8-29-20 The Great Derecho Disaster of 2020

Nearing Midnight: The Great Derecho Disaster of 2020 - Todd Strandberg - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ On the 10th of this month, a line of thunderstorms called a "derecho" swept across several Midwest states. The storm caused extensive damage to homes, crops and utilities, which left more than a million people without power. The state of Iowa suffered the most damage with estimated losses to corn and soybean crops topping the $3 billion mark. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service have surveyed the damage path from the derecho, finding peak estimated wind speeds of 130 mph at one point in Linn County, Iowa. The agency said that a swath of winds through parts of Benton and Linn Counties was consistent with winds that were, at times, in the 110 to 130 mph range. Specifically, meteorologists pointed to a radio transmission tower north of Marion that collapsed, caused by likely wind speeds of around 130 mph. Derecho is a Spanish word, meaning "direct" or "straight ahead," referring to widespread, long-lived storms with straight-line winds that cause damage similar to a tornado and hurricane. Derecho was first coined by Gustavus D. Hinrichs, a gifted and highly educated German immigrant who settled in Davenport in 1861, which is, oddly enough, in the core of the damage zone. The criteria that must be met for derecho classification: Consistent, widespread wind damage swath greater than 250 miles. Wind gusts 58 mph or greater along the entire path of the line. Pockets of 75 mph or greater gusts A long-lived event with lack of weakening along the entire path. Since 1850, 25 derechos have occurred in the U.S., which averages one every six years. The state of Illinois is the bull's eye for this type of storm because cooler air that comes off Lake Michigan aids in the development of a derecho. President Donald Trump told officials in Iowa that the state has the "full support of the federal government" as it continues to recover from the treacherous derecho. Trump declared a federal emergency for the state. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds filed an expedited presidential major disaster declaration seeking $3.99 billion. The US is the largest corn producer in the world, with 96,000,000 acres of land reserved for corn production. The total production of corn in the U.S. for the year 2019 is reported to be 13.016 billion bushels, which was a bad year due to flooding and cold weather. Corn production has actually declined for the past three years. In 2016 corn production was 15.1 billion bushels. United States Department of Agriculture had hoped that 2020 would be a good year with heavy planting that was to result in a record 15.3 billion bushels. Drought conditions in western Iowa and central Ohio have already reduced crop yields. The derecho has now put a billion bushels of corn into question. Many fields have been blown flat by the winds, and they've now turned yellow from their stalks being broken. If Iowa receives heavy rain, the corn near to the ground will mold, making it unfit for human consumption. I lived in the Midwest most of my life, and I never saw anything like what I've seen on the news. The timing of the storm was at the worst stage of the growing season. The corn stalks were still green, and the weight of the corn cobs was near to its max. If the storm had taken place in May or June, the seedlings could have survived the storm. If the derecho had hit in Sept on, the corn would be drier and rigid enough to stand up to the winds. The Midwest is not the only region of the country facing weather-related calamity. California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as wildfires continue torching parts of Northern California amid blackouts and a severe heatwave. California's energy system operator - California Independent System Operator (CAISO) - issued a Stage 3 emergency for the first time in 20 years. China has had a series of disasters with its rice, corn, and wheat belts. Floods in the center of the nation have damaged rice crops. Drought in the north has taken a toll on wheat fields. Beijing has sent out a small army of grain buyers to purchase huge amounts of grain to fulfill China's grain needs. Since bad luck has become a permanent fixture in food production, I can only conclude that these events are the lead-up to great famine that will play out during the tribulation. "And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine" (Rev 6:5-6, KJV). "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven" (Luke 21:11, KJV).