Emergency and disaster management briefing for May 2, 2016: The FDA grants emergency approval for a Zika virus test, total Zika cases in the U.S. now top 1,000, floods turn deadly in Texas, storms head for Louisiana, and May Day protests in Seattle turn violent.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/04/29/fda-approves-first-commercial-test-zika/83704036/” title=”approved the first commercial test for Zika“] in the U.S., which will now make it easier for doctors around the nation to test for the virus. The FDA [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/04/29/fda-approves-first-commercial-test-zika/83704036/” title=”granted emergency approval“] for the test as the number of confirmed Zika cases in U.S. states and territories [link url=”https://amuedge.com/number-of-zika-cases-in-u-s-states-territories-now-tops-1000/” title=”passed the 1,000 mark“] for the first time. The new test should be available to doctors [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/04/29/fda-approves-first-commercial-test-zika/83704036/” title=”as early as this week.“]
- Health officials in Puerto Rico [link url=”https://amuedge.com/number-of-zika-cases-in-u-s-states-territories-now-tops-1000/” title=”confirmed the first U.S. death of a patient infected with the Zika virus“] late last week — a Puerto Rican man in his 70s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Puerto Rico alone now has [link url=”https://amuedge.com/number-of-zika-cases-in-u-s-states-territories-now-tops-1000/” title=”more confirmed cases than all U.S. states combined.“] All U.S. states combined have 426 confirmed cases of the virus, while there are 572 confirmed cases in Puerto Rico.
- Extreme and deadly flooding hit Texas this weekend, resulting in [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/deadly-storm-threatens-southeast-flash-floods-after-wreaking-havoc-texas-n565421″ title=”at least six deaths.“] More than [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/deadly-storm-threatens-southeast-flash-floods-after-wreaking-havoc-texas-n565421″ title=”7 inches of rain reportedly fell in an hour“] in the town of Palestine that lies about 100 miles southeast of Dallas. The severe storms are now [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/deadly-storm-threatens-southeast-flash-floods-after-wreaking-havoc-texas-n565421″ title=”heading toward Louisiana“] as the new week begins.
- A [link url=”http://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2016/05/flash_flood_watch_extended_to_2.html” title=”flash flood warning“] for southeastern Louisiana is now extended until 7pm tonight. One to three inches fell in many parts of Louisiana yesterday, and the threat of torrential rains will continue well into the workweek. Weather experts said that [link url=”http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/15660666-173/more-heavy-rain-expected-in-south-louisiana-on-monday-as-flash-flood-watch-extended” title=”upwards of 6 inches of rain“] could fall in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and/or Lafayette regions today.
- [link url=”http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/anti-capitalist-marchers-turn-violent-injuring-two-officers-at-least-6-protesters-arrested/” title=”May Day protests in Seattle“] yesterday turned violent, ending in at least five injuries to police officers and nine arrests. Dozens of black-clad anti-capitalist demonstrators threw rocks, bricks [link url=”http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/anti-capitalist-marchers-turn-violent-injuring-two-officers-at-least-6-protesters-arrested/” title=”and even Molotov cocktails“] at police officers in downtown Seattle Sunday. The unpermitted march began shortly after 5 pm near the Westlake Center, and police had successfully dispersed most protests by about 9 pm.
- Richard Baird, an adviser to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said that [link url=”http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2016/04/30/state-short-replacing-flint-water-lines/83747324/” title=”pipe removal in Flint could cost $28 million more than budgeted.“] Baird said the administration’s original $27-million budget for pipe replacement has now bloated to $55 million. [link url=”http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2016/04/30/state-short-replacing-flint-water-lines/83747324/” title=”Random spikes in lead“] continue to plague the water system, and the public service Flush for Flint campaign is working to get the word out to residents to [link url=”http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2016/04/30/state-short-replacing-flint-water-lines/83747324/” title=”flush their pipes daily“] in an effort to reduce contamination.
- The family of John F. Kennedy honored Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy yesterday [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-refugees-connecticut-idUSKCN0XS1JB” title=”for embracing Syrian refugees.“] The family presented Governor Dannel Malloy with a [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-refugees-connecticut-idUSKCN0XS1JB” title=”Profile In Courage award“] at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. At least 75 Syrian refugees have been settled in Connecticut since November 2015, and [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-refugees-connecticut-idUSKCN0XS1JB” title=”another 250“] will reportedly arrive in the state soon.
- A [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-train-derailment-idUSKCN0XS182″ title=”freight train derailed in northeastern , D.C.“] yesterday near the elevated Rhode Island Avenue station. [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-train-derailment-idUSKCN0XS182″ title=”Hazardous material leaked“] during the incident, as hundred gallons of sodium hydroxide spilled from a ruptured tank car. The derailment disrupted a commuter rail and long-distance Amtrak passenger trains, but no injuries were reported.
- Officials with the CDC are conducting an environmental health assessment on a cruise ship on U.S. waters after a reported [link url=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-norovirus-cruise-20160430-story.html” title=”norovirus outbreak on the ship“] last week. More than 150 of the 917 passengers on the ship fell ill, as did six members of the vessel’s 518 crew. The outbreak reportedly [link url=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-norovirus-cruise-20160430-story.html” title=”occurred while the ship was in Norfolk,“] but it has since arrived and docked in Baltimore.
- In San Diego in late April, a newborn child was bitten by the family dog. The family called 911 twice, but [link url=”http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/25/911-maul/” title=”the calls went unanswered.“] Eventually, the family drove to the hospital but the child eventually died from the attack. The tragedy made painfully clear a problem that San Diego has had for some time — [link url=”http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/27/call-an-emergency-about-emergency-calls/” title=”its 911 dispatch center is understaffed.“] Now the city is scrambling to find ways to avoid another tragedy where [link url=”http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/27/call-an-emergency-about-emergency-calls/” title=”improper staffing“] can lead to big consequences.
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