Latest news with #stormresponse
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Xcel Energy shows off new facility on Minnesota Avenue
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — During a thunderstorm or an ice storm, there's always a chance you could lose electricity and nobody likes that. But one electric company is promising faster response times thanks to its new multi-million dollar state of the art facility in Sioux Falls where they held a ribbon cutting Thursday. Xcel Energy is on a bit of a 'power trip'. Major gold find near Spearfish, South Dakota reported 'Xcel Energy has been powering Sioux Falls for over 120 years and we are growing with Sioux Falls,' Xcel Energy CEO Bob Frenzel said. Today, Xcel showed off its new massive facility along North Minnesota Avenue. 'This is a state-of-the-art facility designed to enable our teams here in Sioux Falls and joining regions to recover from storms quickly, but also to build and construct the infrastructure for all the new businesses and economic development coming to the region,' Frenzel said. Xcel Energy serves eight states with nearly $105,000 of it's customers just in South Dakota. This new facility will allow linemen to better prepare for the unexpected if disaster strikes; like during the ice storm back in 2013. 'Obviously when you are getting ready for a storm or you have an outage or anything like that, if you're going to have to load up outside, it's going to take you more time, it's harder on the linemen, it's harder on everyone,' Xcel Energy State Director Steve Kolbeck said. The new facility is phase one, phase two is going to be renovating the old headquarters where linemen can hold safety and disaster briefings. During the derechos a few years ago, 23 hundred linemen from other states responded to South Dakota, providing mutual aid. Now with this new facility, including this huge warehouse, Xcel says it'll be better equipped to keep your lights on if and when disaster strikes. To learn more about Xcel Energy's new facility or to report an outage, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CNN
As hurricane season looms, America's weather and disaster agencies are in turmoil
Staring down another above-average hurricane season, America's weather forecasting and disaster response agencies are more hollowed out than ever before – and that could leave tens of millions of Americans more vulnerable to these massive storms. Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are entering the season in turmoil, having lost thousands of experts and staff since President Donald Trump took office in January, intent on culling the federal workforce. Many of those lost have been specialists in weather forecasting, storm response and resilience, among other skills involved in hurricane preparation, prediction and recovery. The cuts come as human-caused climate change is super-charging storms – causing Atlantic hurricanes to produce heavier rainfall and intensify more rapidly than in previous decades. Destructive Hurricanes Milton and Helene underwent rapid intensification last season before making landfall, for example. Another above-average hurricane season is in store this year, NOAA announced Thursday morning: 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 of which will become hurricanes, and 3 to 5 of these may grow to major hurricane intensity of Category 3 or stronger. NOAA said they have 70% confidence in this particular outlook. An average Atlantic hurricane season would be 14 named storms, of which seven become hurricanes and 3 become major hurricanes. At FEMA, which leads the nation's disaster response and recovery, current and former officials say repeated calls from Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to 'eliminate' the agency have led to internal confusion on what its mission is, and how quickly it should respond to disaster requests from states. FEMA took two months to approve disaster aid for deadly mid-March tornados that ripped through red states, leading to an outcry from some Republican lawmakers. 'When it's taking months for a disaster declaration to be granted, the people on the ground could potentially think, well, FEMA is just not going to be here because they're gone, because the president and the (DHS) secretary got rid of them,' said Deanne Criswell, the former FEMA chief under Biden. 'There's always been confusion about what FEMA's role is the response phase of a disaster,' Criswell added. 'I think given this conversation, it just creates even greater misunderstanding of, 'Do they even exist?'' The Trump administration's steps to reduce the size of the federal government, which included firings, early retirement incentives and other programs, resulted in more than 560 National Weather Service employees leaving the agency since January. The fear of burnout is high among the remaining forecasters at the agency's 122 local offices. 'I am worried about staffing at the local offices for hurricane events,' one NOAA employee told CNN, noting the thin staffing at some Gulf coastal offices. They requested anonymity for fear of retribution. 'Maybe the first event will be fine, but fatigue will be quite real by peak season. People will do whatever they can to get the job done, but they can't work around the clock, seven days a week.' The National Hurricane Center in Miami is fully staffed for the season, but the local offices are responsible for tailoring forecast information and warnings for their areas, and many of them are missing multiple forecasters, technicians and hydrologists. Some are also missing their chief meteorologists, depriving the staff of the most experienced forecaster and manager on their team. The risk of burnout increases if multiple hurricanes track over the same parts of the country — something that happened last year. The NOAA staff member also said the staffing concerns go hand in hand with the prospect that less data may be available for making accurate hurricane forecasts, given recent reductions in daily weather balloon launches around the country. Such balloons provide crucial data for computer models used to help meteorologists predict the weather, and it's unlikely low staffing would allow such launches to ramp up to four times a day, which is more typical when a hurricane threatens to make landfall in the US. 'There almost certainly will be less data for the models,' they said. This could threaten the accuracy of hurricane intensity and track forecasts, areas that meteorologists have made gains in during the past decade. Trump first suggested he might eliminate FEMA in the days after taking office, while touring Hurricane Helene damage in North Carolina. Since then, the agency has been embroiled in chaos and staffing cuts. About 10% of FEMA's total workforce has left since January, and projections indicate staff loss will increase to 30% by the end of this calendar year. Departures have included senior officials experienced in managing the federal response to major storms. The acting FEMA administrator was recently fired after he told lawmakers he does not support dismantling the agency, breaking with Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem and other high-ranking DHS officials. One disaster expert said removing high-level FEMA leaders while shifting more responsibilities to states is 'a recipe for disaster.' 'You don't have anyone there to make the strategic decisions that need to be made in these unprecedented events,' said Wendy Huff Ellard, who leads the disaster recovery team at law firm Baker Donelson. 'These things aren't cookie cutter; there's really no guidebook.' A recent internal FEMA review underscored the agency's lack of preparedness for this year's hurricane season, CNN reported. The review stated the agency 'is not ready' for the June 1 start to hurricane season, noting a general uncertainty around its mission, lack of coordination with states and other federal agencies, low morale and new red tape that will likely slow responses. 'The lack of clarity is not helping anyone prepare,' Huff Ellard said. 'I think people are so confused at this point about the process and what's going to be there and what they should be doing, that it is taking resources away from the preparedness effort.' At a hearing on Capitol Hill last week, Noem told lawmakers, 'there is no formalized, final plan' for restructuring the agency and shifting responsibilities to states. More recently, FEMA has re-opened training centers to prepare staff for hurricane season and lengthened contract extensions for part-time workers that deploy to areas during disasters. But one FEMA official told CNN they are concerned the preparations are happening too late. Criswell, the former FEMA head, told CNN one of the agency's most important functions is coordinating the many other federal agencies that pitch in during disasters, making sure it's not needlessly duplicating rescue and recovery efforts. FEMA takes its lead from each state's emergency management director, Criswell said. 'That's why FEMA has somebody that is coordinating the federal resources, so you don't have people just going out there on their own,' she added. '(The Department of Defense) could be doing something that the Coast Guard is doing. Or you're going to miss critical functions that need to happen.' Even if states step up, it would be difficult for them to totally replicate the footprint of a federal response. Even before FEMA and NOAA lost staff, there were not enough resources for storm response and recovery, said Carrie Speranza, president of the International Association of Emergency Managers-USA. But if states must play a larger role, governors may have less incentive to send their mutual aid resources to neighboring hard-hit states. Speranza said people should not assume this season that first responders and community resilience staff will come to their rescue if they are hit with a major storm. 'It's all for one, and not one for all. That's a very different environment especially when you are talking about helping people on their worst day,' she said. 'We haven't had time to adjust. The 'abolish FEMA' thing took us all by surprise.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local resources available for those impacted by recent storms
WABASH VALLEY (WTWO/WAWV) — A variety of local resources across the Wabash Valley are available to those in need or who were impacted by Friday's storms. In Greene County, the American Red Cross is assisting with disaster response. If anyone is in need of assistance, you can contact them anytime at 1-800-733-2767. Also, the Red Cross is providing shelter in Monroe County at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church located at 2700 E Rogers Road in Bloomington. On Sunday May 16th, the Worthington Legion will be opened from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. giving away free diapers, wipes, and adult hygiene products for those in need. No paperwork or verification is needed. In Linton, the Hamilton Center office will be opened Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. providing support and resources. Therapists and mental health resources are available. The Sullivan City Pool also invite those impacted by the recent storms to visit. Admission is free for Linton and Greene County residents. The pool invites those who may need a restroom or shower to use their facilities. The local pool is opened Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Furious family of chef killed in Bayesian superyacht disaster lash out at crew for their response to storm forecasts and raise concerns over 'series of failures' for the tragedy
The family of the chef who died in the Bayesian superyacht tragedy off the coast of Sicily last year have criticised the crew's response to the violent storm that caused the vessel to sink. Cook Recaldo Thomas, 59, was one of the seven people who died in the disaster last August aboard the luxury yacht owned by British tech billionaire Mike Lynch - who also lost his life alongside 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Mr Thomas's family said on Thursday that they were concerned about a 'series of failures' in the way the crew responded to a storm that struck the ship, causing it to capsize and sink. 'They have serious concerns about a series of failures evidently involved in the causes of this tragedy – failures in the design, safety certification and seaworthiness of the Bayesian, as well as the management by some of the crew to deal with a forecast mesocyclone storm,' lawyer James Healy-Pratt is reported as saying on behalf of Mr Thomas's family. Their remarks come after an investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said this week the crew of the doomed £30million yacht were 'unaware' of its 'vulnerabilities.' After reading the report, Mr Thomas's family said they believed his death was 'preventable.' The family also condemned how the Bayesian was an 'outlier in design' with its single mast structure that 'acted like an aerofoil in the storm conditions,' the lawyer added. However, the interim report into the disaster found that the 'vulnerabilities' were 'unknown to either the owner or the crew' of the vessel' as they were not included in the stability information book carried on board. The report also shows that wind speeds of 73mph directly on the vessel's beam would 'likely result in the vessel capsizing'. Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, said: 'The findings indicate that the extreme wind experienced by Bayesian was sufficient to knock the yacht over. 'Further, once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70 degree the situation was irrecoverable.' Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Bayesian's builders The Italian Sea Group, has previously said the sinking was 'down to human error' and insisted that it was 'unsinkable'. The detailed report provides an agonising breakdown of events, charting for the first time how the tragedy unfolded minute by minute off the coast near Porticello. The MAIB have said however that this is an interim report based on limited verified evidence. The report comes after investigators were forced to half the £20million salvage operation of the doomed superyacht after a diver involved tragically lost his life last week. Rob Huijben, 39, died as he worked to remove a boom hinge from Bayesian's trademark 237ft mast at a depth of 160ft as preparatory work for the lift began last Friday. The incident was captured on CCTV by colleagues working on the surface in a support vessel and the Dutchman's body was later recovered by a fellow diver and taken ashore. An autopsy on Thursday revealed that there were no signs of burns on the diver's body, but that his death was compatible with an explosion that may have occurred when a torch used to cut the mast passed through pockets of hydrogen. On the night of August 18, the Bayesian had anchored next to the Sir Robert Baden Powell -a boat which would later rescue survivors – to shelter from the forecast thunderstorm. At 3am, the deckhand on duty noted the wind as being at 8kts (9.2pmh) but thought that the thunderclouds and lightning seemed to be getting closer. Less than an hour later at 3.55am, the deckhand 'videoed the advancing storm and posted it to their social media feed' before closing hatches and cockpit windows. Within minutes the winds had picked up to 30kts (35mph) and the Bayesian was listing and dragging its anchor. At around 4am, the deckhand woke up the skipper and the crew leapt into action by starting the generators and preparing to manoeuvre the Bayesian. Meanwhile a British mother and her partner woke up and took their one-year-old daughter to the boat's saloon. The chef Recaldo Thomas, who would die in the tragedy, was in the galley securing the cutlery, pots and pans and called 'Good morning!' to the nearby stewards. But as disaster struck as the skipper prepared to manoeuvre, the wind suddenly increased to more than 70kts (80.5mph) ripping the awning away. At 4.06am the Bayesian 'violently heeled over' in less than 15 seconds to a 90-degree angle. This sent people as well as furniture flying across the deck leaving five people including the captain were injured while a deckhand was thrown into the sea. Two guests trapped in their cabin were forced to used furniture drawers as an improvised ladder to escape into the saloon area. The report said there was no indication of flooding inside the vessel until water came in over the starboard rails and, within seconds, entered the cabins down the stairwells. The yacht's crew were able to push four guests through the cascading water up to the skipper on the flying bridge. The Chief Officer who had been swept to the back of the saloon and into another air pocket, dived down to open the sliding doors at the end of the saloon and managed to swim clear of the vessel. The captain called for the guests and crew who managed to escape to swim clear of the mast and boom as the vessel sank. In the water, a deckhand improvised a tourniquet for a one of the guest's gashed arms, while a baby was kept afloat on a cushion. In the darkness, some of survivors were treading water while others held on to some cushions that had floated free from the yacht. One of the guests frantically searched for other survivors in vain using the torch from their phone while the captain and chief officer frantically freed the life raft from the sinking wreck. At around 4.24am the liferaft was inflated and the survivors were able to get inside it where the crew began administering first aid. Desperate to raise the alarm with the nearby Sir Robert Baden Powell, the chief engineer fired several flares before they were spotted at 4.43am. The skipper of Sir Robert Baden Powell dispatched its tender towards the 15 survivors and despite searching the area no one else was found. The bodies were subsequently recovered after an agonising five-day search of the wreck on the seabed.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey issues executive order to improve the city's storm readiness
When it comes to weather-related disasters, Pittsburgh leaders say they want to be proactive, not reactive, so on Thursday, Mayor Ed Gainey announced an executive order to do just that, as we face the threat of more storms like the one that devastated the area last week. City leaders are calling that April 29 storm a wake-up call. "I don't want to be in a situation where we're not prepared. This climate change is real, and we have to make sure that we're climate resilient in every aspect of what we do," Gainey said. Jamil Bey is the director of city planning. "[It's] a vivid, and painful example of what climate change looks like when it reaches our doorsteps," Bey said. Pittsburgh families were left without electricity for more than a week, some imprisoned in their homes by downed trees and power lines, and the clean-up is still ongoing. Leaders said next time could be that much worse. It's why Gainey revealed the city's first 'All-Hazard Mitigation Plan,' made up of five key principles, from comprehensive risk assessment, using science and data, to climate resilience. "Our plan will incorporate future climate scenarios and adaptation strategies to safeguard our people and our infrastructure," Gainey said. It will also include integrative planning with the city's goals around sustainability and housing, and will take social equity into consideration, as the most vulnerable are often the hardest hit. Lastly, it will be constructed with input from the public. They'll play a primary role as Pittsburgh Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Darryl Jones leads the effort with Bey, collaborating with partners at the local, state, and federal levels, along with utility companies and experts. It will start with a 90-day review, looking into what they did well last week and what they need to improve, and how. "What would we do differently in a city that is populated, you know, to sort of secure those things? What are other cities doing? What are some best practices?" Bey said. Jones said the process won't necessarily be easy. "They're going to be like, I can't feed my kids today, and you want me to put food away for something that might happen," Jones said. It will be a work in progress, but one they said they're not going to wait to execute. "We have to make sure that the people are taken care of," Jones said. Next week, the city will be having a webinar as they review their storm response, which you can take part in. It will be on May 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. You can register for it here.
