Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Currently, Tropical Storm Melissa is travelling through the Caribbean Sea bringing flooding, landslides, and heavy storms to the surrounding region. Expected to strengthen into a Category 4 or 5 while reaching land, Hurricane Melissa is of severe risk to Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas.

On October 12th, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in remote Alaska was struck by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, bringing in severe flooding. This disaster is one of the most destructive in the region since the 1964 Alaska Earthquake.

On September 30th, the Philippines was struck by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake. It was the strongest quake ever recorded in Northern Cebu, and was followed by thousands of smaller aftershocks. Seventy five people lost their lives, and hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

On September 1st, a 6.0 magnitude shallow earthquake struck the Eastern Afghanistan provinces of Kunar & Nangarhar. The quake was felt as far as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, & India; USGS reports over 1.2 million people felt the earthquake & it’s 5 aftershocks.

Over the last two weeks, over 350 earthquakes have been felt across Guatemala. Thousands have been affected, with hundreds of homes experiencing extreme damage, forcing families into becoming displaced.

Pakistan is currently in the midst of its monsoon season, causing extreme rainfall and flash flooding. Since July, over 930 people have died from housing collapse, landslides, and drowning, and over 2 million people have been evacuated & displaced.

On July 4th, Kerr County, Texas, was devastated by a catastrophic weather event as months’ worth of rainfall fell in just four hours. The resulting flash floods caused the Guadalupe River to overflow, severely impacting the communities of Hunt and Kerrville.

Community support is important for GEM to be involved in as we want to ensure we are not only making a positive impact globally, but locally in our own backyards too.

On March 28th, a massive 7.7 quake struck near Myanmar’s city of Mandalay, followed by a 6.4 aftershock. The effects of the quake has trapped hundreds of people inside destroyed buildings and rubble, with crews working to free stuck people.