All articles tagged with #floodwaters
A California man, Brandon Padilla-Aguilera, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and child abuse after his 2-year-old son, Xavier, died in floodwaters when they were involved in a car accident during a flood last month. The charges follow the son's death after the car was swept away, and the man was arrested for murder but prosecutors are pursuing lesser charges. He denies guilt and is set to appear in court again next week.
Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Mario caused mudslides and flooding in Southern California, trapping drivers, damaging homes, and resulting in a tragic drowning of a 2-year-old boy, with rescue efforts ongoing and warnings for further storms.
Heavy rain on the Hawaiian island of Kauai led to the rescue of several people from floodwaters, prompting the closure of public schools and the opening of shelters. Crews worked to reopen roads closed from landslides and overflowing stream waters, with firefighters rescuing people primarily in the communities of Koloa and Wailua. While there were no immediate reports of injuries, heavy showers were expected to continue, posing a continued threat of flooding.
Newton County Sheriff's Department has rescued three people from floodwaters on Cow Creek, with two men reported missing and later found safe, and a driver of an eighteen-wheeler also rescued. Sheriff Burby urges caution on roads, warning that they may appear passable but still pose dangers.
A surveillance video from Logan Heights captured the rapid rise of floodwaters on Monday, submerging cars and flooding homes. The video shows the dramatic flooding that occurred, with one family's home and the apartments of two tenants being affected. The family scrambled to salvage belongings as the water rose, and one tenant and their 2-year-old child had to seek refuge on the roof before making their way down using a floating door as a makeshift raft. Despite the distressing situation, the water eventually receded, bringing relief after a harrowing hour.
Invasive fire ants in Australia have been observed forming "rafts" in floodwaters, allowing them to spread to new territories. The ants, known for their painful stings, have been steadily increasing their foothold in the country and were recently found further south in northern New South Wales. Authorities are urging residents to be vigilant in checking their properties for fire ants and to report any sightings. The spread of fire ants is a global problem, and efforts to eradicate them in Australia have been ongoing, with over $440 million committed to eradication efforts since 2017.
Historic flooding in Augusta and Hallowell, Maine, caused by a severe storm, has led to power outages and rivers flooding into buildings, resulting in significant losses for local businesses during the holiday season. Restoration efforts are underway, but many businesses remain closed or without power. Insurance coverage for damages is limited, leaving businesses to bear the financial burden.
Maine police are searching for two people who went missing after their car was swept away in floodwaters during a powerful storm that hit the Northeast. Four people were in the car, and while three managed to escape, the fourth person and one of the survivors are still missing. Two other individuals were rescued and treated for hypothermia. Multiple roads in Mexico, Maine, remain closed, and some residential areas are completely cut off. Maine Governor Janet Mills has declared a state of emergency for 14 counties affected by the flooding. At least five deaths have been reported in different states due to the storm.
Extraordinary footage captures the moment a group of locals in Far North Queensland, Australia, rescued a cow stranded by floodwaters following the worst flood in nearly 50 years caused by ex-tropical Cyclone Jasper. The region received 600mm of rain within 40 hours, with more expected. Major roads were cut off, Cairns Airport was inundated, and thousands were evacuated. The video shows six men working together in pouring rain to pull a cow over a fence onto a flooded highway, with the cow later relocated to higher ground. The rescue effort has been praised worldwide.
A Tesla caught fire in floodwaters caused by Hurricane Idalia near Tampa, highlighting the dangers of electric vehicles (EVs) coming into contact with saltwater. Officials are urging residents to relocate their EVs from garages if they have been exposed to saltwater, as it can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries. While EV fires are relatively rare, precautions are being taken in the aftermath of the hurricane. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and CFO Jimmy Patronis have warned about the risk of EV fires, and safety tips have been shared by Tampa Fire Rescue. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022, there were 21 EV fires reported. EVs are less likely to catch fire than gas-powered cars, but if an EV's battery is damaged by collision or water intrusion, a short circuit can occur, leading to thermal runaway and potential fires.
Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jim McGovern, are seeking low-interest loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help local farmers whose crops, including corn, butternut squash, and kale, were destroyed by floodwaters. The politicians plan to speak with President Joe Biden to declare these family farms federal disaster areas and provide immediate assistance to farmers who are facing financial challenges due to the crop losses.