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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
25 years since Hurricane Katrina, its transformative impact is fresh as yesterday
Trees down. Blocked roads. Damaged homes. Boil-water alerts. No electricity for days. Spotty phone service. Stores closed. Scarce food. Rations on gasoline. Fights – some deadly – as tensions boil from people angling for necessities in snaking lines during searing heat. Such scenarios are common in the aftermath of catastrophic storms: In this case, Hurricane Katrina's ravage along the Gulf Coast – particularly southeast Florida, Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. But the scenarios described above happened in Jackson, Mississippi, some 250 miles from where the hurricane made a second landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, in Buras, Louisiana. The Magnolia State's capital city had prepared to take in the thousands of fleeing residents who lived in the areas projected to be hit hardest. What Jackson was not prepared for was a storm that still would be a strong Category 1 as it unleashed its fury northward. It had short-term shelters for evacuees, but not a plan B for the prolonged consequences on its residents. I was among the editing team for the Jackson-based Clarion-Ledger (part of the USA TODAY Network). We, along with the rest of the content staff, had spent days compiling resource guides for evacuees, interviewing those who had taken early shelter and putting together a plan for post-coverage. More: A local reporter's experience covering Western North Carolina in the wake of Helene What we didn't know is we'd end up among those trying to figure out how to get back home from the office via debris-filled streets, how we'd care for our families and still work, how we'd account for loved ones farther south when communication was lost. On top of that, cellphones were not ubiquitous possessions. Therefore, editors who had one gave them up to staffers who were in the field. The first weekend I got mine back, my 2-year-old son dropped it in a bucket of water on the deck. And there was no way to get another one for some time. A month passed before I learned my older sister in hard-hit Gulfport survived. And though I thought I'd well-handled 11 days of what felt like survival in the Outback, I finally broke down in tears when my toddlers got their first taste of a hot breakfast – just oatmeal, mind you – gobbling it as if they had not had a meal in weeks. Weathering and working through Katrina sharpened me as a parent and a professional. Yet this was nothing compared with what those who fled their homes faced, not to mention those who'd stayed. Evacuees from greater New Orleans, along with the rest of the world, learned of the compounded devastation of levees failing the day after landfall. Catastrophic flooding and a surging death toll resulted. A return home anytime soon was not possible. Evacuees were dispersed to 45 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some 65% to 73% did make their way back. For the remaining, returning permanently was not feasible. Hurricane Katrina still holds the distinction as the costliest hurricane in U.S history and the third deadliest. The USA TODAY Network is chronicling its lingering impact along the Gulf Coast and throughout the U.S., and the resilience of the people involved. If you or anyone you know in Delaware, South Jersey or the Philly burbs is part of the Katrina diaspora, please contact us at and share your story. Meanwhile, as I've previously mentioned, Delaware Online/The News Journal is stepping up our efforts meet you out in the actual community. We are setting up mobile newsrooms up and down Delaware where you can meet some of the staffers, get insights on how the newsroom operates, pitch story ideas and learn about community resources. You may also have the opportunity to get a free, no-strings-attached subscription. But, you have to come see us. Stay tuned for where we'll post up next. And send ideas on where you think would be great places for us to do a pop-up. More from this editor: Take it from Grandpa: Community coverage can be a bridge across divides Jamesetta Miller Walker is the editor for emerging audiences and inclusion storytelling. Reach her at jmwalker1@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 25 years since Katrina, its transformative impact is fresh as yesterday
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mississippi delivery driver accused of trying to steal retired deputy's order
A Mississippi man is facing charges after allegedly attempting to steal a customer's delivery order. Unfortunately for 30-year-old Terel Tywan Hampton of Jackson, Miss., that customer turned out to be former Madison County Deputy Brad Sullivan. Sullivan – who was left partially paralyzed after being shot twice in the head during a 2019 chase with a kidnapping suspect – contacted Madison Police on Monday, according to WLBT, a Jackson-based NBC affiliate. Sullivan said his delivery driver, who identified himself on an app as "Dennis K," denied having his order, and refused to deliver it to him. American Car Thefts Surge As Teenage Bandits, International Crime Rings Ship Stolen Vehicles Overseas However, management at the Academy Sports store Sullivan ordered from confirmed "Dennis" had, in fact, picked it up, according to a release by the Madison Police Department. Read On The Fox News App Shortly after being picked up, the order displayed as canceled, the department said. Sullivan said he did not cancel the order himself. Florida Man Accused Of Stealing Cybertruck During Test Drive Returned To Tesla Dealership Days Later Police investigated the matter with the store's cooperation, confirming Hampton left the store with Sullivan's merchandise, according to the release. Shortly afterward, he was stopped in his car, a 2016 Chevrolet Impala, and was placed under arrest. Police found Sullivan's order, which he placed for his son, inside the vehicle: two shirts, two pairs of shoes and a pair of shorts. Police said they also discovered marijuana and a firearm in Hampton's car. Hampton was arrested and charged with petit larceny, as well as improper equipment and possession of marijuana while in possession of a firearm. Both Deputy Sullivan and the Madison Police Department declined to comment further when reached by Fox News article source: Mississippi delivery driver accused of trying to steal retired deputy's order
Fox News
01-05-2025
- Fox News
Mississippi delivery driver accused of trying to steal retired deputy's order
A Mississippi man is facing charges after allegedly attempting to steal a customer's delivery order. Unfortunately for 30-year-old Terel Tywan Hampton of Jackson, Miss., that customer turned out to be former Madison County Deputy Brad Sullivan. Sullivan – who was left partially paralyzed after being shot twice in the head during a 2019 chase with a kidnapping suspect – contacted Madison Police on Monday, according to WLBT, a Jackson-based NBC affiliate. Sullivan said his delivery driver, who identified himself on an app as "Dennis K," denied having his order, and refused to deliver it to him. However, management at the Academy Sports store Sullivan ordered from confirmed "Dennis" had, in fact, picked it up, according to a release by the Madison Police Department. Shortly after being picked up, the order displayed as canceled, the department said. Sullivan said he did not cancel the order himself. Police investigated the matter with the store's cooperation, confirming Hampton left the store with Sullivan's merchandise, according to the release. Shortly afterward, he was stopped in his car, a 2016 Chevrolet Impala, and was placed under arrest. Police found Sullivan's order, which he placed for his son, inside the vehicle: two shirts, two pairs of shoes and a pair of shorts. Police said they also discovered marijuana and a firearm in Hampton's car. Hampton was arrested and charged with petit larceny, as well as improper equipment and possession of marijuana while in possession of a firearm. Both Deputy Sullivan and the Madison Police Department declined to comment further when reached by Fox News Digital.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Oil sheen on Grand River caused by transformers
GRANDVILLE, Mich (WOOD) — An oil sheen on the Grand River in metro Grand Rapids was caused by downed transformers, officials from the utility and the state environmental department say. Reports of an oil sheen on the Grand River near the Grand Rapids-Grandville-Walker border were confirmed to News 8 Tuesday morning by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Several transformers along Market Avenue SW in Grand Rapids were blown over during Sunday's storm and released oil into storm drains that flow into the river, EGLE and Consumers Energy said. The oil does not contain PCBs, EGLE said. Polychlorinated Biphenyls are a toxic chemical known to cause cancer, EGLE said in a statement. Consumers says it learned of the spill Monday, sent an emergency response team to the area and hired a contractor for containment and cleanup. 'We are coordinating our clean up response with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), who have confirmed there are no public drinking water intakes immediately downstream in the Grand River and no anticipated environmental harm to aquatic life due to the nature of the spill and response efforts,' the Jackson-based utility said in a Tuesday statement to News 8. EGLE stated that it will monitor the situation to make sure the public and the environment are protected and offer Consumers any assistance needed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
After deadly storms and tornadoes ravage Michigan, more severe weather on the way
No joke, Michigan's March weather didn't follow the usual pattern, according to folklore. With deadly ice storms, strong winds and even a few tornados closing out the month, Mother Nature decided to reverse the old saying about March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb. She left a mess to clean up for April Fool's Day — with more bad weather to come. Forecasts early Tuesday called for more snow and ice on the west side of the state, and more severe weather, including the possibility of more thunderstorms and tornadoes Wednesday evening throughout the night into Thursday morning. "March is a month that can have a wide range of weather in Michigan, it just depends on the year," National Weather Service meteorologist Megan Varcie in White Lake Township said. "Some Marches are warm and quiet to start off and in others, you can have big winter storms." Varcie said Tuesday should give utility crews a brief respite from the harsh weather to reconnect electricity to nearly 100,000 Michigan customers who are still in the dark. Thunderstorms on Wednesday will be capable of producing heavy rain and parts of Southeast Michigan are highlighted... Posted by US National Weather Service Detroit / Pontiac Michigan on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 At 9 a.m., Consumers Energy reported 94,000 outages, and DTE about 1,000. Power outages: How to check your status "We appreciate the patience of our friends and neighbors these last couple of days," said Chris Fultz, who is heading Consumers Energy's storm restoration efforts. "With more bad weather on the way Wednesday, we're following our game plan to restore power safely and quickly across communities." The Jackson-based utility said it restored power to more than 60% of its 260,000 customers affected. More: Deadly thunderstorms pummel Michigan; governor declares state of emergency In addition to the freezing rain this weekend that coated trees, causing them to snap and take out power lines, as many as four tornadoes appeared to have touched down: two in the central part of the state, and two on the west side of the state, in Newago and Kent Counties. National Weather Service meteorologists were still surveying damage. In Ingham County, a felled tree in Stockbridge Township landed Sunday on a house, killing a 56-year-old man; and two weak tornadoes struck, one near Williamston and the other near Leslie, leaving short paths of destruction. In Kent County, a confirmed tornado touched down at 5:42 a.m. near Caledonia. Weather officials said the twister, 150-yards wide, tore up trees, sheds — and left a path of scattered debris. And a fourth tornado appears to have struck near Newaygo. March tornadoes in southeast Michigan are rare, but do occur, meteorologists said. A particularly damaging one — with wind speeds of up to 140 mph — touched down March 15, 2012, in Washtenaw County near Dexter and cut a swath 400-800 yards wide for about 30 minutes. It traveled about 8 miles and destroying a hundred or so homes, and for about 5 of the 31 minutes it was on the ground it spun in one place, wobbling, sucking everything it could into it. The lesson? Heed folklore and ignore science at your peril. "Be prepared for the severe weather," Varcie urged Tuesday. "Have multiple ways to get your warnings tomorrow and stay weather aware because things can change pretty rapidly." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: After deadly Michigan storms, tornadoes, severe weather to hit again
