WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) -- Officials in northeastern Pennsylvania called for a mandatory evacuation of more than 100,000 residents living along the Susquehanna River on Thursday due to expected flooding. The area was inundated in the historic Agnes flood of 1972.Luzerne County Management Agency official Frank Lasiewicki told The Associated Press Thursday the river is projected to crest at 41 feet between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday - the same height as the levee system protecting riverfront communities including Wilkes-Barre and Kingston.
Residents were ordered to leave by 4 p.m. READ MORE ....
... The last record, set in 1967 and recorded at New Orleans International Airport, was 10.77 inches for the month, said Shawn O'Neil, a weather service meteorologist. By 9 p.m. Saturday, it was measuring 12.72 inches as the rain continued to fall, he said.
At Audubon Park, a century-old record was broken for Dec. 12. In 1909, 3.25 inches of rain fell. By 9 p.m. Saturday, the park had seen 5.55 inches of rain, O'Neil said ...
A truck driver waits to cross under a flooded bridge at Marginal Tiete highway, northern Sao Paulo, Brazil. Heavy rain brought Brazil's biggest city of Sao Paulo grinding to a halt on Tuesday and reportedly claimed the lives of six people in landslides. (AFP/Mauricio Lima)
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - November 27, 2009 — More bodies have been recovered in the western Saudi city of Jeddah, gateway for Muslim pilgrims headed to Mecca, pushing the death toll from Wednesday's flash flood to 83, reports said on Friday.
The Al-Watan and Okaz newspapers said the toll had risen to 83, nearly all of them in Jeddah, after the Red Sea port was hit by a torrential downpour that sparked what observers said looked like a tidal wave when it struck the city.
Al-Hayat said 84 had died.
Officials said none of the dead were pilgrims for the hajj, which was underway in Mecca 80 kilometres (50 miles) away.
Receding waters yesterday revealed crumbled bridges and torn up roads, with crumpled vehicles piled up in areas like driftwood.
Citizens worried that a huge sewage reservoir outside the city would burst its banks. Jeddah municipality spokesman Ahmad al-Ghamdi said that the reservoir was safe and not in danger of being overwhelmed by floodwaters, the reports said.
Source:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jR6Avqt7ormuzBGi3nnSubaieu1g
The home of Padriag Lyons in Castleplunkett in Co. Roscommon
Liam Kehoe waist deep in water with his new house flooded
An isolated farmhouse surrounded by flood waters from the river Shannon
Salvaging what they can from their home in Caherlea , Carnmore , Galway
Inhabitants of the Cardenas community, in Tabasco state, Mexico, leave their house on 6 November 2009, due to the floods caused by the last days of heavy rain, which according to official reports, have stranded close to 21,000 people. EPA/Marco Polo Guzmán
Children stay inside a house in the Cardenas community, in Tabasco state, Mexico, on 06 November 2009, due to the floolds caused by the last days of heavy rain, which according to official reports, have stranded close to 21,000 people. EPA/Marco Polo Guzmán
A man looks at one of the rooms of his house located at the community of Cardenas, southern state of Tabasco, Mexico, 05 November 2009, flooded after the heavy rains that have hit the region since last weekend. Two men and a woman died due to the rains that have left 44.000 people affected and 90 rural communities flooded in the state of Tabasco. EPA/Marco Polo Guzmán
Inhabitants walk amid flooded waters in the community of Cardenas, Mexican State of Tabasco, Mexico, 05 November 2009. Heavy rains had provoked overflows of rivers since last week end with a death toll of two men and one woman. EPA/MARCO POLO GUZMAN
November 4, 2009 - The epic flooding that hit the Atlanta area in September was so extremely rare that, six weeks later this event has defied attempts to describe it. Scientists have reviewed the numbers and they are stunning.
“At some sites, the annual chance of a flood of this magnitude was so significantly less than 1 in 500 that, given the relatively short length of streamgaging records (well less than 100 years), the U.S. Geological Survey cannot accurately characterize the probability due to its extreme rarity," said Robert Holmes, USGS National Flood Program Coordinator. “Nationwide, given that our oldest streamgaging records span about 100 years, the USGS does not cite probabilities for floods that are beyond a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood.”
“If a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood was a cup of coffee, this one brewed a full pot,” said Brian McCallum, Assistant Director for the USGS Georgia Water Science Center in Atlanta. “This flood overtopped 20 USGS streamgages – one by 12 feet. The closest numbers we have seen like these in Georgia were from Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994. This flood was off the charts.”......FULL STORY.....
An aerial view of a road collapsed in the village of Molino near the Sicilian town of Messina October 2, 2009. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello.
Officials declared the area around the city of Messina in north east Sicily a disaster zone after three hours of thunderstorms brought "apocalyptic" scenes of destruction.
Saturday, October 3, 2009 - Roads, rail lines and buildings were submerged in water and engulfed by rocks and trees. Worst hit were mountain villages Giampilieri and Briga, where nine inches of rain swept away cars and homes.
Concetta Auditore, 77, said: "It was like hell. Everything collapsed in on us."
Tractor trailer cars washed against a bridge going over Sweetwater Creek left there by flood waters from recent rains, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, in Austell, Ga. (AP)
Last week, more than 14 inches of rain poured onto counties in Georgia overnight; some places saw more than 20 inches in a 24-hour period. The rain fell and waters rose destroying thousands of homes. FULL STORY
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major damage in areas mainly north and west of the city.Three more counties were added to the federal disaster declaration, making 17 Georgia counties eligible for federal disaster assistance. Residents in the following counties can apply for individual assistance for recovery efforts: Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties. Those who sustained losses in these counties may apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday. The federal declaration for public assistance also 
means that affected counties can apply to be part of a Hazard Mitigation Grant program, which provides assistance to state and local governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
With cleanup in full swing across Atlanta, flood victims faced fears of new flooding when the National Weather Service issued flash flood watches, followed by flash flood warnings. Braswell received 2.8” of rain and Lawrenceville 1.7, causing streams and creeks to rise, but not enough to threaten nearby neighborhoods. For flood victims trying to put their lives back together, today’s rain may have slowed their cleanup efforts, but the lack of additional flooding certainly eased their minds.
In other Atlanta flood news:
The FEMA/GEMA disaster recovery centers in Austell, Lithia Springs and Woodstock remained busy with a steady stream of flood victims applying for federal assistance. Computer stations have been setup, enabling flood victims to apply on-line for FEMA assistance. More centers may open on Sunday or Monday.
What happens after you apply with FEMA?
FEMA will mail you a copy of your application and a guide titled, “Help After a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals and Households Program.” An inspector will contact you to set-up an inspection. Inspectors are contractors, not FEMA employees, but will have FEMA ID’s. There is no fee for the inspection. You must be present for your scheduled appointment and provide proof of ownership and occupancy to the inspector. If you cannot be present, you may designate someone over the age of 18 to meet the inspector on your behalf. If you qualify for a grant, FEMA will send you a check by mail or deposit it in your bank account, plus a letter describing how you are to use the money. If you do not qualify for a grant, you will receive a letter of explanation, along with information about appeal rights.
Important phone numbers and where to turn for help:
FEMA: 1-800-621-3362 or www.fema.gov
John Oxendine Insurance Commissioner: (404) 656-2070 or toll-free 1-800-656-2298
The Red Cross: 1-866-724-3577
Local offices of Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA):
Six Flags Over Georgia opened today after days after round the clock cleanup. A park spokesperson confirmed that there was no remaining standing water in the park.
Atlanta will finally get a break from the rain this week. Forecasters are calling for cooler temperatures with highs in the mid-seventies and lows in the fifties, plus clear skies for the next seven days. Winds may increase on Monday night into Tuesday, causing concern about falling trees.
The Salvation Army and Red Cross are in areas most severely affected by the flood, providing food, water and cleaning supplies.
A sinkhole in Gwinnett County swallowed a car on Saturday. The driver escaped without injury.
Of the 10 people who died in the flood, seven were killed by drowning when their cars were swept away by rising floodwaters. Ages ranged from 26-50. Two-year-old Preston Slade Crawford drowned after being swept from his father’s arms when a surging creek ripped apart the family’s mobile home early Monday. Nelson Osley, 14, drowned in the rain-swollen Chattoga River. James Dale Leigh, 22, of Sand Valley drowned when a pond’s rain-soaked bank collapsed beneath him.
Samaritan's Purse, run by Billy Graham’s son, arrived from North Carolina with two disaster relief tractor trailers to help needy victims in Cobb and Paulding counties. Their command post is set up at West Ridge Church on Hiram-Acworth Highway just north of Highway 120. "We want to share love," said Samaritan's Purse disaster relief manager John Pryor, The organization brought a small army of local church volunteers to provide debris removal, food, water, clothing and other items. Their priority is reaching the poor, elderly, disabled and uninsured over the next three weeks.
Go to WSB-TV’s website to view the latest Atlanta flood pictures from viewers.
A personal note: Thank you for continuing to follow my updates about the Atlanta flood that experts are now referring to as “epic.” Many residents were unaffected by it (thank goodness), but for thousands of other families, it has changed their lives forever. Personally, I was almost caught in rising floodwaters, and was amazed how quickly they could rise. I am also dealing with the aftermath of the Atlanta flood, including a natural gas explosion, the dangers of mold and mildew, and the psychological effects of such a disaster. My thoughts and prayers remain with families who have lost everything and must now face the overwhelming task of putting their lives back together. I will continue to follow this disaster, and provide any new information as it comes along.
Sources: WSB TV, WXIA, AJC, FEMA.org. Photo credits: Jackie Kass.
More articles about the Atlanta flood by Jackie Kass:
Flood victims wait in the street for relief goods after flood water subsides big trucks to enter the area Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 in suburban Cainta, east of Manila, Philippines. Weary victims of a tropical storm that unleashed worst flooding in more than a decades begun cleaning up their damaged homes as rescue workers plucked more dead bodies from muddy floodwaters. (AP Photo/ Pat Roque)
Residents place the remains of their belongings outside their house as they return to their homes after a storm in suburban Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. Many Filipinos tried to rebuild their lives Monday after saving little more than the clothes they wore in a tropical storm that prompted the capital's worst flooding in more than four decades. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Commuters wade through waist-deep floodwaters on Buendia, Makati following heavy rains spawned by tropical storm 'Ondoy' Saturday. AP-Bullit Marquez
“The USGS can reliably say just how bad these floods were. They were epic!” said Brian McCallum, Assistant Director for the USGS Water Science Center in Georgia. “We have all witnessed the devastation caused by these floods, but now we can quantify it.” The data are gathered from the USGS real-time streamgaging network.
Flooded homes are shown in Mableton, Ga., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.
