$626.25M HEADED TO SURVIVORS OF THE FLINT WATER CRISIS MAY NOT UNDO ALL DAMAGE

FlintWaterStudy.org

Funds are starting to make their way to the residents of Flint Michigan from a partial settlement approved by a federal judge for $626.25 million. This crisis was sparked in 2014 when government officials were attempting to find a new municipal water supply. The state’s governor, Rick Snyder, switched its main source from Detroit Water and Sewage to the Flint River, water already proven to be unsafe for consumption or use.

Residents started to become ill and formed Legionnaires’ disease among other diseases. Some residents experienced miscarriages and male fertility issues. Residents are speaking out against the amount given claiming it is no enough for the residents who will continue to suffer from the ailments.

PROPOSED CLASS-ACTION SUIT FILED TO RECOUP DAMAGES FROM SUMAS PRAIRIE FLOODING

B.C. HYDRO / PNG

Two residents from Sumas Prairie, British Colombia, have filed a proposed class action suit on December 23rd in the B.C Supreme Court. The suit is against the local authorities and the providence for damages suffered during the flooding of mid-November due to torrential downfall. Class action suits that allow for one or more people to sue on the behave of a group of people with similar claims has been approved by the courts.

Prospective plaintiffs in this case could include any residents in the Abbotsford region who suffered losses in the floods. An official cost of damages has not been totaled yet but Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun estimated repair costs to be around $2 billion for the damages to farms and residential properties. Several residents had to evacuate the Sumas Prairie area and other areas of Abbotsford.

Residents are arguing that the city, regional district and province “failed to warn of the impending and foreseeable Suma’s flood in a timely manner” and “failed to implement emergency measures and warnings.” Had the city given proper warning, residents could have prevented and lessened damages caused by the flooding.

6.2 EARTHQUAKE ON THE NORTH COAST OF CALIFORNIA DAMAGES BUSINESSES AND HOMES

Brad Getter / kymkemp.com

On December 20th, the northern coast of California endured a 6.2 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake occurred 24 miles west of Petrolia, California and left several residents disturbed while others suffered damages to their homes and businesses. Several businesses had to close for the day in order to clean up from the earthquake. Bear River Casino evacuated their residents shortly after the earthquake and remained closed for three days. They have since re-opened but their bar and grill remain closed. Residents are claiming the earthquake felt stronger than the 7.2 earthquake that hit this location last April. 356 people were injured from the earthquake and $48.3 million in damages have been reported.

RECOVERING TOGETHER ALONG THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES OFFER A GLIMMER OF HOPE AFTER TORNADOES

Joshua Lott / The Washington Post

Nearly 100 individuals have died in the tornados that occurred from December 10th – 12th crossing Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. The tornados caused property damage to factories, city halls, residential properties, and nursing homes. In the town of Monette, Arkansas, a nursing home experienced collapsing roofs and walls while over 200 residential properties were destroyed. Monette’s Singer Sewing Co. factory had their entire factory / warehouse complex damaged. Most of the communities the tornados ran through have similar stories of homes, buildings, and communities being destroyed by the winds. 

Residents of Dawson Springs said the winds of the tornado sounded like a lawn mower grinding through the trees. Three quarters of their 2,500-home community was destroyed by the tornados leaving 13 people dead. The number of deaths is subject to rise as the town is working on clearing the wreckage.

SEWAGE SPILL CLOSES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHES

KTLA 5 News / Associated Press

On December 31st, 2021, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Orange County beaches were closed due to a sewage spill of as many as 7 million gallons of untreated wastewater. A series of late December storms brought heavy rainfall to the southern California area causing a section of the Los Angeles County-run sewage system to collapse. The collapse sent untreated wastewater to storm drains that lead to sea.

The collapse was reported on Friday, December 31st, in the city of Carson. Emergency contractors set up bypass pumps immediately, but sewage continued to make its way into the ocean according to the districts.

The sewage spill prompted closures from Huntington Beach to Rancho Palos Verdes. This also included 7 miles of beach and bayfront areas in long beach. Reopening these beaches will require water testing that shows bacteria levels that are not hazardous.

FIRE DAMAGES HUGE QVC DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN NORTH CAROLINA

Fox 35 Orlando News Associated Press

On December 18th a fire started inside of a distribution center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The property belongs to the QVC home shopping television network. Reports of the fire came in at 2:00am and a QVC representative reported that all employees safely evacuated and were accounted for except for one. Edgecombe County Manager, Eric Evans, estimates that 1.2 million SqFt of the “Main Section” appeared to be destroyed. Crews from 45 different departments fought the blaze for over 12 hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

FIRE DAMAGES BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN ST. PETER HISTORIC DISTRICT

Erin Marie / SouthernMinn.com

On December 18th, a fire started at 101 S. Minnesota Avenue in the historic districts of St. Peters, Pennsylvania. The two-story brick building had all the windows broken on both floors, the roof burnt, and debris from the fire inside and out. Matt Atwood, the business owner who rents the main level space, claims the fires seemed to start near the electrical box in the upper floor. He also mentioned the building owner thought the building would likely be a total loss. Reports of the fire were received at 11:11pm and the fire would take roughly four hours to extinguish with fire fighters leaving the scene at 4:00am.

TREE DAMAGE ON BELLEVUE, NEBRASKA HOME CROSSES PROPERTY LINES

NewsBreak.com

During a storm on December 15th in Bellevue, Nebraska, two trees fell into a residential property. The next day a tree removal company arrived to move a pine tree and a cotton wood tree, both over 75 feet tall and weighing over 10 tons. They were uprooted during the storm and crossed over a property line between two neighbors. In these instances, property owners are advised to call their insurance company to see what is covered in their insurance plan. Once they have an understanding of coverage, they should then call a tree removal company.