Welcome back to Disaster Discourse Monthly!
Welcome back to Disaster Discourse Monthly. This month, we offer updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the start to an already record-breaking Hurricane Season, and information on fires that have been impacting the Western United States (US).
The COVID-19 Pandemic…
On June 25, the US recorded 40,401 new COVID-19 cases; the highest recorded number of confirmed cases in a single day. The US experienced a 25 percent increase in new COVID-19 cases in the third week of June, compared with the prior week. According to a Reuters analysis Arizona, Florida, and Texas faced record increases in new cases last week. This rise in cases across the US has caused some states to pull back on reopening measures and restore measures previously in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
It’s already been a record-breaking Hurricane Season…
June 1, 2020marked the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. This month, there have been four named Tropical storms, three of which brought severe weather to the US, while two storms, Tropical Storm Bertha and Tropical Storm Cristobal, made landfall. Tropical Storm Cristobal broke records as the Atlantic’s earliest third named storm that has ever formed during Hurricane Season.
Tropical Storm Cristobal brings extreme weather to the US…
Tropical Storm Cristobal brought extreme weather conditions to many parts of the US in the early weeks of June. Cristobal bands caused extreme weather conditions and Tornado Warnings throughout Florida. Seven tornadoes were reported throughout the state, including one that touched down near downtown Orlando. Cristobal moved into the gulf, making landfall in southeastern Louisiana. The system then tracked northward bringing heavy winds and rain into the Midwest, including Wisconsin.
According to the National Weather Service, this is only the fourth tropical system to impact the state since official recording of storms has begun.
Fires in the West…
This month, fires have sparked in California, Arizona, and Utah leaving thousands of acres of land scorched and causing hundreds to evacuate, leaving dozens of homes burned down behind them. Currently, there are five active fires burning across Arizona. While containment grows, the Bush Fire has now burned over 190,000 acres of land making it the fifth largest fire in the state’s history. While some fires’ origins are still being investigated, one fire, the Bighorn Fire, was started by a lightning strike, while the Bush Fire, was sparked by a vehicle fire.
Thanks for reading. We’ll see you next month and stay healthy!