EDM Wednesday Briefing: Avalanches, California Flooding, Georgia Emergency

Emergency and disaster management briefing for January 25, 2017: Clark County, Nevada issues voluntary evacuation order, Georgia awaits FEMA decision on emergency declaration, an executive order supports approval of two controversial pipelines, unprecedented heavy snows in the West collapse roofs in several states, protesters climb a crane in Washington, DC, train cuts FedEx trailer in half, hope fades in Italy for finding victims alive after an avalanche, and a massive sinkhole swallows trees and a pickup truck in Pennsylvania.

1. Authorities in [link url=”http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/public-communications/announcements/Pages/Voluntary-Evacuation-Notice-Announced-for-Mount-Charleston-Communities-Due-to-Avalanche-Risk.aspx” title=”Clark County, Nevada have issued a voluntary evacuation order for Mt. Charleston in the Kyle and Lee Canyon”] areas after heavy snowfalls have increased the risk for avalanches in the area. Kyle Canyon Fire Station has received a reported 58 inches of snow since January 18, while the Lee Canyon Ski Area was reporting snow depths of 94 inches. [link url=”http://www.gomtcharleston.com” title=”Local, state, and federal officials are monitoring conditions in the area”] and will advise if additional precautions are necessary, and some temporary road closures can be expected. The Red Cross has opened a shelter for anyone choosing to evacuate.

.@SNVredcross opening shelter @ 10:15pm for #MtCharleston residents self-evacuating due to #AvalancheRisk. It is @YMCASN @ 6601 N. BuffaloDr pic.twitter.com/nVkdKKSKdL

— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) January 25, 2017

1. In south Georgia, more than [link url=”http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/01/23/at-least-18-killed-as-severe-weather-pummels-south.html” title=”250 state employees are assisting with recovery efforts”], including debris clearing and disaster relief, in areas ravaged by severe weather and tornadoes over the weekend. Gov. Nathan Deal, who has declared a state of emergency in 16 counties, said the state is waiting on a decision from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that would grant federal help to the devastated region. The storms [link url=”https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/22/us/tornadoes-southeast-georgia-mississippi-death.html” title=”killed 15 people in south Georgia”] and five individuals in other regions of the south, including four in Mississippi. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/fema-inspections-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/disaster-declaration-problems-again/”]
2. On Tuesday, President Trump [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/24/politics/trump-keystone-xl-dakota-access-pipelines-executive-actions/” title=”signed an executive order moving the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline forward”], but promised to “renegotiate” the XL deal to benefit US taxpayers. The executive order seeks to have the Army Corp of Engineers “review and approve” the Dakota Access Pipeline, but does not interfere with the environmental review ordered under the Obama Administration in December of 2016. No legal action has been planned by the Tribe regarding the signing of the executive order. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/all-about-the-dakota-access-pipeline/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/protesting-the-dakota-access-pipeline/”]
3. Recent, rare heavy snows out west are collapsing buildings due to the weight of the snow on building rooftops. [link url=”http://www.concordmonitor.com/Snow-covered-buildings-collapsing-in-rare-US-West-weather-7681977″ title=”Lower elevations are seeing greater snowfall amounts and colder temperatures”], preventing melting between snowfalls. [link url=”http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/01/24/snow-covered-buildings-collapsing-in-rare-us-west-weather.html” title=”Forecasters at the National Weather Service”] noted that the snow’s water density is also increasing, making the snow heavier and that the combination has increased the amount and weights of snow on rooftops, resulting in the collapses.  [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/hazard-mitigation-where-do-public-policy-and-public-safety-intersect/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/mitigation-and-cities-in-decline/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/risk-mitigation-the-best-investment/”]
4. Dash cam footage released Monday shows a [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/25/us/train-crashes-into-delivery-truck-trnd/” title=”Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner train crashing into a FedEx tractor trailer in Salt Lake City”], cutting its first trailer in half. The accident occurred during a snow storm on Saturday and transit authorities issued a statement noting that neither the crossing gates, bells, or flashing lights were operating properly due to weather conditions. Normally, when adverse conditions occur, including a loss of power, the default is for the gates to be in a ‘down and active’ position, but [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/passenger-train-crashes-fedex-truck-shocking-video/story?id=45022454″ title=”severe ice and snow conditions impacted the operation”], preventing them from operating properly. The UTA has launched an investigation into the cause to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/trains-and-train-crossings-safety-first/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/things-that-go-boom-when-we-screw-up/”]
5. 12 people are still missing and [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/italy-avalanche-death-toll-climbs-12-17-missing-45002214″ title=”the death toll has climbed to 17 as of Tuesday from the avalanche that buried an Italian resort hotel”] in Italy’s central region of Abruzzo. Authorities are investigating if heavy snowfall risks were underestimated, and what part the delayed responses and failed communications played in the outcome of the avalanche. While hope is quickly fading that any more survivors will be found, a second tragedy occurred in an already devastated area when a [link url=”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/24/italian-avalanche-death-toll-rise-as-six-die-in-helicopter-crash-hotel” title=”helicopter evacuating an injured skier slammed into a mountainside”], killing all six on board. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/the-importance-of-organizational-culture-and-management/”]
6. [link url=”http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/25/sinkhole-swallows-yards-threatens-pickup-in-philly/” title=”A massive sinkhole opened suddenly around 4:00 a.m. in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania”], in Cheltenham Township, swallowing trees and causing a pickup truck to teeter dangerously on its edge. The sinkhole covered the front yard of one home, portions of the yard next door, and part of the sidewalk and road in front of the homes. The sinkhole is estimated to be about 20 feet deep and the [link url=”http://6abc.com/news/large-sinkhole-opens-up-in-montco-neighborhood-(photos)/1719777/” title=”area has been blocked off”] and authorities have evacuated homes considered at risk. According to officials, no cause is immediately apparent for the appearance of the sinkhole. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/sinkholes-what-are-they-why-do-they-occur-and-why-be-concerned/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/is-college-education-pushing-away-entry-level-emergency-services-personnel/”]
7. Early Wednesday morning, police were called to an area under construction near the White House. Police have indicated that at least [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/25/us/politics/ap-us-dc-protest-crane.html” title=”six protestors, and possibly seven, have climbed a construction crane”], preventing workers from working in the area. Protestors have moved onto the horizontal arm of the crane and are connected together with ropes. [link url=”http://www.fox5dc.com/news/231594915-story” title=”Greenpeace has claimed responsibility for the protest”] and police have closed 15th Street between L and M streets. [relink url=”http://edmdigest.com/response/riot-response-considerations-for-protection-and-tactics/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/new-poll-reveals-police-fear-for-their-safety/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/professional-integrity-vs-social-disobediance/”]