20th Century

–44  CDC Wonder. Compressed Mortality File 1999-2016. ICD-10 code B01 (Varicella).

 

Narrative Information

 

CDC: “Chickenpox is a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. The rash appears first on the stomach, back and face and can spread over the entire body causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters. Chickenpox can be serious, especially in babies, adults, and people with weakened immune systems. The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Chickenpox (Varicella).” 7-1-2016 update.)

 

Sources

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Chickenpox (Varicella).” 7-1-2016 update. Accessed 11-26-2018 at: https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/index.html

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Wonder On-line Database. Compressed Mortality File 1999-2016. ICD-10 code B01. Varicella (Chickenpox), 1999. Published 2016. Accessed 12-30-2018 at: https://wonder.cdc.gov/

 

 

 

 

 

—   102  U.S. and Canada.[1]

— <100  History.com. This Day in History, Disaster, January 3, 1999, Great Lakes Region…

— >100  Woodhead, James A. Earth Science: Weather, Water, and the Atmosphere. 2001, p.1958

—     91  Blanchard tally based on specific State and locality breakouts below.

—     91  The Gazette (AP). Cedar Rapids, IA. “Record cold reported in Illinois.” 1-6-1999, p. 3.

–82-89  Walsh, David. “US Blizzard, cold wave hit the poor.” WSWS.org, 1-6-1999.[2]

—     57  Tanner, L. (AP). “Computer Storm modeling gave Midwest lots of warning.” Jan 5.[3]

 

Midwest, Jan 1-4:

—      73  AccuWeather.com. “Remembering the Chicago Blizzard of 1999,” 1-4-2013.[4]

–73-78  Changnon. “January 1999 Blizzard.” 2008 update.[5] (Fatalities are for the midwest.[6])

–73-78  Evbuoma. “Chicago’s 11^th year anniversary of…1999 New Years snowstorm.”[7]

–39  Train and Vehicle Accidents.[8]

—  3  Train accidents.[9]

–36  Vehicle related.[10]

–32  Heart attacks from exertion, mainly shoveling snow.[11]

—  5  Snowmobile-related.[12]

—  2  Froze to death.[13]

—     70  Blanchard tally of Midwestern state fatalities.[14]

 

Summary of Jan 1-5, 1999 Winter Storms & Cold Fatalities by State

 

Alabama            1

Arkansas           3

Illinois             44

Indiana                          4

Iowa                  7

Michigan           3

Missouri            2

Nebraska           3

North Dakota    2

Oklahoma          2

Pennsylvania     4

Virginia             4

Wisconsin          5

 

Ontario, Can.    7

 

Alabama         ( 1)

— 1  Clarke County, Jackson area, Jan 5. Male, 69, found dead on floor of tar paper shack.[15]

 

Arkansas        ( 3)

— 1  Baxter Co., Jan 1-2. Male, 34; slipped on ice while carrying gun; discharged, killing him.[16]

— 2  Jan 1. Vehicle accidents, Jan 1.[17]

 

Illinois             (44)

–73  Allsop, Harry. “Nemo: Top ten worst blizzards to hit the US.” Telegraph, UK, 2-8-2013.[18]

–44  State. Blanchard tally based on locality breakout below (though duplication is possible).[19]

–16  State. Tanner, Lindsey (AP). “Computer Storm modeling gave Midwest lots of warning.”[20]

–12  State. AP. “Storm buries Midwest, brings…” The News, Frederick MD. 1-4-1999, 1.

–11  State. AP. “Deadly snow storm heads east.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-4-1999, p. 4.

—  4      “    Petterson (AP). “Snowstorm slams Midwest.” WI State Journal, Madison. 1-3-1999, 2A.

Breakout of Illinois Winter Storm and Cold Deaths by Locality:

—  1  Barrington, Cook Co., Jan 4. Man dies of heart attack after digging his car out of snow.[21]

–43  Chicago area. CBS Chicago. “A Look Back at 3 of Chicago’s Worst Blizzards.” 1-31-2011.

—  8  Chicago. Allen, Jim. “Cold, cold, cold.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-6-1999, p. L2.

—  1  Dalton City, Moultrie Co., Jan 1-3. Female, 47; garage overhang collapsed under heavy snow.[22]

—  2  Downers Grove, DuPage Co., Jan 4. Males; vehicles hit by train on icy rail crossing.[23]

—  1  Elk Grove Village (greater Chicago), man collapses after shoveling snow.[24]

—  1  Hanover Park (Chicago suburb), Cook/DuPage co’s. Jan 4. Man found in a snowbank.[25]

—  1  Lombard (Chicago suburb), Jan 4. Woman crossing slippery tracks hit by train.[26]

—  1  Mundelein (Chicago suburb), Jan 4. Park City man after his car became stuck in snow.[27]

—  1  Wadsworth, Lake County. Jan 4. Snowmobiler hit by train.[28]

 

Indiana           ( 4)

–1  Fort Wayne, Jan 2. Man, 81, heart attack while using a snow blower.[29]

–2  Marion, Jan 3.  Snowmobile hits a truck.[30]

–1  Pendleton.  Mane, 60, collapsed in his garage after shoveling snow.[31]

 

Iowa                ( 7)

— 7  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

— 1  Ames vic., US Hwy. 30, Dec 30. Holly Pederson, 37; her car hit snowplow while passing.[32]

— 1  Charles City vic., Hwy 218, Dec 30. Greg Green, 32, when pickup slid into path of semi.[33]

— 1  Davenport, Jan 1-3. Boy, 11; semi-truck hits car in which he was a passenger.[34]

— 1  Des Moines, Jan 1-2. Male, 95; slipped outside his house, unable to get up; froze.[35]

— 1  Dubuque, Jan 1-3. Male, 40; heart attack after shoveling snow. NCDC Storm Events Database.

— 1  Grundy County, Jan 1-2. Male, 87; vehicle stranded in snow, frozen while seeking help.[36]

— 1  Jan 1. Boy, 10, sled hit by truck.[37]

 

Michigan        ( 3)

— 1  Oakland County, Pontiac, Jan 4. Male, 46, froze to death walking home early am hours.[38]

— 1  Oakland County, Troy, Jan 4. Female, 86; froze outside nursing home early am hours.[39]

— 1  Oakland County, West Bloomfield, Jan 4. Male, 27, found frozen to death outdoors.[40]

 

Missouri         ( 2)

— 2  Jan 1. Auto accidents, Jan 1.[41]

 

Nebraska        ( 3)

— 1  Cairo, Hall County, Jan 3. Male, 55. Exposure to sub-zero temperatures walking home.[42]

— 1  Dawson Co., Jan 1. Male, 52; 5-vehicle pile-up; semi slides across I-80 into semi.[43]

— 1  Highway 30, Jan 1. Boy (passenger), 15, when two vehicles diverted from I-80 collide.[44]

 

North Dakota (2)

— 1  Bismarck, Jan 1. Male died from heart attack while shoveling snow.[45]

— 1  Rolette vicinity, Jan 1. Exposure; female, 75, after leaving stranded vehicle in snow.[46]

 

Oklahoma      ( 2)

—  2  Tanner, Lindsey (AP). “Computer Storm modeling gave Midwest lots of warning.”[47]

 

Pennsylvania  ( 4)

— 2  Allegheny County, Jan 2. Female, 43, daughter, 8; car spun out of control on PA Turnpike.[48]

— 1  Erie County, Edinboro, Jan 1. Quadriplegic college student froze; wheelchair stuck in snow.[49]

— 1  Monroe County, Saylorsburg, Jan 2-3. Male, 85; slipped on ice; later died of injuries.[50]

 

Virginia          ( 4)

—  4  ~Lexington, Jan 3, I-81 multi-vehicle crash, icy highway.[51]

 

Wisconsin       ( 5)

—  5  Statewide (1, auto crash; “four other deaths…due to heart attacks while shoveling snow.”[52]

—  1  Kenosha County. Jan 3. Man, 51, apparent heart attack while operating snow-blower.[53]

—  1  Milwaukee.  Man, 50, dies after complaining of chest pains after shoveling snow.[54]

—  1  Waukesha Co. I-94 ~exit 18, Jan 2. 50-60 car pileup in blizzard conditions, man, 33.[55]

—  1  West Allis, Jan 3. Man, 54, dies after complaining of chest pains after shoveling snow.[56]

 

Canada, Ontario ( 7)

— 7  AP. “Storm buries Midwest, brings misery…East.” The News, Frederick MD. 1-4-1999, 1.

 

Narrative Information (General)

 

History.com: “After three days of high winds and heavy snow, people in the Great Lakes region begin digging out from one of the worst blizzards on record on this day [Jan 3] in 1999…. In all, more than 100 deaths–as many as 36 from heart attacks–were attributed to the terrible blizzard of January 1999….

 

“The storm began on January 1, when snow began falling across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. Most areas saw at least 15 inches of snow before the storm moved on. The hardest hit area was Chicago, where wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour combined with heavy snow to reduce visibility to near zero at times and create huge impassable drifts. O’Hare Airport, one the nation’s busiest, had to shut down, stranding 200,000 people for as much as four days. The weather also made train travel through the area impossible, and mail across the country was delayed because of the blizzard.” (History.com.  This Day in History, Disaster, January 3, 1999, “Great Lakes Region Digs out from Record Blizzard”)

 

Changnon: “A major blizzard struck portions of the Midwest on January 1-3, 1999.  The storm produced 22 inches of snow in Chicago and was rated by the NWS as the second worst blizzard of the 20^th century, ranking behind the blizzard in January 1967. Soon after the snow ended, record low temperatures occurred with values of -20 degrees or lower in parts of Illinois and surrounding states on January 3 and 4. The areas with the heaviest snows, 15 inches or more, included Illinois (central and north), Wisconsin (southern), Indiana (central and north), Michigan (southern), and Ohio (northern).

“Estimates of losses and recovery costs are between $0.3 and $0.4 billion with 73 dead as a result of the storm.  The governor of Illinois declared the entire state a disaster area … President Clinton declared 45 Illinois counties disaster areas (half the state)…Areas of Indiana were also declared disaster areas. “Any such large-scale record winter storm creates numerous serious impacts on human life and property.  Many of the worst impacts were associated with the storm’s effects on transportation.  Every form of Midwestern transportation was either halted and delayed by 2 to 4 days, or greatly slowed, and transportation problems were the source of many accidents and deaths. Auto and train-related deaths totaled 39 with 5 more dead due to snowmobile accidents.   “Railroad trains in the storm’s heart were stalled or delayed by 12 to 24 hours, and since Chicago is the Nation’s rail hub, many priority shipments for the East and West Coasts were delayed, at great expense, by 1 to 4 days. The suburban train service of Chicago…was overwhelmed by travelers who were unable to use normal vehicular transport, and 3 separate train accidents killed 3….

 

“Major auto accidents involving numerous vehicles occurred on major highways and interstates, causing more than 2,500 auto and truck accidents. Snow removal on city streets buried thousands of cars and driveway entrances, trapping many motorists without transportation, and it took up to a week after the storm before most vehicles had been extracted from these man-made snowbanks.  Many traveling motorists became trapped on highways and thousands were housed in emergency shelters…for 1 to 3 nights.

 

“The storm’s impact on commercial aviation was staggering at Chicago and Detroit. Northwest Airlines reported than more than 1,100 flights were canceled during January 2-4, and United Airlines canceled 60% of its O’Hare flights during the 2-day storm. O’Hare Airport had 300,000 travelers stranded for periods of hours up to 4 days.  Costs were staggering, in the millions…

 

“Navigation on the major Midwestern rivers was reduced by 50%. The cold temperatures during and after the storm created large ice floes on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and these limited safe barge movement and the operation of locks and dams.

 

“…There were 39 known deaths due to vehicle and train accidents. Five died in snowmobile accidents, 2 froze to death, and another 32 lost their lives due to heart attacks resulting from over exertion and mainly snow shoveling. The Midwestern total, still considered incomplete, is 73 persons killed.” (Changnon, Stanley A. “January 1999 Blizzard: Impacts of the New Years 1999 Blizzard in the Midwest.” NOAA, NCDC, Midwest Climate Center, 8-20-2008 update.)

 

Jan 2:  “Indianapolis (AP) — A New Year’s Day storm brought snow and freezing rain from the Dakotas to Indiana Friday night, with some areas getting up to 8 inches of snow….” (The Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH. “Blizzard batters Midwest.” 2-2-1999, p. 1.)

 

Jan 3:  “A huge snowstorm blew across the Midwest on Saturday [Jan 2] with whiteout conditions and drifts up to 8 feet high, canceling hundreds of airline flights, forcing motorists off roads and keeping mail deliverers from their appointed rounds….

 

“By Saturday afternoon, the storm had dumped 17 inches at Chicago’s Midway Airport, it was 13 inches deep in western Indiana’s Parke County, and 10 inches of new snow had fallen in southwestern Ohio and Eldora, Iowa. Up to 15 inches was forecast in Missouri, and two feet was likely at Marquette, Mich.  Wind gusting to 40 mph created blizzard conditions and northern Indiana’s LaGrange County pulled its plows off the roads because snow was drifting 5 to 8 feet deep….

 

“More than 50 of Indiana’s counties and cities declared snow emergencies, banning unnecessary travel; Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon declared a less-restrictive statewide snow emergency.  “The roads are impassable,” said Pam Bright of the Indiana Emergency Management Agency.  The Postal Service even quit delivering mail in the Indianapolis area.  Rain, slush and freezing temperatures made it too dangerous for carriers to walk their routes, said Postmaster Mile Lamborne….

 

“TWA canceled nearly 400 morning flights at St. Louis, its main hub. At Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, American canceled all flights through midnight Saturday and United shut down everything after midafternoon….”  (Petterson, Roger (AP). “Blowing snow, ice shut down Midwest travel.” Indiana Gazette, PA. 1-3-1999, p. 1.)

 

Arkansas

 

NCDC: “A major ice storm developed over northern and central Arkansas during the morning of January 1st and lasted through the evening hours. The icing was found mainly north of Clarksville, Perryville, Little Rock and Hazen. Precipitation began developing over southern and western Arkansas and gradually spread eastward. The precipitation was mostly in the form of rain which froze on contact with roadways and exposed surfaces in northern and central sections of the state. In portions of northern Arkansas, more than an inch of ice was reported…with extensive tree and power line damage. At one point during the evening of the January 1st, up to 85 percent of Boone County had lost power. It was estimated that up to 100,000 customers were without power during the event. Numerous traffic accidents occurred, but only minor injuries were reported. However, the ice did claim one life. A man in Baxter County slipped on the ice while carrying a gun, with the gun accidently firing…killing the man. Warmer air was trying to surge northward during the period, but with slow progress. From 6pm on January 1st to 12am on January 2nd, the surface temperature at Harrison remained at 30 degrees. Meanwhile, the temperature at Pine Bluff had climbed from 43 degrees to 53 degrees. The warmer air would eventually take over, with heavy rain developing across central and southern Arkansas. Twenty-four hour rainfall totals ending at 6am on the 2nd included 2 to 4 inch amounts generally south of Clarksville, Heber Springs and Newport. The storm system producing the rain moved east of the state during the morning hours of the 2nd. Behind the system, colder air changed precipitation to snow in portions of northern Arkansas. 1 to as much as 5 inches of snow was reported in Baxter…Boone…Fulton…Marion…Newton and Searcy Counties.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Ice Storm, Arkansas, Baxter County, Jan 1-2, 1999.)

 

Illinois

 

Allsop: “One of Chicago’s worst ever storms, a record 18.6 inches fell in the first day alone. Temperatures fell as low as -30° Celsius. 73 people were killed, with 32 of the deaths resulting from heart attacks brought on by shoveling snow.” (Allsop, Harry. “Nemo: Top ten worst blizzards to hit the US.” Telegraph, UK, 2-8-2013.)

 

NCDC: “A major winter storm paralyzed much of the region during the first few days of 1999. Snow began falling across portions of Central Illinois before noon on New Year’s Day and continued to fall, moderate to heavy at times for most of the following 24-hour period. Locations near and south of Charleston/Mattoon saw periods of mixed precipitation, including freezing rain, while farther north snow was predominate. After the snowfall and precipitation diminished, winds increased from the northwest and temperatures dropped, causing dangerous wind chills and treacherous driving conditions with extensive blowing and drifting snow through the third day of the year. Total snow accumulations topped 6 inches mainly along and north of Interstate 70. Lesser amounts fell to the south, where more freezing precipitation was reported. The heaviest snow band in Central Illinois was found west and north of a line from Quincy to Virginia (Cass County) to Peoria to Bloomington to Champaign where reports of 14 or more inches of snow were common. The weight of the heavy snow and ice caused many roofs and porches to collapse, resulting in one death and an injury. An overhang attached to a garage at a Dalton City (Moultrie County) residence collapsed, killing a 47-year old woman and injuring her husband. In Pekin (Tazewell County), a storage building roof collapsed. A garage roof collapsed onto a station wagon in Winchester (Scott County). In Sullivan (Moultrie County), another roof collapsed. In Chesterville (Moultrie County), the roof caved in on the Bourbon Township Shed. Structural damage was sustained at the Farm and Fleet just west of Bloomington on Route 9 (McLean County). Part of the roof collapsed on the TCI building in Decatur (Macon County). The roof caved in and fell onto a service truck and two cars at Walker’s Tire and Muffler Shop in Farmer City (Dewitt County). A private airplane was totaled when the roof of one of the main hangers at Kermit Patchett Airport in Marshall (Clark County) collapsed. Several homes in town also reported collapsed porches. In Lawrence County, more than $1000 in damage was sustained to vehicles in three separate accidents, with only minor injuries reported. Elsewhere, no damage estimates were available. In addition, many locations sustained temporary or extended power outages during the storm.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heavy Snow, Illinois, Peoria, Jan 1-3, 1999.)

Iowa

 

NCDC: “A strong winter storm exiting the Southern Rockies pumped warm tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico over cold Arctic air already in place over the upper midwest. As the storm moved toward the Great Lakes it produced heavy snow, strong winds, and a bitterly cold start to the New Year across Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois. With snowfall amounts ranging from 12 to 15 inches across Southeast Iowa to 9 to 12 inches over East Central Iowa roads and highways quickly became snow-packed causing several businesses to close over the weekend. Most school students enjoyed a longer holiday break as schools were closed several days to allow snow to be removed from streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. Two fatalities were reported. In Burlington a 40 year old man died of a heart attack after shoveling snow, and in Davenport an 11 year old Oklahoma boy was killed when the car in which he was riding was struck by a semi-truck. Over all…most counties reported few accidents as motorists heeded earlier advisories that warned of deteriorating travel conditions.” (National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Dubuque, Iowa, Jan 1, 1999.)

 

Michigan

 

NCDC: “Arctic air invaded Michigan behind the massive snowstorm. As usual, the Great Lakes offered some protection, as air was warmed as it crossed the lakes. But far southeast Michigan did not receive the benefits of the lakes, as arctic air coming from the northwest curled around the southern tip of Lake Michigan and turned northeast into the southeast corner of the state.

 

“After a high of around 10 degrees on the 4th, temperatures nose-dived that night. The mercury plunged to -10 at Detroit Metro Airport, Adrian, and Ypsilanti, and -13 at Ann Arbor and Tecumseh. It was not until late afternoon on the 5th before temperatures rose to above zero. By midnight, the temperature at Detroit Metro Airport had risen all the way to 6 degrees.

 

“The cold caused three deaths in Oakland County, all on the 4th. In Pontiac, a man froze to death while walking home early in the morning. An elderly woman somehow walked out of a nursing home in Troy early in the morning; she was found dead in the driveway later in the morning. In West Bloomfield, a young adult male was found frozen to death; the exact circumstances of his death were unknown.

 

“The bitter cold caused numerous cases of frostbite. Injuries were reported near Pontiac and in Shelby Township on the 4th. On the 5th, a single hospital in Westland reported that “dozens suffered from exposure and frostbite.” The number of injuries listed above is undoubtedly a gross underestimation.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Cold/Wind Chill, Michigan, Oakland County, Jan 4-5, 1999.)

Nebraska

 

NCDC: “The start of 1999 was ushered in with snow, ice, and very cold weather across central and south-central Nebraska. On New Years Day, a steady snowfall along and north of Interstate 80 dumped from 1 to 5 inches of snow. Most of the 5 inch reports were along Highway 92 from Loup City to Osceola, but also in parts of northeast Dawson county. By late morning, freezing drizzle developed southeast of Hastings and eventually coated area roads with a layer of ice. Light snow later that evening made travel even more treacherous. A five vehicle pile-up on the Interstate that involved two semi-trailers killed one man and injured 3 others. This accident was caused when one of the semi-trailers lost control on the slick roadway, crossed the median and collided with the other semi and other cars. The traffic from the Interstate was redirected to Highway 30 where another accident occurred involving two vehicles. This accident killed a 15 year boy and injured 3 others. Several other minor accidents were reported in the same area during the day of the first.

 

“Once the ice and snow ended, arctic air spilled across the area aboard 20 to 30 mph north winds. Blowing and drifting of the fallen snow caused very poor visibilities for a time on the 2nd. Temperatures fell to 5 to 15 below zero through midday the 3rd. On January 3, a 55 year old Cairo man died from hypothermia after being exposed to the sub zero temperatures. The man had attended his son’s wedding the previous evening and died from exposure as he walked home late that night.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Nebraska, Hall, Jan 1-3, 1999.)

 

Pennsylvania

 

NCDC: “A strong winter storm approached the region from the south central U.S., bringing a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to western Pennsylvania. Across southwest Pennsylvania, between 1 and 3 inches of snow fell before the precipitation turned to freezing rain. Ice accumulations of between 1/4 and 1/2 inch were reported across the majority of the area. Farther north, across northwest Pennsylvania (generally north of Interstate 80), snowfall amounts of between 3 and 6 inches were common before the precipitation turned to freezing rain. In addition to the snowfall, these areas also picked up between 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice accumulation.

 

“This combination of ice and snow produced numerous accidents on roads across western Pennsylvania. Two fatalities were reported as a woman and her 8-year-old daughter were killed after their car spun out of control on an icy section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Allegheny County. Winds picked up in intensity across the area on the evening of the 2nd with Fayette and Westmoreland Counties (which border the western slopes of the Laurel Highlands) reporting the most damage. Winds estimated at between 60 and 80 MPH downed trees, power lines and even telephone poles that were already weighed down with a thick accumulation of ice. As a result, an estimated 30,000 people were without power in those two counties. In Latrobe, Westmoreland County, winds blew a section of roof off of the American Legion building. In Fairchance, Fayette County, a restaurant completely collapsed due to the force of the winds. Also in Fayette County, a newly constructed garage near the town of Bridgeport was blown 15 feet off of its foundation and collapsed onto two parked vehicles.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Jan 2-3, 1999.)

 

NCDC: “Wintry precipitation affected Eastern Pennsylvania the evening of the 2nd and morning of the 3rd. It lasted the longest in the Poconos and claimed the life of an 85-year-old Saylorsburg man (Monroe County) who slipped on the ice and died from the injuries he sustained a couple of weeks later.

 

“A very cold and dry air mass built into Eastern Pennsylvania on the 1st and the 2nd. As the high pressure system built into New England and the adjacent coastal waters, the circulation around it and a low pressure system over the Lower Ohio Valley started to bring in warmer air from the Atlantic Ocean. During the evening of the 2nd the air near the ground was cold enough for precipitation to start as light freezing rain and sleet from the Lehigh Valley south. In the Poconos precipitation started as snow and sleet. Precipitation intensity was light for the first several hours of this event. This permitted temperatures to rise above freezing before the onset of heavy rain. The only places this did not occur were in the valleys of the Poconos as several hours of heavy freezing rain occurred during the early morning of the 3rd. By mid-morning of the 3rd even the Poconos’ air temperatures went above freezing. Water equivalents of ice and sleet around the Philadelphia area were only a few hundredths of an inch. This increased to one to two tenths of an inch in Berks County and the Lehigh Valley and as much as three-quarters of an inch in the valleys of the Poconos.

 

“Because this occurred late on a weekend night, the number of reported vehicular accidents was not very high in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos. In and around Philadelphia numerous fender benders were reported. A truck spreading salt even overturned. A six lane stretch of Roosevelt Boulevard within Philadelphia was closed because of icy conditions.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Pennsylvania, Monroe County, Jan 2-3, 1999.)

 

Sources

 

Allen, Jim. “Cold, cold, cold.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-6-1999, p. L2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=91544331&sterm

 

Allsop, Harry. “Nemo: Top ten worst blizzards to hit the US.” Telegraph, UK, 2-8-2013. Accessed 2-13-2013: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9859086/Nemo-Top-ten-worst-blizzards-to-hit-the-US.html

 

Associated Press. “Deadly snow storm heads east.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-4-1999, p. 4. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=108232171&sterm

 

Associated Press, St. Louis. “Massive winter storm roars across the nation.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, 1-2-1999. Accessed 12-15-2015: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=28696165&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Storm buries Midwest, brings misery…East.” The News, Frederick MD. 1-4-1999, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=19766776&sterm

 

CBS Chicago. “A Look Back at 3 of Chicago’s Worst Blizzards.” 1-31-2011. Accessed 2-13-2013 at: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/31/a-look-back-at-3-of-chicagos-worst-blizzards/

 

Changnon, Stanley A. January 1999 Blizzard:  Impacts of the New Years 1999 Blizzard in the Midwest. NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Midwest Climate Center, June 23, 2005 update. Accessed at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/1999/january/blizzard99.html

 

Daily News, Estherville, IA. “Two die on highways after snow storm.” 1-2-1999, p. 5. Accessed 12-18-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185094694&sterm=winter

 

Evbuoma, Andrei. “Chicago’s 11^th year anniversary of the 1999 New Years snowstorm.” Examiner.com, 1-3-2010. Accessed 2-13-2013 at: http://www.examiner.com/article/chicago-s-11th-year-anniversary-of-the-1999-new-years-snowstorm

 

History.com. This Day in History, Disaster. “January 3, 1999: Great Lakes Region Digs out from Record Blizzard.” Accessed 12-4-2008 at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&displayDate=01/03&categoryId=disaster

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Cold/Wind Chill, Alabama, Clarke County, Jan 5, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5684752

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Cold/Wind Chill, Michigan, Oakland County, Jan 4-5, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5680154

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heavy Snow, Illinois, Moultrie County, Jan 1-3, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5684169

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heavy Snow, Illinois, Peoria, Jan 1-3, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5684170

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Ice Storm, Arkansas, Baxter County, Jan 1-2, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5685721

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Iowa, Dubuque, Jan 1, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5684817

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Iowa, Grundy County Jan 1-2, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5679163

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Iowa, Polk County, Jan 1-2, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5679179

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, IA, Van Buren, Jan 1-3, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5684830

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Nebraska, Dawson County, Jan 1-3, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5685203

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Nebraska, Hall County, Jan 1-3, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5685209

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, North Dakota, Williams County, Jan 1, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5679724

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Jan 2-3, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5685768

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Pennsylvania, Monroe County, Jan 2-3, 1999. Accessed 12-14-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5684370

 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI. “Major Winter Storm for Southern Wisconsin – January 2^nd, 1999.” 2-18-2010 last modified. Accessed 2-13-2013 at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/document/snow/snow_1-2-99.php

 

Petterson, Roger (AP). “Blowing snow, ice shut down Midwest travel.” Indiana Gazette, PA. 1-3-1999, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=112048676&sterm

 

Petterson, Roger (AP). “Snowstorm slams Midwest.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. 1-3-1999, p. 2A. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=162264317&sterm

 

Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Winter Storm Leaves Stranded Travelers, Slick Roads Behind.” 1-4-1999, A3. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=111672779&sterm

 

Sanchez, Robert. “Three people die in train accidents; four others die after storm.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-5-1999, p. C5. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=91544108&sterm

 

Stingl, Jim. Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, WI. “Storm leaves mark as snowiest in 52 years.” 1-4-1999, p. 1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=OP2qWFMeUpEC&dat=19990104&printsec=frontpage

 

Tanner, Lindsey (AP). “Computer Storm modeling gave Midwest lots of warning.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 1-5-1999, p. 2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=162264514&sterm

 

The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA. “Record cold reported in Illinois” (AP). 1-6-1999, p. 3. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=153682519&sterm

 

The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO. “Weather lightens up as Midwesterners thaw out, dig out.”  1-7-1999, 7. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=189077827&sterm

 

Walsh, David. “US Blizzard, cold wave hit the poor.” WSWS.org, 1-6-1999. Accessed 2-13-2013 at: http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/01/bliz-j06.html

 

Woodhead, James A. (Editor). Earth Science: Weather, Water, and the Atmosphere. University of California, Salem Press, 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

[1] The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO. “Weather lightens up as Midwesterners thaw out, dig out.” AP. 1-7-1999, 7.

[2] This is U.S. and Canada. If seven Canadian fatalities noted below are subtracted then the U.S. total would be 82.

[3] Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 1-5-1999, p. 2.

[4] While this internet page is titled “Remembering the Chicago Blizzard,” the death figure appears to relate to the Mid-west. NOAA is quoted as follows: Soon after the snow ended, record low temperatures occurred with values of -20 degrees or lower in parts of Illinois and surrounding states on January 3 and 4. The areas with the heaviest snows, 15 inches or more, included Illinois (central and north), Wisconsin (southern), Indiana (central and north), Michigan (southern), and Ohio (northern). Estimates of losses and recovery costs are between $0.3 and $0.4 billion with 73 dead as a result of the storm. The governor of Illinois declared the entire state a disaster area on January 4, and on January 20, President Clinton declared 45 Illinois counties disaster areas (half the state) and subject to receiving federal relief….Every form of Midwestern transportation was either halted and delayed by 2 to 4 days, or greatly slowed, and transportation problems were the source of many accidents and deaths. Auto and train-related deaths totaled 39 with 5 more dead due to snowmobile accidents.”

[5] Changnon writes “The Midwestern total, still considered incomplete, is 73 persons killed.” Yet in the sentence preceding he writes “There were 39 known deaths due to vehicle and train accidents. Five died in snowmobile accidents, 2 froze to death, and another 32 lost their lives due to heart attacks resulting from over exertion and mainly snow shoveling.” The total of these numbers is 78. Perhaps the 5 snowmobile accidents are included in the 39 vehicle and train accident 39.

[6] Changnon specifically notes IL, WI, IN, MI, and OH.

[7] Examiner.com, 1-3-2010. In that NOAA’s Changnon notes 73 fatalities for the midwest, it is probable that this report is incorrectly claiming these fatalities for just the Chicago vicinity. While 73 is the number noted, the breakout of deaths by cause totals 78.

[8] Evbuoma.

[9] Changnon.

[10] Changnon.

[11] Changnon; Evbuoma. “Chicago’s 11^th year anniversary of…1999 New Years snowstorm.” 1-3-2010.

[12] Changnon; Evbuoma. “Chicago’s 11^th year anniversary of…1999 New Years snowstorm.” 1-3-2010.

[13] Changnon; Evbuoma. “Chicago’s 11^th year anniversary of…1999 New Years snowstorm.” 1-3-2010.

[14] We include as Midwestern, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI. (Wikipedia)

[15] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Cold/Wind Chill, Alabama, Clarke County, Jan 5, 1999. Notes “The temperatures in the Jackson area only reached the mid 30s the day before (January 4) and fell to 13 degrees that night….It was determined the man died from hypothermia. The heater in his home was never turned on that day.”

[16] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Ice Storm, Arkansas, Baxter County, Jan 1-2, 1999.

[17] Petterson, Roger (AP). “Snowstorm slams Midwest.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. 1-3-1999, p. 2A.

[18] Under the heading of “The Blizzard of Jan 204, 1999,” Allsop writes “One of Chicago’s worst ever storms, a record 18.6 inches fell in the first day alone. Temperatures fell as low as -30° Celsius. 73 people were killed, with 32 of the deaths resulting from heart attacks brought on by shoveling snow.” We highlight in yellow to denote that we do not include in our tally for Illinois. We think it is probable that the total of 73 and a breakout of 32 heart attacks comes from NOAA data, which refers to the Midwest, not just Chicago.

[19] Some of the individualized breakouts are within the greater Chicago metropolitan area and could conceivably have been included in the figure of 43 deaths in the Chicago area reported by CBS Chicago.

[20] Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 1-5-1999, p. 2.

[21] Sanchez. “Three people die in train accidents; four others die after storm.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-5-1999, C5. Barrington is to the northwest of Chicago and can be viewed as a Chicago-area suburb.

[22] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heavy Snow, Illinois, Moultrie County, Jan 1-3, 1999.

[23] Sanchez. “Three people die in train accidents; four others die after storm.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-5-1999, C5. Downers Grove is near Chicago and thus these two deaths could conceivably be included in 43 deaths reported for Chicago area by CBS Chicago.

[24] Allen, Jim. “Cold, Cold, Cold.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-6-1999, p. L2.

[25] Sanchez. “Three people die in train accidents; four others die after storm.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-5-1999, C5. Notes that due to slippery conditions the woman was watching her feet and thus did not see the train.

[26] Sanchez. “Three people die in train accidents; four others die after storm.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-5-1999, C5.

[27] Sanchez. “Three people die in train accidents; four others die after storm.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-5-1999, C5.

[28] Sanchez. “Three people die in train accidents; four others die after storm.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-5-1999, C5. Could conceivably be viewed as an outer suburb of Chicago.

[29] Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Winter Storm Leaves Stranded Travelers, Slick Roads Behind.” 1-4-1999, A3.

[30] Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Winter Storm Leaves Stranded Travelers, Slick Roads Behind.” 1-4-1999, A3.

[31] Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Winter Storm Leaves Stranded Travelers, Slick Roads Behind.” 1-4-1999, A3.

[32] Daily News, Estherville, IA. “Two die on highways after snow storm.” 1-2-1999, p. 5.

[33] Daily News, Estherville, IA. “Two die on highways after snow storm.” 1-2-1999, p. 5.

[34] NCDC. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Iowa, Van Buren, Jan 1-3, 1999. Notes the boy was from OK.

[35] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Iowa, Polk County, Jan 1-2, 1999.

[36] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Iowa, Grundy County Jan 1-2, 1999.

[37] Petterson, Roger (AP). “Snowstorm slams Midwest.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. 1-3, 1999, p. 2A.

[38] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Cold/Wind Chill, Michigan, Oakland County, Jan 4-5, 1999.

[39] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Cold/Wind Chill, Michigan, Oakland County, Jan 4-5, 1999.

[40] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Cold/Wind Chill, Michigan, Oakland County, Jan 4-5, 1999.

[41] Petterson, Roger (AP). “Snowstorm slams Midwest.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. 1-3, 1999, p. 2A.

[42] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Nebraska, Hall County, Jan 1-3, 1999.

[43] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Nebraska, Dawson County, Jan 1-3, 1999.

[44] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Nebraska, Dawson County, Jan 1-3, 1999.

[45] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, North Dakota, Williams County, Jan 1, 1999.

[46] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, North Dakota, Williams County, Jan 1, 1999.

[47] Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 1-5-1999, p. 2.

[48] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Jan 2-3, 1999.

[49] AP, St. Louis. “Massive winter storm roars across the nation.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, 1-2-1999.

[50] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Winter Storm, Pennsylvania, Monroe County, Jan 2-3, 1999.

[51] Associated Press. “Deadly snow storm heads east.” Daily Herald, Chicago. 1-4-1999, p. 4.

[52] National Weather Service, Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI, Weather Forecast Office. “Major Winter Storm for Southern Wisconsin – January 2^nd, 1999.” 2-18-2010 last modified.

[53] Stingl, Jim. Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, WI. “Storm leaves mark as snowiest in 52 years.” 1-4-1999, p. 1.

[54] Stingl, Jim. Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, WI. “Storm leaves mark as snowiest in 52 years.” 1-4-1999, p. 1.

[55] Stingl, Jim. Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, WI. “Storm leaves mark as snowiest in 52 years.” 1-4-1999, p. 1.

[56] Stingl, Jim. Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, WI. “Storm leaves mark as snowiest in 52 years.” 1-4-1999, p. 1.

— 6  Daily News, Estherville, IA. “Ceylon blaze claims family, friend.” 1-2-1999, p. 1.

— 6  The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA. “Fire kills 6 in Minnesota.” 1-2-1999, p. 3A.

 

Narrative Information

 

Jan 2, Estherville Daily News: “Ceylon, Minn. — A New Year’s…blaze claimed the lives of six people, including three children, in this small, southern Minnesota community just over the border from Emmet County [Iowa].

 

“State Fire Marshal Tom Brace the blaze appeared to have started in an LP gas wall-mounted heater in the attached garage.

 

“Five of the victims were members of one family and the sixth was a family friend.

 

“About 25 firefighters from five volunteer departments, including Ceylon, Dunnell, Fairmont, Sherburn and Welcome, battled the blaze in extreme cold which was initially reported by a neighbor at about 6 a.m. It took about three hours to put the fire out.

 

“‘When I went to the window I could see the flames,’ said a woman who lived about a mile away and did • not want to be identified. Another neighbor across the street, Barb Cuppy – the mother of victim Jenny Hoffmeyer – spotted the flames in the house at 5:45 a.m. Friday when she woke up to make coffee. Cuppy called 911 and then woke up her fiancée, Joe Schroeder, to alert him to the fire. Schroeder ran across the street to the front door of the Hatfield residence in an attempt to rescue the residents. When he tried to open the door, Schroeder said he was blown back about 10 feet against a railing by the backdraft force. He could not enter the house because it was engulfed in flames and there was intense smoke. ‘I felt helpless because I couldn’t do anything to help them,’ Schroeder said….

 

“The Martin County Sheriff’s Department identified the dead as Kathleen A. Hatfield, 60; her son, Alfred Hatfield, 40; and his three children, 8-year-old son JaJa, 7-year-old daughter Brenna, and 3-year-old son Brandon. The sixth victim was Jenny Hoffmeyer, 22, a family friend who had been staying at the home.

 

“When firefighters arrived at the scene the garage was completely engulfed and flames had spread to the interior of the attached wood frame two story home, according to Wayne Harder, Ceylon Volunteer Fire Department Chief. They attempted to enter the home but were driven back by the intense flames. Harder said the home was equipped with a number of smoke detectors, both battery and electric powered. When the victims were recovered it appeared that several had attempted to escape the flames, including the grandmother who was found in the first-floor living room, Brandon, who was found in the kitchen and another child found near a window in an upstairs bedroom….

 

“Martin County authorities said they believed the six deaths were the most in a single fire in county history. It is believed the last fatal fire in this community of 450 people occurred about 50 years ago, Chief Harder said.”

 

Sources

 

Daily News, Estherville, IA. “Ceylon blaze claims family, friend.” 1-2-1999, pp. 1-2. Accessed 12-18-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185094691&sterm

 

The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA. “Fire kills 6 in Minnesota.” 1-2-1999, p. 3A. Accessed 12-19-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=153682204&sterm=hatfield+fire

 

 

–96  CDC Wonder. Compressed Mortality File 1999-2016. ICD-10 code[1] A09 Diarrhoea/Gastroenteritis.

 

Death rate per 100,000 = 0.034

Narrative Information

 

Gastroenteritis: “Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu — is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water. If you’re otherwise healthy, you’ll likely recover without complications. But for infants, older adults and people with compromised immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be deadly….Although it’s commonly called stomach flu, gastroenteritis isn’t the same as influenza. Real flu (influenza) affects only your respiratory system… nose, throat and lungs. Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks your intestines….

 

“There’s no effective treatment for viral gastroenteritis, so prevention is key. In addition to avoiding food and water that may be contaminated, thorough and frequent hand-washings are your best defense…

 

“Causes. You’re most likely to contract viral gastroenteritis when you eat or drink contaminated food or water, or if you share utensils, towels or food with someone who’s infected…. Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptoms may appear within one to three days after you’re infected and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last just a day or two, but occasionally they may persist as long as 10 days….” (Mayo Clinic. Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu). 12-2-2014.)

 

WebMD: “Gastroenteritis….The most common cause…is a virus. Gastroenteritis flu can be caused by many different kinds of viruses. The main types are rotavirus and norovirus…There are many ways gastroenteritis an be spread: Contact with someone who has the virus; Contaminated food or water; Unwashed hands after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper.” (WebMD. Gastroenteritis.)

Sources

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Compressed Mortality File 1999-2016. CDC Wonder Online Database, released June 2017. ICD-10 code A09, Diarrhoea and Gastroenteritis of infections origin, 2000. Accessed 11-3-2018 at:

https://wonder.cdc.gov

 

Mayo Clinic. Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu). 12-2-2014. Accessed 10-15-2018 at:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/viral-gastroenteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378847

 

WebMD. Gastroenteritis.) Accessed 10-15-2018 at: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/gastroenteritis#1

[1] ICD-10 is the 10^th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, a medical classification list by the World Health Organization.

— 7  MI CIS. “Fireworks Safety — Independence Fireworks.” MI OSHA News, 3/3, Fall 1999, p3.

— 7  NYT. “National News Briefs; Blasts at Fireworks Plant Leaves 7 People Missing.” 12-12-1998.

 

Narrative Information

 

MI CIS: “Independence Fireworks. On Dec. 11, 1998, seven workers died in an explosion at Independence Professional Fireworks in Osseo, Michigan. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) licenses explosives manufacturers, and ATF was the lead investigator in the causes of this tragedy. A subsequent explosion occurred at the same location Monday, March 29, 1999, killing five more workers, including the owners.

 

“On April 1, 1999, Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) Director Kathy Wilbur announced that Independence Professional Fireworks was cited for 23 alleged worker safety violations with proposed penalties of more than $562,500. The complex, three-month-long investigation of the first explosion identified 23 willful, serious and other violations of worker safety rules….

 

“Under Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) rules, manufacturers of explosives have responsibilities concerning the use of explosive chemicals. MIOSHA’s Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (PSM) of 1993 was designed to help prevent catastrophic accidents, when complied with by employers. Company management was made aware of the PSM standard in 1994, but did not implement the life-saving procedures. ‘MIOSHA promulgated this standard specifically because work with highly hazardous chemicals requires stringent and detailed safeguards to protect workers…’

 

“ATF, the State Police Fire Marshal Division and MIOSHA all conducted investigations of both explosions. Independence Professional Fireworks voluntarily surrendered its license to ATF after the second explosion. The cause and origin of the first explosion [1998] could not be determined by ATF and MSP because of the lack of any surviving witnesses and the total destruction of the building (Building 15).” (MICIS. “Fireworks Safety — Independence Fireworks.” MI OSHA News, Vol. 3, No. 3, Fall 1999, pp. 3 & 20.)

 

NYT: “Osseo, Mich., Dec. 11 — An explosion destroyed a fireworks factory here in southern Michigan this afternoon, leaving seven workers missing and 13 with injuries of mostly smoke inhalation, officials said. The explosion, at the Independence Professional Fireworks Company, sent a huge cloud of smoke into the sky and could be heard for at least 20 miles. The plant is southeast of Hillsdale near the Michigan state line with Ohio and Indiana and about 90 miles southwest of Detroit. The factory employs 20 to 25 people, said Sheriff Stan Burchardt of Hillsdale County, but he added that was not sure how many people were on the property at the time. The seven missing people were all in the building when it exploded this afternoon, he said. Sheriff Stan Burchardt said 12 people had been treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and one had been taken to a hospital.

Sources

 

Michigan Consumer & Industry Services, Bureau of Safety & Regulation. “Fireworks Safety — Independence Fireworks.” MI OSHA News (Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Act), Vol. 3, No. 3, Fall 1999, pp. 3 & 20, Lansing, MI. Accessed 12-19-2015 at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CIS_WSH_minwsf99_27783_7.pdf

 

New York Times. “National News Briefs; Blasts at Fireworks Plant Leaves 7 People Missing.” 12-12-1998. Accessed 12-20-2015 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/12/us/national-news-briefs-blast-at-fireworks-plant-leaves-7-people-missing.html

 

— 29  Brazos River Authority. History. “Timeline of the Brazos River Basin.” 

— 29  Flood Safety Education Project. Flood Damage and Fatality Statistics.

— 29  NCDC. Storm Events Database. Search results for all TX, flood and flash flood, Oct 17-19

— 28  NCDC. Storm Events Database. Search results for all Texas counties, flash flood.

–25  Direct (drownings).

—  3  Indirect; two heart attacks related to rescue, electric shock in boat/drowning.

—   1  NCDC. Storm Events Database. Search results for all TX, flood, Oct 17-28.

 

Breakout of Fatalities by County (29):

–11  Bexar, Oct 17-18. Males, 31, 37, 47, 55, 67; females 1, 20, 30, 31, 79; all in vehicles.[1]

—  6  Caldwell, Oct 17-18. Females 10, 60; males 7, 71, in vehicles; male 71, female, 67, home.[2]

—  4  Comal, Oct 17-18. Males 6 and 77 in vehicles; males, heart attacks while awaiting rescue.[3]

—  5  Guadalupe, Oct 17-18. Males 22, 75, 76 vehicular; male, 71, home; male, electric shock.[4]

—  1  Harris, Oct 18-19. Victim drove vehicle into flooded road along Spring Creek.[5]

—  1  Travis, Oct 17-18. Female, 8, vehicular. NCDC. Storm Events Database. TX, flash flood.

—  1  Uvalde, Oct 17-18. Male, 24, vehicular. NCDC. Storm Events Database. TX, flash flood.

 

Narrative Information

 

Brazos River Authority: “A major flood event occurs in Central Texas after 30 inches of rainfall in a few hours. The Little River experiences the fifth largest discharge in its history. Flooding also occurs in the South Fork San Gabriel watershed, and the Mill Creek watershed. Property damage of $750 million and 29 deaths were reported primarily in the Colorado and Guadalupe river basins.” (Brazos River Auth. History. “Timeline of the Brazos River Basin.”) 

 

Burnett: “The flash floods of October 1998 demonstrate what happens when scientists’ worst-case analysis is realized. They have called Central Texas ‘Flash Flood Alley.’ Three of the atmospheric factors contributing to this label are the ready supply of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast, moisture from the Pacific Ocean from the southwest, and the presence of triggering mechanisms in the upper atmosphere. In October 1998 all of these aspects converged over the region just north of San Antonio. This convergence was further enhanced by the orographic lift of the Balcones Escarpment. The resulting storm was another extremely efficient rainfall machine that dropped huge amounts of water for a prolonged period….” (Burnett, Jonathan. Flash Floods in Texas. 2008, p. 273.)

 

NCDC: “The Great October Flood. In advance of a very slow-moving upper level trough of low pressure over West Texas, a cold front drifted slowly southeastward into West Central Texas during the evening of Friday, October 16th. Deep moisture was in place across South Central Texas as the two systems approached, being fed at the mid and upper levels by two nearly stationary hurricanes, Madeline near the tip of Baja Mexico, and Lester, anchored just off Acapulco, Mexico, and in the low levels by a strong flow from the Gulf of Mexico. A very moisture-rich environment was in place across South Central Texas as the event developed. Near 3 am CST, with the cold front still west of San Angelo, scattered showers and thunderstorms began to break out over Bexar County beneath the mid and upper level moisture plume. They quickly became widespread as a low level rain-cooled boundary formed along the south and east edge of the county. It was upon this boundary that subsequent showers and thunderstorms continued to form. By 6 am CST, rainfall of up to 4 inches had been reported in Western Bexar County, with amounts approaching 4 inches in Western Comal County. By 8 am CST that morning, heavy rain continued over Bexar County, and had spread northward across Comal County into Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties. Amounts at this time were approaching 8 inches in Bexar and Comal Counties and 4 inches in Hays and Travis Counties. The heavy rain continued through the morning period.

 

“Shortly before noon on Saturday, heavy rain began to spread eastward into Guadalupe, Caldwell, Bastrop and Lee Counties. Through the mid afternoon, moderate to heavy rain continued between San Antonio and Austin, with widespread heavy rain over Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe and Gonzales Counties. By 5 pm CST, the strongest low level flow had also shifted eastward, focusing the heaviest rainfall through the evening period over the area from LaGrange to Gonzales to Karnes City to Cuero and Hallettsville.

 

“By midnight, heavy rain had exited the Cuero-Hallettsville area, and moderate rain had again broken out over Bexar and Comal Counties. The activity spread westward through the early morning hours on Sunday to Hondo and Uvalde and northwestward into the Hill Country. At the same time, moderate to heavy rain also redeveloped along and north of a line from San Antonio to Gonzales to LaGrange. By late Sunday morning, the cold front moved through South Central Texas, and had slowed and stalled as it approached the Lower Texas Coast. Spotty heavy rainfall continued in the wake of the front between San Antonio, Burnet and Bastrop as another weak upper level disturbance in the southwesterly flow aloft approached. Heavy rain also developed along the front, just north of Laredo and along the coastal plains from Corpus Christi to Victoria. Even though rainfall amounts in the San Antonio to New Braunfels to San Marcos to Austin corridor were generally below 2 inches on Sunday, soils remained saturated from the previous day’s deluge and periods of flash flooding were reported through the mid morning.

 

“By Sunday afternoon, rain had diminished in the San Antonio to Austin corridor, while clouds, rain and frequent showers continued east of the area. Thereafter, rainfall was generally along and east of a LaGrange-Gonzales-Karnes City line, where an additional 3 to 5 inches of rain fell on Sunday and 2 to 4 inches fell on Monday. Only scattered light rain was reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 20th and 21st of October.

 

“All rivers, creeks and streams along and east of a San Antonio to Austin line remained at or above flood stage from Saturday, October 17th through Sunday, October 18th, with a majority continuing to flood through Monday, October 19th. On Tuesday, October 20th and Wednesday, October 21st, flooding was confined to rivers, streams and creeks along and east of a LaGrange-Gonzales-Karnes City line.

 

“This event broke rainfall records across South Central Texas, producing 18 floods of record in South Central Texas streams. October became the wettest of any month in climate records for San Antonio since 1885. October 17th became the wettest day and wettest 24-hour period in San Antonio climatic records, nearly doubling both previous records. Rivers across the area reached or exceeded record stage heights, resulting in widespread flooding in the flood plains of streams, creeks and rivers. Rainfall amounts on October 17 and 18th from northern Bexar County to southeast Kendall County, most of Comal County and southern Hays County ranged from 15 to 22 inches. Damage and destruction to livestock and agriculture, roads and bridges and both public and property and buildings significantly exceeded that of previous flooding. Thousands to tens of thousands of livestock were killed, as nearly 3000 homes were destroyed and another 8000 or so homes were damaged. Nearly 1000 mobile homes were destroyed and another 3000 were damaged.

 

“Twenty-five people drowned as a direct result of the flooding in October in South Central Texas. All nine deaths in Bexar County on Saturday, as well as the two on Sunday, were associated with driving vehicles into flooded waters. Four of the six Caldwell County deaths, two of the three Guadalupe County deaths, and all of the four deaths in Comal, Travis and Uvalde County were associated with vehicles as well. Two deaths in Caldwell County and one in Guadalupe County occurred as residents were swept by flood waters from their homes. In addition, one man in Comal County suffered a heart attack and died waiting to be rescued and another died of a heart attack while being rescued. A third man in Guadalupe County accidently touched a live wire while in his boat. He was severely shocked and died from drowning as a result of the shock.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Bexar County, Oct 17-18, 1998.)

Sources

 

Brazos River Authority. History. “Timeline of the Brazos River Basin.” Website accessed at: http://www.brazos.org/brazosHistory.asp

 

Burnett, Jonathan. Flash Floods in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2008.

 

Flood Safety Education Project. Flood Damage and Fatality Statistics. Boulder, CO: FSEP.  Accessed at: http://www.floodsafety.com/national/life/statistics.htm

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood. Texas. Search Results for All Counties, 10-17-1998 to Oct 19, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Flash+Flood&beginDate_mm=10&beginDate_dd=17&beginDate_yyyy=1998&endDate_mm=10&endDate_dd=20&endDate_yyyy=1998&county=ALL&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=48%2CTEXAS

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Bexar County, Oct 17-18, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5672492

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Caldwell County, Oct 17-18, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5672495

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Comal County, Oct 17-18, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5672496

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Guadalupe County, Oct 17-18, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5672501

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Travis County, Oct 17-18, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5672511

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Uvalde County, Oct 17-18, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5672512

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Texas, Harris County, Oct 17-28, 1998. Accessed 12-21-2015 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5677032

 

 

[1] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Bexar County, Oct 17-18, 1998.

[2] The “home” victims were “swept by flood waters from their homes.” NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Caldwell County, Oct 17-18, 1998.

[3] One of the heart attacks was while awaiting rescue and the other during rescue. NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Comal County, Oct 17-18, 1998.

[4] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Texas, Guadalupe County, Oct 17-18, 1998. Notes that the “indirect” “shock” victim “accidently touched a live wire while in his boat. He was severely shocked and died from drowning as a result of the shock.”

[5] This death “occurred late Sunday night [Oct 18] or early Monday morning.” NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Texas, Harris County, Oct 17-28, 1998.

 

–12  City of Kansas City, MO. Emer. Mgmt. History (website). “Flood – October 4, 1998.

–12  NWS WFO Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO. Kansas City Flash Flood of October 4, 1998.

–12  Ray. “Over their Heads. Flood Response in Kansas City.” 9-1-1 Magazine, Jan/Feb 1999.

–11  Kansas City area. Kansas City Star. “KC officials missed vital flooding alert…” 10-15-1998.

–10  NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Missouri, Oct 4-5-1998 search.

–1  Buchanan Co., St. Joseph, Pigeon Creek ~41^st Road. Male, 56; car swept away.

–9  Jackson Co., Kansas City metropolitan area, Oct 4-5. NCDC. Storm Events Data.

— Male, 8, in water.

— Male, 17, vehicle/towed trailer.

— Male, 19, vehicle/towed trailer.

— Male, 27, vehicle/towed trailer.

— Male, 39, vehicle/towed trailer.

— Female, 25, vehicle/towed trailer.

— Female, 43, vehicle/towed trailer.

— Female, 44, vehicle/towed trailer.

— Female, 57, found decease at a tennis court in the Brush Creek basin.

 

Narrative Information

 

NCDC: “Thunderstorms containing very heavy rainfall over West Central Missouri on October 4th resulted in several episodes of major flash flooding. The most deadly and costly flooding occurred in Jackson County where nine people lost their lives on the evening of October 4th. The Kansas City metropolitan area experienced the worst of the flooding which was similar in historical context as the devastating flash flood in September 1977.

 

“Several episodes of heavy rain producing thunderstorms commenced on the morning of October 4th and continued into early afternoon. In Lee’s Summit, up to 10 people had to be rescued from a flooded apartment complex and the depth of the water on 3rd St reached 3 feet. This heavy rain fell on top of already saturated soil from rain that occurred 6 out of 7 days prior to October 4th. Shortly after 7 PM, a line of slow moving thunderstorms moved into the Kansas City metropolitan area. These thunderstorms produced 3 to 5 inches of rain in less than 2 hours in many locations. The combination of very intense downpours and dangerous lightning forced a 52 minute delay in the nationally televised Kansas City Chiefs-Seattle Seahawks football game at Arrowhead Stadium just outside the city limits of Kansas City in Jackson County. An 8 year old boy from Lake Jacomo was swept into a creek while playing near his home.

 

“The torrential rainfall resulted in severe flash flooding along Brush Creek in Kansas City. Seven people lost their lives as a result of their vehicles being swept into the rapidly moving stream while attempting to cross the water covered bridge over Brush Creek at Prospect Avenue. A 57 year old women was found dead at a tennis court near 53rd Street and State Line Road which is in the Brush Creek basin. An entire apartment complex along Woodland Avenue near Brush Creek was completely flooded and all tenants lost their home. At least 200 families in Kansas City reported damage to their home. Along Southwest Blvd., many business were severely damaged by flood waters and forced to close until relief arrived. There were numerous road closures in Kansas City as a result of the flash flood.

 

“North of the Missouri River in the Kansas City Metro area, numerous roads were closed in Platte County including portions of Highways 371 and 45. In Clay County, bridges were washed out at 188th Street and Nations and at 199th Street and Outer Road. Water 3 to 6 feet in depth covered roadways in Smithville and Mosby. Kansas City Fire Department reported over 200 water rescues throughout the Metro Area during the flood.

 

“Flash flooding also was reported in Buchanan County. A 56 year old St. Joseph man was killed when his car washed off the road into Pigeon Creek near 41st Road on the south side of St. Joseph. The heaviest 24 hour rainfall amounts of 7 inches were reported in Ray and Carroll Counties. Numerous roads were closed in Carrollton including sections of Highway 65. In Ray County, Highway 210 was closed and P Highway was blocked off near Camden due to a mudslide.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, MO, Jackson Co., Oct 4-5, 1998.)

 

NWS WFO Kansas City/Pleasant Hill: “During the afternoon and evening of Sunday, October 4th, 1998, two separate rounds of thunderstorms produced unusually high rainfall rates in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  The intense rainfall, on top of already saturated soils and in a largely urban environment, quickly resulted in excessive runoff and flash flooding.  Flash flooding along Brush Creek, Turkey Creek and Indian Creek resulted in eleven people losing their lives – eight lives alone were claimed as Brush Creek inundated the Prospect Road bridge.   Ten of the eleven deaths occurred after sunset and in automobiles, traditionally high risk factors associated with flash floods.  In addition to the fatalities in Kansas City, another death attributed to flash flooding was reported in St. Joseph, Missouri.  The flash flood received national attention, as millions watched as the deluge swamped a nationally televised football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.  In addition to the flash flooding in Kansas City, reports of hail up to quarter-sized, wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour and high impact river flooding was reported.  All toll, damages were estimated at over $50 million.”

 

“Historically, the flash flood of October 4th, 1998, is the second deadliest flash flood in Kansas City’s history, eclipsed only by the September 11-12, 1977 flash flood that killed 29 people and resulted in over $100 million in property damages that affected the Country Club Plaza.” (NWS WFO Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO. Kansas City Flash Flood of October 4, 1998.)

 

Kansas City Star, Oct 15: “A city monitoring system predicted flash flooding along Brush Creek at least 30 minutes before seven Kansas Citians were swept to their deaths from the Prospect Avenue bridge on Oct. 4, officials said Wednesday.

 

“The Kansas City Fire Department, however, never received that information because someone had unplugged part of the warning system from an electrical outlet.

 

“Kansas City Fire Chief Rick Brisbin said Wednesday that even if the department had received the early warning, he doubted firefighters could have responded any faster to the disaster that killed 11 persons in the area. ‘If the information you get is timely and you have the resources to deploy, it works,’ Brisbin said. ‘We ran out of people to answer calls and barricade intersections.’

 

“The Kansas City Star examined data compiled by the National Weather Service from the city’s monitoring system the night of the storm. The data were identical to the information the Fire Department should have received. The records show that between 7 and 8 p.m. up to 2.95 inches of rain had fallen in the Brush Creek watershed – almost three times as much as was needed to trigger flash flooding.

 

“By 7:12 p.m., the weather service had reissued a flash-flood warning with the admonition that ‘residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate precautions to protect life and property.’

 

“Friends and relatives of the seven who perished on the Prospect bridge said the victims were swept from the tops of their cars into the creek about 8:30 p., The first fire units on the scene of the Prospect bridge arrived about 9 p.m., Brisbin said, but y then not even the cars were visible.

 

“Even if the warning system hadn’t been unplugged, Brisbin acknowledged Wednesday that the city has no contingency plans to deal with flash flooding on Brush Creek – despite a 1977 flood that devastated the Country Club Plaza and killed 25 persons….

 

“Brisbin said the receiving equipment for the $275,000 warning system[1] was unplugged at the Fire Department by an employee who was working on the equipment and later forgot to reconnect it.[2] No data were reported on city terminals at the fire communications center….”

(Kansas City Star (Mark Morris), MO. “KC officials missed vital flooding alert. Unplugged equipment, lack of disaster plan hindered Fire Department.” 10-15-1998.)

 

Kansas City Star, Oct 21: “Two minutes before 3 p.m., the National Weather Service issues a flash flood warning for Jackson County. In Kansas City, police, fire and public works crews go on alert. Shortly after 7 p.m. sensors in the Fire Department’s communications building signal dangerously high water levels in Brush Creek. Following a carefully prepared and rehearsed plan, workers proceed to intersections and barricade them. This is what should have happened on Oct. 4. It’s not asking for much. But it didn’t happen. Kansas City had no plan to block its flood-prone streets. The Fire Department’s sensors had been unplugged for two months.

 

“Sometime after 8 p.m., seven persons were stranded in their vehicles on the Prospect Avenue bridge. Their final moments were ones of terror, and they died in the black waters of Brush Creek. Now Kansas City faces the awful question: Did municipal negligence doom those persons?….

 

“…it’s not too early to say that when it counted, city government was shamefully unprepared. In a city with a history of flash flooding, no flash flood emergency plan existed….

 

“Offers of help from an underwater rescue and recovery team went ignored until it was time to search for bodies.[3]

 

“Kansas City’s sole plan was to wait until 911 calls lit up the switchboard….” (Kansas City Star (Barbara Shelly), MO. “Once again, city was unprepared. Weather Service issues a flash flood warning for Jackson County.” 10-21-1998.)

 

Kansas City Star, Oct 21: “Kansas City government’s handling of the Oct. 4 flash flooding looks increasingly inept as new developments come to light. First came the news that the city’s Brush Creek flood warning system was unplugged. This was inexcusable. Next, it turned out a similar system had worked wonders in Johnson County. Given just 30 minutes to respond to the hazards of rising waters, emergency crews there blocked roads and help people out of harm’s way.

 

“This week, it was revealed that the Fire Department took too long to call for help from the Underwater Rescue and Recovery team out of Lee’s Summit during the flash flooding.

 

“Rather than concede that mistakes were made, Fire Department officials are continuing to insist than none of the agency’s missteps made much difference. Such arguments defy logic and common sense. The Johnson County experience, for example, clearly illustrated what everyone knows: Every minute counts in mounting a well-organized effort to stop people from entering raging waters on streets and bridges….” (Kansas City Star, MO. “KC’s flood plan didn’t exist. Oct. 4 flash flooding looks increasingly inept as new developments come to light.” 10-21-1998.)

 

Kansas City Star, Oct 21: “Fairly or not, many Kansas City residents have low standards for City Hall…Sadly, officials in the Water Services and Fire Departments lived down to these low expectations with their incompetent actions before the deadly Oct. 4 flash flooding.

 

“The city ignored admonitions that many components of the flash flood warning system along Brush Creek were not working….”[4] (Kansas City Star. “City Hall flood mess gets worse…Sadly, officials in the Water Services and Fire Departments lived down to…low expectations with their incompetent…” 10-23-1998.)

 

Kansas City Star, Nov 19: “ Kansas City… In response to the Oct. 4 flash flood that killed 11 persons in the Kansas City area, a City Council committee approved an ordinance Wednesday that would create a new office for hazard emergency management. The new office would be controlled by the city manager’s office, instead of the Kansas City Fire Department. The director of the office, appointed by the city manager, would be empowered to move and deploy emergency personnel. The ordinance also calls for the new office to develop an emergency operations plan for the city. The ordinance now will go before the full City Council.” (Kansas City Star, MO. “Metropolitan Digest.” 11-19-1998.)

 

City of Kansas City, MO: “Emergency Management History….The next stage of emergency management for Kansas City came in November 1998 when the present day Office of Emergency Management was created.  The office was made a separate division under the City Manager’s Office and provided the city with a full time staff dedicated to implementing the principles of preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation for major emergencies and disasters for the City of Kansas City.” (City of Kansas City, MO. Emergency Management History (website). “Flood – October 4, 1998.”)

 

Sources

 

City of Kansas City, MO. Emergency Management History (website). “Flood – October 4, 1998.” Accessed 1-3-2016 at: http://kcmo.gov/oem/emergency-management-history/

 

Kansas City Star (Yael T. Abouhalkay), MO. “City Hall flood mess gets worse…Sadly, officials in the Water Services and Fire Departments lived down to…low expectations with their incompetent actions before the deadly Oct. 4 flash flooding.” 10-23-1998.

 

Kansas City Star (Mark Morris), MO. “KC officials missed vital flooding alert. Unplugged equipment, lack of disaster plan hindered Fire Department.” 10-15-1998.

 

Kansas City Star (Yael T. Abouhalkay), MO. “KC’s flood plan didn’t exist. Oct. 4 flash flooding looks increasingly inept as new developments come to light.” 10-21-1998.

 

Kansas City Star, MO. “Metropolitan Digest. The Oct. 4 flash flood that killed 11 persons in the Kansas City; a City Council committee approved an ordinance Wednesday that would create a new office for hazard emergency management.” 11-19-1998.

 

Kansas City Star (Barbara Shelly), MO. “Once again, city was unprepared. Weather Service issues a flash flood warning for Jackson County.” 10-21-1998.

 

Kansas City Star (Yael T. Abouhalkay), MO. “Use flood warning system! Useless Piece of junk during a recent flash flood because it was incompetently and irresponsibly handled by Kansas City’s Fire Department.” 10-15-1998.

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Missouri, Buchanan County, Oct 4-5-1998. Accessed 1-13-2016 at:  http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5673325

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Missouri, Jackson County, Oct 4-5, 1998. Accessed 1-13-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5673318

 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO. Kansas City Flash Flood of October 4, 1998. Accessed 1-13-2016 at: http://www.weather.gov/eax/event-oct041998

 

Ray, Slim. “Over their Heads. Flood Response in Kansas City.” 9-1-1 Magazine, Jan/Feb 1999, pp. 50-51 and 69. Accessed 5-25-2016 at: http://www.cfspress.com/overtheirheads.pdf

 

Additional Reading

 

Kansas City Star (Mark Morris), MO. “When disaster strikes. City officials had been told of gauge flaws two years ago.” 10-22-1998.

 

 

 

[1] Given to the city by the federal government in 1995. (Ray, Slim. “Over their Heads. Flood Response in Kansas City.” 9-1-1 Magazine, Jan/Feb 1999, p. 50.)

[2] Slim Ray writes that the warning system had been “unplugged three months earlier in favor of an AM/FM radio.” (Ray. “Over their Heads.” 9-1-1 Magazine, Jan/Feb 1999, p. 50.)

[3] “By 7:00, the nearby Lee’s Summit Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team had put itself on standby and informed Kansas City dispatch. They were the only emergency unit in the area with any swiftwater rescue training….The Lee’s summit team called again, but got no reply.” (Ray. 9-1-1 Magazine, Jan/Feb 1999, pp. 50-51.)

[4] “…the gauges hadn’t been maintained. Fewer than half of them were still working. Only two of six were operational on Brush Creek, and those were not working properly. The responsibility for monitoring and fixing them was dispersed among a number of agencies and departments.” (Ray. 9-1-1 Magazine, Jan/Feb 1999, p. 50.)

 

Internationally:          (602 direct)[1]

—      2  Antigua.  Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll from Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998.

—      1  Bahamas.  Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll from Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998.

—      6  Cuba.  Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll from Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998.

—  380  Dominican Republic.  Longshore. Encyclopedia of Hurricanes…Cyclones. 2008, 204.

—>265      “     Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll…Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998.

—  209  Haiti.  Longshore. Encyclopedia of Hurricanes…and Cyclones (New Ed.). 2008, 204.

—  172      “     Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll from Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998.[2]

—      4  St. Kitts.  Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll from Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998.

 

U.S. and Territories:  (17)

—>17  Blanchard tally of five U.S. mainland deaths and >12 in territory of Puerto Rico.[3]

—  11  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Georges.” 4-23-2014 modification.

—    5  Longshore. Encyclopedia of Hurricanes…and Cyclones (New Ed.). 2008, 205.

 

Alabama                     (    1)

— 1  Guiney. Preliminary Report. Hurricane Georges, 15 September – 01 October 1998, p. C5.

— 1  Mobile. Freshwater flooding. NWS WFO Mobile/Pensacola. Hurricane Georges…

 

Florida                        (    2)

— 1  Fire started by candles during power outage. (Longshore 2008, 205.)

— 1  Crestview. Vehicular accident on rain-slick highway. (Longshore 2008, 205.)

 

Louisiana                   (    2)

— 3  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Georges.” 4-23-2014 modification.[4]

— 2  Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Coastal residents return to wet mess.” 9-30-1998, p. A12.

— 1  New Orleans. Heat stress while being evacuated; elderly female. (Longshore 2008, 205.)

— 1  Fire started by candles during power outage. (Longshore 2008, 205.)

 

Puerto Rico                (>12)

–12  Balletto, Barbara. Insight Guide Puerto Rico. 2003, p. 50.

–12  Blanchard tally based on locality and date reports below.[5]

–12  FEMA. The President’s Long Term Recovery Action Plan January 1999. Puerto Rico… p. 5.[6]

–12  Longshore. Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones (New Ed.). 2008, 204.

–12  Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Coastal residents return to wet mess.” 9-30-1998, p.A12.[7]

–11  Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll from Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998.

—  8  CDC. “Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges–Puerto Rico, Sep 1998.” MMWR.[8]

—  7  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Georges.” 4-23-2014 modification.

—  5  NYT News Service. “Georges buffets Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Island.” 9-22-1998.[9]

—  4  (As of Sep 23). AP (Norton). “Georges storms Caribbean,” Altoona Mirror, 9-24-1998, C1.

—  4  (As of Sep 22). AP. “Hurricane roars into Dominican Republic.” Cedar Rapids Gazette.[10]

—  0  NCDC. Storm Events Database. Search Results for All (Zone), (Puerto Rico), Sep 20-22.[11]

Breakout by Locality (where we have been able to identify):

— 3  Bayamon (San Juan vicinity), Sep 21. Home roof collapse.[12]

— 1  Bayamon, Sep 24. Carbon monoxide poisoning, gas generator, family store; male, 46.[13]

— 4  Caguas, Sep 25. Fire, candles to light home; mother, 27, children aged 4, 6, 7.

— 1  Ponce, Sep 23. Carbon monoxide poisoning at home, gasoline generator; female, 28.[14]

— 1  San Juan, Sep 28. Electrocution, repairing storm-damaged cable; male, 49.[15]

— 1  Utuado, Sep 25 (Sep 22 inj.). Trauma, fell while removing water from home; male, 66.[16]

 

Narrative Information

 

CDC: “On the evening of September 21, 1998, Hurricane Georges struck Puerto Rico with estimated maximum winds of 115 mph (Category 3). It made multiple landfalls throughout the Caribbean, including Antigua, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hispaniola, and Cuba. On September 25, Hurricane Georges struck the U.S. mainland near Key West, Florida, and made final landfall on September 27 in Biloxi, Mississippi, as a Category 2 hurricane. This report presents preliminary data about deaths resulting from the hurricane in Puerto Rico. On September 23, all 78 civil divisions in Puerto Rico reported damage to homes, and 416 government-run shelters were housing approximately 28,000 persons. Approximately 700,000 persons were without water, and 1 million had no electricity.” (CDC 1998, p. 897.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press (Michael Norton). “Georges storms Caribbean,” Altoona Mirror, 9-24-1998, C1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=72959164&sterm=puerto

 

Associated Press (San Juan). “Hurricane Georges whirls into Puerto Rico; 3 killed.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 9-22-1998, p. 11A. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=153674076&sterm=puerto+rico+hurricane

 

Balletto, Barbara. Insight Guide Puerto Rico. Insight Guides, 2003, p. 50.

 

Blake, Eric S., Christopher W. Landsea (NHC), and Ethan J. Gibney (NCDC, Asheville, NC). The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones From 1851 to 2010 (and Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts). Miami, FL: National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, Aug 2011. Accessed 5-21-2014: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges – Puerto Rico, September 1998.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Vol. 47, No. 42, 10-30-1998, pp. 897-898. Accessed 5-21-2014 at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00055476.htm

 

Chicago Tribune. “Death Toll from Georges Rises to 172.” 10-7-1998. Accessed 5-21-2014 at: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-10-07/news/9810070161_1_death-toll-dominican-republic-hurricane-georges

 

Federal Emergency Management Agency. The President’s Long Term Recovery Action Plan January 1999. Puerto Rico, Hurricane Georges, September 1998. Washington, DC: FEMA, Jan 1999.

 

Guiney, John L. (NHC). Preliminary Report. Hurricane Georges, 15 September – 01 October 1998. Miami, FL: National Hurricane Center, NOAA, 1-5-1999. Accessed 5-21-2014 at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998georges.html

 

Longshore, David. “Georges, Hurricane. North Atlantic Ocean-Puerto Rico-Cuba-Southern United States, September 15-October 1, 1998,” Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones (New Edition). New York, NY:  Facts on File, 2008, pp. 203-205.

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search Results for All (Zone), (Puerto Rico), between 09/20/1998 and 09/22/1998. Accessed 5-21-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=ALL&beginDate_mm=09&beginDate_dd=20&beginDate_yyyy=1998&endDate_mm=09&endDate_dd=22&endDate_yyyy=1998&county=ALL&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=99%2CPUERTO+RICO

 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Mobile/Pensacola. Hurricane Georges: September 28, 1998. Accessed 5-21-2014 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/?n=georges

 

N.Y. Times News Service. “Georges buffets Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Island.” The Orange Leader, TX, 9-22-1998, 6B. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=127395037&sterm

 

Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Inc., Tallahassee, FL. Hurricane Georges Assessment: Review of Hurricane Evacuation Studies Utilization and Information Dissemination. For U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile and Jacksonville Districts, and FEMA Region IV, August, 1999. At (5-21-2014): http://orise.orau.gov/csepp/documents/planning/evacuation-documents/federal-reports/georges.pdf

 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Coastal residents return to wet mess.” 9-30-1998, p. A12. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=28707432&sterm

 

Wikipedia. “Hurricane Georges.” 4-23-2014 modification. Accessed 5-21-2014 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Georges

[1] Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Inc., Tallahassee, FL. Hurricane Georges Assessment. August 1999, iii.

[2] Notes another 47 missing.

[3] We write “at least” 17 deaths in that we believe there were more than the 12 deaths we have noted in Puerto Rico.

[4] We are not using this number; it is the only source we have seen noting three fatalities and source is not cited.

[5] The CDC notes 8 specific deaths, the earliest of which was on Sep 23. The AP, as of the 22^nd, notes 4 deaths. Thus there would have been at least 12 deaths. The number could be as many as 17 if the NYT News Service/AP report of Sep 22 was accurate as to three mudslide and two heart attack in shelters fatalities.

[6] “Civil Defense measures, implemented well in advance, kept the human casualty toll to a minimum; indeed, most of the dozen storm-related deaths resulted from accidents involving heroic linesmen striving to restore electrical service after Georges was long gone.” (Message from the Governor, Pedro Rossello.)

[7] “At least three killed directly by the storm, nine others by heart attacks and other health complications.”

[8] “The medical examiner (ME) at the Institute of Forensic Sciences provided information about the number and causes of deaths associated with Hurricane Georges. The ME determined whether a death was hurricane-related, including deaths during the impact phase of the storm (i.e., associated with high winds, storm surge, or flash flooding), and during the post-impact phase (i.e., associated with hurricane-related effects such as structural damage, power outages, and injuries incurred during cleanup).”

[9] From The Orange Leader, TX. Writes that “The Associated Press reported that five people had been killed by the storm in Puerto Rico, three in a landslide outside San Juan and two who suffered heart attacks in shelters. A sixth person was reported missing in a separate landslide near San Juan.”

[10] “In Puerto Rico, officials lowered the death toll from five to four Tuesday [Sep 22].”

[11] Means there were no “direct” fatalities due to the hurricane.

[12] “The season’s most ferocious hurricane plowed into Puerto Rico on Monday [Sep 21], killing three people in a roof collapse….Mari Tere Pacheco, a spokeswoman for the civil defense authority in Puerto Rico, said the three died when their home’s roof collapsed on top of them in the San Juan suburb of Bayamon.” (AP (San Juan). “Hurricane Georges whirls into Puerto Rico; 3 killed.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. 9-22-1998, p. 11A.)

[13] CDC. “Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges – Puerto Rico, September 1998.” MMWR, 47/42, 1998, p.897.

[14] CDC. “Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges – Puerto Rico, September 1998.” MMWR, 47/42, 1998, p.897.

[15] CDC. “Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges – Puerto Rico, September 1998.” MMWR, 47/42, 1998, p.898.

[16] CDC. “Deaths Associated with Hurricane Georges – Puerto Rico, September 1998.” MMWR, 47/42, 1998, p.898.

–229  Transportation Safety Board of Canada. In-Flight Fire Leading to Collision with Water. –117  U.S. CNN. “Names of Swissair Crash victims.” Accessed 10-28-2017   States of Residence of U.S. Victims   Alabama          (  1) California        (  7) Colorado         (  2) Connecticut     (10) Florida             (  9) Georgia           (  3) Illinois             (  1) Indiana                        (  2) Kansas             (  1) Louisiana         (  3) Maryland         (  4) Massachusetts (  8) Michigan         (  2) Nevada            (  2) New Jersey      (  9) New York       (27) Ohio                (  7) Pennsylvania   (  1) Utah                (  1) Virginia           (  1) Washington     (  4) Not noted        (11) Narrative Information   TSB Synopsis: “On 2 September 1998, Swissair Flight 111 departed New York, United States of America, at 2018 eastern daylight savings time on a scheduled flight to Geneva, Switzerland, with 215 passengers and 14 crew members on board. About 53 minutes after departure, while cruising at flight level 330, the flight crew smelled an abnormal odour in the cockpit. Their attention was then drawn to an unspecified area behind and above them and they began to investigate the source. Whatever they saw initially was shortly thereafter no longer perceived to be visible. They agreed that the origin of the anomaly was the air conditioning system. When they assessed that what they had seen or were now seeing was definitely smoke, they decided to divert. They initially began a turn toward Boston; however, when air traffic services mentioned Halifax, Nova Scotia, as an alternative airport, they changed the destination to the Halifax International Airport. While the flight crew was preparing for the landing in Halifax, they were unaware that a fire was spreading above the ceiling in the front area of the aircraft. About 13 minutes after the abnormal odour was detected, the aircraft’s flight data recorder began to record a rapid succession of aircraft systems-related failures. The flight crew declared an emergency and indicated a need to land immediately. About one minute later, radio communications and secondary radar contact with the aircraft were lost, and the flight recorders stopped functioning. About five and one-half minutes later, the aircraft crashed into the ocean about five nautical miles southwest of Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada. The aircraft was destroyed and there were no survivors.” (Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Aviation Investigation Report. In-Flight Fire Leading to Collision with Water. Swissair Transport Limited… “Synopsis.”)   Sources   CNN. “Names of Swissair Crash victims.” Accessed 10-28-2017 at: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html   Find A Grave. “Eudyce D Ball.” Record added 9-25-2016. Accessed 10-28-2017 at: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=170566942   Find A Grave. “Jane Browne Bove.” Record added 4-13-2012. Accessed 10-28-2017 at: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=88463012   Find A Grave. “Susan Jean Burghardt.” Record added 2-17-2012. Accessed 10-28-2017 at: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=85091796   Kimber, Stephen. Flight 111: A Year in the Life of a Tragedy. Seal Books, a division of Random House of Canada, Ltd., 1999. Google digital preview accessed 10-28-2017 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=mFZcDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false   Lawrence Journal World, KS. “Services Scheduled for Victim of Crash.” 10-13-1998. Accessed 10-28-2017 at: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/1998/oct/13/services_scheduled_for_victim/   New York Times. “Deaths: Bolsterli, Andrew H.” 9-5-1998. Accessed 10-28-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/05/classified/paid-notice-deaths-bolsterli-andrew-h.html   New York Times. “Topf, Gibson, Nancy.” 9-8-1998. Accessed 10-28-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/08/classified/paid-notice-deaths-topf-gibson-nancy.html   Newspaperarchive.com. “Obituaries: Odette Tahmoush.” Accessed 10-28-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/odette-tahmoush-obituary-22297151/   Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Aviation Investigation Report. In-Flight Fire Leading to Collision with Water. Swissair Transport Limited, McDonnell Douglas MD-11 HB-IWF, Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia 5 nm SW, 2 September 1998 (Report # A98H0003). 352 pages. Accessed 10-28-2017 at: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/1998/a98h0003/a98h0003.pdf

International

–20  National Weather Ser., Miami, FL. “Monthly Tropical Weather Summary.” 12-1-1998.[1]

—  9  Mexico.  Brownsville Herald, TX. “Floods claim 16 victims.” 8-25-1998, p. 10.[2]

—  3  Mexico.  Roth, David (NWS, NOAA). Texas Hurricane History: Late 20^th Century. 1998.

 

Texas                          (16-19)

— 19  HurricaneCity.com. “Tropical Storm Charley.” (as of Sep 7, 1998)

— 16  Brownsville Herald, TX. “Floods claim 16 victims [“in Del Rio area”].” 8-25-1998, p. 1.

— 15  Blanchard tally from County breakouts below.

— 13  Brazos River Authority. History. “Timeline of the Brazos River Basin.” 

— 13  Rappaport, Ed. Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Charley, 21-24 August 1998. 1998.[3]

— 12  Roth, David (NWS, NOAA). Texas Hurricane History. 1-17-2010 update, p.  65.

— 12  Roth, David (NWS, NOAA). Texas Hurricane History: Late 20^th Century. 1998.

By Texas County:

— 1  Galveston Co., Galveston, Flagship Hotel, Sep 22 (Aug 21 injury). Drowning; male 31.[4]

— 4  Real County, Hwy. 41, Aug 23. Pickup swept away by rising water. (Rappaport, 1998.)[5]

–1 Female, 20. NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood. Texas. Real. 8-23-1998.

–1 Female, 16. NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood. Texas. Real. 8-23-1998.

–1 Female, 3.  NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood. Texas. Real. 8-23-1998.

–1 Male, 2. NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood. Texas. Real. 8-23-1998.

— 1  Uvalde County, Garner State Park, Aug 23. Heart attack while being evacuated, male, 65.[6]

-~9  Val Verde Co., Del Rio. Daily News, Galveston County, TX. “Del Rio…” 9-9-1998, A2.

— 9  Val Verde County, Del Rio, San Felipe Creek, Aug 23 [into 24^th]. (Rappaport, 1998.)

— 1 Freshwater drowning; female, 52, mobile home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.

— 1 Freshwater drowning; female, 56, permanent home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.

— 1 Freshwater drowning; female, 67, permanent home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.

— 1 Freshwater drowning; female, 77, permanent home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.

— 1 Freshwater drowning; male, 37, mobile home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.[7]

— 1 Freshwater drowning; male, 71, permanent home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.[8]

— 1 Freshwater drowning; male, 72, permanent home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.

— 1 Freshwater drowning; male, 74, permanent home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.[9]

— 1 Freshwater drowning; male, 74, permanent home. NCDC. Storm Events Database.

 

Cause of Death:

Direct:                        (10)

–1  Galveston Co., Galveston, Flagship Hotel, Sep 22 from Aug 21 injury. Drowning; male 31.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, mobile home.; female, 52.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, permanent home; female, 56.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, permanent home; female, 67.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning,, permanent home, female, 77.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, mobile home; male, 37.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, permanent home; male, 71.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, permanent home; male, 72.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, permanent home; male, 74.

–1  Val Verde County, Del Rio, Aug 23-24. Freshwater drowning, permanent home; male, 74.

 

Indirect:         (  5)

Health-related:

— 1  Uvalde County, Garner State Park, Aug 23. Heart attack while being evacuated, male, 65.

Vehicular:

— 1  Real County, Texas Highway 41, 8-23-1998. Pickup driven into flood water; female, 20.

— 1  Real County, Texas Highway 41, 8-23-1998. Pickup driven into flood water; female, 16.

— 1  Real County, Texas Highway 41, 8-23-1998. Pickup driven into flood water; female, 3.

— 1  Real County, Texas Highway 41, 8-23-1998. Pickup driven into flood water; male, 2.

 

Not Noted:     (1-4)

 

Narrative Information

 

Brazos River Authority: “Tropical Storm Charley affected the Lower Brazos River watershed.  Most of the flooding occurred in the Rio Grande River basin causing 13 deaths and $50 million in damages.”  (Brazos River Authority.  History.  “Timeline of the Brazos River Basin.”)

 

Hurricane City: “Corpus Christi, Texas: Hit the morning of August 22nd with 60mph winds. Very heavy rain has caused flooding in Bee, Refugio & Brazoria counties as nearly 12 inches of rain have fallen so far. Several tornadoes have been spotted but no reports of damage as of yet. (more info will be provided as it becomes available) As of 8/24: Del Rio Texas is getting nailed by heavy rainfall from the remnants of tropical storm Charley. Up to 17″ of rain have fallen so far. As of 9/7: Death toll now 19 and some still missing, flooding has damaged nearly 1,000 Del Rio homes & businesses. In Laredo 30 homes damaged by a surge of water.”

(HurricaneCity.com. “Tropical Storm Charley.”)

 

NCDC, Real County:  “By nightfall on the evening of Saturday, August 22nd, the remains of Charley had stalled over southern Uvalde and northern Zavala Counties. Heavy rainfall from the previous week had left soils in the two counties saturated. Through the night and into the early morning hours of Sunday, August 23rd, heavy rainfall in bands continued over mainly these two counties. Thunderstorms in the bands were producing rainfall rates approaching five inches per hour. A total of between 6 and 8 inches was reported between the towns of Uvalde, Batesville and Leakey. A devastating flood wave developed along the Frio, Dry Frio, Sabinal and Nueces Rivers and moved over camps, recreational areas and residential sections of Uvalde, Real and Zavala Counties. Four lives were lost where a small creek crosses Highway 41 about four miles west of the highway 83 intersection in the extreme northeast corner of Real County near 7:30 am CST. This was at the divide between the South Fork of the Llano, the Frio, and the Guadalupe River drainages. Most likely the incident occurred in the South Fork of the Llano River drainage. Eleven citizens of Mexico were traveling in a 3/4 ton pickup truck as it drove into the flooded roadway. All occupants were thrown into the river, and all but four were rescued by volunteer firemen from Hunt, Mountain Home, and Kerrville.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… Texas…Real [county]…8-23-1998.)

 

NCDC, Del Rio and Val Verde County: “By nightfall on the 23rd, the central low pressure associated with the remainder of Charley had indeed stalled near Del Rio. A second siege of devastating rain fell between 9 pm and 2 am, producing over 10 inches by midnight. The intense rain was again in a “feeder band”, oriented north to south over Del Rio and extending up the Devils River to above Bakers Crossing, eventually drifting slowly eastward to the Sycamore and Pinto Creek drainages. Heavy rain began falling in Del Rio at 9 pm, and produced 10 inches of rain by midnight. In all, nearly 18 inches of rain fell between 8 am Sunday morning and 6 am Monday morning. This is approximately the annual rainfall for Del Rio.

 

“Explosive flash flooding redeveloped in the city, washing away homes and vehicles near 11:30 pm that evening. San Felipe Creek again rose out of banks, this time rising to several feet deep in homes in a very few minutes. The flood was so rapid that people were cut off in sections of the flood plain and escaped to the roofs of their homes. The Creek, several hundred yards wide in places, moved downstream like a freight train, destroying and pulverizing anything in its path.

 

“Rescues were desperate as neighborhood citizens, the Sheriffs Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Border Patrol agents, DPS, and several law enforcement personnel mobilized rapidly. Dozens of residential blocks of homes were left unrecognizable by the flood wave. Whole blocks of residential areas were left as empty lots, with the asphalt of their streets completely gone, and covered in debris. The scene was comparable to an F4 or F5 tornado. The County Sheriff reported that he and several Border Patrol agents formed a human chain at one point to try to reach a family stranded on the roof of a home in the creek. As they entered the fast flow, the turbulence broke apart their chain, sweeping all of them downstream. Somehow they all survived. In another case, a Sheriff’s deputy lifted a paraplegic lady on his shoulder and waded out of chest high water with her. The powerful, turbulent flow knocked her husband from his feet, and the deputy, with a woman over his shoulder, still was able to reach out and grasp the husband, rescuing him. The fact that only nine drowned in the devastating flood in a testimony to the excellent rescue work by the aforementioned. Six persons remain unaccounted for.

 

“Another area of widespread residential flooding was in the extreme northern part of Del Rio. Poor drainage in a very subtle draw flooded over 10 square blocks of homes up to three to four feet. As the flow moved downstream a mile or two below Highway 90, it swept some mobile homes from their pads.”  (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood. Texas. Val Verde. 8/23-24/1998.)

 

Roth, 1998: “A large cluster of thunderstorms, also known as an MCS (mesoscale convective complex) formed just off the Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana coasts on August 15th. This system drifted southeast into the Central Gulf of Mexico by the 19th, with scattered thunderstorms developing each day. On the 20th, an upper level low moved westward to the west of this disturbance, producing a less hostile upper level environment. By the 21st, advisories were initiated by the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Depression Number 3….

 

“This system became Tropical Storm Charley soon after [August 21], moving northwest towards the Texas coast. The upper level low that initiated rapid development moved it more to the north than originally thought. Also, all the deep convection remained on the north side of the circulation center, keeping Charley from becoming a hurricane. It made landfall just after midnight on…[August 22], in the vicinity of Rockport, with sustained winds of 60 mph. The gulf invaded North Padre Island, where seawater reached the dunes. Immediate shoreline roads were closed.

 

“Gusts to tropical storm force were felt across Southwest Louisiana and across the northern 2/3 of the Texas coast. The Port O’Connor Coast Guard reported gusts to 63 mph while the Colorado River Locks in Matagorda County measured gusts to 69 mph. The pressure fell to 29.55 inches at Rockport at 559 a.m. on the 22nd.

 

“As the system moved inland and weakened, rains fell across southern Texas. An observer at the mouth of the San Bernard River in Brazoria County reported 9 inches of rain. Three miles southwest of Refugio, 7.3″ of rain fell. The heaviest rain on the 22nd fell over Southeast Bee and Southwest Refugio County. Amounts up to 11″ were observed. This led to significant flash flooding. Highway 77 near Woodsboro was closed for 36 hours due to one and a half feet of water on the roadway. Homes in the Mission River Oaks subdivision in Woodsboro were flooded. The town of Three Rivers saw water flood cars in the area.

 

“On the night of the 23rd/24th, the dying tropical depression caused another round of heavy rainfall, this time near Del Rio. A total of 11.83″ fell at Del Rio on the 24th, simultaneously breaking the all-time daily and August monthly rainfall records. This August is the wettest month ever at that site. Over 18″ of rain fell in all. Two-thirds of the city went underwater. Four people were reported to be drowned in the flood waters in Real County. So far, 12 lives have been lost in this epic flood in Texas and 3 in Mexico; numerous people are still unaccounted for. Many livestock were lost near Quemado in Maverick County. The Rio Grande is expected to rise to the base of the International Bridge in Laredo and over the International Bridge at Eagle Pass.”  (Roth, NOAA, 1998)

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Five dead in Hill Country flooding.” Paris News, TX, 8-24-1998, 3B. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=112963640&sterm=tropical

 

Associated Press. “Parched South Texas hit by deluge.” Kerrville Daily Times, TX, 8-25-1998, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=115406256&sterm

 

Brazos River Authority. History. “Timeline of the Brazos River Basin.” Website accessed at: http://www.brazos.org/brazosHistory.asp

 

Brownsville Herald, TX. “Floods claim 16 victims.” 8-25-1998, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185523928&sterm=tropical+storm

 

Daily News, Galveston County, TX. “Del Rio buses students back to public schools.” 9-9-1998, A2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=110105289&sterm

 

Daily News (Steve Mayo), Galveston County, TX. “Isle man dies after month on life-support.” 9-24-1998, A11. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=112924560&sterm

 

Del Rio News-Herald (Fidel Garcia), TX. “Seventh body found.” 8-28-1998, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=111889094&sterm=tropical+storm

 

HurricaneCity.com. “Tropical Storm Charley.” Accessed 4-8-2014 at: http://www.hurricanecity.com/dam/dam1998.htm

 

Locategrave.org. “Grave Record for David Paul Pyatte – Del Rio, Texas (1960 – 1998).” Accessed 4-8-2014 at: http://www.locategrave.org/l/6254158/David-Paul-Pyatte-TX

 

Locategrave.org. “Grave Record for Octaviano Hernandez – Del Rio, Texas (1926-1998).” Accessed 4-8-2014 at: http://www.locategrave.org/l/6367443/Octaviano-Hernandez-TX

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… Texas…Real [county]…8-23-1998. Accessed 4-8-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5666578

 

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Event Details. Flash Flood… Texas…Val Verde (county)…8/23-24/1998. Accessed 4-8-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5666648

 

National Weather Service (Avila/Guiney/Lawrence/Mayfield/Pasch/Rappaport). “Monthly Tropical Weather Summary for the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico… Summary of the 1998 Atlantic Hurricane Season…” Miami, FL. 12-1-1998. Accessed 4-8-2014: http://web.archive.org/web/19981205054250/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/pub/forecasts/discussion/MIATWSAT

 

Rappaport, Edward N. Preliminary Report. Tropical Storm Charley, 21-24 August 1998. Miami: National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, NOAA, Dept. of Commerce, 10-23-1998. Accessed 4-8-2014 at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998charley.html

 

Roth, David (National Weather Service). Texas Hurricane History. Camp Springs, MD:  NWS.  1-17-2010 update. Accessed at  http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/txhur.pdf

 

Roth, David. Texas Hurricane History: Late 20th Century. National Weather Service, Weather Service Forecast Office, Lake Charles, LA, NOAA, 1998.  June 23, 2003 modification.  Accessed at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/research/txlate20hur.php

 

San Angelo Standard-Times. “Funerals and Death Notices…Candelario Paredes Jr.,” 9-1-1998. Accessed 4-8-2014 at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/tomgreen/obits/1998/090198.txt

 

 

 

[1] No breakout by country for the fatalities is provided and it is not clear if this includes Mexican fatalities or not.

[2] “The Mexican news agency Notimex reported nine people died in neighboring Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, after they were washed away while trying to cross a normally dry gully holding a rope.”

[3] Notes “All were apparently flood victims located well inland.” Also notes 6 people unaccounted for.

[4] “Galveston – Family members of the island’s 12^th drowning victim this year were making funeral arrangements… for Michael Van Antwerp….Van Antwerp was pronounced dead Tuesday morning [Sep 22] after spending a month on life support…physicians told the family that [he]…was brain dead….Van Antwerp, 31 fell from the fishing pier at the Flagship Hotel on Aug. 21 during Tropical Storm Charley. Lifeguards pulled him ashore about four blocks away.” (Daily News (Steve Mayo), Galveston Co., TX. “Isle man dies after month on life-support.” 9-24-1998, A11)

[5] Newspaper report writes that “The accident occurred at 7:30 a.m. The pickup carrying 18 people was eastbound on the highway as four feet of water covered the road at a low-water crossing, according to the DPS. The truck’s driver stopped and unloaded seven people, then tried to travel through the water, but the vehicle was immediately forced off the road, the DPS said.” (AP. “Five dead in Hill Country flooding.” Paris News, TX, 8-24-1998, 3B.)

[6] AP. “Five dead in Hill Country flooding.” Paris News, TX, 8-24-1998, 3B. Notes evacuation was being carried out amid rising water.

[7] Reference to Border Patrol trainee David Pyatte, “who died while searching for his family,” according to Border Patrol spokeswoman. (AP. “Parched South Texas hit by deluge.” Kerrville Daily Times, TX, 8-25-1998, p. 1.) See, also: Locategrave.org. “Grave Record for David Paul Pyatte – Del Rio, Texas (1960 – 1998).”

[8] Octaviano Hernandez. (Del Rio News-Herald (Garcia), TX. “Seventh body found.” 8-28-1998, 1.) Also: Locategrave.org. “Grave Record for Octaviano Hernandez – Del Rio, Texas (1926-1998).”

[9] One of the 74-year-old male victims was Candelario Paredes, “an amputee who lived at the 200 block of Jones Street.” (Del Rio News-Herald (Fidel Garcia), TX. “Seventh body found.” 8-28-1998, p. 1.) See obituary at: San Angelo Standard-Times. “Funerals and Death Notices…Candelario Paredes Jr.,” 9-1-1998.