Accidents and Disasters

Andrew Cuomo Actually Acknowledges Idiot Rabbi's Gay Marriage/Hurricane Rant

Every time a natural disaster destroys entire communities, a handful of religious idiots blame it on gay people and the politicians who defend their civil rights. Hurricane Sandy is no exception.In most cases, however, the moronic ramblings of fringe lunatics are routinely ignored by elected officia ... More >>

Here's Some Old-Timey Video of New York's 1938 Hurricane -- Which Was Not Caused By "Global Warming"

The Global Warming crowd is claiming that climate change is part of the reason that a hurricane is about absolutely crush New York City."Substantial evidence indicates that global warming may be responsible for the recent increasing intensity of Atlantic hurricanes, including increasing their size a ... More >>

Frankenstorm Unleashes Tidal Wave Of PR Sluttiness

Do you happen to be a PR stooge who represents a climatologist, weather expert, hurricane survivor, or pretty much anyone who's ever encountered rain? If so, you probably sent out an email today to every media outlet in New York City trying to exploit what could potentially be a devastating natural ... More >>

Pray for Japan

Radioactive Baby Formula Sold in Japan

​At least 400,000 cans of baby formula on sale in Japan contain radioactive cesium, but the island nation's government says that the contamination isn't dangerous, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Government Corruption and the BP Oil Spill in The Big Fix

Under Control

UC Davis Chancellor Announces Pepper Spray Review; Japan Earthquake; Violent Protests in Egypt

After footage of a police officer dousing students with pepper spray went viral, UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi announced she is forming a "task force" to look into the incident. She told CNN, "We really want to look into this very carefully and take action ... make sure that it will never happen ... More >>

Japanese Sushi Is Way Less Radioactive Than British Lobster

​As with anything involving marine life and nuclear reactors, there is bad news, and then there is cold-comfort news.The bad news is, of course, is that Japan's horribly damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi power plant has been dumping radioactive material into the sea, which has made people worry that ... More >>

Mafia Disorganized; 17 Killed in Tornados; Radioactivity Rises Off Japan Coast

​The Mafia is out of commission. Rather, the Mafia Commission, the caucus of leaders of the five main crime families, apparently hasn't met in 25 years. Cue "disorganized crime" joke. [NYDN] A tornado warning has been issued for parts of Georgia as the death toll from recent twisters rises to 17. ... More >>

7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued [Updated: Warning Canceled]

Orange indicates 2 meter high waves, via JMA​Initially reported as a 7.4 magnitude, an earthquake struck Japan this morning, leading to another tsunami alert issued for the already ravaged northeastern coast. The Japanese Meteorological Agency has a map indicating seismic activity. Tsunami wav ... More >>

TO JAPAN, WITH LOVE

An all-Brooklyn benefit for disaster relief

Radioactive Water Gushing into Pacific From Nuclear Plant Is 'Millions of Times Over Limit'

​The situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant seems to get worse daily. According to CNN, the radiation level of water now flowing into the Pacific from the plant is "more than millions of times above the regulatory limit." Radiation from samples taken over the weekend outside one of t ... More >>

Transocean, Firm Behind Exploding Gulf Rig, Gives Execs Bonuses for 'Best Safety Year'

The explosion of Deepwater Horizon​As we head toward the one-year anniversary of the start of the BP spill in the Gulf (that was April 20, 2010, in case you've forgotten), it's almost as though we've completely forgotten about that old oil spill in the Gulf. Out of sight, out of mind! BP is pe ... More >>

American Red Cross Donations to Japan Hit $120.5 Million

​Previously, we've covered the Red Cross's efforts to help Japan, and answered the question of "What Is the Red Cross Doing With Your Donations to Japan?" Today the American Red Cross announced that the total amounted donated to Japan for relief following the earthquake and tsunami has reached ... More >>

A Musical Guide to Japan Benefits and Valiantly Intentioned Fundraising Efforts, Featuring Thrill Jockey and Rebecca Black

​"I've been inspired by Japan for many years and have a true love, appreciation and respect for the Japanese people and their culture," said early American-adopter and purveyor of Japan's Harajuku girl style, Gwen Stefani. "The disaster in Japan is beyond heartbreaking and I want to do anythin ... More >>

False Alarm at Fukushima; Bus That Killed Cyclist Located; Padded Bikini Tops for Kids

​There was a scare this morning when radiation levels in water coming from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were reported to be 10 million times above normal. It turned out the Tokyo Electric Power Company made a mistake and the radiation spike was not nearly that extreme, although still high. ... More >>

Liz Taylor Late to Her Own Funeral; Earthquake Kills 74 in Myanmar; 100-Year Anniversary of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

​• Elizabeth Taylor was late to her own funeral, because she asked to be. She was laid to rest in L.A.'s Forest Lawn Memorial Park yesterday in a ceremony that began 15 minutes late at her stipulation. Westboro Baptist, who'd threatened to picket, did not appear. Taylor shares a "large, mult ... More >>

Maru the Cat Says Hi, Is Well

We were all very happy to learn that Maru was safe following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Here he is, in case you were worried, too. His owner thanks everyone for their messages and concern. We're hoping for the best for everyone in the aftermath of the disaster.

430 Times Normal Radiation Near Fukushima Nuclear Plant; Indian Point Operators Consider Changes; William Shatner Is 80

​• Soil tested 25 miles from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Monday had radiation at "430 times normal levels" as reported by Japan's Science Ministry. Tokyo Electric's executive VP has visited evacuees in the area to apologize for the situation. In addition, it seems that multipl ... More >>

Klaus Jacob, Columbia Disaster Expert: Why Closing Indian Point Makes Sense

​In October 2008, the Voice profiled Klaus Jacob, Columbia University's expert on urban environmental disasters. In that story, we examined how the Ivy League school had ignored warnings by its own expert about expanding into areas subject to flooding because of climate change. Today we talke ... More >>

Oh No! Napkins Are Shrinking; Starbucks Hot Tea Claim Suspicious

​Apparently, napkins are shrinking. The average size has gone from 30 inches square some 25 years ago to 20. [Wall Street Journal] Alice Waters's daughter, Fanny Singer, admits that she sometimes buys imported, non-organic fruit out of season, surely to her mother's disapproval. [Wall Street ... More >>

Qaddafi Vows 'Long War'; Two Saved From Rubble in Japan; Wyclef Jean Shot in Haiti

A Libyan jet crashes in Benghazi. NYT via Patrick Baz/AFP​The U.N.-sanctioned allied attack on Libyan targets continues today as Muammar Qaddafi promises a "long war," telling state television that "We will not leave our land and we will liberate it." U.S., French, and British forces began air str ... More >>

Obama Takes Firmer Stance on Libya; Radiation Found in Food Near Fukushima Nuclear Plant

via AP​Following a shift by Hillary Clinton, President Obama spoke from the White House yesterday to take somewhat of a harder line on U.S. intervention in Libya: "If Colonel Qaddafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences. The resolution will be e ... More >>

Berkeley Residents Panicking Over Almost Non-Existent Radiation

​The Daily has an article (not that I can read the whole thing in my iPad-less state!) about irritating Berkeley, Calif. residents being irrationally afraid of radiation from the nuclear crisis in Japan. They are flocking to the area's health food vitamin apothecary-places to buy potassium iodide, ... More >>

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Should Close, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo

​If an earthquake were to hit the New York area, the reactor with the highest risk of damage is Reactor 3 at Indian Point in Westchester, New York, just 24 miles from the Bronx. "The suggestion is that of all the [104] power plants across the country, that the Indian Point power plant is most ... More >>

Radiation From Japan Is Headed for California...But Don't Worry

​Before you freak out over the words "radioactive plume" hitting Southern California, know that any radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan will be diluted and, via the New York Times, "at worst, would have extremely minor health consequences in the United States, even if hints of ... More >>

U.S. Airport Radiation Detectors Being Triggered by Japanese Passengers

​There are fewer words scarier than "nuclear meltdown" and, of course, "radiation." So it's not surprising that Americans are concerned, particularly on the West Coast, where low, reportedly "not dangerous" levels of radiation are now headed, about possible fallout from the nuclear crisis at J ... More >>

Sad Japanese Cat Is Reportedly Safe!

via​Yesterday we posted an image of a cat in Japan that seemed to be just hanging on with the most heart-wrenching of expressions above what we, given the timing, interpreted as tsunami water. We would like to correct ourselves. It turns out that the photo, which had been reblogged by WNYC's T ... More >>

Eat and Drink for Japan

​Tonight from 6 to 8 p.m., 100 percent of proceeds at Mehtaphor will go to the Japanese Red Cross to benefit disaster efforts in Japan. But even if you can't make it to the restaurant, there are other places where you can put your appetites to more philanthropic use.

Oil in the Gulf is Not Quite Gone

​Though the Louisiana oil spill has all but faded from the public consciousness, fishermen in the region have reportedly discovered "miles-long strings of weathered oil," despite the U.S. Coast Guard claims that little more could be done in terms of clean-up. The local Times-Picayune has a jar ... More >>

SWEET RELIEF

Musicians help restore the Gulf Coast

That Oil Spill in the Gulf Really Isn't Helping Anyone

​Usually when something bad happens, at least you have the look-on-the-bright-side quality of being able to say, hey, at least we learned from this, and we sure won't do it again next time, or some such. Not so, it seems, with the oil spill in the Gulf. Sure, it's killed innocent animals and p ... More >>

BP Removes Cap, Oil to Flow Freely For Days

​Remember the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It's been over 80 days. The disaster has been in the news less lately; folks feel desensitized, dejected. Still, nothing is fixed. In fact, Saturday around noon BP removed the cap that was preventing oil from the leaky well from gushing into th ... More >>

Video: Screaming Girl on Florida Gulf Coast Beach Screaming to Mom to Get Oil Off Her Foot

The report on Destin Beach, Florida from CNN notes it as "open to the public." Also, "the air quality is good, according to the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau." And they kinda mention some "small scattered tar balls and oil patches" in Panama City Beach, but the tourists bureau there n ... More >>

Earthquake Strikes Baja California

​A 7.2-magnitude earthquake -- the biggest to strike in the area since 1892 -- hit Baja California Sunday at 3:40 p.m., according to the United States Geological Survey.

Fault Lines: David Schwimmer Brings You Some Chat About Semen

Tremor town

Katrina, Stark and Surreal, in Trouble the Water

Hard rain falls in this "old weird America" documentary on the disaster

Should the Brooklyn Cyclones Be Renamed the Tornados?

My Last Normal Day in New Orleans

Hurricane Katrina? Throw a BBQ—at least we won't lose the meat in the freezer

The Ninth Re-Ward

The Vietnamese community in New Orleans East rebuilds after Katrina

Water, Logged

Document by document, inquiry skewers Bush's Katrina cover-up

Make Levees, Not War

Serious hurricane protection could take 30 years to build

Storm Front

In global warming's kitchen, hurricanes love the heat

Rita and Weep

Texas, home to the country's largest refineries, has yet to be declared a disaster area by Bush

Morning Report 9/13/05
Lifeless Body Removed from FEMA HQ

Bush Regime Remains in Persistent Vegetative State

Crude Manipulation

In Katrina's wake, the supposed oil shortage and suspicious gas price hikes

The Other Black Sea

Seeping into the harbor, the city's oldest oil spill nears court action

Nuclear Waste Makes Haste

The Hazardous Roads to Yucca Mountain