PBS NewsHour: Weather & Natural Disasters Archive | 2009

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WEATHER & NATURAL DISASTERS


	2009 DECEMBER Dec. 29, 2009 States Plow Through Snow-Removal Budgets While it's been barely more than a week since the official start of winter, cash-strapped state and local governments have already plowed through all or most of their available snow-removal budgets, reports the Wall Street Journal.

	Dec. 25, 2009 Around the World, Celebrations of Christmas This Christmas day brought all the traditional festivities and religious observances, but it was also marked by questions about the pope's safety and a harsh winter storm in the Midwest. Jeffrey Brown reports.

	Dec. 24, 2009 News Wrap: Winter Storm Roils Travel Across Midwest In other news, a winter storm spread across the Midwest on one of the busiest travel days of the year, and Christmas celebrations began around the world.

	Dec. 22, 2009 Blizzard '09 as Seen From Space The weekend storm that dumped more snow on Washington, DC, than the area usually sees in an entire winter was a Nor'easter, a powerful storm characterized by a strong low-pressure center that forms in the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean and moves north up the Eastern seaboard.

	Dec. 21, 2009 News Wrap: East Coast Digs Out From Wintry Deluge In other news, states in the Mid-Atlantic spend the first official day of winter digging out from a record weekend blizzard, and the Obama administration announced new rules for tarmac delays.

	Dec. 21, 2009 Mauna Loa Birthplace of Global CO2 Monitoring As nations move forward with managing carbon dioxide emissions, how will they track their progress? The answer comes in part from a global network of CO2 sampling sites that was born decades ago at Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

	Dec. 18, 2009 The Rundown with Mark and David: Winter Storms and Health Reform After columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks dropped by The Rundown for the first time last week, many of you left great comments about our quest for a title for this feature.

	Dec. 18, 2009 Nobel Laureate Explores Links Between Climate Change, Biodiversity As the Copenhagen climate summit comes to an end, Paul Solman speaks to a Nobel Prize winner about how a warming planet affects biodiversity.

	Dec. 18, 2009 Binding Pact, Congress Remain Major Climate Hurdles for Obama Judy Woodruff asks two experts to weigh the outcome of the non-binding agreement reached Friday at the international climate summit in Copenhagen.

	Dec. 18, 2009 Leaders Reach Climate Accord, but Skepticism Remains Leaders from the U.S., China, India and South Africa have reached a "meaningful agreement" on combating global warming at the international climate summit in Copenhagen, but many officials say the deal fell short of expectations. Ray Suarez reports.

	Dec. 9, 2009 News Wrap: Storm Pounds Midwest, New England In other news, a major winter storm that rocked the midwest earlier this week has moved east to New England, and General David Petraeus warned the surge in Afghanistan may be tougher than the surge in Iraq.

	Dec. 7, 2009 Fact Sheet: Copenhagen Climate Summit Representatives from 192 nations are converging on Copenhagen Monday for the opening day of the two-week United Nations Climate Change Conference, where the next steps are expected to be hashed out towards an international emissions agreement.

	Dec. 1, 2009 In Australia, Drought Threatens Natural Resources Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro takes an in-depth look into the drought plaguing Australia.



	OCTOBER Oct. 29, 2009 News Wrap: Iran May Not Send Uranium Abroad In other news, Iran gave no indication it will agree to a U.N. plan to ship most of its nuclear fuel abroad for enrichment, and President Obama traveled to the military post at Dover, Del. to honor 18 American killed in Afghanistan earlier this week.

	Oct. 28, 2009 Cities Struggle With Access to Green Energy Sources In cities across the country, officials are faced with the task of getting renewable energy from the outskirts of town to the urban centers where demand is greatest. NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports from Los Angeles.

	Oct. 16, 2009 Aftermath of Natural Disasters in Southeast Asia A string of disasters in Southeast Asia killed more than 1,500 people in recent weeks. A tropical storm tore through the region, earthquakes rocked Indonesia and a typhoon hit the Philippines. Kathryn Bolles, director for emergency health and nutrition for Save the Children, described the aftermath scene in the Philippines.

	Oct. 15, 2009 Obama Visits New Orleans to Gauge Recovery President Obama flew to New Orleans on Thursday to assess the city's recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Margaret Warner reports.

	Oct. 15, 2009 Solar Energy as Competitive Sport Green technology can take many forms, be it in eco-friendly light bulbs, hybrid cars, or wind turbines. It can even take the form of homework, as in the case of students competing in the Department of Energy's "Solar Decathlon."

	Oct. 13, 2009 Kenya Devastated by Massive Drought Lindsey Hilsum of ITN reports from Kenya on the worst drought to strike the horn of Africa in more than a decade.

	Oct. 6, 2009 Other News: Flooding in India Leaves Millions Homeless In other news, flooding in Southern India left millions homeless and hungry, and heating bills are expected to be lower this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration.

	Oct. 2, 2009 Other News: Two Survivors Rescued from Quake Rubble In other news, two survivors of the earthquake in Indonesia were pulled from the rubble Friday, while in the Samoan islands, the death toll from Tuesday's deep-sea earthquake and tsunami rose to 169 people.

	Oct. 1, 2009 Death Toll Mounts From Pacific Earthquakes The death toll from a series of powerful earthquakes in American Somoa and Indonesia continued to climb Thursday as aid workers raced to help survivors.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2009 News Wrap: Typhoon Rips Through Southeast Asia In other news, the typhoon that caused massive flooding in the Philippines last weekend has advanced through Vietnam and Cambodia, and U.S. forces in Iraq will be able to withdraw faster than originally planned.

	Sept. 30, 2009 Focus Pivots to Relief Following Deadly Tsunami, Earthquake In the Samoan islands, relief efforts have begun after an earthquake triggered a tsunami. Meanwhile, Indonesia is struggling to recover from its own temblor. U.S. officials say the first flight carrying aid is en route to the region.

	Sept. 30, 2009 Quakes Strike South Pacific Leaving Scores Dead Giant waves caused by underground earthquakes in the South Pacific have killed hundreds and left many more missing in American Somoa and Indonesia.

	Sept. 30, 2009 Deadly Tsunami Hits Samoan Islands The United States has declared a major disaster in American Samoa following a deadly tsunami Tuesday that reportedly killed more than 99 people when it struck the island U.S. territory and the independent nation of Samoa.

	Sept. 22, 2009 Senate Debate on Health Reform Hinges on Affordability As the Senate Finance Committee opens debate on the so-called Baucus plan for health care reform, the issue of affordability remains a key sticking point. After a recap of Tuesday's hearing on the bill, Susan Dentzer of the journal Health Affairs takes a closer look at costs with Judy Woodruff.

	Sept. 22, 2009 News Wrap: Zelaya's Return to Honduras Leads to Embassy Standoff In other news, deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya remained holed up at the Brazilian embassy, and the Los Angeles Police Department cracked down on gangs in a massive sweep.

	Sept. 18, 2009 No 'Plan B' for Copenhagen Climate Summit, U.N. Negotiator Says Ahead of a U.N. conference on global warming this December in Copenhagen, the organization's top climate negotiator speaks with Margaret Warner about the outlook for a global pact to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

	Sept. 4, 2009 Other News: L.A. Opens Investigation into Wildfire In other news, Los Angeles county detectives opened an investigation into the wildfires that claimed the lives of two firefighters this week, and Israel plans to speed up the pace of settlement expansion in the West Bank.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Other News: Firefighters Gain on Calif. Blaze; Biden Defends Stimulus Program In other news, firefighters have contained approximately 40 percent of a massive wildfire burning through Southern California, and Vice President Joe Biden defended the federal stimulus program, saying it has helped create or save as many as 750,000 jobs.

	Sept. 2, 2009 Scientists See More Risk of Wildfires with Forest Changes Scientists are already witnessing climate change increase the threat of wildfires, as warmer temperatures drive more beetles to the forest, where they in turn kill trees and make the woods more susceptible to catching ablaze. Heidi Cullen of Climate Central reports.

	Sept. 2, 2009 Other News: Worker Productivity Soars Most in 6 Years In other news, the Labor Department reported worker productivity jumped last spring by the most in six years, and an SEC investigation concluded that agency flaws enabled Bernie Madoff.

	Sept. 2, 2009 Firefighters Make New Headway on Massive California Blaze Residents across several neighborhoods in Southern California returned home Wednesday as firefighters gained on a powerful wildfire. Jeffrey Kaye reports.

	Sept. 2, 2009 Scientists: More Wildfires in West a Consequence of Climate Change Large wildfires in the western United States, such as the week-old Station Fire that has charred more than 215 square miles north of Los Angeles, have been increasing in both frequency and size in recent years.

	Sept. 1, 2009 Calif. Wildfires Rage, but Firefighters Make Some Gains Firefighters were able to contain more of a wildfire blazing through 190 square miles of Southern California on Tuesday, but a forecast calling for high winds threatened the progress. Ray Suarez reports.

	Sept. 1, 2009 SoCal Fire Grows, Threatens Los Angeles Suburbs A large wildfire north of Los Angeles has grown to more than 121,000 acres and has forced thousands of evacuations as fire crews struggle to contain its expansion.



	AUGUST Aug. 31, 2009 Other News: General Warns of 'Serious' Challenges in Afghanistan In other news, Gen. Stanley McChrystal warned "the situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable," as the military reported the deaths of two more American soldiers there.

	Aug. 31, 2009 Wildfires Rage In California, Killing Two Firefighters Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for four California counties Monday as raging wildfires burned across nearly 86,00 acres, threatening as many as 12,000 homes outside of Los Angeles. Two firefighters died after their vehicle slid down a cliff.

	Aug. 31, 2009 Thousands Evacuate as Calif. Fires Spread A fast-moving wildfire in Southern California has scorched more than 100,000 acres since it first started on Wednesday, claiming the lives of two firefighters over the weekend and destroying 21 homes in the mountains north of Los Angeles.

	Aug. 24, 2009 Other News: Fallout Continues From Lockerbie Release In other news, Scottish officials defend the country's decision to release the Lockerbie bomber, and two bombs in Iraq killed at least 11 people.



	JUNE June 9, 2009 Cities Struggle With Access to Green Energy Sources In cities across the country, officials are faced with the task of getting renewable energy from the outskirts of town to the urban centers where demand is greatest. NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports from Los Angeles.

	June 2, 2009 Stalagmites Provide Clues in Changing Rainfall Patterns ITN's Channel 4 news correspondent Tom Clarke reports on what scientists are learning from stalagmites about the rainfall and changing weather patterns in a remote region of southwest Poland.



	MAY May 15, 2009 China Remembers Victims on Anniversary of Deadly Quake China marked the first anniversary of the fatal earthquake that ravaged the Sichuan province. NPR's Melissa Block was reporting in China when disaster struck and returned a year later to see how some families are faring.

	May 13, 2009 China: One Year After the Sichuan Earthquake A 7.9 magnitude earthquake battered China's Sichuan province on May 12, 2008. A year later, National Public Radio's Melissa Block and photographer Andrea Hsu revisited some families to report on their progress recovering from the quake.

	May 11, 2009 Calif. Wildfires Battle Rages On with Some Unlikely Help Special correspondent Jeffrey Kaye, of KCET-TV Los Angeles, reports on the continuing efforts in Santa Barbara to bring a recent spate of wildfires under control and the lesser-known people who are helping fight that battle.



	APRIL April 10, 2009 Other News: Five U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq In other news, five U.S. soldiers died in a suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq, and clashes between U.S. forces and the Taliban in Afghanistan left 27 insurgents dead.

	April 10, 2009 As Polar Year Ends, Researchers Look for Climate Clues in Mountains of Data A period of intensive study of the Earth's polar caps, called the International Polar Year, ended in March, leaving researchers with a bounty of data to sort through to help inform the next generation of polar research.

	April 8, 2009 Other News: Death Toll Rises in Italian Earthquake In other news, the death toll from Monday's earthquake in central Italy continued to rise and a bomb near a sacred Baghdad shrine killed at least seven people and wounded 20.

	April 8, 2009 In Italy, Hunt for Quake Survivors Continues as Memorial Plans Take Shape Rattled and slowed by repeated aftershocks, rescuers are continuing their hunt for people who may still be alive in the rubble of buildings in central Italy after Monday's devastating earthquake.

	April 7, 2009 Other News: Judge Dismisses Charges Against Stevens In other news, a federal judge dismissed former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' corruption conviction and Vermont's state legislature voted to override the governor's veto of a bill allowing same-sex marriages.

	April 7, 2009 Italy Quake Death Toll Jumps to 207; Rescue Efforts Continue Italy's rescue mission continued Tuesday in villages hit by Monday's earthquake as strong aftershocks rippled through the quake zone, hampering the urgent search efforts.

	April 6, 2009 Rescue Efforts Underway in Italy After Major Earthquake Italian officials and international aid groups continue to struggle to help the injured and recover the victims from Monday morning's earthquake that measured 6.3 on the Richter scale. Following an update from the field, a geological expert analyzes the event.

	April 6, 2009 At Least 91 Dead, 1,500 Injured in Italy Quake A powerful earthquake shook central Italy as residents slept early Monday morning, tumbling entire blocks of buildings and leaving dozens of people dead.



	MARCH March 30, 2009 Fargo Residents Cope With Continued Flood Fears Residents of Fargo, N.D., are coping with ongoing fears of heavy flooding from the swollen Red River and warnings about inclement weather in the days ahead. Tom Bearden reports from the scene.

	March 27, 2009 Other News: N.D. Braces for Record Floodwaters In other news, North Dakota's Red River Valley is facing potential record flooding as the river rose to its highest levels in recorded history, and the Dow Jones industrial average gained nearly 7 percent for the week despite closing Friday on a down note.

	March 26, 2009 N.D.'s Red River Valley Prepares for Massive Flooding President Barack Obama declared North Dakota a federal disaster area Thursday due to floodwaters that have closed roads and bridges throughout the Red River Valley and that weather specialists say have yet to crest. The mayor of Fargo and North Dakota's governor talk about the situation.

	March 18, 2009 Essayist Says a Reluctant Goodbye to Winter Despite the harsh weather that pummeled her hometown, essayist Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune laments the passing of winter and the time of reflection it brings.

	March 2, 2009 Other News: Winter Storm Blasts East Coast; Obama Nominee to Pay Back Taxes A late winter storm on the East Coast shut down schools, grounded flights and caused hundreds of wrecks, and Ron Kirk, the nominee for U.S. trade representative, has agreed to pay an estimated $10,000 in back taxes.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 11, 2009 Other News: FBI Investigates Corporate Fraud, Tornadoes Rip Through Oklahoma In other news of the day, the FBI announced its investigation of more than 500 potential cases of corporate fraud, and tornadoes that swept through Oklahoma killed at least 8, destroying homes and businesses.

	Feb. 9, 2009 Arson Suspected in Deadly Australian Wildfires The death toll has reached 166 in Australia's worst wildfires in its history, and police suspect arsons might have caused some of the fires in the southeastern part of the country. A reporter provides an update from Sydney.

	Feb. 9, 2009 Death Toll Grows in Australian Wildfires The death toll has risen in Australia's worst wildfire disaster in history, and the extremely fast-moving fires caught many off-guard. Independent Television News correspondent Libby Weiner reports.



	JANUARY Jan. 2, 2009 Documentary Traces Family's Struggle After Katrina Herbert Gettridge struggled for years to rebuild his New Orleans home in the lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina. In an interview, producer June Cross describes how she documented Gettridge's story in "The Old Man and the Storm" which airs on "Frontline" on Jan. 6.