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Wildfires may keep Alligator Alley shut down through weekend

A growing wildfire in the Everglades has authorities warning that Alligator Alley, closed since Wednesday evening, could remain shut down until Monday.

Heavy smoke fills the sky Thursday at the 77 mile marker on Alligator Alley. The highway will remain closed through at least Friday, officials say. 

LOU TOMAN / SUN SENTINEL

BY DAVID SMILEY

DSMILEY@MIAMIHERALD.COM

A wildfire fueled for days by 10,000 acres of dangerously dry Everglades vegetation may force authorities to keep Alligator Alley closed for the weekend, creating headaches for travelers.

The Florida Highway Patrol has kept the highway closed since about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, when smoke from the fire began billowing over the roadway in spots of Collier County and Big Cypress National Preserve.

Officials hoped to open the 78-mile stretch of Interstate 75 on Friday, but with no rain expected and firefighters stretched to the limit, authorities say it is probable that the road will remain closed all of Saturday and possibly Sunday.

”We’re doing this for public safety,” Big Cypress spokesman Bob DeGross said. “I know it’s an inconvenience, but we’re being cautious.”

The highway has already been shut down for more than 48 hours because of the blaze, longer than the 46 cumulative hours the highway has been closed since 2003 due to wildfires, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

For many, the closure has been only an annoyance, forcing drivers to take one or two-hour detours on U.S. 41 or State Road 80 to make the trek from Sunrise to Naples.

And for those who rely on the highway for business and income, a weekend closure is troubling, as well.

`TIME IS MONEY’

”If they keep it closed all weekend, there will be a financial impact because we have to take alternate routes, spending more money on fuel to get to the East Coast and longer hours,” said Boris Espinosa, a dispatcher with B&G Carriers, a produce shipping company based in Naples. “Time is money.”

Businesses at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation have felt a hit, with few customers making the long detour to get to the reservation.

”We are down significantly,” said Cindy Malin, a spokeswoman for Billie Swamp Safari. “Mother Nature is in charge right now.”

And as Alligator Alley remains closed, money that would normally flood into the Florida Department of Transportation via tolls at either end of the highway has run dry.

More than $85,000 was lost between Wednesday evening and noon Friday, FDOT spokesman Chad Huff said.

Should the highway remain closed on Saturday and Sunday, the agency could stand to lose another $60,000 or so, he said.

Despite a strong easterly wind blowing over the fire and reducing smoke during the day, weather forecasts predict little relief.

Strassberg said South Florida has been abnormally dry during the past 16 months, particularly in Collier County.

”There is no chance of rain across the interior where the fire is,” said meteorologist Gordon Strassberg.

Strassberg said winds blowing from the east Friday and Saturday should disperse the smoke some, but likely not enough to make driving safe, given the location of the blaze — near State Road 29 toward the middle of Alligator Alley.

”It’s in a really bad spot,” he said. “It’s close enough to the roadway where there will at least be some effects no matter how strong the winds are during the day, and at night, the winds will likely calm and smoke will tend to settle near the ground. There could also be some patchy fog mixed in.”

He said rainfall at Immokalee, the location closest to Big Cypress where the National Weather Service measures precipitation levels, has been more than nine inches below average since October.

Strassberg said the fire is believed to have been sparked by lightning, meaning the blaze began smoldering during a thunderstorm.

DeGross, the Big Cypress spokesman, said about 100 firefighters from several state agencies have been battling spot fires to keep the blaze east of State Road 29.

HEALTH OF THE PARK

The park’s dry conditions have officials concerned that other fires could spark elsewhere in the 720,000-acre preserve, where most of the blaze has burned.

However, he said the fire has not damaged the park.

”It’s actually a benefit to the ecology of the forest,” he said. “Fires tend to remove heavy and old vegetation in areas for new vegetation to grow.”

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Levees can’t save New Orleans from floods: report

Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:44pm EDT

By Chris Baltimore

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Bigger, higher and stronger levees cannot save New Orleans from the worst floods and the city remains vulnerable to a repeat of Hurricane Katrina, the National Academy of Sciences said on Friday.

New Orleans had the flood protection of a 350-mile network of levees, I-walls and T-walls ringing the city when Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore on August 29, 2005. The levees broke, flooding 80 percent of the city.

The hurricane killed about 1,500 people along the U.S. Gulf Coast and caused $80 billion in damages, making it the costliest U.S. natural disaster.

As Katrina demonstrated, “the risks of inundation and flooding never can be fully eliminated by protective structures no matter how large or sturdy those structures may be,” said the report by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council.

“Substantial risks” of living in flood-prone areas were never clearly communicated to residents before Katrina, it said, and simply rebuilding New Orleans and its hurricane-protection system back to pre-Katrina levels would leave the city vulnerable to another flooding disaster.

The first floor of buildings in flood-prone parts of the city should be raised at least to the 100-year flood level, which the report called a “crucial flood insurance standard.” But for heavily populated cities like New Orleans, that standard is inadequate, said the report, part of a five-part study by the academies in the wake of Katrina.

The 100-year standard basically stipulates protection based on the assumed worst damage of the worst flood in the last 100 years. It determines insurance rates for the National Flood Insurance Program administered by the federal government.

But structures in New Orleans’ most flood-prone areas have a 26 percent chance of flooding over the term of a 30-year mortgage, and the 100-year standard is “far too risky” to rely on, the report said.

Authorities should discourage settlement in flood-prone areas and encourage voluntary relocation away from them, the report said. They should also shore up electricity supplies that are key to running giant pumps that route floodwaters away from the city, the report said.

Large portions of New Orleans are below sea level, which makes it vulnerable to floods and storm surges from hurricanes. Located at the mouth of the Mississippi River delta, New Orleans is in close proximity to Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne.

The city’s levee system was tested again in September 2008, when a surge from Hurricane Gustav nearly overtopped a protective T-wall along New Orleans’ Inner Navigation Canal.

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Beware of Snakes, Bacteria in Floodwaters   Posted: 8:13 PM Apr 21, 2009 Last Updated: 10:45 PM Apr 21, 2009 Reporter: Lanetra Bennett Email Address: lanetra.bennett@wctv.tv   The some 200 families displaced by area flooding are not the only ones. Animals and insects have also been uprooted, and residents are urged to be aware of the bugs and protect themselves during clean-up. Health officials say residents should also be on the look-out for snakes. Health officials say there’s an increased number of snakes visible because they’re searching for higher ground after the Suwannee River flooded the area more than two weeks ago. Dowling Park resident Edgar Melton said, “They say if it’s a poisonous snake you should cut across and suck the blood out and spit it out.” Health officials say that’s exactly what you should NOT do. Experts also say: do not apply ice or immense a snake bite in water, do not drink alcohol as a pain killer, and do not drink caffeinated beverages. Signs of a snake bite include: a pair of puncture marks at the wound, redness and swelling around the bite, severe pain at the site of the bite, nausea and vomiting, labored breathing (in extreme cases, breathing may stop altogether), disturbed vision, increased salivation and sweating, and numbness or tingling around your face and/or limbs. Local residents say they’ve spotted snakes in the area lately. But, health officials say toxins and bacteria also lurk in floodwaters. Residents and first responders who get cut, scratched, or punctured while cleaning up debris associated with the flood can get a tetanus shot and/or Hepatitis A immunizations at the Suwannee County Health Department for free. Dowling Park resident Lenny Sapp said, “I think that’s a good idea. Just like my house it was about two feet under water. It’s going down. My dad’s out there now stripping carpet out and whatever else he can throw right out the door.” Health officials say keep wounds clean, covered, and dry to help prevent infection. For more information on how to prevent and treat wounds and infections, as well as tips on what to do if you’re bitten by a snake, how to prevent and treat fire ant stings and bites: visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/medicine/arboviral/Zoonoses/Rodent Zoonoses.html. The preliminary damage report from all that flooding has been released for Suwannee County. It shows 37 homes have been damaged in the area and 18 homes are totally destroyed and 17 homes have minor damage. The report says 140 are inaccessible. Officials estimate the total damage to county roads and public property comes to $250,000. Florida and local emergency management officials announce that an Essential Services Center will open Wednesday, April 22, in Live Oak to help survivors of the recent severe weather and floods. The Center is designed as a one-stop shop where local residents can receive information on recovery activities, state and local services, and connect to faith and community––based relief organizations. The center will operate from the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice. The location: Suwannee County Emergency Operations Center 617 Ontario Avenue, SW Suite 200 Live Oak, Florida 32064 386-364-3405 For additional information please visit FloridaDisaster.org.

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One moment you’re enjoying a nice picnic at a park, the next you’re forced to walk home.

Kingwood sinkhole forces drivers to abandon cars

By CINDY HORSWELL
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

About 100 residents were forced to abandon their vehicles at River Grove Park in Kingwood Sunday night, after an 8-foot-deep sinkhole abruptly took the lone road to the park out of commission.

Possibly damaged by flooding and debris from this weekend’s storms, the asphalt road in the 1000 block of Woodland Hills Drive caved in around 6 p.m., officials said. Park goers were left with little choice but to camp out or walk home. The only path out of the park was a small wooden pedestrian bridge.

Many residents were left wondering how they would get to work and other important appointments this week,

“I’ll have to walk or ride a bike,” said Cecelia King, a seamstress who was enjoying the park with her three young nieces and nephews. “It was unbelievable how we could be trapped here. Nothing at all was wrong with the road when I went over it.”

A few hours later, a 20-by-30-foot oval patch of the road sunk an estimated 8 feet. No one was injured.

Calling the road unstable, officials barricaded the entrance. It could take several days to make the needed repairs, they said.

The road is about one-quarter mile from the waterways that lead to Lake Houston.

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In the midst of the storm just before noon Friday, in between car crashes and street flooding, firefighters were called to a house in Western Brazos County where lightning struck a home. Home owners on Goodson Bend near Highway 47 and Highway 21 say they heard a crack and a thud and then realized lightning hit their house. They called it in to firefighters who told them to get out.

Firefighters tell News 3 they didn’t see lightning in the area when they got there, but that it may have hit the roof of the house. The residents of the house were allowed back in. Nobody was hurt.

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Lightning strikes Copperas Cove schoolPosted On: Friday, Apr. 17 2009 09:52 AM
Updated On: Friday, Apr. 17 2009 05:03 PM

While Central Texas saw severe thunderstorms, flooding and hail, a local school was struck by lightning.

Copperas Cove Independent School District Deputy Superintendent Bobby Ott reported that around 9:15 a.m. today, the Copperas Cove Fire Department was contacted concerning a possible fire at the Parsons building of C.R. Clements/ Hollie Parsons Elementary. 

This call was made by the principal in response to a teacher report made in the north wing of the Parsons building. The report consisted of hearing a loud, sharp noise and then seeing smoke coming from the air conditioner vent, Ott stated in a press release.

Students in the Parsons building were evacuated to the Clements side of the campus immediately while the fire department investigated.

“It was determined that lightening had struck a roof top air conditioner causing the blower motor to malfunction. No other
damage was caused by the incident,” the release states.

The building was cleared and students returned to class about an hour later.

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Lightning ignites a fire at Boston home
Posted: April 15, 2009 02:23 PM

Updated: April 15, 2009 02:23 PM

Video Gallery <1> Lighting indirectly burns house 1:42

More News Headlines The last minute rush to pay uncle Sam Chemical fire leaves worker badly burned Trucker collapses and dies, passing through town King Committee helps Civil Rights Institute stay open Fitzgerald cleanup continues with volunteer help Food comes to those in need in Tift Lowndes County braces for possible flooding Lightning ignites a fire at Boston home Tax day arrives Peanut industry leaders study food safety

By Christian Jennings - bio | email 

BOSTON, GA (WALB) – During the brunt of Monday’s storms, John Whitney and his 79-year-old uncle Ken Zulick witnessed the powerful force of mother nature.

“I pulled in the driveway here and saw a fog of smoke coming from this side of the house. And I saw flames on the other side,” said Whitney.

His uncle was inside cooking dinner. Little did either of them know the fire began after a lightning bolt hit a tree in their backyard.

Investigators think when the lightning struck the tree, which is only a few feet away from the house, it bounced off the tree hitting the tin roof then igniting a spark in the attic.

“I ran in the back door screaming the house is on fire, call 911!” he said.

Thomas county firefighters were able to put out the fire quickly. But water damage and a collapsed roof sent them packing today. Leaving behind the Boston home they’ve rented out for over 20 years.

A lot of their property was destroyed and they don’t have renters insurance.

“This was our home,” he said.

Now Mr. Whitney says every time he hears thunder in the distance he’ll worry about what typically follows.

“Always going to be worried about things like that when a lightning strikes,” he said.

A streak of bright light in the sky that hit a little too close to home.

The Red Cross put Mr. Whitney and his uncle up in a hotel for 3 nights. They’re now moving into a new apartment nearby.

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Growing Johnston sinkhole causing bigger problems for neighbors

EDGEFIELD COUNTY, SC —People living near this stretch of Holmes Pond Road have been dealing with flooding and sinking near their homes for more than a month now.

“it’s been a problem for a while now. I think they’ve ignored it for so long and that’s what made it so bad,”said Lynn Toole who lives near the closed road.

The difference in what the sinkhole looked like a month ago, compared to now, is dramatic.

“It’s rough. We have to detour all the way out to 191 to go to Johnston to the stores or to run the kids to school,”said Olga Saenz who lives near the closed road.

Olga Saenz says now that the road is closed, she has to fill up her SUV twice a week because of the new detour. But she says the sinking road is affecting more than just her neighbors.

“The buses have to come to half of the road to pick up kids, go back out; reroute to 191. Then come back to the other half, come back out and head to school. It’s hard for everybody,”said Olga.

“It’s been a nightmare as far as rearranging the schedules and using up all the gas and the mileage on the cars,”said Lynn.

Lynn Toole says she’s also going miles out of her way just to make it home.

“I would say about 5 miles out of the way, either way you go. It adds up if you got to go twice a day,”said Lynn.

And while the problems with the water and the roads are making it hard for everyone to deal, these families just want the problems fixed.

“It would be nice to know an update on what’s happening and how much longer we have to wait,”said Lynne.

“I just want them to hurry up because it’s an inconvenience,”said Olga.

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IS THE GRIZZLY TROUBLE . . . OR ARE WE?

How would you feel about being mauled by a 500 lb Grizzly Bear?  Frankly, my memory would be flooded with the smell of the beast, the rush of my emotions as my body came into contact with his fur, the pain of his teeth on my head, and the cut from claws being raked across my flesh.

This is the forgiving attitude of Ron Leming, an Elk hunter from Wyoming.  He doesn’t blame the Bear for the attack.  Ron’s father had the presence of mind and the skill with the bow and arrow to put the Bear down before it killed his son Ron.  What an experience they had together while tracking Elk for their home’s wild life decor, wall trophy, and/or Elk steaks.

How do we respond?  Are Bear attacks on the rise?  Read about it in the Outdoor Life magazine, March 2009, pages 44-50.  Teddy Roosevelt would say that the Bear is the Spirit of America. 

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Road where sinkhole opened to be closed through weekend

From staff reports
Originally published 03:15 p.m., April 10, 2009

A road in Somis where a large sinkhole to opened up late Thursday night will be closed until at least Monday, authorities said.

The 15-foot-deep sinkhole was reported at 11:39 p.m. Thursday in southbound lanes of Stockton Road just east of East Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officials estimated the sinkhole was 30 feet in diameter. It covered about half of a lane next to a guardrail at the edge of a barranca.

Southbound lanes of Stockton Road were closed between Balcom Canyon Road and Waters Road as a result of the sinkhole.

Broken plastic pipes belonging to a private water company caused flooding and erosion that led the roadway to collapse, said Officer Terry Uhrich, a spokesman for the Moorpark CHP.

Water company officials were still working this afternoon to repair the pipes, said Butch Britt, director of transportation for the county Public Works Agency.

Officials hope to have the roadway fixed by Monday or Tuesday, Britt said.

Authorities considered letting traffic through one lane past the sinkhole but ultimately rejected that option as too dangerous, he said.