said Friday they were monitoring the air for traces of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, but there had been no detection of those substances at the derailment site or the nearby town of Livingston since Thursday morning. McCann said an access road has been built to reach the derailment area and a handful of crashed train cars have been removed. The CSX train derailed around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday near Livingston, a remote town with about 200 people in Rockcastle County. CSX said the cause of the derailment and what caused the sulfur to ignite are still under investigation. Officials said they are also monitoring water quality in the area but a nearby creek is dried up and doesn't have moving water.

Persons: “ We’re, Joe McCann, McCann Organizations: CSX, Energy, Environment Cabinet, Environmental Protection Agency Locations: LIVINGSTON, Ky, Kentucky, Livingston, Rockcastle County

☆ Alaskan landslide rescuers bring in heavy machinery as hunt for missing enters ‘reactive’ phase
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Taylor Romine | Susannah Cullinane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The search for three people missing after a landslide covered an Alaskan highway on Monday is moving “from an active search to a reactive search,” Alaskan authorities said. Rescuers have so far found the remains of three people who died after the landslide hit the Zimovia Highway, near Wrangell, around 9 p.m. Monday evening. Authorities may restart the active search if new evidence shows the missing people might be in a specific area, they said. Authorities plan to release the names of those who died and the missing people on Friday, the department said in its Thursday release. Mike Dunleavy has issued a disaster declaration in Wrangell due to the effects of the landslide, his office posted on social media.

Persons: Willis Walunga, “, Andy Park, Barrett Salisbury, Mike Dunleavy Organizations: CNN, K9, Alaska Department of Public Safety, of Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Alaska State Troopers, Authorities, Alaska’s Department of Transportation, National Weather Service, Alaska Division, Geological, Geophysical Surveys, Alaska Gov Locations: Wrangell, State, Alaska, ”, Juneau

‘A Beautiful Place That Has a Dragon’: Where Hurricane Risk Meets Booming GrowthThe hurricanes keep coming, and the people, too: The fastest-growing places along the Atlantic coast this century are also among the most hurricane-prone. And rising sea levels make storm surges more damaging and coastal flooding more frequent. And this booming coastal population is, by many accounts, a larger contributor to rising hurricane risks than climate change. When Gail Hart moved from Arizona to retire in Wilmington, N.C., in 2017, she hadn’t considered the hurricane risk. Still said, “where do you put 100,000 people?”The housing crunch is one of many tensions playing out between wealthy coastal communities and those who live nearby.

Persons: Matthew, Dorian, Isaias, Ian, “, ”, Kathie Dello, Gail Hart, hadn’t, ” Gail Hart, Del Webb, Hurricane Florence, Hart, “ There’s, Steven Still, Amanda Martin, North, Mr, Still, Jenny Brennan, David McIntire, McIntire, O’Leary, Ms, Water, O’Leary’s, Kevin Mishoe, Mishoe, Gina, Karen Willis Amspacher, Amspacher, “ It’s, It’s, she’s, Sharon Valentine, Hurricane Fran, Wilmington’s Del, Valentine, Leonard Bull Organizations: Hurricanes, Hurricane, First Street Foundation, Atlantic, National Flood Insurance, Southern Environmental Law Center, States, Brunswick, Myrtle, Association, Hurricane Florence, Down Locations: United States, Myrtle Beach, S.C, Wilmington, N.C, Carolinas, Florence, Carolina, Gulf, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina’s, Kure Beach, Horry County, Brunswick County, Arizona, Tula, New Hanover County, U.S, It’s, North Carolina, Conway, Horry, Hurricane, Hurricane Florence, Bucksport, Carteret County, —, Banks, Stacy, Harkers, Fayetteville, Wilmington’s, Wilmington’s Del Webb

☆ Suspect in New Hampshire hospital shooting dead; all patients reported safe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Gunfire erupted on Friday in the lobby of a state psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire before the threat was neutralized and the suspect was killed, state police and emergency management officials reported. New Hampshire state police initially had reported "multiple victims" from the shooting, but state police Colonel Mark Hall later told reporters the shooting was confined to the lobby area of the facility and that "all patients are safe." The shooting erupted at about 3:40 p.m. at the New Hampshire State Hospital in Concord, the state capital. The facility is a secure, in-patient psychiatric hospital where all visitors must enter through medal detectors and a police officer is always on duty, according to Manchester-based television station WMUR-TV. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles Editing by Chris Reese and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mark Hall, Hall, WMUR, Steve Gorman, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: New, New Hampshire State Hospital, Department of Health, Human Services, Department of Education, Public, Commission, Thomson Locations: New Hampshire, Concord, Manchester, Los Angeles

☆ Iceland shields geothermal plant from risk of volcanic eruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Streetworks continue, after cracks emerged on a road due to volcanic activity near Grindavik, Iceland obtained by Reuters on November 14, 2023. Iceland's Justice Minister Gudrun Hafsteinsdottir told state broadcaster RUV that a large dike has been designed to protect the Svartsengi geothermal power plant, located just over six kilometers from Grindavik. A spokesperson for HS Orka, operator of the power plant, told Reuters that the plant supplies power to the entire country although a disruption would not impact power supply to the capital Reykjavik. Seismic activity in southwestern Iceland decreased in size and intensity on Monday, but the risk of a volcanic eruption remained significant, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a statement. As of late Monday evening, the volcanic hazard assessment in and around Grindavik was unchanged from Sunday.

Persons: Gudrun Hafsteinsdottir, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Johannes Gotfredsen, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Christina Fincher Organizations: Reuters, Administration, Facebook, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Iceland's, RUV, HS, Icelandic Meteorological Office, Thomson Locations: Grindavik, Iceland, Reykjavik, Icelandic

☆ A volcano could erupt in Iceland within hours. Experts say you shouldn't cancel your flights — yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThere's no reason to cancel your travel plans to Iceland, despite the country warning of potentially dangerous volcanic activity happening within the next few hours or days, experts told Insider. Iceland declared a state of emergency after an unexpected acceleration of activity at Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano near the town of Grindavik. It is always difficult to know exactly how a volcanic eruption will develop, but the latest developments in the peninsula took volcanologists by surprise, McGarvie said. While the Reykjanes peninsula was known to have volcanic activity, and its volcano had had fairly mild eruptions over the past decade, this activity accelerated drastically since mid-October. "It is not something that's ever been observed in Iceland, certainly monitored in Iceland, in the last few decades," he said.

Persons: —, Dave McGarvie, Raul Moreno, Andrew Hooper, Lionel Wilson, Hooper, McGarvie Organizations: Service, University of Lancaster, Emergency Management, —, Getty, Geophysics, Leeds, University of Leeds, Planetary Sciences, Lancaster University, UK's Science Media, Icelandic, Iceland Google Locations: Grindavik, Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull, Reykjavik, tktktk

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