Disasters

Weather Gives CA Firefighters the Edge [1]

"Thousands of Santa Barbara residents are being allowed to return home as low winds and dramatically cooler temperatures have given firefighters the upper hand in their assault on the 6-day-old Jesusita fire, which stretches for five miles."

Disasters [2]

Public [3]

California [4]

Source: LA Times [5], 05/10/2009

Read more about Weather Gives CA Firefighters the Edge [1]

RTK NET Relaunches Chemical Risk Data Site [6]

RTK NET's powerful tools make it easy to see which cities face the worst chemical risks, and what chemicals are involved.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [7]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [8]

Disasters [2]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about RTK NET Relaunches Chemical Risk Data Site [6]

Congress Chiefs Want Probe into Secret Bayer Poison Gas [10]

House Energy Chair Waxman and Senate Commerce Chair Rockefeller call for investigation of whether Bayer could use safer chemicals at its Institute WV plant.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [7]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [8]

Disasters [2]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Congress Chiefs Want Probe into Secret Bayer Poison Gas [10]

Citizens Journalist and Citizens Scientific Redefine Disaster Story [12]

SEJ Publication Types:

Features [13]

Topics on the Beat:

Disasters [2]

Journalism & Media [14]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Citizens Journalist and Citizens Scientific Redefine Disaster Story [12]

NOAA To Swarm Around Tornadoes This Spring [15]

Researchers, journalists in tow, will be chasing tornadoes around the central US in May and June to learn more about how tornadoes work, and better predict them and their paths.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [16]

Topics on the Beat:

Disasters [2]

Government [17]

Science [18]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [19]

Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [20]

Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [21]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about NOAA To Swarm Around Tornadoes This Spring [15]

After Secrecy Claims, Bayer's Own Lapses Revealed as Biggest Threat [22]

A U.S. Chemical Safety Board public hearing, delayed for a month due to Bayer's pleas for secrecy, finds lack of safety to be contributing factors to the 'accident' that killed two at an Institute, WV, plant in August 2008.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [7]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [8]

Disasters [2]

Environmental Politics [23]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about After Secrecy Claims, Bayer's Own Lapses Revealed as Biggest Threat [22]

Biotech And Hurricanes: Media Coverage Spawns Fear And Myths [24]

By JAN KNIGHT Katrina coverage driven by disaster myths, reinforces push to use military during domestic disasters, study suggests

Topics on the Beat:

Disasters [2]

Journalism & Media [14]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Biotech And Hurricanes: Media Coverage Spawns Fear And Myths [24]

EPA Inspector General Rips Risk Management Plan Follow-Up [25]

A new Office of Inspector General report found many chemical facilities storing large amounts of dangerous chemicals had not filed their required RMPs -- and that EPA was not checking often for compliance.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [7]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [8]

Disasters [2]

Government [17]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about EPA Inspector General Rips Risk Management Plan Follow-Up [25]

CSB Reschedules W.VA. Meeting After Bayer Secrecy Demands [26]

A public meeting regarding the U.S. Chemical Safety Board's investigation of the August 2008 explosion at Bayer CropScience which killed two workers, originally scheduled for March 19, was postponed to April 23, 2009.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [7]

Topics on the Beat:

Disasters [2]

Chemicals [8]

Region:

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]

National (U.S.) [9]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about CSB Reschedules W.VA. Meeting After Bayer Secrecy Demands [26]

New Tool Available For Localizing Coal Ash Controversy [27]

A new map and report by the Center for Public Integrity make it easier to pinpoint exact locations of coal-ash deposits, a waste product of coal-fired power plants.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [16]

Topics on the Beat:

Disasters [2]

Energy & Fuel [28]

Pollution [29]

Region:

National (U.S.) [9]

SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]

Visibility:

Public [3]