INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Nationwide Power Blackout Hits Syria - Cause Not Known?!

The Syrian civil war has claimed more than 270,000 lives (AFP Photo/Youssef Karwashan)

March 4, 2016 - SYRIA - War-torn Syria was hit Thursday by a nationwide power cut, state television reported, but the cause was not immediately known.

"Electricity has been cut across all provinces and teams are trying to determine the reason for this unexpected cut," the station reported, citing a source within the electricity ministry.

Damascus residents said power in the capital had been out since 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) and that mobile Internet connections from some private providers were also not working.

Syria's state mobile provider said its Internet service had been "partially cut due to part of the network unexpectedly malfunctioning".

Since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011, various areas across the country have experienced intermittent power outages as a result of clashes or air strikes and many regularly rely on generators for power.

Syria's parliament had on Monday called in electricity minister Imad Khamis for a special hearing on the power sector.

Khamis told parliamentarians that the cost of "direct damage" to the country's power stations and the electricity network from 2011 until the end of 2015 was estimated $3.75 billion.

In statements carried by Syria's state news agency SANA, Khamis said five out of the 13 main power stations in Syria had been "directly damaged" in the war. - Yahoo.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: Apocalytical Storm In Paraguay Destroys Parts Of The Capital City - The Most Powerful Storm In 18 Years; 18 Landslides Block Streets And Engulf The City Buildings; Widespread Road Destruction And Infrastructure Collapse; Over 300,000 Without Drinking Water And Electricity; State Of Emergency Declared! [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Landslide in Paraguay. © Twitter

December 6, 2015 - PARAGUAY - That's the most powerful storm in the past 18 years of Paraguay.

The storm hit the capital and surrounding on Friday, December 4, 2015 and killed a boy and a baby. Moreover, drinkable water, electricity were and roads collapsed. The state of Emergency has been declared.

The storm mainly affected the capital city and the metropolitan area is the largest in the last 18 years according to wind and precipitation data.

The storm began at 4.20 am. of rain fell in just two hours and wind speeds reached 100 mph.A teenager and a two-old month baby died in the storm. The young man was squashed by a wall that collapsed on his room. The baby got swept away by the resulting floods.

Paraguay flood damage. © Twitter

Floodwater. © Twitter

Landslide in Paraguay. © Twitter

18 landslides have blocked streets and engulfed city buildings.

At least hundred trees were uprooted.

A lot of sections of roads and routes were literally destroyed by the waters that swept away everything in its path as seen between San Antonio to Villa Elisa.


WATCH: Powerful storm strikes Paraguay.

About 300,000 people were left without drinking water and electricity during several hours.

Although such crazy storm aren't uncommon in the country, they increase in importance when they strike populated areas like a capital city. - Strange Sounds.

SOLAR WATCH: The Sun Could Spew Out Huge Superflares And Put Life On Earth In Danger - The Energy From The Flares Could Be Equivalent To A BILLION MEGATON BOMB, Destroying Communication And Energy Systems!

December 4, 2015 - THE SUN - The Sun could unleash huge superflares that would destroy much of the things we rely on for life on Earth, scientists have warned.

Huge flares of energy with the power of a billion one megaton nuclear bombs could destroy our communication and energy systems, they have said.

Scientists made the warning after seeing a huge superflare erupt from another star that looks alarmingly like our own Sun.

Occasionally, flares and other solar weather upset communications systems on Earth. But the effects are usually relatively limited, and can be recovered from. But the new study suggests that any potential superflare could cause

Flares happen when magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released, causing a massive outburst of radiation.

Lead scientist Chloe Pugh, from the University of Warwick, said: "If the Sun were to produce a superflare it would be disastrous for life on Earth; our GPS and radio communication systems could be severely disrupted and there could be large-scale power blackouts as a result of strong electrical currents being induced in power grids."

She added: "Fortunately the conditions needed for a superflare are extremely unlikely to occur on the Sun, based on previous observations of solar activity."

The superflare studied by the team occurred on the binary star KIC9655129.

Using data from the American space agency Nasa's Kepler space telescope, the scientists determined that it had wave properties identical to those seen in solar flares.

Co-author Dr Anne-Marie Broomhall, also from the University of Warwick, said: "This result is ... an indication that the same physical processes are involved in both solar flares and stellar superflares. The latter finding supports the hypothesis that the Sun is able to produce a potentially devastating superflare."

The research is reported in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. - Independent.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Extreme Weather Events Continue In India - Deadly Freak Storm Hits Uttar Pradesh, Plunging State Capital Into Darkness!

It was the first time in over a decade that the city witnessed zero visibility on a December afternoon.  © Facebook

December 4, 2015 - INDIA - Several parts of Uttar Pradesh experienced freak weather on Tuesday afternoon after being hit by sudden dust storm and heavy rainfall.

Lightning claimed seven lives in the state. While a woman and her minor sister died in Auraiyya district, three people perished in Mathura, one in Mainpuri and one in Etah.

Lucknow and Kanpur were plunged into darkness, followed by storm and heavy rain. Allahabad, Agra and some other areas witnessed storm and rain but the intensity was less in comparison to Lucknow and Kanpur.


WATCH: Dust storm covers Lucknow in darkness.

Several trees were also uprooted and there were reports of some people receiving injuries.

Waterlogging and power cuts added to the people's woes.

Met department director JP Gupta said the weather had changed significantly due to an upper cyclonic air circulation over Madhya Pradesh which had shifted towards UP.

Several Lucknow residents took to social media to post updates about the storm. "Never seen such a phenomenon. I had heard about Kaali Aandhi (black storm). Saw it today. Ajeeb lag raha hai....," a resident posted on Facebook. - Hindustan Times.

 

ICE AGE NOW: Snowy Weather Hits Croatia - Strong Winds And Over 30 Centimetres Of Snowfall Results In Falling Of Many Trees And Damaged Electric Lines!

November 25, 2015 - CROATIA - Almost the entire Lika region was caught in snowy weather last night. In Gospić, more than 30 centimetres of snow has fallen, while in mountainous areas the snow cover is even higher. Snow has caused the falling down of many trees which have damaged electrical lines, so the wider area of ​​Gospić was without power this morning. Director of Elektrolika Ernest Petri said that two transmission lines that supply electricity to Gospić have broken down. There are problems with the local phone lines as well, reports Index.hr and Vecernji List on November 22, 2015.

Snow and strong winds are causing traffic problems in the Primorje region. The Lika-Senj Police Department has announced that the Adriatic highway from Karlobag to Sveta Marija Magdalena is completely closed down, and on all the roads in Lika winter tyres are mandatory.

Rain, snow and sleet slow down traffic in most areas. Several ferry and catamaran lines have been suspended this morning. Due to the stormy winds, parts of the A6 highway Rijeka-Zagreb are open just for smaller vehicles. Due to winter conditions, the traffic is prohibited for trucks with trailers and semi-trailers while other vehicles must have winter equipment on the roads in Gorski Kotar as well.

The weather today will be mostly cloudy with occasional rain, and snow in the mountains. Afternoon, it is expected that the rain will stop. In the first part of the day, winds will be moderate, with heavy winds possible on the Adriatic Sea. The highest daily temperatures will be from 1 to 5 degrees, and from 7 to 19 degrees in the coastal regions, reported the forecast of the State Meteorological Service. - Total Croatia News.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Blackout - State Of Emergency In Russia's Crimea After Transmission Towers In Ukraine Blows Up!

© Igor Mikhalev / Sputnik

November 22, 2015 - CRIMEA, RUSSIA - Russia’s Crimea has switched to autonomous reserve power after transmission towers in the adjacent Ukrainian Kherson region were blown up, causing a blackout. Meanwhile, the Right Sector and Crimean Tatar “activists” have been attempting to block repairs.

Crimean authorities rushed to connect hospitals and other vital infrastructure to reserve power stations and generators late on Saturday after the four main transmission lines from Ukraine were cut off in an apparent act of sabotage. The regional energy ministry has created an emergency response center to deal with the power cut.

“Crimea has been completely cut off,” the Krymenergo energy company’s director Viktor Plakida told TASS, adding that he could not immediately provide any more details.

The Crimean Emergencies Ministry has declared a state of emergency due to the complete power outage and has put rescue teams on high alert.

Nearly 1.9 million people have been left partly or fully without electricity. While important public facilities and infrastructure have been wired up to reserve sources of energy, homes all across the region have been left in the dark.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian police and journalists simultaneously posted social media reports of explosions in Chaplinka in the Kherson region, where power transmission towers supporting the lines delivering energy to Crimea are located. Photos of severed towers with a Crimean-Tatar flag hanging on one of them have been posted online.

Earlier on Friday, unidentified saboteurs damaged two of Kherson’s four electricity transmission towers, prompting Crimean authorities to issue warnings of possible power cuts. However, when local Ukrainian repairs crews attempted to reach the site, they were blocked by Crimean Tatar activists and Right Sector militants, who proclaimed they were taking the area “under protection,” TASS reported.

The stand-off ended in clashes with Ukrainian riot police, who were dispatched to the site. Several activists were slightly injured, while one police officer was stabbed during the turmoil.While the Ukrenergo energy company’s maintenance crew finally managed to start the repair work, dozens of Crimean Tatars gathered in Kiev at the presidential administration building to protest the police response. Radical activists called for resistance to any attempts by Ukrainian authorities to undermine the so-called “blockade” of Crimea that has been organized by several activist groups in Kherson and had initially targeted Ukrainian vehicles transporting goods for sale to the peninsula.

Crimea ‘in standalone mode’

The Crimean power grid has been working in standalone mode since the incident. “Due to the complete shut off from the Ukrainian power grid, Crimean grid is operating in standalone mode,” TASS quoted a local emergency response unit as saying.

It could take up to 48 hours to repair the damage on the Ukrainian side, and reestablish the power supply to Crimea, a source from Ukrenergo told RIA Novosti.

All Crimean medical facilities are connected to backup power supplies and their operations will not be affected, Crimea’s first vice premier, Mikhail Sheremet, told journalists.

TV and radio broadcasting services will not be interrupted and are currently using an autonomous power supply, Russia’s Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications said.


WATCH: Blackout in Sevastopol, Crimea.

However, Sheremet warned that Crimea will be able to make up for no more than 50 percent of its daily power consumption autonomously, even after resorting to additional wind power and solar energy.

“Our demand today is 1200 Megawatt. At the present point, with all the power sources, we could have about 600 Megawatt. This is under the most favorable conditions,” the official predicted.

The local airport, Kerch Strait ferry line to mainland Russia, as well as bus and railway stations are operating normally, the head of information department within the local emergency services Vladimir Ivanov said.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol has continued to operate on reserve power, the city’s governor, Sergey Menyaylo, has said.

Meanwhile, the Crimean energy company stated that the region’s reserve power stations could last up to 25 days independently. Petrol filling stations will be contributing to the work of the reserve mobile stations. - RT.

 

EXTREME WEATHER: Severe Weather System Sweeps Through The U.S. Plains And Midwest - Spawning Multiple Tornadoes, Power Outages And Wildfires!

Storm damage to a home in southern Monroe County south of Melrose.  © Twitter/KIIC

November 13, 2015 - UNITED STATES - A powerful low-pressure system swept through the Midwest, spawning severe thunderstorms and high winds. Several tornadoes were reported in Iowa, which was among numerous states reporting damage from the fast-moving system.

The Wednesday evening event qualified as a derecho, according to Stu Ostro, Senior Director of Weather Communications at The Weather Channel.

The storms "met the criteria for length and concentration of the swath of wind damage reports," said Ostro. "This fit more into the 'serial' derecho type of classification than a 'progressive' derecho."

Here are the latest impacts from each state affected by this round of severe weather.

Update: the driver of this semi is okay. He didn't go to the hospital. #breaking #severewx @WOWT6News
Twitter: Brandon Scott

Illinois

One tornado has been confirmed in Illinois by the National Weather Service as of Friday morning. That tornado hit the town of Geneseo.

A barn was thrown into a roadway in Jo Daviess County Wednesday evening as severe weather moved through the area, law enforcement officials reported. One home near Menominee had its roof blown off and rescues were performed, the National Weather Service reports, but no injuries were reported.

The NWS in Lincoln reported a semi blown over on Interstate 74 near mile marker 125 Wednesday evening.

Officials in Hancock County reported numerous instances of structural damage on the east side of La Harpe, where a wall was reportedly blown out of a car dealership and a home shifted off its foundation.

The NWS office in Davenport is estimating wind gusts of 60 mph blew a tree 4 feet in diameter down onto a house in Industry Wednesday evening. Knox County emergency officials said a portion of the roof was blown off a church in East Galesburg and a semi was blown over on I-74 near mile marker 49.

More than 5,000 customers remain without power Thursday morning in northern and central Illinois, Ameren Energy reported.

One school district released students early Wednesday to prepare for the severe weather, according to WGEM.com.

Iowa

The National Weather Service has confirmed six tornadoes in Iowa, and survey crews will head back out on Friday to investigate a few other areas where damage was reported.

One of those twisters, an EF1 tornado with an estimated peak wind speed of 110 mph, touched down in a cornfield 2 miles west of Avoca on Wednesday. The storm traveled northeast, damaging a grain bin and spreading debris toward Interstate 80. The tornado crossed the highway, where it tossed an eastbound tractor trailer across the median into the ditch on the westbound side.

"Being through one before and knowing the devastating stuff before ... it was scary," Mike Poorker, who was working at a nearby truck stop when the tornado hit, told WOWT.com.

A trained spotter in Scott County reported that high winds destroyed a cinder block shed at Glendale Cemetery in Le Claire, throwing individual blocks up to 30 yards. Several trees were sheared off at the base, and a house southeast of the city had its roof completely blown off.

That damage was late confirmed to be from an EF1 tornado that had peak wind speeds of 100 mph, according to the NWS.

Emergency officials in Appanoose County reported that a tornado destroyed a home near Iconium on the north side of Lake Rabun. That tornado was the strongest confirmed from this event, and was rated EF2 with maximum winds of 125 mph.

A tornado reported near Barnes City in Mahaska County caused extensive tree damage and destroyed several farm buildings. Damage to telephone poles was reported along Barnes City Road along with damage to trees and buildings on the west side of the town.

Near Adel, a southwest to northeast damage track was reported just after 3 p.m. local time, including a barn that was partially destroyed. The NWS also reported a large limb through the roof of a house.

Injuries have been reported in connection with an overturned semi truck on Highway 14 south of Knoxville. The NWS reported a tornado in the area around 3:45 p.m. Damage to the Walmart in town forced everyone out of the store in the wake of the storms, according to the Des Moines Register.

The NWS confirmed the damage in Knoxville was from an EF1 tornado with maximum winds of 110 mph.

Airport tower controllers at the Des Moines airport reported seeing the funnel cloud with a circulation on the ground, at 3:30 p.m. The NWS in Des Moines reported damage to National Guard trailers at the airport and trailers at a building across the street.

A tornado was reported 5 miles east of Winterset moving northeast at 40 mph Wednesday afternoon. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Emergency management personnel in Ringgold County reported several instances of damage Wednesday afternoon that may or may not be associated with multiple tornadoes near Benton. Officials indicated there was debris and power lines downed near a farm.

A second tornado reported southeast of Kent flattened two barns, broke several windows and possibly damaged several roofs.

According to the NWS in Des Moines, Corning emergency personnel reported a tornado touched down at 2 p.m. local time Wednesday, estimated by radar. The storm caused damage to several buildings in the industrial park on the west side of town. The tornado was spotted by building employees, the report says, and trees were blown down; several roofs and oxygen tanks were also damaged. A trained spotter reported a semi truck blown over by high winds on Highway 34.

Our team in Jackson, Iowa captured this photo of a home's roof blown off when a suspected tornado hit the area
Twitter: CBS Evening News

Kansas

The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities reported that more than 1,600 customers were without power Wednesday. Westar Energy reported 3,550 customers without power in central and eastern Kansas, while the utility company Empire reported nearly 1,500 customers without power.

By Thursday morning, only a few hundred of those outages remained.

The National Weather Service office in Springfield, Missouri, reported several grass fires across southeastern Kansas due to strong winds. There were also numerous reports from law enforcement of power lines down due to strong winds across Crawford, Bourbon, and Cherokee Counties, the NWS reports.

One particular blaze threatened several homes as it was whipped by strong winds, according to KWCH.com. It took more than a dozen firefighting crews to push the flames away from the residences, which was believed to have been started by arcing power lines, the Atlanta Fire Chief in Cowley County told KWCH.com.

Officials do not believe there were any injuries caused by the inferno.

Missouri

The severe weather in Missouri caused a chlorine gas leak Wednesday evening at a water treatment plant in Parkville, outside Kansas City, KMBC reports. Tanks of chlorine at the site are fitted with special caps that tighten when the power goes off and reopen when the power comes back on. One of the caps failed after the power flickered on and off numerous times due to the heavy weather in the area.

"Northwesterly winds were still gusting over 40 mph near Parkville Wednesday evening, and in a way that would have been good because all that air rushing by would have diluted any cloud of chlorine gas that may have tried to form," said weather.com senior meteorologist Nick Wiltgen.

According to KMBC, crews contained the leak just before 8 p.m, and no evacuations or injuries were reported.

Kansas City Power & Light reported that nearly 18,000 customers were without power late Wednesday afternoon across its territory in western Missouri and far eastern Kansas. The vast majority of those outages were on the Missouri side of the line, including 6,000 customers in Kansas City proper. The outages were primarily the result of strong winds behind the cold front as skies cleared, and not from thunderstorms.

KCP&L showed 11,000 customers still in the dark as of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Most of those outages were restored by Thursday morning.

Ameren reported a smattering of outages across the northern half of the state, amounting to about 2,000 customers at one point Wednesday evening.

The NWS in Kansas City reported a tree down on a house and multiple carports destroyed in Putnam County, with multiple reports of damage on the east side of Unionville. The NWS has also reported a large portion of shingled roof blown off in Grundy County around 2:45 p.m. local time.

Sky News 6 captures what appears to be a hay barn & house near Lenapah. Wind still gusting at 40mph #okwx #wildfire
Twitter: Brandi Ball

Oklahoma

At least one house and one barn in Lenepah went up in flames due to a large wildfire that broke out Wednesday afternoon, Osage Sky News reports. The fire was one of several burning across the state, fanned by high winds that followed severe weather earlier in the day.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management requested the evacuation of Lenepah and Delaware in Nowata County earlier that afternoon. The Oklahoma Forestry Services issued a red flag warning for most of the state lasting until 6 p.m. Wednesday due to high winds across the region.

"Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph have been reported throughout that region due to the strong low-pressure system moving by to the north," said Wiltgen. "Nowata County missed out on precipitation from this storm system, so conditions were also dry."

According to a KFOR.com report, Jones Middle School outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was evacuated after a power pole snapped near the school, likely due to high winds. No injuries were reported immediately following the incident. - Weather Underground.

 

EXTREME WEATHER: Apocalyptic Hailstorm In Argentina - Gigantic Hailstones Pound Conscripto Bernard Damaging Homes And Cars, Resulting In Widespread Power Outages! [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

November 13, 2015 - CONSCRIPTO BERNARD, ARGENTINA - An apocalyptic hailstorm hit Conscripto Bernardi in Argentina on November 9, 2015.

On average, the stones were the size of a tennis ball or an orange. Some were measuring more than 15 centimeters in diameter. Insane...

The extreme storm hit the city of Conscripto Bernardi in the late afternoon hours on Monday.

The strong winds accompanied by rain and large hail, affected several homes, shattered roofs, broke window panes, shop windows and cut off most of the electrical, telephone and cable service.

The storm caused strong damages, a disaster for this small city and its inhabitants.

The major hailstorm only lasted three to five minutes, but seemed unstoppable, like never ending...

This weather anomaly was concentrated on the 2000-people city.

WATCH: Severe hailstorm in Argentina.

The apocalyptical hailstorm only engulfed and destroyed Conscripto Bernardi. Within a radius of 10 kilometers, no other localities had problems, except the rain and wind.

News article and pictures: Relevan la situación de familias afectadas por el granizo en Conscripto Bernardi


- Strange Sounds.

 

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVALS: Monster 20-FOOT Waves Possible On Lake Michigan - Will Result In Downed Trees And Power Outages!

As winds increase to 60 mph gusts, isolated waves on Lake Michigan could reach 20 ft offshore.(Photo: WZZM)

November 11, 2015 - LAKE MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES - An intense low pressure system is still projected to slam into the western Great Lakes on Wednesday night.

National Weather Service in Grand Rapids meteorologists are warning of dangerous conditions along Lake Michigan for Thursday because of gusting winds.

The main hazard with this storm will be incredibly strong winds in excess to 45 m.p.h. at times. This will cause numerous issues, including downed trees and the potential for power outages.

In addition to impacts on land, Lake Michigan will also suffer the wrath of this strong fall storm, where waves could reach as high as 20 feet offshore.

A gale watch has been issued by the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids for the Lakeshore and will be in effect from Wednesday evening through Friday afternoon.

Waves could be 12-20 feet high as winds are predicted to gust to 60 mph at times.

A Lake Michigan wave crashes into Grand Haven's south pier Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Meteorologists say the weather could bring beach and dune erosion because of high lake levels.

They warn to "steer clear of the piers" because the waves will make for "incredibly dangerous" conditions.

Forecasters expect waves to build to six to 10 feet Wednesday night, then reach their maximum height Thursday.

Inland, the winds may bring downed limbs and power lines.

Consumers Energy on Tuesday, Nov. 10, introduced a new service for customers that provides automatic outage alerts via computers, mobile phones and tablets.

Predicted wind speeds (gusts) for Thursday, Nov. 12. Courtesy: National Weather Service

To sign up, visit the Consumers website.

The alerts provide estimated restoration times.

Gale watches are issued when there is an elevated risk for gale force winds of approximately 38 to 55 m.p.h.

Watch live cam: St. Joseph Lighthouse

Watch live cam: Grand Haven live stream

Impacts starting Wednesday night:

• Sustained winds near 45 m.p.h.
  
  
  • Wind gusts near 60 m.p.h.
    
• Waves building 12 to 18 feet by Thursday afternoon
  
  
  • Isolated waves may reach 20 feet
    
• Coastal flooding possible
  
  
  • Beach erosion expected
    
• Piers will be extremely dangerous -- stay off!

- Detroit Free Press | MLive.

 

KNOWING, THE BLACK CELESTIAL EVENT: It's Official, The Obama White House Is Preparing For CATASTROPHIC SOLAR FLARES Which Could WIPE OUT POWER Around The World For Months - Bringing An End To Modern Civilization As We Know It!

The U.S. government are preparing for a catastrophic solar flare (pictured is a flare) which could wipe out power across the world for months

November 11, 2015 - THE WHITE HOUSE, UNITED STATES - The U.S. government are preparing for a catastrophic solar flare which could wipe out power across the world for months.

The last powerful geomagnetic solar storm which hit the earth was in 1859 which caused telegraph lines to explode, setting fire to some telegraph offices, and power to fail across Europe and North America.

In today's far more advanced and technological world, experts the effects would be devastating.

The massive electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from solar flares could wipe out power grids, bringing an end to modern civilization as we know it as cellphones, credit cards and the internet were rendered useless.

In the U.S, alone researchers estimate the cost on the fragile economy would be up to $2.6 trillion, according to a 2008 National Academy of Sciences study.

The report warned that power outages after an extreme solar storm could last months or even longer if it wiped out the transformers.

A catastrophic solar storm came terrifyingly close in 2012 but passed the Earth's orbit without striking the planet.

With scientists predicting a 12 per cent chance that one could hit by 2022, the White House is preparing a contingency plan.

'Frankly, this could be one of the most severe natural disasters that the country, and major portions of the world, could face,' space weather consultant John Kappenman told Gizmodo.

The last powerful geomagnetic solar storm which hit the earth was in 1859 which caused telegraph lines to explode, setting fire to some telegraph offices,
and power to fail across Europe and North America.

John P. Holdren Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, admitted the solar storms posed a 'significant challenge'.

'Space weather is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has the potential to cause substantial detrimental effects on the Nation's economic and social well-being,' he said.

'This is a real and present danger, this is a real threat,' added Bill Murtagh, assistant director to the Washington Post.

A space weather action plan and strategy have now been drawn up which will focus on preparing the United States for the disaster.

The six-step plan includes establishing a benchmark to accurately measure the threat of events, such as the Richter magnitude scale used for earthquakes and focus on improving forecasting technologies.

One of the big dangers of space weather is that forecasters currently have just 15 to 60 minutes warning time before an extreme event.

The plan would allow for new satellites in space and new technologies on the ground to give a more adequate warning of the disaster.

Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights, like those shown above Norway, are caused by the flow of electrically charged particle that are thrown out by the
sun during solar storms. Solar events like the one that caused this aurora are relatively minor compared to the one that hit the Earth in 1859.

Research will also be carried out into the potential effects a weather event would have on America and its critical infrastructure, which will allow the government to create a response and recovery plan.

Schools, academia, government agencies, the media, the insurance industry, nonprofits, and the private sector will all be involved if the worst does happen, according to the strategy.

The government has already taken steps towards their goals such as replacing old satellites which are crucial to forecasting the solar storms.

They are also working on a way to protect and regulate the electric grids from a space storm, to stop power being wiped out completely, and are assessing a proposal to replace Extra High Voltage (EHV) transformers destroyed by a solar event.

But the strategy warned that 'much more needs to be done' to protect America from the threat. 

The U.S. government are also taking a global view and the last step involves working with other countries to prepare for such an event.

The steps are similar to contingency plans for natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts and wild forest fires. 

HOW SOLAR FLARES IMPACT EARTH

Solar flares can damage satellites and have an enormous financial cost.

Astronauts are not in immediate danger because of the relatively low orbit of this manned mission.

They do have to be concerned about cumulative exposure during space walks. The charged particles can also threaten airlines by disturbing the Earth's magnetic field.

 Very large flares can even create currents within electricity grids and knock out energy supplies.

A positive aspect, from an aesthetic point of view, is that the auroras are enhanced.

Geomagnetic storms are more disruptive now than in the past because of our greater dependence on technical systems that can be affected by electric currents.

 Major solar flares are caused by a build-up of magnetic energy that releases blasts of radiation across the solar system.

While there is a steady stream of particles buffeting the planets of the solar system from the sun – known as the solar wind – flares and eruptions send intense blasts of radiation and particles.

The image above shows the numerous effects a solar flare could have on the world

These vary in frequency with the activity of the sun and often blast off in directions far away from the Earth. However, severe solar events are thought to threaten the Earth every 100 years or so.

The last major coronal mass ejection to hit the Earth, known as the Carrington event, was a powerful geomagnetic solar storm in 1859 and is thought to have been the biggest in 500 years.

While a large solar flare in March this year knocked out radio transmissions in some parts of the world.

A massive solar phenomenon would disrupt transport networks, cause blackouts and disrupt satellites, according to studies.

GPS systems could go down leaving train networks and shipping badly affected, while satellite communication and high frequency radio communication used by aircraft, could also go down meaning global transport would be hit. 

Oil drilling also relies heavily on GPS for accuracy and could result in a fall in oil production and dry up of fuel for motorists at the tanks

Power grids could also be effected, leading to blackouts in some areas.

Experts warn individuals to be prepared by stashing an emergency kit with enough fresh water, food and medication to last for the first 72 hours.

While some extreme doomsday preppers put aside several years worth of food, water and medication and have even invested their money in gold rather than banks.

Others suggest using a Faraday cage - a conductive, grounded, metal container that shields its contents from electrostatic and electromagnetic influences. - Daily Mail.



WATCH: KNOWING Movie Clip - At Earth's End.

EXTREME WEATHER & INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Severe Storm Blows Freight Train Off New Orleans Bridge - 11 Cars Involved In The Crash; Tens Of Thousands Without Power; Many Travelers Stranded!

Several train cars were blown off the Huey P. Long Bridge on Monday as strong storms hit the New Orleans area. WGNO captured video of the incident.
At least 11 cars were tossed from the bridge.

April 27, 2015 - LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES - Severe storms in southern Louisiana have blown a train off a bridge in New Orleans. Tens of thousands are without power in the area, while thousands of travelers are stranded at the Louis Armstrong airport.

A train belonging to the Union Pacific Railroad toppled off the Huey P. Long Bridge, south of New Orleans on Monday.


WATCH: Strong winds knock over a train in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

Weather reports in the area indicated heavy rain and wind gusts of over 70 mph, with tornado warning conditions.

“Due to the severe weather this morning, four Union Pacific Railroad railcars derailed and dropped off the east bank approach to the Huey P. Long Bridge,” Jeff Davis, New Orleans Public Belt general manager said in a statement. “The rail cars were empty and did not contain any hazardous materials. No leaks and no injuries are reported at this time.”

According to the local TV station WGNO, which captured the crash on camera, “at least 11 cars” were swept off the bridge.

Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts said the cleanup would take several days, as recovering the cars would require a heavy crane.

Photos from the scene showed smashed-up freight cars. The bridge does not appear to have been damaged.

NOLA airport totally out of power! Chilling out in the dark w/a few thousand of our closest friends... #wow #GoNOLA
Doug Haefele

Crews are working to restore power to @NO_Airport terminal. The airfield is operational but some flights have been diverted or cancelled
NOLA Ready

The storm that hit southern Louisiana Monday morning left 168,000 residents without power, mostly in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas. Power outages also affected the Louis Armstrong International Airport, stranding thousands of travelers in town for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Power was off in the main terminal, with the airfield operating on emergency power, an airport spokeswoman told the Times-Picayune. Entergy Corp. repair crews were reporedly working to restore service. - RT.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Massive Power Outage Strikes Macau - Paralysing Telephones, Traffic Lights, Elevators And Banking Services!

A sign at a Macau bank notifying business interruption due the power failure. © Xinhua

April 18, 2015 - MACAU - A massive power outage, triggered by malfunctioning electrical substations, hit Macau yesterday, paralysing fixed-line telephones, traffic lights and elevator services, said the government. Banking services in the affected areas were also briefly suspended before electricity supplies were restored at noon. Some shops were temporarily closed due to the incident as well.

The city's sole electricity supplier CEM - Companhia de Electricidade de Macau - said at 10:56am yesterday morning that a malfunction of the 110kV high-voltage equipment in the Canal dos Patos substation subsequently affected four primary substations including S. Paulo, D. Maria, Porto Exterior and Ariea Preta substations.

Extensive areas in Macau Peninsula were affected, with 100,000 customers on the Macau Peninsula and some customers in Taipa, Coloane and the University of Macau encountering voltage dips caused by the incident. The power supply was fully restored at 12:20pm according to CEM.

Mainland China

CEM has denied the power outage had anything to do with electricity importation from Mainland China. The two existing networks for power supplied by state-owned China Southern Power Grid, situated in Gongbei Port and Lotus Port, respectively, account for 95 per cent of local power consumption.

In a joint press conference held following the incident, the Co-ordinator of the Office for the Development of the Energy Sector, Arnaldo Ernesto dos Santos, said the government is requiring CEM to submit a preliminary report in one week and an extensive report in one month.

A representative of the Public Security Police Force said the border crossing remained normal during the incident and said the government had despatched more police officers onto the streets to ensure public order was maintained.

75 trapped

The Fire Services Bureau activated its emergency mechanism, including mobilising 150 officers and more vehicles to help in rescue work. It handled 75 cases of people trapped in elevators and helped 440 affected by the lift incidents.

The Health Bureau said the incident had only a minor effect on the services of the emergency ward, and the operation of surgery wards and intensive care units, as the hospital has an emergency power supply.

CEM said it took emergency measures by activating the generation units of Coloane Power Plant A to provide emergency supply, which generated the black smoke at its power plant that the company explained is normal.

CEM has apologised for the incident and said the company would learn from it to further optimise the stability of the power supply. It also disclosed that the last regular inspection of the Canal dos Patos substation was conducted last month.  - Macau Business Daily.

EXTREME WEATHER: Epic "Apocalyptic" Storm Turns Day Into Night In Belarusian City - Storm's Heavy Rains Led To Power Outages, Falling Trees And Damage To Buildings!

Screeenshot from youtube.com video

April 16, 2015 - BELARUS - An “apocalyptical” storm swept through several regions in Belarus, including the capital. But it was in the city of Soligorsk where clouds as black as ink obscured the sun light, while strong winds ushered in a sand storm.

Soligorsk residents, about 120 kilometers from the capital Minsk, were both scared and excited by the weather phenomenon that hit Belarus on Monday. At around 17:00 local time, darkness descended on the city with over 100,000 residents opting to stay indoors.

People reportedly had to move around several districts with flashlights. The storm’s heavy rains led to electricity being cut off, trees falling down and damage to buildings.

The country’s Emergency Ministry reported about 46 communities in the Minsk region suffered various kinds of damage. The capital city was also hit by storm force winds and torrential rain, but no emergency situations were reported.

WATCH: Epic storm hits Belarus.

The epic storm was created by a cold front on the Ukrainian-Belorusian border that later reached the Carpathian Mountains in an event that is quite rare for this time of the year. Meteorologists called the natural phenomenon a “haboob,” which means an intense red dust storm in Arabic. - RT.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Blackout - Widespread Power Outages Hits Washington, D.C.; Government Left In The Dark; Possible Explosion At Power Plant!

RT Photo/Gayane Chichakyan

April 7, 2015 - WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES - Lights went out at the State Department, White House, Capitol and many other places in Washington, DC, in a puzzling series of power outages. Terrorism is not suspected, officials say.

Power went out at the State Department during the question-and-answer session on Iran nuclear talks.

After the initial confusion, the briefing continued.

Acting State Department spokeswoman, Marie Harf, continued the session under what appeared to be light from a smartphone.

Outage at State seemed to be part of a widespread chain of power failures around Washington, DC, for “unknown” reasons. Reports are coming in from a number of government buildings, metro stations and offices downtown, including the White House and the Department of Justice.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reported 13 stations on emergency power.

Several office buildings downtown have been evacuated.

The University of Maryland, in the suburb of College Park, also lost power.

Smithsonian Institution museums downtown were also affected. Four museums were evacuated, including the popular National Air and Space Museum.

WATCH: State Dept. plunges into darkness when reporter asks about Iran.

Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has not officially confirmed the cause of the outage, but said that by 1:15 PM local time there were 111 active outages and 2,467 affected customers.

According to Washington Post reporter Aaron C. Davis, Homeland Security officials believe the cause of the outage was due to an "explosion" at the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) power facility in southern Maryland.

US government officials told Reuters there were "no initial indications" terrorism was involved. - RT.

Scattered power outages reported across D.C.

This image provided by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency shows widespread power outages Tuesday afternoon
concentrated in Southern Maryland, south of the District. (Maryland Emergency Management Agency)

D.C. utilities and homeland security officials are investigating a power surge that temporarily knocked out power to the White House, parts of downtown Washington and other nearby areas.

D.C. homeland security officials said an explosion at a southern Maryland electrical facility is believed to have caused the power surge that temporarily knocked out power to the White House and much of downtown Washington.

The explosion was at a facility run by SMECO, a customer-owned electric that serves parts of the District’s Maryland suburbs, said Nicole Chapple, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency

Chris T. Geldart, director of the agency, said the District experienced a broad power surge that left many downtown buildings dark or on backup generation.

Any District facility with a critical operations center flipped over to emergency back-up power, Geldart said. That appeared to include the White House, State Department, and many District offices.

Several Metro stations were running on back-up generation near 1:30 p.m.

Chapple said PEPCO was working to bring its electrical grid back up to normal strength.

Reports indicated outages at the Justice Department, State Department and Smithsonian museums. As of about 1:20 p.m., power was on at the White House, Executive Office Building and Department of Homeland Security.

Metro reported that 13 stations were operating on backup power, but train service was normal. Some elevators and escalators weren’t in operation.

The University of Maryland in College Park also reported several people were stuck on elevators.

Mark Brady, Prince George’s County fire department spokesman, said that firefighters were getting the people out of the elevators.

Pepco did not respond to a request for information. - Washington Post.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Blackout - Turkey Struck By The BIGGEST POWER CUT IN 15 YEARS; Crippling Transportation Networks!

March 31, 2015 - TURKEY - The worst power outage in 15 years struck most of Turkey on Tuesday, grounding flights and crippling rail networks. Localized blackouts continued as night fell.

Dogan News Agency reported that all provinces, apart from Van in the east, which receives energy from Iran were affected by the accident that took place at 10:36 a.m. local time. The energy ministry later said that the problem originated on the main Aegean lines, which distribute imported energy throughout the country.

Subway systems and traffic lights went down in several major urban centers, creating havoc on the streets, as an impromptu market opened on the streets for generator fuel. Thousands of people were also trapped for hours in elevators, and on funicular lines. Major industrial objects had to be shut down for the majority of the day.

A widespread power outage in Turkey is affect flights.

By late afternoon, the energy ministry said that electricity had been restored to 90 percent of Istanbul, and would "shortly" be back in the remainder of the country.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says all potential causes are still being investigated, “including the possibility of a terror attack,".

A general view of Ambarli power station in Istanbul (Reuters / Osman Orsal)

"Whether or not terrorism is a high possibility or a low one I can’t say at this stage. I can’t say either whether it is a cyber attack," energy minister Taner Yildiz told reports.

This is the first outage event of such magnitude in 15 years, according to the daily Hurriyet paper.


WATCH: Infrastructure collapse from blackouts in Turkey.

#hahaha#metroda#elektrik#kesildi#yürümeye#devam

A video posted by Samet Kanberoğlu (@sametkanberogluu) on Mar 31, 2015 at 1:26am PDT

- RT.