Three months after lockdown was relaxed in China, its economy is now running at around 90% of normal levels. Although 90% may sound fine, for many it could be catastrophic.
See the Pandemics Chapter for more information
Monthly Archives: May 2020
How coronavirus spreads outdoors vs. indoors
See the Pandemics chapter for more information
Hurricanes getting stronger with climate change
Normal hurricanes create enough doomsday scenarios all by themselves. But as climate change warms the oceans, it makes hurricanes even stronger and more deadly:
Amazing tool to see active fires around the globe
This map at windy.com shows active fires around the globe based on their heat signature:
Today’s fires:
More than 80 killed in India and Bangladesh as Cyclone Amphan heaps misery on coronavirus-hit areas
Cyclone Amphan struck India and Bangladesh today. In some coastal areas storm surge was as high as 5 meters (16 feet). Details:
More than 80 killed in India and Bangladesh as Cyclone Amphan heaps misery on coronavirus-hit areas
See the hurricanes chapter for more information.
Two U.S. Dams have Problems on Same Day
In the United States, two dams in Michigan had problems on May 20, 2020:
- Thousands Evacuated as Michigan Dam Fails and Unleashes Flood – “A dam in Edenville, Michigan, failed late May 19 due to excessive rain in the preceding 48 hours, unleashing a flood on the city and neighboring counties and prompting evacuation orders.”
- Water is now flowing over top of impoundment at Sanford Dam in Midland County – “Flood waters have begun flowing over the top of the impoundment at Midland County’s Sanford Dam, though the dam itself remained in place late Tuesday. If the dam fails, it could result in flooding in the nearby city of Midland.”
“The Doomsday Book” covers the ultimate dam failure in Chapter 1 – a dam failure that could split the United States in half.
Styrene gas leak kills 11, injures thousands
A styrene gas leak in Visakhapatnam, India has killed 11 people and left thousands injured:
Vizag gas leak: Death toll mounts to 11
The incident led to panic among locals in the 3km-radius area. Many people were seen lying unconscious on roads while some faced breathing difficulties. People also complained of rashes on their body and soar eyes.
This event echoes back to the Union Carbine incident in Bhopal, India in 1984 which killed over 3,000 people.
There are thousands of large chemical manufacturing plants around the world, as well as millions of tons of toxic materials being transported every day. The Chemical Attacks chapter of the book covers these kinds of incidents as well as chemical attacks launched by terrorists.
Stopping COVID-19 in the United States by July 4
Imagine if the United States could gain control over COVID-19 and “rescue the economy” by July 4. Here is one plan to do it without a vaccine:
We could stop the pandemic by July 4 if the government took these steps
The plan relies on frequent testing followed by tracing the contacts of people who test positive (and their contacts) until no new positive cases are found. It also encourages voluntary isolation, at home or in hotel rooms, to prevent further disease spread. Isolated patients would receive a federal stipend, like jurors, to discourage them from returning to workplaces too soon.
The total cost would be $74 billion – a tiny cost to pay to re-open the economy.
Siberia is burning
Siberia was once permafrost and frozen tundra. Now global warming has brought a new era, and Siberia is on fire:
Huge Stretches Of Siberia Are Currently On Fire
Ah, 2020: Another month, another disaster. Just in case you forgot this cursed year started with Australian bushfires that killed over a billion animals, wildfires have now lit up huge chunks of forest and farmland in Siberia and the Russian Far East.
See also:
Parts of Siberia are hotter than Washington, with temperatures nearly 40 degrees above average
More info: