AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Monday Briefing: Winter Weather, Cyclone Vardah, Salmonella, Terror Attacks

Emergency and disaster management briefing for December 12, 2016

  1. On Sunday, [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/nearly-1-000-chicago-flights-canceled-winter-blast-rolls-east-n694486″ title=”nearly 1,400 flights were cancelled”] at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway Airports amid winter storm forecasts, as the area braced for seven to twelve inches of snow. By 6 p.m. Sunday, [link url=”http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/snowfall-totals-so-far-roadways-deteriorate-winter-storm-continues-bitter-cold-next” title=”nearly seven inches had fallen”], making travel treacherous, and more snow was expected throughout the night as winter storm warnings were extended until at least midnight in the Chicago area. Bitter cold is set to follow the first winter storm of the season, Winter Storm Caly, with [link url=”http://patch.com/illinois/chicago/snowfall-totals-so-far-roadways-deteriorate-winter-storm-continues-bitter-cold-next” title=”temperatures forecasted to drop into the single digits”]. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/winter-operations-personal-preparations/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/thank-you-weather-channel/”]
  2. Winter Storm Caly wreaked havoc on air travel over the weekend, and deteriorated runway conditions contributed to a [link url=”https://weather.com/news/news/detroit-delta-plane-slides-off-runway” title=”Delta airplane sliding off the runway at Detroit Metro Airport”] on Sunday afternoon. Delta Flight 724 from Buffalo was making its way from the runway to the taxiway after safely landing when icy conditions caused the McDonnell-Douglas MD-88 to slide off the runway. Passengers were deplaned using the stairs located in the airplane’s tail. [link url=”http://www.wxyz.com/news/plane-slides-off-runway-at-detroit-metro-airport-during-snowstorm” title=”No injuries were reported”] and airport authorities are investigating the incident.
  3. [link url=”http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/live-andhra-tamil-nadu-coasts-on-high-alert-as-cyclone-vardah-makes-landfall/story-3PiQLAzLXB9njQDhfTdPQI.html” title=”Cyclone Vardah made landfall late Monday”] near Chennai, India, killing two people and dumping heavy rains across the area. The prolonged heavy rains are expected to impact the same area in Chennai that was devastated by severe flooding last December. Schools were closed and [link url=”http://in.reuters.com/article/india-cyclone-vardah-chennai-tamil-nadu-idINKBN1410IH” title=”low lying areas were evacuated”] in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh early Monday in anticipation of the storm making landfall. Winds ahead of the approaching storm were reaching speeds of 87 mph, uprooting trees and downing power lines, and most flights at the Chennai airport were delayed or cancelled.
  4. A voluntary recall of potato chip and tortilla snacks has been issued by Shearer’s Foods LLC in Massillon, Ohio [link url=”http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2016/12/135689/#.WE6NI6IrKcZ” title=”due to salmonella contamination”]. Recalled food brands include Deep River, Delish, Larry the Cable Guy, Essential Everyday, and Market Essential. The recall was issued after [link url=”http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2016/12/armed-federal-agents-seize-milk-products-from-major-cooperative/#.WE6OSaIrKca” title=”U.S. Marshals seized more than 4 million pounds”] of powered milk from the Valley Milk Products facility in Strasburg, VA at the request of the Food and Drug Administration who allege the company knew its milk powder products and its facility were contaminated with salmonella. [link url=”http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2016/12/great-value-other-mac-cheese-brands-recalled-for-salmonella/#.WE6NqqIrKcZ” title=”Shearer’s Food is just one of several companies recalling foods”] due to the contaminated powdered milk products. Others include Publix, Stonewall Kitchen, and several macaroni and cheese mixes, including Great Value (sold at Walmart).
  5. As Winter Storm Caly pushed through the upper midwest, Minnesota was hit with blustery winter weather after a relatively mild November. The winter weather made road travel particularly difficult, with the [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wintry-weather-great-lakes-northeast-minnesota-detroit-plane/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab8d&linkId=32245427″ title=”Minnesota State Patrol reporting 600 vehicle crashes”] and another 227 that spun out or off the road in a 24-hour period. At least 62 people were hurt, although no serious injuries were reported, and there were no fatalities resulting from the more than 800 vehicle incidents. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/winter-operations-part-ii-equipment-adjustments/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/weather-disasters-in-u-s-impacted-millions-in-past-five-years/”]
  6. An [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-mourns-25-christians-killed-church-explosion-44135416″ title=”alleged terrorist bombing”] targeting Egypt’s Christian minority population occurred during a church service on Sunday, killing 25 people and injuring dozens. The bomb detonated in a smaller chapel next to St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo during the morning mass, mostly killing women and children. A memorial service was held Monday for immediate family members of the victims. [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/11/middleeast/egypt-coptic-church/” title=”No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack”], now the nation’s most deadly attack against Christians, surpassing the number killed in the [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-mourns-25-christians-killed-church-explosion-44135416″ title=”New Year’s Day 2011 bombing”] in the city of Alexandria.
  7. At least 155 people were wounded and 38 killed in [link url=”http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/12/11/38-dead-and-155-wounded-in-twin-bomb-attack-near-istanbul-stadium.html” title=”twin bombing attacks near a soccer stadium in Istanbul, Turkey”] on Saturday night. The [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/10/europe/istanbul-explosions/” title=”bombs allegedly targeted police officers”], with one bomb detonating near police special forces, with a riot bus the suspected target. The other blast occurred near Macka Park, less than a mile away, when an individual stopped there triggered explosives and committed suicide. Of those individuals killed, thirty were police officers, seven were civilians, and one individual has not yet been identified.
  8. In London, England, [link url=”https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/12/six-held-terror-raids-england-london-derby-burton” title=”six people have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism”]. The arrests included five men and one woman and occurred Monday morning after police conducted a series of raids across England. The raids were led by the north-east counter-terrorism unit, and were a part of an investigation that was the strength of three units. The individuals are being held under the [link url=”http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-38287126″ title=”suspicion of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism”].

Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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