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11 November 2008 – The United Nations humanitarian wing has dispatched an emergency team to western Kenya, where floods following heavy rainfall have forced more than 7,000 families out of their homes and submerged entire villages.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that its staff are working with Government officials and non-governmental organization (NGO) aid partners to assess the needs of the displaced families.
The emergency team is working with its aid partners in the towns of Eldoret and Kisumu to assess the available relief stocks and is also supporting national and district authorities to set up an aid pipeline to ensure the relief response is coordinated.
The flooding is worst in Budalangi district of Western province, near the border with Uganda, where the Nzoia River burst its banks yesterday after heavy rains upstream, breaching dykes and submerging villages. Budalangi is prone to flooding each year and over 28,000 families were affected by floods in 2007 |
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Snowing and blowing on the Plains -- A low pressure center will be nearly stationary over the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota today and will produce periods of heavy snow and strong northwest winds across the northern Plains. Blizzard warnings are in effect for much of South Dakota, as well as parts of western and central North Dakota, through Friday morning. Six to ten inches of snow (with locally heavier amounts), wind gusts up to 60 mph and near-zero visibilities will be possible over a large portion of the northern Plains today, making travel hazardous.
In addition to the snow, heavy rainfall is expected for parts of the Red River Valley, with some spots picking up 1.50 to 2.50 inches of rain through early Friday. This heavy rainfall on saturated soil could result in rises on regional rivers and possible flooding into next week.
Severe thunderstorm threat -- On the southern end of this storm system, thunderstorms, rather than snow, will be the main concern. While thunderstorms will be possible ahead of the cold front through the whole Mississippi River Valley, conditions will be more favorable for severe thunderstorms in the lower Mississippi Valley. There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms from southeastern Arkansas and western Mississippi through much of Louisiana into southeastern Texas. Thunderstorms are most likely later this afternoon into the early evening hours, with isolated tornadoes and damaging winds being the primary threats.
Coastal storm -- Low pressure lingering off the Delmarva Peninsula will bring more showers to coastal sections of the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England today and tonight. The storm will slowly move eastward into the open waters of the Atlantic on Friday.
Wet Northwest -- A series of storms are expected to hit the Pacific Northwest today and into the weekend. Parts of the Olympic Peninsula could receive upwards of 8 inches of precipitation through Saturday. Windward-facing slopes of the Cascades could see more than 10 inches of rainfall through the weekend. Flood watches are in effect.
Fire weather -- Offshore winds have returned to Southern California, so critical fire weather conditions are expected for mountain and valley locations. Dry conditions, warm temperatures, gusty winds and low relative humidity levels will create an elevated fire risk through at least Friday.
Tropical update -- Tropical Storm Paloma has formed in the southwestern Caribbean (a favorable location, climatologically, for this time of year). The storm will have suitable conditions (low shear, warm ocean water, upper-level outflow) through 72 hours, so rapid intensification is expected. The storm may have sustained winds in excess of 100 mph as it approaches the southern coast of central Cuba late in the weekend. After making landfall in Cuba, the storm is expected to weaken and continue northeast through the Bahamas before dissipating in the open waters of the Atlan |
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Aid workers in Somalia said thousands of people have been displaced by flash flooding in the southwest part of the country.
Officials said Monday's floods followed a day of heavy rains in the town of Bardhere.
Local aid workers said an estimated 12,000 people were made homeless by the floods, which destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.
They said many of the displaced are living in makeshift shelters in elevated areas around the town.
Officials said water levels in the nearby Jubba river are rising, creating fears of more flooding.
The rains are part of Somalia's short Deyr rainy season which stretches from October to November. |
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