EDM Tuesday Briefing: Winter Weather in the West, Typhoon Melor, Bering Sea Storm, Freddie Gray Case

Emergency and disaster management Tuesday Briefing for December 15, 2015: Winter weather hits Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado and other western states, Typhoon Melor hits the Philippines, a powerful Bering Sea storm mimics a hurricane, Baltimore braces for the first verdict in the Freddie Gray trials, and the 3-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting reignites debates.

1. Various parts of the West experienced [link url=”http://www.weather.com/forecast/regional/news/winter-storm-echo-december-2015″ title=”heavy snowfall“] and some are now [link url=”http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Blistering-cold-follows-on-heels-of-wintry-storm-6698879.php” title=”bracing for freezing temperatures“]. [link url=”http://www.kbzk.com/story/30734538/significant-snow-possible-sunday-through-tuesday” title=”Montana“], [link url=”http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/storm-drops-snow-over-central-wyoming/article_4656a982-22d0-5f49-bf28-38bee5940840.html” title=”Wyoming“], [link url=”http://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/snow-falling-on-northern-arizona-ahead-of-extreme-cold/article_af496afb-d83d-56d9-b324-7b3b80a4cd24.html” title=”Northern Arizona“], [link url=”http://www.denverpost.com/weathernews/ci_29254100/denver-weather-blowing-heavy-snow-expected-tuesday-commute” title=”Colorado“] and [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/local/weather/la-me-ln-winter-storm-california-winds-snow-20151213-story.html” title=”parts of California“]
2. The wintry weather is expected to continue over the next few days, and winter storm warnings are already in place in [link url=”http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/12/13/winter-storm-warning-much-montana/77258376/” title=”Montana“], [link url=”https://www.ksl.com/?sid=37752014&nid=1288&title=utah-prepares-for-first-major-winter-storm-avalanche-warning-issued” title=”Utah“], [link url=”http://koin.com/2015/12/12/winter-storm-warning-for-parts-of-oregon/” title=”Oregon“], [link url=”http://kdvr.com/2015/12/14/next-round-of-snow-to-hit-metro-area-monday-night/” title=”Colorado“] and [link url=”http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/14/winter-storm-warning-issued-for-parts-of-wyoming/” title=”Wyoming“].
3. [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/12/14/typhoon-melor-philippines/77306578/” title=”Typhoon Melor touched down in the Philippines“] bringing heavy rain that could bring coastal floods of up to 13 feet. At least [link url=”http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/15/typhoon-melor-people-dead-lashes-philippines” title=”three are dead“], millions are left without power, and nearly [link url=”http://qz.com/573870/typhoon-melor-has-forced-nearly-800000-people-to-evacuate-their-homes-in-the-philippines/” title=”800,000 forced to evacuate“] due to the storm.

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4. An intense [link url=”http://www.weather.com/news/weather/news/aleutian-storm-alaska-bering-sea-record” title=”Bering Sea Storm“] hit Alaska’s Aleutian Islands this weekend, and is considered to be one of the [link url=”http://www.weather.com/news/weather/news/aleutian-storm-alaska-bering-sea-record” title=”strongest non-tropical cyclones on record“]. The storm had [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/12/14/bering-sea-bomb-cyclone-ties-record-for-strongest-storm-in-north-pacific/” title=”sustained winds equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane“] and wind gusts up to 115 MPH.

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5. [link url=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-porter-verdict-preparations-20151214-story.html” title=”Baltimore braces for the possibility of unrest“] as the first trial of a police officer in the Freddie Gray case wraps up. Jurors began deliberations and will [link url=”http://www.nbc-2.com/story/30751888/freddie-gray-case-jury-to-decide-william-porters-fate-baltimore-braces” title=”decide the fate of Officer William Porter“] soon.
6. Flags across Connecticut flew at half-staff Monday to honor the memory of those killed in the [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/12/14/connecticut-marks-3rd-anniversary-sandy-hook-horror/77277876/” title=”Sandy Hook shooting three years ago“]. On this anniversary, [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-connecticut-shooting-anniversary-idUSKBN0TX1ZN20151215″ title=”activists called for gun restrictions“], while others [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/three-years-later-sandy-hook-parents-continue-fight-for-change/” title=”measured what progress has been made“] since the shooting.
7. San Bernardino shooting suspect Tashfeen Malik reportedly [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-malik-facebook-messages-jihad-20151214-story.html” title=”pledged her support for Islamic jihad on Facebook“], bringing up questions as to how [link url=”http://www.businessinsider.com/r-shooter-messaged-facebook-friends-about-support-for-jihad-la-times-2015-12″ title=”U.S. officials missed warning signs“].
8. Many are [link url=”http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/good-reasons-cheer-paris-climate-deal” title=”cheering the new climate deal reached in Paris“], calling it “historic” and a “significant step forward.” The climate conversation is now turning to questions about cost, including [link url=”http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/12/14/how-much-will-the-paris-climate-deal-cost-the-u-s/” title=”how much the deal with ultimately cost the U.S.“] and [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-on-earth-will-poorest-nations-fund-climate-deal/” title=”how the poorest nations will fund the climate deal“].

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9. A new investigation involving the Chicago Police is underway. Homan Square is allegedly being investigated as a [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/15/us/chicago-homan-square-hearing/index.html” title=”suspected secretive detention facility“] in what could be another in a series of [link url=”http://chicagoist.com/2015/12/10/justice_department_investigation_co.php” title=”recent scandals involving the Chicago Police“].