February 2021 was a short month, but it definitely was not devoid of disasters affecting millions worldwide.
What are the three types of disasters?
All disastrous events fit into three classifications:
Natural - Caused from natural processes of the earth (floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)
Man-made - Crime, arson, civil disorder, terrorism, war, biological/chemical, cyber attacks, etc.
Hybrid - technical failure or sabotage, disaster planning and management, and warning systems
The following disasters were recorded (by area) impacting thousands throughout the globe:
Worldwide
Coronavirus (COVID-19 reported 114,653,749 confirmed cases and 2,550,500 deaths since the onset of the virus.
Afghanistan
The central Daykundi province had an avalanche that killed 31 and damaged many homes and killed many animals.
Australia
After the many fires in Australia in 2020, it was hit in February 2021 by the heaviest rainfall in 30 years brining widespread flooding. Thousands of homes lost power.
Perth bushfires caused evacuations and destroyed homes.
Victoria drenched when a month’s worth of rain fell in 12 hours.
Bolivia
The government reported that rain and flooding affected 700 families in an indigenous community
Brazil
Record flooding in northwestern Brazil affected more than 100,000 people
Central Africa
The Central African Republic experienced the return of Monkeypox
Central Europe
Storm Ciara with near-hurricane winds battered Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Chili
Record rainfall, hail, and severe storms
Colombia
Flooding and landslides killed eight people after heavy days-long rain.
Cook Islands
Dengue outbreak declared
East Africa
Local farmers were left helpless when swarms of locusts destroyed 170,000 acres of crops
Europe
A Saharan dust plume moved over Europe
Fiji
Tropical Cyclone “Ana” left one person dead and five missing
Greece
Historic snowstorm left three dead
Guinea
Ebola cases emerged, and Guinea started a vaccine campaign
Guatemala
Pacava volcano alert level raised to yellow due to increased explosive activity
Guinea
Ebola outbreak
India
Rock and ice avalanche hit Uttarakhand hit with a loss of more than 150 people
Ireland
Reykjanes peninsula hit by intense earthquakes
Indonesia
South Sumatra province experienced heavy rainfall, flooding thousands of homes.
Ten students killed when many students hit by flash floods while they were trekking along a river.
Jakarta under 2.7 m of water due to extreme monsoon rains
Iran
Heavy rain spurred widespread flooding in the Lorestan province where rivers overflowed damaging roads, bridges, cutting off numerous villages.
Israel
Oil spill after heavy storms and unusually high waves was the worst environmental disaster in decades
Italy
Etna Volcano eruption
Japan
Mt. Shindake experienced pyroclastic flows, ash, and smoke after a massive volcano eruption. Ash and smoke spewed 2,300 feet, and flow reached 3,000 on the southwest of the crater.
A very severe snowstorm was the strongest in years
Libya
First snow in 15 years also affecting parts of northern Africa and the Middle East.
Snow disrupted life in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel
Mozambique
Tropical Cyclone “Guambe” intensified over the Mozambique Channel
New Zealand
Steam explosions at White Island followed increase in volcano Treme levels
Oceania
Shallow 7.7 earthquake hit southeast of the Loyalty Islands and put New Caledonia on a tsunami watch
Pacific
Tropical Cyclone affecting Vanuatu and New Caledonia reaching Category 2
Paraguay
Severe flooding and landslides killed at least ten people
Peru
Heavy rain brought flooding and damaged hundreds of homes.
Philippines
A strong shallow 6.0 earthquake hit Mindanao
Widespread flooding and disruption sends more than 59,000 people fleeing
Rawanda
Thirteen people lost their lives due to floods and landslides. The country has seen dozens of deaths due to heavy rains.
Russia
Record snow and major winter storm hit Moscow
South Africa
The massive Brakpan Fire engulfed nine stores, hotel, and flat
Heavy rains lasted weeks, killing more than 30 people
South Sudan
Famine, fighting, and floods caused a crises in South Sudan
Sudan
State of emergency declared over soaring food prices
Sweden
Salmonella outbreak sickens 12 people
Tanzania
Unexplained deaths caused fears of Lake Victoria fish
The U.K.
Several warnings were issued as Storm Dennis approached and killed at least three people.
Extreme freeze causing mass disruption of services
Scotland reported H5N1 avian influenza in a flock of game birds
Turkey
Two deadly avalanches in the eastern Van province took the lives of 41 people\
Flash floods resulted from more than a month’s worth of rain in just six hours, causing destructive flash flooding in Izmer.
Tanzania
Heavy rain and flooding took 40 lives and caused food shortages.
Uganda and Kenya
Swarms of deadly desert locust ravaged the land accelerated by climate change. It affected many by causing food shortages.
United States of America
St. Clair River rose to record levels due to ice jam pushes which triggered devastating floods in Michigan
Damaging mudslides in California resulted from major winter storms
An E-coli outbreak sickened man, including one death in Washington
Avalanches caused 15 death considered the deadliest week of avalanches in over a century
Ice accumulation from mid-Mississippi Valley to Ohio and Tennessee Valleys
North America experienced extreme cold knocking out electricity. Heating prices surge as infrastructure failed to deliver
An unprecedented winter storm hit Texas, leaving more than 3.8 million homes without power.
Zimbabwe
The northern regions experienced flooding, damaging roads, bridges, and nearly 200 homes.
Disasters like those listed above can lead to mass casualties and overwhelm local medical resources. The World Health Organization stresses individual disaster preparedness.
Make a plan to prepare yourself for ANY future disasters.