BOB SAYS...
"A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to everybody and may next year bring joy and happiness to you"
Bob de Bilde (aka Bill de Dashe)
Bob de Bilde (aka Bill de Dashe)
Landslide Hazards Program
Landslides constitute a major geologic hazard because they are widespread, occur in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and cause $1-2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities on average each year. Expansion of urban and recreational developments into hillside areas leads to more people that are threatened by landslides each year. Landslides commonly occur in connection with other major natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, and floods. The primary objective of the National Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) is to reduce long-term losses from landslide hazards by improving our understanding of the causes of ground failure and suggesting mitigation strategies.
The LHP has operated since the mid-1970's in gathering information, conducting research, responding to emergencies and disasters, and producing scientific reports and other products for a broadly based user community including geologists and engineers in government, academia and private practice, planners and decision makers from governmental entities at all levels, and the general public.
The results of these efforts have led to significant improvements in understanding the nature and scope of ground-failure problems nationally and worldwide. Such improvements are central to the role of the program, because opportunities remain for fundamental advances in understanding that promise to save lives and dollars.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Taiwan Earthquake December 19th 2009: 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake
Taiwan was hit by an earthquake in the late hours of December 19th 2009, when a 6.4 earthquake struck at 9:02pm local time. The epicenter was located about 145 kilometers south of Taipei.There was some damage caused and five aftershocks reported. Buildings in Taipei shook with the earthquake and Taiwan's subway system and the high-speed rail line were halted, while some phone lines went down.
About four people were reported injured in Taipei due to falling debris, and some buildings were damaged. There has not been a tsunami alert issued.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Cockermouth flooding damage
Following the recent devastation in Cockermouth, Cumbria, I publish two photographs of the main shopping area there.From thr BBCi website:
The main shopping street here in Cockermouth is still largely under water, but at one end of the road the water is receding.
On Saturday morning, some of those whose businesses had been flooded tried to get into their premises to check the extent of the damage, wearing wellies and waterproofs.
Piers Tupman had to give the door of Milburns Solicitors a hard shove to get it open.
Inside, everything is covered in a layer of thick brown mud.
There are holes in the wall and desks have been pushed against the wall by the power of the water.
"I've got to come and try to salvage what I can, we have important documents that need to be saved. People will still expect their legal work to be done," he said.
A few doors down, the shop Knitting Fever has lost its front window, pushed in by the water.
Wool is strewn across the pavement. Tangled up in it are branches, shop display units and even the till. The sounds of alarms still going off is audible.
'Let's get out'
A few miles away, those who have had to evacuate their homes are being put up in a local attraction called the Sheep and Wool Centre.
One large room is full of makeshift beds. Below it, the centre's cafe holds dozens of people, sitting around drinking cups of tea and watching the news on a large television.
Sitting together are Dorothy Forrester, 79, and Marian Stalker 83. On Thursday morning they were given 10 minutes' notice to leave their home.
They say they only had time to grab an extra set of clothes and their medication. They know it could be weeks before they go home.
Mrs Stalker tells me she has just had her flat decorated. "It was beautiful and expensive and I just thought 'let's get out'."
Mrs Forrester adds: "You can't do anything other can you? It's in the best interest of everyone.
"We've been very well looked after here and they say this is a one in 1,000-year event, so we are going down in history."
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