Photo Essay: "Thailand Floods Pass Their Peak"

from the atlantic....

"The worst flooding Thailand has seen in 50 years appears to be coming down from its high-water mark, largely sparing central Bangkok while continuing to inundate surrounding suburbs and farms. Heavy monsoon rains have submerged nearly a third of the country's provinces since July, killing more than 370 people. Over the weekend, high tides and heavy flooding threatened central Bangkok, but defenses appear to have held. However, some residents in surrounding areas have expressed anger at being placed on the outside of these protective barriers and having floodwater diverted toward them. Areas west of Bangkok are still expected to be hard hit in the coming days as the last of the flooding makes its way to the sea. Gathered here are images from Thailand as the waters start to recede and the task of recovery begins. [41 photos]"............READ MORE

'Honda cuts production in Ohio because of flooding in Thailand'

another hit to world GDP.......from columbus dispatch.....

"Auto production will drop to about 50 percent of normal until about Nov. 10 and all Saturday overtime is canceled. 

Further changes may be announced as the company continues to assess the situation".....READ MORE

'Bangkok City close to losing last line of defence'-Epic Flood

'Govt sacrifices eastern Bangkok'

from bangkok post......

"The governor warned 27 communities in eastern Bangkok would probably be hardest hit.

The floodwall has been built with more than 200,000 sandbags. It is 3km long and stands 1.5m high.

City Hall workers yesterday were sent to reinforce the embankment and make it 30cm higher".............READ MORE

Photo Essay: "Pakistan Floods, One Year Later"

from the atlantic........

"One year ago, record-breaking floods submerged one fifth of Pakistan's total land area for months, affecting some 20 million residents and causing some $10 billion in damage. Eleven million Pakistanis were left homeless, and the aid organization Oxfam estimates that more than 800,000 remain without permanent shelter to this day. Many of them, frustrated by limited government assistance, are struggling to rebuild their own homes. Reuters photographer Adrees Latif was in Pakistan one year ago to record the disaster and has just returned to recreate some of his most iconic images. His then-and-now photos reveal what has changed (and what has not) over the course of a year. Collected below are photos from Latif and others that show how Pakistanis continue to cope with last year's disaster. [39 photos]"..........VIEW HERE

'An above-average snowpack will likely lead to flooding and even mudslides, but it will ultimately replenish the region's water supplies'

"High Water in Colorado, With Ripples to Las Vegas"

from newwest....

"Colorado’s snowiest surveyed location, Buffalo Pass, on average reaches its maximum depth on May 9 and then begins shrinking.

This year is not average.

Snowpack at the 10,500-foot pass, located north of Steamboat Springs, this year got to 202 inches but has lost little bulk. Too much new snow keeps coming. That, in turn, means the water content keeps rising. The former record of 71.1 inches was breached long ago, and as of Monday morning the new record was 79.2 inches"..............LINK

Photo Essay: Mississippi River Flooding

from daily mail........

"We've all undertaken home improvements but these residents in flood-stricken Mississippi have had to embark on major construction projects just to protect their houses and livelihoods.

These homes in Vicksburg are all situated along the Yazoo River, a tributary of the overflowing Mississippi River, and their owners have surrounded themselves with tons of earth and sand.

With questions over whether the main levees that protect the area from floods would hold, these farmers took no chances and have so far saved their homes and crops from destruction".............VIEW THEM HERE


40 PICTURES FROM THE ATLANTIC.............VIEW THEM HERE

"Cost of disaster: $50 billion and higher insurance rates"

from communities.canada.com....

"It's a disaster - insurance rates are going up. Lloyd's of London says the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in New Zealand and flooding in Australia has led to almost $4 billion US in insurance claims and that has insurance rates going up. In a story in the Guardian (read the story here), 

Lloyd's said its insurers, Munich Re and Hiscox has already warned of "hefty price rises."

Lloyd's estimates the Japanese earthquake and tsunami led to claims of $1.95 billion US, while the New Zealand earthquake cost its members $1.2 billion and the Australian floods $650 million.

Add to that damage from tornadoes ravaging the United States in April and the total loss to the industry could top $50 billion US"...........LINK