THREAD: hurricane helene leaves carolinas in dark

VENEZUELAN GANG’S Chaos: US Communities Under Threat

17 October 2024 — In New York City, kids as young as 11 are reportedly involved in violent robberies linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua (TdA). Surveillance footage from Aurora, Colorado shows a brutal attack on a worker by men refusing to accept a bribe. In Texas, two foreign nationals were arrested for allegedly planning to transport firearms for criminal use.

These incidents highlight the growing influence of TdA across the United States. The gang has gained notoriety through violent crimes that have alarmed law enforcement and policymakers. Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas has been vocal about the threat posed by TdA, especially in border communities unprepared for such brutality.

Gonzales and other GOP lawmakers have urged President Biden to designate TdA as a Transnational Criminal Organization. They warn that if unchecked, the gang could unleash terror similar to its impact in Central and South America. The gang’s activities include drug trafficking and human trafficking, leaving devastation across multiple countries.

Authorities caution that Tren De Aragua’s criminal operations pose an increasing danger to American communities nationwide. With its roots in Venezuela’s prisons, this “thug-for-hire” organization is spreading chaos from major cities like New York City down to small towns along border states like Texas.

HURRICANE MILTON’S Fury: Florida’s Heroic Rescue Efforts and Destruction

10 October 2024 — More than 3 million Floridians are without power as Hurricane MILTON wreaks havoc across the state. The storm hit near Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane, leaving four dead in St. Lucie County due to tornadoes. Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed that over 48 people have been rescued so far, with more than 125 active rescue missions underway in 26 counties.

Milton has now moved off Florida’s east coast, downgraded to a Category 1 storm, but not before causing significant damage through destructive winds and flooding. The worst-hit areas include Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. “The storm was significant,” DeSantis stated, emphasizing the widespread impact but noting it was not the worst-case scenario.

Tampa Bay faced severe weather conditions with up to 18 inches of rainfall reported in some areas and a construction crane collapsing into an office building housing the Tampa Bay Times headquarters. The roof of Tropicana Field was also damaged by strong winds. Sarasota County experienced a substantial storm surge between eight and ten feet high.

Water levels are expected to rise along northeast and west-central Florida rivers over the next day or so, potentially reaching flood stages according to forecasts. Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Milton’s impact on infrastructure and communities, rescue efforts continue

HURRICANE BERYL Slams Texas Coast with Deadly Force

08 July 2024 — Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday morning. The storm brought a dangerous surge and strong winds as it moved over land around 4 a.m. CST, according to the National Weather Service.

Beryl had strengthened back into a hurricane late Sunday, impacting southern Texas with rain and intensifying winds. Residents braced for the storm that had already caused destruction in Mexico and the Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Center issued an advisory at 3 a.m. CST warning of imminent landfall within two hours. This powerful storm has prompted significant concern and preparations along the Texas coast.

DEADLY Houston STORMS Leave City in Ruins, Power Restoration Underway

20 May 2024 — Deadly storms ravaged Houston last week, leaving seven dead and causing widespread damage. Thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds destroyed businesses, uprooted trees, and shattered glass in downtown skyscrapers. A tornado also touched down near Cypress.

By Sunday evening, 88% of Houston area customers had power restored, according to CenterPoint Energy spokesperson Paul Lock. “We expect everyone to be back on by end of business Wednesday,” Lock stated. Over 289,000 homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity Sunday evening.

More than 3,900 customers in Louisiana were also without power due to strong winds and a suspected tornado. CenterPoint Energy deployed 2,000 employees and over 5,000 contractors to restore power in the Houston area. Lynnae Wilson emphasized the urgency given the high temperatures: “Getting the lights and air conditioning back on is even more important.”

HOUSTON BATTLES Deadly Heat And Smog After Storms

19 May 2024 — Houston is working to restore power to hundreds of thousands after deadly storms left at least seven dead. The area faces a smog warning and scorching temperatures.

National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard forecasts highs around 90 degrees through the start of the week, with heat indexes approaching 100 degrees by midweek. “We expect the impact of the heat to gradually increase,” Chenard said.

The weather service warns residents not to overexert themselves during cleanup efforts. Poor air quality could also pose health risks over the weekend in Houston.

FAA UNLEASHES Drone-Swarm Farming: A Game-Changer in Cutting Costs and Boosting Efficiency

24 March 2024 — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given a special exemption to Texas-based drone manufacturer, Hylio. This approval paves the way for “drone-swarm” agriculture, an economical approach to seeding and spraying crops using groups of drones weighing 55 pounds or more.

Hylio’s CEO, Arthur Erickson, highlights how this pioneering method slashes both the initial investment on machinery and running costs to about a quarter or third of conventional farming methods. He points out that even a trio of drones is considerably more affordable than a single tractor while also conserving water and fuel.

Before this exemption, each drone needed its own pilot and observer due to weight restrictions in flight which made covering vast fields laborious. With the FAA’s new ruling, Hylio can now launch multiple drones at once without needing extra personnel or paying additional fees for its software.

This landmark decision by the FAA holds potential to transform agriculture by enhancing efficiency and eco-friendliness while significantly trimming costs.

CENTRAL US RAVAGED: Tornadoes Leave Trail of Destruction and Heartbreak

15 March 2024 — A series of violent tornadoes tore through the central U.S., causing extensive damage and claiming at least three lives. The storms left a path of devastation, flattening homes and trailers in an RV park, with Ohio’s Logan County bearing the brunt of the destruction. Lakeview and Russells Point villages were among the hardest hit areas.

On Friday, search crews accompanied by cadaver dogs sifted through the debris for any additional victims. Despite challenges posed by gas leaks and fallen trees obstructing some neighborhoods, authorities conducted a thorough second sweep in areas initially checked right after the storm hit.

Sheriff Randy Dodds cautioned that recovery operations would take time but assured that he was not aware of anyone still missing. Meanwhile, residents like Sandy Smith shared chilling accounts of seeking shelter while their homes crumbled around them during the storm’s onslaught.

The aftermath paints a grim picture — twisted metal wrapped around tree tops, damaged campgrounds and laundromats, roofs sheared off houses. Snowplows were dispatched to clear roads strewn with debris as communities begin to grapple with their new reality.

US Marines SPRING Into Action: SECURING Haiti Amid Rampant Gang Violence

09 March 2024 — The US State Department has called upon a Marine security team to restore order in Haiti, according to Fox News Digital. This decision stems from the country’s escalating gang violence leading to widespread instability.

A representative from the State Department stressed that ensuring the safety of American citizens abroad is their topmost concern. Despite operating with a reduced staff, the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince remains operational and prepared to aid American citizens as required.

Earlier confusion regarding the mission’s status and personnel involved has been clarified. An antiterrorism security team is confirmed for deployment this week, while the Pentagon continues evaluating its options in response to this unpredictable situation.

SENIOR CITIZEN Soars Skyward: Security Shutter in Wales Store Lifts Woman Off Ground

06 March 2024 — In an unusual turn of events, Anne Hughes, a 71-year-old woman, found herself lifted off the ground when her coat became entangled with a security shutter outside a store in Wales.

Hughes, who works as a cleaner at the Best One shop near Cardiff, was caught off guard when her coat snagged and she was hoisted into the air. “I thought “flipping heck!”” said Hughes. A quick-thinking colleague came to her aid and helped her down after she spent 12 seconds suspended mid-air.

Despite the odd incident, Hughes managed to retain her sense of humor about it all. She expressed relief that she hadn’t landed face-first and even joked that such an event could only happen to her.

The store seized this unexpected opportunity by using the footage for online promotion with a humorous caption about their deals and staff members’ antics. The video clip was shared on social media platform X with this playful tagline: "Don’t hang about like Ann, come down to Best One for unbeatable deals! The only thing going up in our shop is our staff — not our prices!

Haiti’s MAIN AIRPORT Under Siege: Armed Gangs Launch Shocking Takeover Attempt

05 March 2024 — In a startling rise in violence, armed gangs launched an audacious bid to seize control of Haiti’s primary international airport on Monday. The Toussaint Louverture International Airport was effectively shut down during the attack, with all operations suspended and no passengers in sight. An armored vehicle was spotted firing at the assailants in a desperate effort to keep them off airport property.

This assault is unprecedented in Haiti’s history concerning an airport. It remains uncertain whether the gangs were successful in their audacious takeover attempt. Just last week, stray bullets hit the airport during ongoing gang skirmishes.

This alarming incident unfolded merely hours after authorities imposed a nighttime curfew due to escalating violence. This surge saw armed gang members overrun two major prisons and liberate thousands of inmates.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric voiced grave concern about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Port-au-Prince. He noted that attacks on critical infrastructure had escalated over the weekend.

HAITI NIGHTMARE: Gangs Unleashed as Prisons Breached and Thousands Set Free

04 March 2024 — Haiti is grappling with a violent crisis. In a shocking turn of events, armed gang members infiltrated the nation’s two biggest prisons over the weekend, setting free thousands of prisoners. To regain control, the government has enforced a nighttime curfew.

The gangs, believed to have dominance over approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince, have grown alarmingly bold and organized. They are now daringly attacking previously untouched sites such as the Central Bank — an unprecedented escalation in Haiti’s ongoing battle against violence.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry is pleading for international assistance in forming a UN-backed security force to stabilize Haiti. However, with only around 9,000 officers responsible for more than 11 million citizens, Haiti’s National Police force is frequently outmatched and outgunned.

The recent onslaught on state institutions has led to at least nine fatalities since Thursday — including four police officers. High-profile targets like the international airport and national soccer stadium were not spared from these coordinated attacks.

TRAGEDY Strikes Joel Osteen’s Texas Megachurch: SHOCKING Shooting Incident Leaves Child in Critical Condition

12 February 2024 — A shocking incident unfolded at Joel Osteen’s megachurch in Houston, Texas, on Sunday when a woman armed with a long gun opened fire. The attack happened just before the church’s 2 p.m. Spanish service was about to commence. Despite the prompt intervention of two off-duty officers who neutralized the shooter, two people were injured, including a critically wounded 5-year-old boy.

The assailant entered the colossal Lakewood Church — a former NBA arena that can accommodate up to 16,000 people — accompanied by the young boy who tragically ended up in the line of fire. A man in his fifties also suffered injuries during this harrowing event. The connection between the woman and the boy remains uncertain as does who shot both victims.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner pointedly attributed blame to the female shooter for recklessly endangering lives, particularly that of an innocent child. Both victims were immediately transported to separate hospitals where they are receiving treatment for their injuries — while reports suggest that man is stable, sadly, the child’s condition remains critical.

This alarming incident occurred between services at one

STORM ISHA Unleashes Fury: UK and Ireland Brace for Deadly Winds

22 January 2024 — The United Kingdom and Ireland are on high alert as Storm Isha ushers in torrential rain and potentially fatal winds. The Met Office, which serves as the national weather service, has declared a comprehensive wind warning covering virtually the entire U.K. Additionally, there’s a tornado risk looming over Northern Ireland, northern England, and certain regions of Scotland.

Meteorologist Tom Morgan cautions against “life-threatening” winds that could trigger power outages. Coastal areas might confront massive waves hurling debris onto roads while trees stand a chance of being uprooted. Gusts clocking 90 miles per hour have already been reported in Wales’ mountainous Snowdonia region.

Storm Isha is wreaking havoc on travel schedules with Scotland’s railway operator halting service from Sunday night through Monday morning’s peak hours. Network Rail is enforcing speed restrictions to ward off accidents caused by fallen trees or debris strewn across tracks. In western Ireland, locals are advised to steer clear of the coast owing to destructive gusts

This marks the ninth storm named since September to assail parts of the U.K., leading to toppled trees, power failures, and river valley floods. The harsh weather conditions persist in disrupting everyday life while posing considerable safety hazards.

HARRIS and BIDEN Storm South Carolina: A Cunning Strategy for 2024 Victory?

07 January 2024 — Today, Vice President Kamala Harris is making waves in South Carolina. She’s the keynote speaker at the annual retreat of the Women’s Missionary Society of the Seventh District African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Harris plans to commemorate the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots during her address. In a parallel move, President Joe Biden will be speaking at Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina on Monday — a place marked by a devastating racially-motivated mass shooting in 2015.

South Carolina has been a Republican stronghold, with Donald Trump securing victory in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

The strategic visits by Biden and Harris hint at an ambitious attempt to sway this traditionally conservative state ahead of their potential run in the upcoming 2024 election.

NEW ENGLAND Grapples with Fierce Winter Storm: Power Outages and Treacherous Travel Conditions Unleashed

07 January 2024 — New England residents were greeted by a fierce winter storm on Sunday, prompting the need for shovels and snowblowers. The Northeast was blanketed with winter storm warnings, with treacherous icy roads reaching as far south as North Carolina.

The storm triggered power outages across the region. Over 13,000 customers in California and upwards of 16,000 in Massachusetts found themselves without electricity. By Sunday morning, some Massachusetts communities had already seen nearly a foot of snow according to the National Weather Service.

Coastal areas reported less snowfall while Boston recorded only a few inches. However, the snow was predicted to continue falling throughout the day with some regions receiving over a foot. The storm also affected Maine where certain areas saw up to 12 inches of snowfall.

Vermont braced for moderate to heavy ongoing snowfall expecting total accumulations between 6 and 12 inches. Wind gusts reaching up to 35 mph threatened to cause blowing and drifting snow across southern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine.

ROCHESTER’S Horrific Start: Tragic Car Explosion Claims Three Lives on New Year’s Day

02 January 2024 — The dawn of 2024 was tainted with a grisly incident in Rochester, New York. A Ford Expedition, laden with gas canisters, collided with a Mitsubishi Outlander, resulting in the death of three individuals and injuring several others.

The fatal accident occurred at 12:50 a.m. on January 1st near the iconic Kodak Theater. The driver of the Ford was identified as Michael Avery, a Syracuse resident aged 35 years. He later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Avery’s family revealed to investigators that he might have been grappling with undiagnosed mental health issues. The collision ignited an intense fire that took firefighters an hour to subdue.

The Outlander’s two occupants met their untimely end at the scene while Avery breathed his last later in hospital care.

NAVY’S Mightiest Warship USS Gerald R Ford Heads Home: Leaving Middle East Amid Rising Houthi Threats

02 January 2024 — America’s largest naval vessel, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is preparing to sail back home from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. This move comes in the wake of an attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th and forms part of a broader assessment of global force positioning by defense authorities.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower will stand as the only U.S. aircraft carrier in the region, given escalating attacks by Yemen-based Houthis on commercial ships navigating Middle Eastern waters. The Houthis justify these assaults as retaliation to Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

Over the past weekend, U.S Navy helicopters from both USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely thwarted a Houthi hijacking attempt in Southern Red Sea, sinking three out of four boats involved after responding to a distress signal from Maersk Hangzhou.

In light of intensifying threats from Houthis, an international task force has been established by U.S military to protect commercial vessels navigating these volatile waters. The Biden administration continues to assert that Iran is providing intelligence support to Houthis for these attacks.

BIDEN’S Motorcade Shocked in Unexpected CAR Crash: What Really Happened?

18 December 2023 — On Sunday evening, an unforeseen event took place involving President Joe Biden’s motorcade. As the President and First Lady Jill Biden were departing from the Biden-Harris 2024 headquarters, their convoy was struck by a car. This incident transpired in Wilmington, Delaware.

A silver sedan bearing Delaware license plates collided with an SUV that was part of the presidential convoy. The impact produced a loud bang which reportedly caught President Biden off guard.

Immediately following the collision, agents surrounded the driver with firearms at ready while members of the press were quickly moved away from the scene. Despite this startling occurrence, both Bidens were safely escorted away from the location of impact.

HEARTBREAKING Havoc: Tennessee TORNADO Claims Six Lives, Leaves Dozens Wounded

11 December 2023 — Tennessee was struck by a series of deadly tornadoes over the weekend, leaving six people dead and dozens injured. The violent storms wreaked havoc across central Tennessee communities, causing extensive damage to buildings and vehicles.

Among the victims were Floridema Gabriel Pérez and her young son Anthony Elmer Mendez. Tragically, their mobile home was obliterated when another was thrown onto it during the storm’s peak. Two other children from the family miraculously survived with only minor injuries.

In Montgomery County alone, three more lives were lost including that of a child. Local medical facilities treated approximately 60 people for various injuries related to the storm. Nine of these individuals were in such critical condition they had to be transferred to a Nashville hospital.

The aftermath of the storms saw power outages affecting tens of thousands and residents picking through debris on Sunday morning. Now, emergency workers alongside community members are left with an enormous task of cleaning up in wake of this devastating event.

STORM BABET Unleashed: Fourth Life Claimed in UK’S Brutal Downpour

23 October 2023 — The relentless storm battering the U.K. and northern Europe has claimed a fourth life. Derbyshire Police reported an elderly woman found dead in her Chesterfield home, central England, with her death attributed to area flooding.

The River Derwent, near Derby, surged to its highest recorded level during the storm. This torrential downpour dumped an unprecedented 8 inches of rain on parts of Britain.

The storm, christened Babet by the U.K. Meteorological Office, has been wreaking havoc since Thursday. It has taken five lives across Britain, northern Germany and southern Scandinavia.

Beyond the fatalities, severe flooding forced over 300 homes to be evacuated in eastern Scotland. A North Sea oil platform had to airlift more than half its staff after four out of eight anchors came loose during Saturday’s tempest.