On April 19th, Herkimer County, New York endured a snowstorm that left several homes without power. Herkimer County declared a state of emergency to aid with any potential requests from FEMA. Upwards of 2,800 National Grid workers are cleaning up downed power lines and restoring electricity throughout the area.
COASTAL FIRE BURNS 20 HOMES, FORCES EVACUATIONS IN LAGUNA NIGUEL
Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register / SCNG
PLANE CRASH LANDS IN HOUSTON SCHOOLYARD, SMASHES THROUGH RESIDENTIAL FENCE
PolishNews.co.uk
On Friday, May 6th, a plane crashed in J. Frank Dobie High School 9th Grade Center and smashed through a residential fence shortly after departing Houston's Hobby Airport. The incident narrowly missed a row of homes. The plane was leaving Houston's Hobby Airport at 2:17 p.m. when it went down about a minute later, according to FlightAware. The plane came to a rest just feet away from two homes. The crash started a small grassfire that burned part of the lawn and a gazebo.
LIGHTNING HITTING TOPEKA HOME DOES ALMOST $1 MILLION IN DAMAGE
KSNT Photo / Autumn Denham
On May 5th, Lightning hit a residential property in Topeka Kansas. Fire fighters responded to the call to find light smoke exiting the top of the property. The fire quickly spearing through the attic of the building. Topeka Fire Department were able to put out the fire and gave an estimate for $519,310 in structural damage and $250,000 in contents lost.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY FLOODING TO THE UMGENI STEAM RAILWAY TRACK
www.iol.co.za
February's rainfall and flooding caused damage to Durban, Africa's, Old Main Line between Kloof and Inchanga resulting in the suspension of Umgeni Steam Railway trips for the foreseeable future. Landslides occurred in many places, sinkholes developed and the foundation under the railway line was washed away, leaving the lines hanging in the air. Parts of the track have been severely undermined and are requiring round-the-clock extensive rehabilitation.
STATE ORDERS ACTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT MILFORD'S DRINKING WATER SUPPLY FROM CONTAMINANTS
Philip Allmen / HomeTownLife.com
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) ordered ZF Active Safety US Inc. to install a treatment system to address vinyl chloride contaminants. Last May, a well that was monitoring contamination registered levels of vinyl chloride at 3.5 parts per billion.
TORNADO HITS SOUTHEAST KANSAS, DAMAGES LOCAL YMCA
Jason Knipp / www.NewsNationNow.com
On April 29th, a tornado touched down and caused property damage to Wichita and Andover, Kansas. Wichita's local YMCA endured damage during the tornado and have released a statement claiming that they will closed until further notice. No injuries or deaths due to the tornado have been reported. Residents were able to capture video of the tornado passing through their neighborhood.
CASINO DEVELOPER CHARGED WITH $650K ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES PENALTY
Shutterstock.com (Photo by maloff)
A casino developer, Freesoul Real Estate Development, has been found guilty of damaging mangroves and a coral reef during the construction of a project on Malolo, Fiji, and will have to pay $650,000 as a result of the damages. The mangroves and a coral reef damaged during the construction were considered an attraction to Fiji. Justice Daniel Goundar said that this was an unprecedented act of vandalism against Fiji’s environment.
$230 MILLION CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REACHED FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE’S 2015 SANTA BARBARA OIL SPILL
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS FILES
Plains All American Pipeline, who spilled an estimated 15,000 barrels of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean in 2015, has agreed to pay $230 million to the fishing industry and shoreline residents whose properties endured damages due to the oil spill. Plains All American operated a transportation of crude oil pipeline stretching 130 miles between the Santa Barbara coast and inland refinery markets in California. In 2018, Plains All American was found criminally liable for the oil spill due to failed maintenance, extensive pipeline corrosion, and a corroded pipeline. The oil spill polluted several costal properties and harmed the fishing industry. Judge Gutierrez must give a final approval on the matter. Once the approval is obtained, class members will be notified and a court-approved plan of distribution will be created with $184 million distributed among the Fisher class and $46 million distributed among the Property class.
EATON TOWNSHIP: TORNADO CAUSES PROPERTY DAMAGE
Eaton Township Fire Department / www.MorningJournal.com
Lorain County, Ohio, experienced its first tornado of the 2022 season on April 25th. The Eaton Township Fire Department responded to Eaton Commerce Parkway at 2:30 p.m. after reports of a tornado in the area. One roof was torn from a building causing damage to multiple cars and public property. The tornado was on the ground for less than a minute and crossed 70 yards. The tornado was classified by the National Weather Service as an EFO, the weakest tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
WATER POLLUTION: STAKEHOLDERS URGE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, OSUN STATE TO STOP ILLEGAL GOLD MINING
www.Dataphyte.com
Osun State Government and the Nigerian Government have been requested to find a long-lasting solution to illegal gold mining that was polluting the Osun River for 2 million residents. Both the state and the federal government will not only take immediate steps to purify the contaminated Osun River but also compensate residents whose lives have been affected by the presence of mercury, lead and cyanide as a result of illegal mining activity. Residents are blaming the government because the government failed to take action against the illegal mining.
MICHIGAN PFAS ACTION RESPONSE TEAM
www.MLive.com
The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team has assembled a webpage to organize sites under investigation for PFAS. They are divided into two different categories: PFAS Sites and Areas of Interest. PFAS sites are defined as a property where EGLE has a groundwater monitoring well sample result that exceeds one or more of Michigan's seven PFAS groundwater cleanup criteria and has determined the property is the location of the source of PFAS contamination. Areas of Interest are investigated due to the potential of PFAS contamination for which a source has not been determined.
This website features several datasets as part of Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART)'s efforts such as PFAS Sites, PFAS Surface Water Sampling, and Statewide Testing Initiative of Public Water Supplies Hexbins and Results Table.
24 APARTMENTS DAMAGED, PEOPLE DISPLACED AFTER EARLY MORNING FIRE
Orange County Fire Rescue / MyNews13.com
On April 23rd, Isles at East Millenia Apartments in Orlando, Florida, caught fire. Orange County, Florida, Fire Department Deputies claimed they could see individuals stuck inside of the structure on every floor. The fire department was able to evacuate 8 individuals without any fatalities. Electricity to the entire building was shut off while the Orange County, Florida, Fire Department conducted an investigation into the fire. 20 people have been displaced.
LINCOLN COUNTY ASSESSOR’S OFFICE: $20.8M LOSSES DUE TO MCBRIDE FIRE
Alexander Meditz via AP / www.ABQJournal.com
Preliminary reports from the McBride fire by the Lincoln County, New Mexico, assessor’s office show the village of Ruidoso endured $5.5 million in property damages out of a total of $20.8 million for the entire county. County officials are estimating a $55,000 loss in taxes throughout the village and a $140,000 loss in taxes across the county. The McBride fire started on April 12th, burning 6,159 acres of land. As of April 27th, the fire is 89% contained. 207 primary structures and multiple buildings have been burnt.
SERIAL KILLER'S HOUSTON HOME GOES ON SALE FOR $185,000
www.yellowbullet.com
A property formerly belonging to Dean Corll, the serial killer known as 'Candy Man,' has been listed for $185,000. Corll was known as the 'Candy Man' because his family owned a candy company and he was known to give free candy to local children. Corll lived at 2020 Lamar Drive in Pasadena, Texas, and murdered over 28 victims on this property in the 1970s.
Corll's victims' recovered corpses showed evidence of torture. Corll was shot and killed by a 17 year-old boy enraged with Corll for everything he had done to his friends. In 2022, 50 years after Corll’s death, the 1,231 square foot home is being listed for $184,900 in Pasadena, Texas.
STATE OF OREGON FINDS THAT HERMISTON FRENCH FRY PLANT VIOLATED ITS PERMIT, SPREADING EXCESS NITRATES INTO THE AREA’S GROUNDWATER
Monica Samayoa / www.KLCC.org
A "pre-enforcement notice" has been issued by Oregon Environmental regulators to the Lamb Weston potato processing plant in Hermiston, Oregon. The "pre-enforcement notice" was issued after finding the company overapplied excess wastewater to nearby farmlands. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality found Lamb Weston had violated its water pollution permit 75 times from 2016 to 2020, totaling nearly 189 tons of excess nitrates into the area's groundwater supply. Lamb Weston could face a formal enforcement action.
BLAZE DAMAGES 6 HOMES
www.TheSun.co.uk
6 homes were damaged and 16 families were displaced during the wind-fueled fire that occurred on April 15th, in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The third-floor balcony of a home caught fire and spread to 5 other properties. All residents were evacuated with no injuries reported. The fire took approximately hours to extinguish.
BOULDER, COLORADO FIRE THAT DESTROYED 24 UNITS AT APARTMENT COMPLEX DETERMINED ACCIDENTAL
www.9News.com
On March 25th, in Boulder, Colorado, firefighters were called out to Magwood Apartments located at 2880 Kalmia Avenue. The building was on fire and residents had already begun evacuating. The fire displaced 24 residential units and was determined to be accidental. A BFR investigation team claimed the fire started from someone's discarded smoking material in a dried plant pot. The BRF has also expressed that they believe the fire started in the upper part of the building and spread into the attic.
FRIDAY HARBOR, SAN JUAN ISLAND, WASHINGTON FIRE CAUSES MORE DAMAGE THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT
KGMI
On April 7th, a fire caused damage to historical buildings in downtown Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington. A San Juan County Fire spokesperson stated that 6 properties have sustained fire damage. The 6 properties included a tavern, wine bar, coffee shop, kayak tour business, real estate agency, and private offices. Several other businesses in the area remained closed due to the effects of the smoke from the fire.
12 DISPLACED BY KANSAS CITY APARTMENT FIRE
www.KSHB.com
On April 4th, a fire caused damage to a 3-story apartment building and displaced 12 individuals. The fire was called in around 4:41 am to the apartment building located on East 28th street in Kansas City, Missouri. Smoke and fire were located on the 3rd floor of the building when firemen arrived on the scene.