damage News

Western U.S. Wildfires Force Evacuations of Thousands

Wildfires forced thousands to flee their homes across the U.S. West during a sweltering, smoke-shrouded holiday weekend of record heat. The fires caused evacuations in Glacier National Park in Montana and many other parts of the West; compelled crews to …

Oregon Wildfires Have Cost Taxpayers More Than $100M in 2017

Oregon wildfires already have burned nearly 500 square miles this year, as one of the state’s many multimillion-dollar forest fires this season smolders and flares away. The Register-Guard reported the blaze, started by lightning in remote, steep terrain on the …

Official Blames Humans for Utah’s Wildfire Cost Doubling

Utah State Forester Brian Cottam said “stupid human tricks” have led to the states’ wildfire bill being double what it usually is. Cottam says the cost to Utah for this year’s wildfires is projected to be $18 million, while the …

Small Quake Confirmed Near Alaska’s Largest City

A small earthquake hit the Cook Inlet region of Alaska near Anchorage, the state’s biggest city. The Alaska Earthquake Center says the magnitude 2.8 earthquake struck at 9 a.m. Sunday a spot about 13 miles southwest of Anchorage. The earthquake …

Evacuations Ordered for Hundreds of Residents in California, Oregon

Evacuation orders affecting hundreds of people were issued in California and Oregon as wildfires neared small towns, including one that’s a prime location for viewing the eclipse. About 600 residents were told to leave the tourist town of Sisters, Oregon, …

USGS Confirms Small Quake Hit Hawaii’s East Coast

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake hit off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaii Volcano Observatory confirmed. The USGS reported that the earthquake struck at 8:35 p.m. Friday about 66 miles northeast of the town …

Millions of Dollars in Damage During Wyoming Flooding This Year

The high volume of water that poured down Wyoming rivers and streams from a melting record mountain snowpack this year is being blamed for several river deaths and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage to roads, recreation sites …

Small Quake Hits Alaska’s Aleutian Island Chain

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has hit an island in Alaska’s Aleutians chain, the Alaska Earthquake Center confirmed. The center reported that the earthquake struck 3:24 p.m. Sunday Alaska time on Adak Island near the far west end of the Aleutians. …

10 Oklahoma Businesses Condemned Following Tornado Damage

Ten businesses in a Tulsa shopping district were so badly damaged by a weekend tornado that they have been condemned, including the TGI Fridays and Whataburger restaurants where several people were injured, city officials said . Notices posted by city …

New Orleans Council Planning to Study Drainage After Massive Flooding

As New Orleans dried out from torrential rains that flooded areas for the second time in two weeks, the City Council called a special meeting to review the drainage system and warning processes. Council President Jason Williams said he plans …