1997 

v     Pacific Northwest Slogs Through Season of Woes: "Oregon is seeing its wettest winter on record, with gusts measured at more than 100 miles an hour” Carey Goldberg. NY Times, 1/2/97. 

v     Five homes were destroyed and four were damaged by a massive landslide that forced residents to evacuate in Northern California. Humboldt Beacon, 1/9/97. 

v     A weekend of heavy rains closed Highway 101 and Highway 50 due to flooding. SF Chronicle. 1/27/97. 

v     International insurance companies pushing for cuts in the use of carbon fuels to reduce global warming said they had no plans to shift their investment funds out of the oil and energy sector. Reuters, 3/2/97. 

v     The increase in claims from severe storms has prompted insurance companies to ally themselves with organizations like Greenpeace to raise awareness of the effects of global warming. NPR, 3/2/97. 

v     The number of storms around the world has increased quite dramatically over the last 10 years. We have come to the conclusion that it’s not just a coincidence that this is happening at the same time as temperatures are rising. NPR, 3/2/97. 

v     While the effects of climate change on the frequency or severity of extreme weather events remains unknown, it is clear that even small shifts in regional climate zones or storm patterns could lead to increased property damage. Xinhua, 3/2/97. 

v     The independent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed that if fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions continue at anywhere near current levels, the planet will warm up dangerously, and could experience a devastating increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Westfair Communications, 3/2/97. 

v     Between 1989 and 1994, private and government insurers paid more than $67 billion in storm damage claims - $20 billion more than was paid out during the previous five years. Officials warn that more storms will mean higher insurance rates. The biggest fear is that some areas could not get insurance at all. CNN, 3/3/97 

v     Scientists believe that Hurricanes will become more common if some changes aren’t made to human behavior. CNN, 3/3/97. 

v     Fierce Wind and Rain Tear Up Several States, Killing at Least 35: Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas “absolutely extraordinary event of weather. . . I’m calling it apocalyptic.” Rick Bragg. NY Times, 3/3/97, pg. A11. 

v     In Storms’ Wake, Grief and Shock: 8 States Confronting Damage From Tornadoes and Floods. “In eight states, from as far west as Texas to as far east as the West Virginia mountains and as far north as Pennsylvania . . The death toll, 44, surpassed even the grimmest expectations.” Rick Bragg. NY Times, 3/4/97. 

v     The United Nations warned millions more people in rich and poor countries could die from once purely tropical diseases within the coming decades unless global warming is halted. Reuters, 3/7/97. 

v     Four girls were crushed in a van when gale force winds toppled eight utility poles. Four other children and two adults were injured. In other areas, power poles fell, cutting off service to 100,000 homes, subway service and air travel were also disrupted. NY Times, 3/7/97. 

v     States hit by flooding now focus on the threat of disease. Residents of several counties battered by the week of flooding have been warned to boil the drinking water. High waters have left 35 people dead and thousands homeless. Damage to homes is in the millions. NY Times, 3/11/97. 

v     Los Angeles breaks heat record – it was 97 degrees today, the hottest winter day since 1916. Daily News, 3/20/97. 

v     Catastrophes cost insurers 22% less than in 1996. The most devastating natural disasters happened in Asia, including two period of flooding in China that killed 2,700 people. But they produced few claims because of a low level of insurance. NY Times, 3/25/97. 

v     Toyota announced it would become the first company to sell a low polluting vehicle with both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. NY Times, 3/26/97. 

v     Rainstorms lashed Bangladesh this weekend, killing eight people and raising the number of storm-related deaths to 37 in the past two weeks. AP, 4/1/97. 

v     Washington Insurance Commissioners Consumer Hot Line is back in service after weekend windstorm knocks it out. Homeowners' policies in Western Washington should apply to the bulk of the wind damage to homes and garages that occurred during the weekend’s blustery windstorm. PR Newwire, 4/2/97. 

v     An early spring blizzard buried New England and the Northeast under nearly three feet of heavy, wet snow that downed power lines, closed airports and was blamed for three deaths. Reuters, 4/2/97. 

v     Warmer weather caused flooding in parts of South Dakota as runoff from melting snow spilled from rivers into low-lying areas. Reuters, 4/3/97. 

v     Britain is in the grips of its worst drought in 230 years. Reuters, 4/3/97. 

v     Rain and snow have knocked out power to many villages across Romania and Bulgaria, toppling trees and halting road, rail and river traffic. Reuters, 4/4/97. 

v     Runoff from the melting winter snowpack pooled into vast lakes across the northern plains, pushing floodwaters into rural towns and forcing evacuations from isolated farmhouses in North Dakota. Reuters, 4/8/97. 

v     An intense hailstorm destroyed 18 homes, damaged thousands more and ruined rice crops in northern Vietnam. Reuters, 4/8/97. 

v     Floods swept a young girl away and damaged 235 homes in Morocco’s southern region of Marrakesh. Reuters, 4/9/97. 

v     Rescuers used helicopters and all-terrain vehicles to carry thousands of people from flooded homes as rivers swollen by rain and melting snow ravaged the northern plains. Reuters, 4/11/97. 

v     Authorities in southern Russia have evacuated 344 people from 18 flooded settlements. AP, 4/14/97. 

v     Tornadoes and baseball-sized hail pounded western Texas, smashing homes and toppling power lines, one person was killed. AP, 4/14/97. 

v     The ozone layer was 15 to 25 percent thinner over the Arctic during the March this year than it was a year earlier. The Meterological Organization said it is going to get worse because of the abundance of man-made chemicals that destroy the ozone. AP, 4/1/97. 

v     More than 3.7 million acres of cropland in Minnesota are under water. Flooded farmers lose cattle and crops – for some it is personally devastating, it could end their careers. AP, 4/16/97. 

v     Drought stricken Algeria started rationing water supplies, limiting millions of people to six hours flow every three days. Reuters, 4/20/97. 

v     It’s estimated that at least 100,000 cattle died in the blizzards and floods that ravaged North Dakota in the past two weeks, leaving ranchers and their bankers wondering how to weather the losses. Reuters, 4/21/97. 

v     The Canadian province of Manitoba declared a state of emergency as more than 3,200 people were ordered to flee their homes and 20,000 others were warned of possible evacuation as the Red River floods. Reuters, 4/23/97. 

v     One of the worst winter droughts in the last 150 years has destroyed an estimated 50 to 70 percent of Portugal’s winter cereal crops. Reuters, 4/29/97. 

v     At least three people died and more than 1,000 homes have been evacuated because of flooding in Siberia. Reuters, 4/29/97. 

v     More than 40 villagers are feared to have drowned in the worst ever floods in eastern Kenya. Xinhua, 5/7/97. 

v     A second sandstorm engulfed Egypt, blinding drivers, grounding planes and killing 4 people. Reuters, 5/7/97. 

v     Wind, rain and hail pounded China’s southwestern Yunnan province, 39 people are feared dead. Reuters, 5/13/97. 

v     Officials at CDE’s El Bronce gold and copper mine confirmed that Chile’s continued four year drought will most likely lower copper production by 20 percent in 1997. AP, 5/19/97. 

v     The environmental lobby Greenpeace attacked European governments on Tuesday for granting massive subsidies to the fossil fuel and nuclear industries in spite of their commitments to protect the environment. 

Reuters, 5/21/97. 

v     Hundreds of people were reported dead in a cyclone that battered the coastal areas of Bangladesh and triggered a nationwide disaster alert. Reuters, 5/21/97. 

v     More than 1.5 million people were left homeless by a cyclone in Bangladesh in which hundreds are reported to have died. Nearly 400,000 homes had been damaged and 15,000 cattle killed. Reuters, 5/22/97. 

v     At least 29 people were killed as torrential rain battered the Philippines, flooding thousands of homes. Reuters, 5/27/97. 

v     More than 120,000 Filipinos have fled their homes after the heaviest rains in a decade triggered massive flooding, killing 36 people. Reuters, 5/28/97. 

v     The deadliest tornadoes in a decade ripped through Texas from Waco to Austin, killing 32 people and injuring many others. Xinhua, 5/29/97..

v     Natural calamities, such as whirlwinds, cyclones and hailstorms have killed 34 people and injured 134 others this year in Vietnam provinces. Xinhua, 5/29/97. 

v     The month of May ran from a record cold night of 42 degrees to a record high day of 97 degrees in Monterey. Herald, 6/1/97. 

v     A drought in Northeastern Iran has caused extensive damage to wheat and barley crops on 320,000 acres of farmland. The damage is estimated at $4.27 million. Reuters, 6/2/97. 

v     A diarrhea epidemic has killed at least 64 people and affected more than 14,000 others in Bangladesh’s cyclone battered region. Reuters, 6/2/97. 

v     Steady rains that have soaked the mid-Atlantic region for nearly a week subsided briefly, but a stubborn storm system continued to linger over the region. Reuters, 6/5/97. 

v     A thunderstorm in central China killed 20 people, left 8 missing, destroyed more than 65,000 buildings and cut the main railway line from southern Guangdong to Beijing. Reuters, 6/9/97. 

v     Heavy rains in central and eastern Cuba have ended a serious drought, but damaged more than 7,000 homes and forced temporary evacuation. Reuters, 6/9/97. 

v     Neighborhoods were flooded and streets closed after 16 inches of rain fell overnight, a flood watch was posted for much of southern Florida. Reuters, 6/11/97. 

v     A huge landslide triggered by torrential rains in China’s mountainous southern province has killed at least three people and left 147 missing. Reuters, 6/11/97. 

v     Southern Africa could see a 16% fall in production of its staple maize crop due to floods in some areas, and sever drought in others. Reuters, 6/11/97. 

v     Melting snowpack in parts of Idaho and Montana could continue to threaten low-lying communities along the swollen Snake and Missouri rivers through July. USA Today, 6/18/97. 

v     Four hundred people have been marooned by floods as a result of torrential rains in Moscow. Comtext, 6/19/97. 

v     Flash floods and landslides have killed 12 people and left many homeless in India. Reuters, 6/20/97. 

v     A delegation of international business and local government leaders is calling on world leaders to attend the Denver Summit to reconsider their countries “carbon-dependent” economies and move towards solar power and other forms of renewable energy. Denver Business Wire, 6/20/97. 

v     At least 23 people die in heat wave in Pakistan. Xinhua, 6/21/97. 

v     At least 25 people have been killed by floods caused by torrential rain in central and southern Chile since the beginning of June. Comtex, 6/25/97. 

v     Seven people were killed, over 70 injured, including 30 seriously, roofs were torn away, trees uprooted and power lines damaged as a result of a hurricane that hit the Ukraine. Comtex, 6/25/97. 

v     At least 46 people have been killed in the worst flooding in Czech territory for a century. Reuters, 7/18/97. 

v     Record rains drenched Charlotte, NC killing at least 2 people and forcing thousands from their homes. Dams threatened to burst and a train plunged into a creek. More rain is expected. Reuters, 7/28/97. 

v     North Korea, already battered by a severe food shortage due to massive floods, has announced that the drought has caused the loss of 700,000 tons of grain. Kyodo, 7/28/97. 

v     The costs of damage induced by the worst floods in central Europe in 200 years could run up to nearly 6 billion dollars. Xinhua, 7/29/97. 

v     Torrential rains brought flash floods to northern Colorado overnight, killing 5 people, sweeping mobile homes into the streets and leaving hundreds homeless. Reuters, 7/31/97. 

v     Governor of Maryland formally asked the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for disaster relief for Maryland farmers suffering from this summer’s drought. PR Newswire, 7/31/97. 

v     An east China province is suffering from a severe drought resulting from an extended period of abnormally high temperatures. Water shortages are affecting some 30 percent of the city’s total population. Xinhua, 8/5/97. 

v     At least 45 people were killed, hundreds injured and nearly 1.7 million affected when Typhoon Victor swept across southern China. Reuters, 8/6/97. 

v     A cyclone over the Sea of Japan dumped heavy rain on western Japan, resulting in one dead, one missing and wreaking havoc on land, sea and air traffic. Kyodo, 8/6/97. 

v     A cataclysmic event greater than Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $15.5 billion in damages, could wipe out an investment in catastrophe bonds, which lose their value if a big natural disaster hits a particular area. NY Times 8/6/97. 

v     El Nino threatens coffee, corn and cocoa crops in Jakarta due to severe drought. Reuters, 8/18/97. 

v     Severe storms caused flash floods and mudslides in Chile, forcing the closure of five of Chile’s largest ports. In other areas, rescue workers evacuated 122 people from their flooded homes. Reuters, 8/18/97. 

v     El Nino has caused widespread drought in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines and a heat wave in Venezuela and other places in Latin America. These extreme weather conditions are expected to last as long as El Nino does. Reuters, 8/18/97. 

v     At least 140 people died as a result of floods and landslides in the Indian northern state of Himachal Pradesh.  Comtex, 8/18/97. 

v     The sixth port in Chile has been closed as a result of severe storms. Hundreds of people were forced to flee their homes and the main highway was blocked from the flooding. Reuters, 8/19/97. 

v     Flooding in Sudan destroyed 1300 homes when heavy rains hit the northern province. More than 360 families lost all of their belongings. Reuters, 8/21/97. 

v     Philippine soldiers used rubber boats to rescue families after floods killed 22 people and forced 60,000 to flee their homes in the wake of Typhoon Winnie.  Reuters, 8/21/97. 

v     One of the deadliest typhoons to batter China in a decade killed more than 140 people and injured 3,000, with most casualties in homes that collapsed under the force of the storm. The typhoon damaged farmland, uprooted trees and knocked down power lines. Reuters, 8/22/97. 

v     Burma’s worst floods for decades killed at least 13 people and left thousands homeless. Reuters, 8/22/97. 

v     The worst drought in 2 decades is threatening China’s autumn harvest.  The drought has affected 23 provinces, with dry spells lasting up to 100 days in some areas. Kyodo, 9/4/97. 

v     Floods caused by heavy rains hit six counties in Romania, killing 20 people.  Comtex, 9/4/97. 

v     Heavy rains in Japan caused a train to derail, forcing passengers to flee from flooding and landslides. There were 20 separate landslides in four cities. Kyodo, 9/4/97. 

v     El Nino is being considered as the largest freak weather condition in the past 150 years, causing problems for the American Insurance industry.  Best News, 9/4/97. 

v     The famine in North Koreas is one of the worst the world has seen since WWII, it is estimated that 10,000 children are dying of starvation every month.  Reuters, 9/15/97. 

v     The most powerful hurricane in history caused flooding along Mexico’s West Coast. Reuters, 9/15/97. 

v     The Chicago Transit Authority welcomed the world’s first zero-emission fuel cell bus. The bus is powered by compressed hydrogen gas, which does not create pollution. The CTA is pioneering the exploration of alternative fuel sources to power its vehicles without endangering the environment. PR Newswire, 9/19/97. 

v     Daimler-Benz announced that sales of its electric “fuel cell” cars powered by methanol would reach 100,000 by the year 2004. Critics argue that factors such as cost will lessen the attraction of fuel cell cars as an answer to today’s air pollution problems. Reuters, 9/24/97. 

v     Cinergy Corp is taking a major step toward addressing local and regional ozone problems by announcing its intent to make a voluntary reduction in its nitrogen oxide emission rate from previous levels. Business Wire, 9/24/97. 

Typhoon Fritz hit Vietnam’s central coast bringing torrential rain and winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. Reuters, 9/26/97. 

v     More than 75 people have died due to the worst drought to hit Papua New Guinea in 50 years. Reuters, 9/26/97. 

v     Floods in Sri Lanka leave 14,000 people homeless. Xinhua, 9/26/97. 

v     The Department of Energy claims that the multi-million dollar cost of cutting greenhouse gas emissions could be countered, or even outweighed by use of energy-efficient technologies, low-carbon fuels and a $50/ton carbon tax. Individual, 9/29/97. 

v     The number of drought-related deaths rose to 271 in Indonesia. Most of the victims died from cholera and other drought induced diseases and food shortage. Xinhua, 9/29/97. 

v     Tropical storm Nora caused traffic accidents and killed at least three deaths in Los Angeles. Two of the fatal accidents were in Los Angeles where it rained for a record 219 days since last February. Flooding and power outages caused further problems from Seal Beach to the Mexican border. Reuters, 9/29/97. 

v     Rochester, MN and Cedar Rapids, IA recorded their highest October temperatures today as readings climbed into the low 90’s, while winds up to 50mph picked up along the coast of Washington and Oregon. Weather Channel, 10/3/97. 

v     Hurricane Pauline hits Mexico, killing 118 people, canceling flights and causing power outages. Hundreds of people are injured and missing. MSNBC, 10/11/97. 

v     Japan prepares to host an anti-global warming plan at a December conference in Kyoto. Kyodo, 10/14/97. 

v     Over 80% of California voter’s support solar wind geothermal, biomass and other alternative energy and view it as a god investment in the economy and energy future. Business Wire, 10/16/97. 

v     Up to 400 people in Acapulco died in the flooding and chaos as a result of Hurricane Pauline. Many more have died from cholera, typhoid fever and hepatitis. MSNBC, 10/28/97. 

v     Typhoon Keith hit the Northern Mariana Islands with gusts up to 220 mph. The storm cut off telephone communications, which effected 25,000 residents. The extent of the damage is not immediately known. AP, 11/2/97. 

v     Nine environment advisory groups will ask the government to tighten the energy law to promote cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Kyodo, 11/12/97. 

v     The nation’s nuclear power industry is marketing itself as part of the solution to global warming and air pollution. AP, 11/2/97. 

v     Temperatures soared to 102 degrees in Burbank, CA breaking records set in 1976. Meteorologists say this heat wave is a normal occurrence in Southern California and is not related to El Nino. MSNBC, 11/3/97. 

v     Colorado officials say that 15,000 cattle died in last week’s snowstorm, about 10% of the total cattle population. The cost estimate is $7.5 million. The storm which began on Saturday dumped up to 30 inches of snow across the plains with winds up to 60mph and a wind chill of nearly 20 degrees below zero. UPI, 11/4/97. 

v     At least 132 people were confirmed dead and as many as 4,000 missing after Typhoon Linda hit the southern coast of Vietnam. Thousands were left homeless by the storm which destroyed buildings, roads and bridges. The typhoon also sank over 1,000 boats with waves of 49 feet. Reuters, 11/6/97. 

v     Since 1925, hurricanes have caused $355 billion in damage in the United States, an average of $5 billion per year. Best News, 11/18/97. 

v     Nine environment advisory groups will ask the government to tighten the energy law to promote cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Kyodo, 11/12/97. 

v     U.S. energy use is expected to increase by 27% between now and the year 2020, causing a rise in emissions of heat-trapping gases. Reuters, 11/12/97. 

v     At least 448 people are reported dead as a result of flooding in Somalia.  Hundreds of thousands are left homeless after more than a month of heavy rainfall. AP, 11/13/97. 

v     Death toll in Spain-Portugal floods rises to 33. Heavy rains battered Spain and Portugal for a week, flooding towns along the border. AP, 11/13/97. 

v     NEC Corp says it has developed a precise way to measure atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and methane, the main greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. Nikkei, 11/20/97. 

v     Flooding and mudslides caused by torrential rains have killed at least 27 people in Ecuador in the past three weeks. An estimated 10.000 people have been left homeless or had their homes severely destroyed. AP, 11/24/97. 

v     Famine and disease threatens southern Juba region of Somalia. About 80% of the area is covered with water after weeks of heavy rains. At least 5 people have died of malaria, 2,000 people have drowned since the rains began in October and more than 220,000 people have been forced from their homes. AP, 11/24/97. 

v     The threat of global warming has brought more than 140 governments together in intensive negotiations to try to limit the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. AP, 11/24/97. 

v     Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate a town in Russia’s far east due to flooding. Three bridges and a power line were destroyed in a river overflowed its banks. AP, 11/25/97. 

v     Heavy rains and wind hit southern California with winds up to 77mph. The National Weather Service states it is not El Nino, only a winter storm. MSNBC, 11/27/97. 

v     Torrential rains caused flooding in Ecuador, leaving 31 people dead and 15,000 people homeless. Authorities prepare for evacuations. AP, 11/27/97.  

v     A poll recently found that 75% feel that the U.S., which releases more greenhouse gases than any other country, should take steps now to cut its own emissions, regardless of what other countries do. NY Times, 11/28/97. 

v     The European Union will maintain pressure on the U.S. for more ambitious targets to curb the output of greenhouse gases. Reuters, 11/28/97. 

v     With just 2 days remaining before the start of the global climate change conference in Kyoto, Japan, the Clinton administration is still withholding most of the details on how the U.S. and other nations can cut emissions. The Oil Daily, 11/29/97. 

v     Global warming may threaten more than the climate in the 21^st century, medical experts say. It may also kill though heat waves, violent weather and the spread of tropical disease. AP, 12/3/97. 

v     Climate negotiators from around the world gather in Kyoto to discuss greenhouse gas emissions. Reuters, 12/3/97. 

v     Global warming negotiators gave up on assigning targets to individual countries for reducing fuel emissions based on social and economic formulas. Reuters, 12/5/97 

v     Most experts agree that global warming is a real issue and there is cause for worry. They must decide how much to cut emissions of greenhouse gases which are thought to contribute to global warming. Fortune Magazine, 12/8/97. 

v     Edison believes the Global Warming Treaty threatens U.S. economy and consumers. The treaty, if ratified, would sky-rocket electricity costs. PR Newswire, 12/14/97. 

v     Drought, caused by El Nino in South Africa will affect about 27 million people. The region is in need of an extra 600,000 tons of emergency food aid, worth $200 million U.S. dollars. Xinhua, 12/23/97.