Podcasts about flooding

Guests: Dr. Steven Ackerman and Dr. Jonathan MartinFor most of us, weather talk is a quick chat about the weekend forecast or a snowy commute. But in Wisconsin, “The Weather Guys” have turned those conversations into something much bigger — a beloved radio show that brings science, stories, and a touch of humor to the airwaves. For years, they've been breaking down everything from blizzards to climate change, making meteorology both accessible and fun. Today, we'll sit down with Dr. Steven Ackerman and Dr. Jonathan Martin to hear how their show began, what keeps listeners tuning in, and why Wisconsin weather makes for some of the best conversations around.Chapters00:00 The Birth of Weather Talk00:45 How They Became Weather Geeks03:02 Research Insights and Contributions08:08 Engaging the Public Beyond Academia11:44 Break 111:45 The Importance of Public Engagement14:12 The Dynamics of Show Planning15:29 Memorable Questions from Callers17:00 Balancing Complexity in Communication18:38 Break 218:40 Wisconsin Weather: A Unique Landscape21:30 The Changing Landscape of Weather Communication24:35 Advice for Young Meteorologists27:21 The Future of Weather and AISee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The narrow corridor of mixed rain and snow shifted east-southeast Tuesday night. Some areas cooled long enough for plain snow to fall and accumulate across portions of Pennsylvania. This mix will continue into early Wednesday in portions of Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, southeastern New York and perhaps southwestern Connecticut before temperatures rise and precipitation moves offshore. AccuWeather meteorologists are warning that heavy rain spreading across parts of the central United States from today to Friday will create hazardous travel conditions, but it could also bring some benefits to areas experiencing drought. Severe thunderstorms are also expected in parts of the region. Shifting focus to the Middle East, Iranian authorities have begun cloud-seeding operations to induce rainfall and combat a severe water crisis. It has been the driest fall in half a century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, we break down how these scams are built, why they’re so effective, and how the average South African can protect themselves before sharing false information. And to help us unpack this, Amy Maciver is joined by Andrew Thompson, News24 journalist and the reporter behind the investigation into the India-based disinformation network targeting South Africans. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen Ad Free https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free!

PREVIEW Kelly Curry discusses the chain of poison where China is the driver and controller of dangerous drug production out of Myanmar. China supplies precursors but demands the resulting methamphetamines be diverted away from China, flooding markets across Asia and reaching North and South America. China continues to abet this trade because the chemical makers are a source of revenue. Future co-production and transmission of methods between Chinese-backed drug groups and Mexican cartels is anticipated. Guest: Kelly Curry. 1922

ANNOUNCEMENT: Our annual podcast survey is live! Please share your thoughts and how the survey has inspired change with us, here:⁠ https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bEf5YoxkFv87GIu⁠***In this episode, we explain how hurricanes cause inland flooding through extreme rainfall and connected watershed systems. We'll discuss why Florida's flat terrain and development patterns make inland flooding so persistent, how these events impact water quality and wildlife, and what practical steps Floridians can take to protect their homes and communities. Learn More:See the most up-to-date FEMA Flood Map for your community: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home (FEMA)Get a quote or learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program: https://www.floodsmart.gov Florida Well Owners Network: https://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/well/  (UF/IFAS)Benefits of Floodplains: https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/wildlife-conservation/benefits-natural (FEMA)Sources:https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home  https://www.archbold-station.org/projects/floodplains/ https://msc.fema.gov/msccontent/Flood_Hazard_Mapping_Updates_Overview_Fact_Sheet.pdfhttps://www.floodsmart.gov

In this fiery episode of the RattlerGator Report, JB White breaks down a whirlwind weekend of hacked X posts, football highs and lows, and the relentless march of global realignment driven by Donald Trump's strategic “flood the zone” maneuvering. Reflecting on his old threads from 2020 and the massive power Trump held at the end of his first term, JB digs into the ongoing information war, the collapse of adversarial narratives, and the unmistakable signals, like the Ford carrier's positioning, showing that America is reasserting full-spectrum dominance. He contrasts discernment and emotional reactions, calls out misguided influencers, and highlights the emerging technological battles shaping the new geopolitical landscape. With trademark candor, humor, and unapologetic patriotism, JB weaves sports talk, personal anecdotes, military analysis, and hard-nosed political insight into a single, rapid-fire meditation on the moment America finds itself in as history bends sharply toward a long-awaited reckoning.

Heavy rainfall and flooding continue to grip parts of the country. This after the South African Weather Service issued a Level 9 warning for Gauteng and Mpumalanga for persistent adverse weather conditions. More downpours are expected today with possible localised flooding. Level 5 alerts remain for Free State, North West and KwaZulu-Natal. Motorists are urged to must steer clear of low-lying roads and bridges. For more on this we are joined on the line by South African Weather Service Forecaster, Lehlohonolo Thobela

Gauteng stays on high alert as severe weather continues into the week. Elijah Mhlanga joins Africa Melane to unpack the province’s preparedness, risk areas and safety measures for residents as the Level 9 alert remains in effect. Early Breakfast with Africa Melane is 702’s and CapeTalk’s early morning talk show. Experienced broadcaster Africa Melane brings you the early morning news, sports, business, and interviews politicians and analysts to help make sense of the world. He also enjoys chatting to guests in the lifestyle sphere and the Arts. All the interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen. Thank you for listening to this podcast from Early Breakfast with Africa Melane For more about the show click https://buff.ly/XHry7eQ and find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/XJ10LBU Listen live on weekdays between 04:00 and 06:00 (SA Time) to the Early Breakfast with Africa Melane broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3N Subscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 79 of the Hidden History of Texas, Central Texas Floods of the 2000s. The Central Texas Floods of the 2000s damaged Lake Marble Falls 2002 Central Texas Floods The summer of 2002 brought storm after storm, pounding San Antonio and the Hill Country with relentless rain. By July, creeks had swollen into rivers, and the city's flood-control systems groaned under the pressure. Cars floated down highways, neighborhoods were cut off, and families had to be rescued from rooftops in San Antonio's South Side. San Antonio International Airport recorded a staggering 9.52 inches of rain on July 1 alone, setting a new record for the month Over the next week, rainfall totals in several counties reached between 25 and 35 inches, leading to widespread flash flooding. The Guadalupe and Blanco Rivers swelled beyond their banks, inundating communities and causing significant damage. The floodwaters claimed 12 lives, damaged approximately 48,000 homes, and resulted in an estimated $1 billion in damages. Twenty-four counties were declared federal disaster areas. 2015 Blanco River Flood (Wimberley & San Marcos) The event was part of a larger weather system that affected Texas and Oklahoma, producing 75 tornadoes and widespread flooding. The Blanco River, which typically flows at 93 cubic feet per second, experienced a record-breaking crest of 44.9 feet at Wimberley, Texas, with a peak flow of 175,000 cubic feet per second as a result on the night of May 23, 2015, yes it was another Memorial Day Weekend flood, and the Blanco River transformed into a wall of water. Fueled by nearly a foot of rain falling in the Hill Country, the river rose over 40 feet in just a few hours. In Wimberley, whole houses were lifted from their foundations and carried downstream like rafts, some with families still inside. In Wimberley the floodwaters rose more than 30 feet in less than three hours, overwhelming the Fischer Store Road bridge and sweeping away entire homes. The rapid rise of the river left little time for residents to evacuate, and the devastation was immense. In Wimberley alone, more than a dozen lives were lost, and the community was left to grapple with the aftermath 2025 – Kerrville & Central Texas Floods On July 4, 2025, flash floods devastated Kerrville and surrounding Hill Country communities. Late on July 3, 2025, the remnant mid-level circulation of Atlantic Tropical Storm Barry became embedded within a broader mid-level trough already containing tropical east Pacific remnant moisture This system developed into a massive thunderstorm which stalled over Central Texas. Flooding began on the morning of July 4, after significant rainfall accumulated across Central Texas. Six flash flood emergencies, which included the cities of Kerrville and Mason, were issued the same day. The Guadalupe River rose about 26 ft in 45 minutes. It surged an estimated 29 ft in the Hunt area, where more than 20 children were declared missing from a summer camp. July 5 saw more flash flood warnings for the Lake Travis area, which is part of the Colorado River watershed. In the span of a few hours, the equivalent to four months' worth of rain fell across the Texas Hill Country region, with the highest rain totals being 20.33 inches. Over 135 people died in the flood The Central Texas Floods of the 2000s, weren't the first floods to cause destruction in the region and in all likelihood they won't be the last. All we can do is try to prepare the best we can.

Met Eireann has issued a status orange weather warning for counties Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford today, with heavy rain expected to create the possibility of “significant flooding”. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Keith Leonard Director of fire and emergency management at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Met Eireann has issued a status orange weather warning for counties Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford today, with heavy rain expected to create the possibility of “significant flooding”. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Keith Leonard Director of fire and emergency management at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Today we'll be talking about a horrific trafficking case involving a Thai woman in Tokyo, sever flooding hitting several provinces across Thailand, but don't worry we're going to end with some uplifting news from Bangkok's housing market to Phuket's tourism industry.

Michelle Dillon of Met Eireann; David Martin from the Road Safety Authority; and Tom Byrne of the IFA

Guest: Ken BurnsHe's an Award-Winning Filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture. Some of his most popular works include the Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, the National Parks, Prohibition, the Roosevelts, the Vietnam War, and Country Music. Behind the majestic shots and carefully chosen words, there's another character always in the frame: the weather. From outracing clouds to chasing snow that just won't fall, even filmmaker Ken Burns has learned that Mother Nature doesn't always take direction. While shooting his newest series The American Revolution, weather wasn't just a backdrop — it was a full-fledged co-star. Today, we'll talk with Ken about the challenges and surprises of filming history in real weather, how climate and geography shaped the American Revolution, and why sometimes the best storyteller is the sky.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ken Burns and His Work01:10 The Role of Weather in Filmmaking02:22 The American Revolution: A Complex Narrative04:19 Challenges of Capturing Weather in Filmmaking07:14 The Importance of Authenticity in Storytelling09:36 Weather's Impact on Historical Events12:13 Technological Advancements and Their Influence14:27 The Unpredictability of History17:31 The Drama of Real Weather in StorytellingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NEWS: Metro-wide clearing effort to reduce flooding by 60%, Marcos says | Nov. 13, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two men who left another man with a “broken face” after it was claimed he had made inappropriate comments to children have been spared jail.A court was told the attackers repeatedly kicked and punched their victim in a Lydd street on learning he had supposedly remarked he "liked little boys" and made a lewd gesture. Also in today's podcast, an American-themed eatery loved by TV production companies has reopened following a major revamp.The Detling Diner closed almost 18 months ago following a devastating fire which started in its stockroom due to an electrical fault.People living in Folkestone will start to see interactive signs around the town raising awareness of the risk of flash flooding. It's a part of Kent that's been known to flood, particularly around the Pent Stream in heavy downpours. In a time where house-building targets are increasing, KentOnline is asking the question is enough being done to transform empty properties?Reporter Elli Hodgson spoke to property developer Barry Upton about how the planning system has gone “too far” and what changes are needed.And in sport, Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth dedicated Saturday's win to the coaching staff who have held the fort in his absence.Ainsworth had missed the previous four league games while recovering from major heart surgery, but was back watching in the flesh on Saturday, as his team ended a seven-game winless run. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The La Gratitude Home for the Aged in Newcastle has been left severely damaged by flash floods and hailstorms that battered the northern KZN town. Website

NEWS: 17,500 villages at risk of landslides, flooding from Super Typhoon Uwan | Nov. 10, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The principal focus of this briefing is the ongoing river flooding affecting Washington's Skokamish River, which has escalated to moderate flooding, resulting in significant impacts on local infrastructure. I, Cedric, present this EM Morning Brief for Friday, November 7, 2025, in which I will outline various critical weather advisories and hazardous conditions across multiple states. High winds are currently impacting travel along Wyoming's I-80 and parts of Montana, while winter weather advisories persist in both Alaska and Southwest Montana. Additionally, the coastal regions of California are under advisories for high surf and coastal flooding, posing risks to small craft and recreational activities. This report aims to provide essential updates for emergency management and public safety in the face of these diverse weather challenges.Takeaways:* The current weather conditions indicate severe river flooding along Washington's Skokamish River, necessitating awareness. * High winds are impacting travel and safety across Wyoming's I-80 and adjacent regions in Montana. * Winter weather advisories are in effect for multiple regions, including Alaska and parts of the Pacific Northwest. * Small craft advisories have been issued along California's coastal areas due to hazardous surf conditions. * The U.S. Geological Survey reports routine seismic activity across the United States, indicating stable conditions. * FEMA has updated disaster recovery information for Hurricane-affected areas, providing essential resources for survivors. Links referenced in this episode:* FloodMap (Sponsor, EMN)Companies mentioned in this episode:* FloodMap (Sponsor, EMN)* FEMA Sources[USGS Latest Earthquakes (Past Day) | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?extent=-0.35156%2C173.84766&extent=67.64268%2C325.72266&magnitude=all&timeZone=utc][NWS Anchorage Advisory | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=winter+weather+advisory][NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard Coastal/Surf Advisories | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=lox&wwa=all][NWS Denver/Boulder HWO | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=bou&wwa=hazardous+weather+outlook][NWS Mount Holly CWF/Advisory | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=PHI&product=CWF&site=PHI][NWS Baltimore/Washington Freeze/Frost | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=phi&wwa=all][NWS Great Falls Advisory | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=tfx&wwa=winter+weather+advisory][NWS (West Glacier) High Wind Warning | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=48.600584&lon=-113.722616][NWS Mount Holly Marine Forecast | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=PHI&product=CWF&site=PHI][NWS New York (NY Harbor) SCA | https://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=anz338&syn=anz300][NWS Portland Marine AFD/Warnings | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=PQR&product=AFD&site=pqr][FEMA DR-4798 (Updated Nov 7) | https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4798][NWS Seattle Flood Warning | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=flood+warning][NWS Cheyenne High Wind Warning | https://www.weather.gov/cys/highwind][NWS Point Forecast (Granite Canon WY) | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=CYS&map.x=186&map.y=230] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Instead of building seawalls or dikes, Terranova has developed a new way to raise cities to protect them from sea-level rise. In addition, Chris Sacca's venture firm Lowercarbon Capital is raising a second fund to back nuclear fusion energy hopefuls, the VC said at the SOSV Climate Tech Summit on Thursday, as reported by Bloomberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald J. Trump is calling for an immediate end to the US Senate practice of the filibuster, an internal Senate rule that generally requires 60 of the 100 Senators to vote to pass legislation.  This 60 vote requirement is allowing the minority of Democrat Senators to block the MAGA agenda.  Democrats have already announced their own intent to end the filibuster to force their agenda down America's throat as soon as they return to power. Ending the filibuster is, therefore, necessary to save our nation, as the Democrats have made absolutely clear that they intend to eradicate America as a nation that our Founders or most of us would recognize.  Flooding the nation with tens or hundreds of millions of third-worlders, making both Puerto Rico and Washington DC into states for four more Democrat Senators, ending gun rights, utterly destroying the integrity of the electoral system, and more, are all to be done by a bare majority of Democrat votes.It certainly seems as if the choices are end the filibuster now before the Democrats return to power, or watch our nation die. 

Christian Esguerra speaks with Dr. Mahar Lagmay on the need for science-based, data-driven policy-making, especially to address the effects of typhoons and other natural calamities.

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2022: Kenya's great lakes are flooding, in a devastating and long-ignored environmental disaster that is displacing hundreds of thousands of people By Carey Baraka. Read by Reice Weathers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Guest: Alex TomoffWhen you think of weather and meteorology, you probably picture storm chasers, satellites, or your local forecast. But what about chocolate? At Mars, Inc. — the company behind favorites like M&M's and Snickers — weather isn't just background noise, it's a critical part of the business. From the cocoa fields that depend on rainfall, to the sugar supply impacted by drought, to the logistics of getting chocolate safely from factory to shelf, weather touches every step. And standing at that intersection is today's guest: Alex Tomoff, the meteorologist of Mars, Inc. We'll find out how forecasting shapes the future of candy, agriculture, and sustainability — and yes, even your sweet tooth.Chapters00:00 The Intersection of Weather and Chocolate01:46 Alex Tomoff's Journey to Meteorology04:38 Day-to-Day as a Meteorologist at Mars, Inc.07:44 Understanding Key Ingredients: Cocoa, Sugar, and Peanuts10:50 Break 110:52 Climate Change and Its Impact on Cocoa Production13:40 Logistics and Supply Chain Challenges16:29 Weather Risk Communication in the Private Sector20:25 Break 220:27 Sustainability Initiatives at Mars, Inc.22:35 Innovations in Agriculture and Climate Resilience25:24 The Role of Technology in Weather Forecasting28:27 Advice for Aspiring MeteorologistsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about a typhoon sweeping through the Philippines, causing devastating flooding and killing dozens, as well as a father and son's trip to Laos that has ended tragically after the pair were killed by a swarm of hornets.

NEWS: Philippines most vulnerable to flooding among 193 countries | Nov. 6, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen

Jean McCabe, CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland and Jo Linehan, sustainability journalist

Two dead in flooding in NYC... Windy weather for trick-or-treaters today... City and bus drivers agree to 30-day extension of contract...The scariest movies people watched over the last 5 years full 484 Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:51:32 +0000 v2AlrzQCPlBKm52ZGp84cMWXF4ovD6FJ news 1010 WINS ALL LOCAL news Two dead in flooding in NYC... Windy weather for trick-or-treaters today... City and bus drivers agree to 30-day extension of contract...The scariest movies people watched over the last 5 years The podcast is hyper-focused on local news, issues and events in the New York City area. This podcast's purpose is to give New Yorkers New York news about their neighborhoods and shine a light on the issues happening in their backyard. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc.

Also, is it time to remove 'Prince Andrew' streets signs in NI?

Listen Ad Free https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free!

Guest: Sean SubletteWhen science and policy meet, the results can shape the way communities prepare for the future. Our guest today, meteorologist and science communicator Sean Sublette, is on a mission to make sure that scientific insight has a stronger voice in Congress. From years of forecasting and breaking down weather impacts for the public, Sean now sees an opportunity to bring that same clarity and perspective to the policymaking table. We'll talk with him about why science matters in the halls of government, how weather and climate knowledge can translate into smarter decisions, and what it means to bridge the gap between data, communication, and action.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Sean Sublett and His Journey00:24 Introduction to Sean Sublett and His Journey02:46 The Evolution of Weather Communication05:46 Challenges in Meteorology and Communication08:38 The Role of Meteorologists in High-Impact Events10:11 Break 110:11 Transitioning from Meteorology to Politics14:22 Bridging Science and Policy17:31 The Importance of Listening in Politics20:28 Break 220:31 Weather and Climate in Policy Making23:31 Challenges Facing the Weather and Climate Enterprise26:15 Learning from the Political Process28:56 Advice for Scientists Engaging with PolicymakersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senator Perry is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. He was also Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding during the recent special session of the Legislature. He is a visionary and a leader in addressing the severe water issues facing Texas. Larry and Senator Perry discuss how his faith informs his work as a CPA and a legislator, the flooding in Texas during July 2025, particularly the tragic deaths of the Camp Mystic "Heaven's 27," and Proposition 4, which Texans will vote on November 4th. Proposition 4 will provide additional funding for water supply, infrastructure repair, wastewater management, and flood control in Texas. 

There are 750,000 people already at risk from inland flooding and that will increase as a changing climate brings wilder, wetter weather, new data shows. Climate change correspondent Kate Newton reports.

Hurricane Melissa's explosive growth into a Category 5 storm highlights how climate change is intensifying tropical cyclones around the world. Scientists say the record-warm Caribbean waters—supercharged by rising global temperatures—acted like fuel, allowing Melissa to rapidly strengthen into a catastrophic hurricane. Warmer oceans provide more energy and moisture to storms, leading to higher wind speeds and heavier rainfall, while rising sea levels worsen storm surge and flooding impacts. Experts warn that as the planet continues to heat up, hurricanes like Melissa are likely to become more frequent, more destructive, and harder to predict, making climate adaptation and emission reductions more urgent than ever. Independent media has never been more important. Please support this channel by subscribing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 Join this channel with a membership for exclusive early access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Five Minute News is an Evergreen Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Visit us online at http://www.fiveminute.news Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the First Amendment right to free and protected speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host: Ashley InspyrzTheme: Fear → Imprint → Reclamation → CreationKey Moments & Takeaways00:00 – Welcome and setting the scene00:18 – Defining “flooding a fear”: what it is, and why it matters00:55 – The NYFA moment: freezing in front of peers and dropping lines01:46 – The “Bonnie” improvisation drop: how our nervous system stores those moments02:34 – The long-standing imprint: avoiding, apologising, doubting03:06 – Returning to the stage after 12 years: courage meets raw emotion03:42 – Dropping the line again… but staying in the tension04:32 – Choosing presence over panic: first pivot05:05 – Asking for a producer's mentorship: empowerment move05:34 – “Flooding the fear” in practice: staying in the emotion and owning the moment06:06 – Post-show reflections and light humour (agents, managers, next steps)06:44 – Integration: acting, hypnosis, movement (Pilates) and energy work07:18 – Rewriting the narrative: from “I froze” → “I felt. I owned. I transformed.”08:02 – The illusion of separation: we're not separate from what we fear, we can befriend it08:36 – Eye-contact exercise story: seeing and being seen09:22 – Instant trust and connection: bridging acting & energetic presence10:18 – From being in the story to observing the story: nervous system shift11:44 – Letting go of the memorisation terror: what if I forget again12:36 – Evidence of change: flawless performances, monologues, embodied confidence13:10 – Handling critics & online voices: boundaries, mirror talk, owning your spac14:08 – “I ain't going nowhere”: rewriting the affirmation that once kept you stuck14:56 – Affirmation choice: what your fireflies phrase really is15:34 – Failing forward: being in the game, not avoiding the game16:20 – Final message: you are the main character of your story, and fear is your ally when you let it show you where you've been hiding Resources & ActionsIf this episode resonates: reflect on one fear you've been carrying, and invite it into awareness rather than avoidance.Download the free “Wheel of Fulfillment” tool (link in YT channel) to map your next courageous step.Connect with Ashley on Instagram — @AshleyInspyrz (or whatever the handle) — share your “freeze-to-flood” story and tag her.Want to go deeper? Explore hypnosis + movement offerings via her website: formationenergetix.com. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future “Reality INspyrd” episodes.Leave a rating/review — your voice helps others find our shared journey.Share this episode with a friend who's playing small from fear, and say: it's safe to step into the light together.

Listen Ad Free https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free!

Listen Ad Free https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free!

In a week of budget talks, IMF forecasts of Inflation on the British horizon, flood risk reports and approval of solar farms, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Adam Kay, Zoe Lyons, Ria Lina and Stephen Bush to break down this weeks news.Written by Andy Zaltzman.With additional material by: Daman Bamrah, Ruth Husko, Christina Riggs and Peter Tellouche. Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxA BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

Storm Benjamin hit the UK with gale force winds causing travel disruption, and serious flooding feared. Yellow weather warnings were put in place for London, the south of England, and the east Midlands, Yorkshire and parts of Wales. The Met Office said flooding, damage to buildings and travel disruption was likely throughout the day. It comes as a new report has revealed the London boroughs most likely to be impacted by flood damage. Louis Ramirez, Managing Director and Co-founder of Flooded People is here to discuss how these weather events are becoming more common and what action should be taken to mitigate the risks. And in part two, freelance journalist Arielle Domb joins us to discuss what the 6-7 meme is and why teachers are fed up of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Dr. Josh KastmanWhen you think about Amazon, you probably picture two-day shipping, Prime Video, or that familiar brown package on your doorstep. But behind the scenes, the company has to navigate one force that doesn't follow a schedule: the weather. From hurricanes threatening delivery routes to heat waves impacting worker safety, weather impacts nearly every aspect of Amazon's operations. And at the center of it all is Dr. Josh Kastman, Amazon's Chief Meteorologist. Today, we'll explore how one of the world's biggest companies forecasts, prepares for, and adapts to the atmosphere's every move.Chapters00:00 The Role of Weather in Amazon's Operations02:56 Josh Kastman's Journey to Meteorology05:52 A Day in the Life of Amazon's Chief Meteorologist09:03 Safety First: Preparing for Severe Weather12:03 Communicating Weather Risks Effectively14:21 Break 114:53 Forecasting Tools and AI in Meteorology18:08 Community Engagement and Disaster Relief21:02 The Importance of Communication in Forecasting22:41 Break 222:42 Lessons from the Private Sector27:07 Global Weather Challenges and Solutions29:55 The Excitement of Meteorology in the Private Sector32:57 Advice for Future MeteorologistsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen Ad Free https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free!

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/14/rain-southwestern-colorado-san-juan-river-vallecito/ Today, Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane checks in from southern Colorado following a tour Wednesday of the flood-damaged areas near Vallecito Reservoir where nearly 100 homes were damaged at two destroyed on purpose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Alan GerardFrom tornado outbreaks to hurricane landfalls, few have had a front-row seat to as many high-impact weather events as Alan Gerard. After decades of service with NOAA and the National Weather Service, Alan now brings his expertise to the public through Balanced Weather, a Substack dedicated to delivering clear, measured, and science-driven weather insights. In this episode, we'll talk with Alan about the biggest changes he's seen in forecasting, the challenges of communicating severe weather without hype, and why independent weather voices are more important than ever. Whether you're a Weather Geek or just someone who wants to better understand the skies above, this conversation will offer a rare look at the intersection of science, communication, and public trust…Chapters00:00 Introduction to Alan Gerard and His Journey in Meteorology05:20 Evolution of NOAA and National Weather Service12:43 The Birth of Balanced Weather and Its Mission23:21 Challenges in Modern Weather Forecasting31:15 The Role of Independent Weather Voices33:43 Future Aspirations for Balanced WeatherSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

California is soaked — last year alone, 650 trillion pounds of rainwater fell on the state, and another powerful system is rolling in. Forecasters warn of flooding during the morning commute, especially in Malibu burn scar areas, where the LAFD is pre-positioning crews in anticipation of mudslides and debris flow. In Torrance, a shocking attack unfolded at a local school where three people were stabbed. Police arrested a former student who also claimed to have planted two pipe bombs nearby — prompting an urgent investigation and lockdowns in the area. Overseas, hope and heartbreak collided as hostages and prisoners were released after 738 days, marking the start of a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The hour wrapped with safety tips for residents in flood-prone zones — including evacuation alerts and a new alternative to sandbags: Quick Dam barriers, which activate and expand when exposed to water. 

Last time we spoke about the Battle of Taierzhuang. Following the fall of Nanjing in December 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War entered a brutal phase of attrition as Japan sought to consolidate control and press toward central China. Chinese defense prioritized key rail corridors and urban strongholds, with Xuzhou, the JinPu and Longhai lines, and the Huai River system forming crucial lifelines. By early 1938, Japanese offensives aimed to link with forces around Beijing and Nanjing and encircle Chinese positions in the Central Yangtze region, threatening Wuhan. In response, Chiang Kai-shek fortified Xuzhou and expanded defenses to deter a pincer move, eventually amassing roughly 300,000 troops along strategic lines. Taierzhuang became a focal point when Japanese divisions attempted to press south and link with northern elements. Chinese commanders Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, Tang Enbo, and Sun Lianzhong coordinated to complicate Japanese plans through offensive-defensive actions, counterattacks, and encirclement efforts. The victory, though numerically costly, thwarted immediate Japanese objectives and foreshadowed further attritional struggles ahead.   #171 The Flooding of the Yellow River Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. We last left off with a significant event during the Xuzhou campaign. Three Japanese divisions under General Itagaki Seishiro moved south to attack Taierzhuang and were met by forces commanded by Li Zongren, Sun Lianzhong, and Tang Enbo, whose units possessed a decent amount of artillery. In a two-week engagement from March 22 to April 7, the battle devolved into a costly urban warfare. Fighting was vicious, often conducted in close quarters and at night. The urban environment negated Japanese advantages in armor and artillery, allowing Chinese forces to contend on equal terms. The Chinese also disrupted Japanese logistics by resupplying their own troops and severing rear supply lines, draining Japanese ammunition, supplies, and reinforcements. By April 7, the Japanese were compelled to retreat, marking the first Chinese victory of the war. However both sides suffered heavy losses, with around 20,000 casualties on each side. In the aftermath of this rare victory, Chiang Kai-Shek pushed Tang Enbo and Li Zongren to capitalize on their success and increased deployments in the Taierzhuang theater to about 450,000 troops. Yet the Chinese Army remained hampered by fundamental problems. The parochialism that had crippled Chiang's forces over the preceding months resurfaced. Although the generals had agreed to coordinate in a war of resistance, each still prioritized the safety of his own troops, wary of Chiang's bid to consolidate power. Li Zongren, for example, did not deploy his top Guangxi provincial troops at Taierzhuang and sought to shift most of the fighting onto Tang Enbo's forces. Chiang's colleagues were mindful of the fates of Han Fuju of Shandong and Zhang Xueliang of Manchuria: Han was executed for refusing to fight, while Zhang, after allowing Chiang to reduce the size of his northeastern army, ended up under house arrest. They were right to distrust Chiang. He believed, after all, that provincial armies should come under a unified national command, which he would lead. From a national-unity perspective, his aspiration was not unreasonable. But it fed suspicion among other military leaders that participation in the anti-Japanese war would dilute their power. The divided nature of the command also hindered logistics, making ammunition and food supplies to the front unreliable and easy to cut off. By late April the Chinese had reinforced the Xuzhou area to between 450,000-600,000 to capitalize on their victory. However these armies were plagued with command and control issues. Likewise the Japanese licked their wounds and reinforced the area to roughly 400,000, with fresh troops and supplies flowing in from Tianjin and Nanjing. The Japanese continued with their objective of encircling Chinese forces. The North China Area Army comprised four divisions and two infantry brigades drawn from the Kwantung Army, while the Central China Expeditionary Army consisted of three divisions and the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions along with motorized support units. The 5th Tank Battalion supported the 3rd Infantry Division as it advanced north along the railway toward Xuzhou. Fighting to the west, east, and north of Xuzhou was intense, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. On 18 April, the Japanese advanced southward toward Pizhou. Tang Enbo's 20th Army Corps, together with the 2nd, 22nd, 46th, and 59th corps, resisted fiercely, culminating in a stalemate by the end of April. The 60th Corps of the Yunnan Army engaged the Japanese 10th Division at Yuwang Mountain for nearly a month, repelling multiple assaults. By the time it ceded its position to the Guizhou 140th Division and withdrew on 15 May, the corps had sustained losses exceeding half of its forces. Simultaneously, the Japanese conducted offensives along both banks of the Huai River, where Chinese defenders held out for several weeks. Nevertheless, Japanese artillery and aerial bombardment gradually tilted the balance, allowing the attackers to seize Mengcheng on 9 May and Hefei on 14 May. From there, the southern flank split into two parts: one force moved west and then north to cut off the Longhai Railway escape route from Xuzhou, while another division moved directly north along the railway toward Suxian, just outside Xuzhou. Simultaneously, to the north, Japanese units from north China massed at Jining and began moving south beyond Tengxian. Along the coast, an amphibious landing was made at Lianyungang to reinforce troops attacking from the east. The remaining portions of Taierzhuang were captured in May, a development symbolically significant to Tokyo. On 17 May, Japanese artillery further tightened the noose around Xuzhou, striking targets inside the city.  To preserve its strength, the Nationalist government ordered the abandonment of Xuzhou and directed its main forces to break out toward northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui, and eastern Henan. To deter the Japanese army's rapid westward advance and penetration into northern Henan and western Shandong, many leading military and political figures within the Nationalist government proposed breaching dams over the Yellow River to delay the offensive, a strategy that would have been highly advantageous to the Nationalist forces at the time. Chiang Kai-shek vetoed the proposal outright, insisting that the Nationalist army could still resist. He understood that with tens of millions of Chinese lives at stake and a sliver of hope remaining, the levee plan must not be undertaken. Then a significant battle broke out at Lanfeng. Chiang also recognized that defeat could allow the elite Japanese mechanized divisions, the 14th, 16th, and 10th, to advance directly toward Zhengzhou. If Zhengzhou fell, the Japanese mechanized forces on the plains could advance unimpeded toward Tongguan. Their southward push would threaten Xi'an, Xiangfan, and Nanyang, directly jeopardizing the southwest's rear defenses. Concurrently, the Japanese would advance along the Huai River north of the Dabie Mountains toward Wuhan, creating a pincer with operations along the Yangtze River.  Now what followed was arguably the most important and skillful Chinese maneuver of the Xuzhou campaign: a brilliantly executed strategic retreat to the south and west across the Jinpu railway line. On May 15, Li Zongren, in consultation with Chiang Kai-shek, decided to withdraw from Xuzhou and focus on an escape plan. The evacuation of civilians and military personnel began that day. Li ordered troops to melt into the countryside and move south and west at night, crossing the Jinpu Railway and splitting into four groups that would head west. The plan was to regroup in the rugged Dabie Mountains region to the south and prepare for the defense of Wuhan. Li's generals departed reluctantly, having held out for so long; Tang Enbo was said to have wept. Under cover of night, about forty divisions, over 200,000 men, marched out of Japanese reach in less than a week. A critical moment occurred on May 18, when fog and a sandstorm obscured the retreating troops as they crossed the Jinpu Railway. By May 21, Li wired Chiang Kai-shek to report that the withdrawal was complete. He mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite units, such as the 74th Army, withdrawn from Xuzhou and transferred directly to Lanfeng, with a resolute intent to “burn their boats.” The force engaged the Japanese in a decisive battle at Lanfeng, aiming to secure the last line of defense for the Yellow River, a position carrying the lives of millions of Chinese civilians. Yet Chiang Kai-shek's strategy was not universally understood by all participating generals, who regarded it as akin to striking a rock with an egg. For the battle of Lanfeng the Chinese mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite forces, comprising 14 divisions totaling over 150,000 men. Among these, the 46th Division of the 27th Army, formerly the Central Training Brigade and the 36th, 88th, and 87th Divisions of the 71st Army were German-equipped. Additionally, the 8th Army, the Tax Police Corps having been reorganized into the Ministry of Finance's Anti-Smuggling Corps, the 74th Army, and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps, the new 1st Army, equipped with the 8th Division were elite Nationalist troops that had demonstrated strong performance in the battle of Shanghai and the battle of Nanjing, and were outfitted with advanced matériel. However, these so-called “elite” forces were heavily degraded during the campaigns in Shanghai and Nanjing. The 46th Division and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps sustained casualties above 85% in Nanjing, while the 88th and 87th Divisions suffered losses of up to 90%. The 74th Army and the 36th Division also endured losses exceeding 75%. Their German-made equipment incurred substantial losses; although replenishment occurred, inventories resembled roughly a half-German and half-Chinese mix. With very limited heavy weapons and a severe shortage of anti-tank artillery, they could not effectively match the elite Japanese regiments. Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps maintained its national equipment via a close relationship with Chiang Kai-shek. In contrast, the 74th Army, after fighting in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, suffered heavy casualties, and the few German weapons it had were largely destroyed at Nanjing, leaving it to rely on a mix of domestically produced and Hanyang-made armaments. The new recruits added to each unit largely lacked combat experience, with nearly half of the intake having received basic training. The hardest hit was Li Hanhun's 64th Army, established less than a year prior and already unpopular within the Guangdong Army. Although classified as one of the three Type A divisions, the 155th, 156th, and 187th Divisions, it was equipped entirely with Hanyang-made firearms. Its direct artillery battalion possessed only about 20 older mortars and three Type 92 infantry guns, limiting its heavy firepower to roughly that of a Japanese battalion. The 195th Division and several miscellaneous units were even less prominent, reorganized from local militias and lacking Hanyang rifles. Additionally, three batches of artillery purchased from the Soviet Union arrived in Lanzhou via Xinjiang between March and June 1938. Except for the 52nd Artillery Regiment assigned to the 200th Division, the other artillery regiments had recently received their weapons and were still undergoing training. The 200th Division, had been fighting awhile for in the Xuzhou area and incurred heavy casualties, was still in training and could only deploy its remaining tank battalion and armored vehicle company. The tank battalion was equipped with T-26 light tanks and a small number of remaining British Vickers tanks, while the armored vehicle company consisted entirely of Italian Fiat CV33 armored cars. The disparity in numbers was substantial, and this tank unit did not participate in the battle.  As for the Japanese, the 14th Division was an elite Type A formation. Originally organized with four regiments totaling over 30,000 men, the division's strength was later augmented. Doihara's 14th Division received supplements, a full infantry regiment and three artillery regiments, to prevent it from being surrounded and annihilated, effectively transforming the unit into a mobile reinforced division. Consequently, the division's mounted strength expanded to more than 40,000 personnel, comprising five infantry regiments and four artillery regiments. The four artillery regiments, the 24th Artillery Regiment, the 3rd Independence Mountain Artillery Regiment, the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, and the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, possessed substantial heavy firepower, including 150mm heavy howitzers and 105mm long-range field cannons, placing them far in excess of the Nationalist forces at Lanfeng. In addition, both the 14th and later the 16th Divisions commanded tank regiments with nearly 200 light and medium tanks each, while Nationalist forces were markedly short of anti-tank artillery. At the same time, the Nationalist Air Force, though it had procured more than 200 aircraft of various types from the Soviet Union, remained heavily reliant on Soviet aid-to-China aircraft, amounting to over 100 machines, and could defend only a few cities such as Wuhan, Nanchang, and Chongqing. In this context, Japanese forces effectively dominated the Battle of Lanfeng. Moreover, reports indicate that the Japanese employed poison gas on the battlefield, while elite Nationalist troops possessed only a limited number of gas masks, creating a stark disparity in chemical warfare preparedness. Despite these disparities, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist government were initially unaware of the updated strength and composition of the Doihara Division. Faced with constrained options, Chiang chose to press ahead with combat operations. On May 12, 1939, after crossing the Yellow River, the IJA 14th Division continued its southward advance toward Lanfeng. The division's objective was to sever the Longhai Railway, disrupt the main Nationalist retreat toward Zhengzhou, and seize Zhengzhou itself. By May 15, the division split into two columns at Caoxian and moved toward key nodes on the Longhai Line. Major General Toyotomi Fusatarou led two infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, and one artillery regiment in the main assault toward Kaocheng with the aim of directly capturing Lanfeng. Doihara led three infantry regiments and three artillery regiments toward Neihuang and Minquan, threatening Guide. In response, the Nationalist forces concentrated along the railway from Lanfeng to Guide, uniting Song Xilian's 71st Army, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army, Yu Jishi's 74th Army, Li Hanhun's 64th Army, and Huang Jie's 8th Army. From May 15 to 17, the Fengjiu Brigade, advancing toward Lanfeng, met stubborn resistance near Kaocheng from roughly five divisions under Song Xilian and was forced to shift its effort toward Yejigang and Neihuang. The defense near Neihuang, including Shen Ke's 106th Division and Liang Kai's 195th Division, ultimately faltered, allowing Doihara's division to seize Neihuang, Yejigang, Mazhuangzhai, and Renheji. Nevertheless, the Nationalist forces managed to contain the Japanese advance east and west of the area, preventing a complete encirclement. Chiang Kai-shek ordered Cheng Qian, commander-in-chief of the 1st War Zone, to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 14th Division. The deployment plan mapped three routes: the Eastern Route Army, under Li Hanhun, would include the 74th Army, the 155th Division of the 64th Army, a brigade of the 88th Division, and a regiment of the 87th Division, advancing westward from Guide); the Western Route Army, commanded by Gui Yongqing, would comprise the 27th Army, the 71st Army, the 61st Division, and the 78th Division, advancing eastward from Lanfeng; and the Northern Route Army, formed by Sun Tongxuan's 3rd Army and Shang Zhen's 20th Army, was to cut off the enemy's retreat to the north bank of the Yellow River near Dingtao, Heze, Dongming, and Kaocheng, while attacking the Doihara Division from the east, west, and north to annihilate it in a single decisive operation.  On May 21, the Nationalist Army mounted a full-scale offensive. Yu Jishi's 74th Army, commanded by Wang Yaowu's 51st Division, joined a brigade of Song Xilian's 71st Army, led by the 88th Division, and drove the Japanese forces at Mazhuangzhai into retreat, capturing Neihuang and Renheji. The main Japanese force, more than 6,000 strong, withdrew southwest to Yangjiji and Shuangtaji. Song Xilian, commanding Shen Fazao's 87th Division, launched a sharp assault on Yejigang (Yifeng). The Japanese abandoned the stronghold, but their main body continued advancing toward Yangjiji, with some units retreating to Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. On May 23, Song Xilian's 71st Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army enveloped and annihilated enemy forces at Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. That evening they seized Ximaoguzhai, Yangzhuang, and Helou, eliminating more than a thousand Japanese troops. The Japanese troops at Donggangtou fled toward Lanfeng. Meanwhile, Gui Yongqing's forces were retreating through Lanfeng. His superior strength, Jiang Fusheng's 36th Division, Li Liangrong's 46th Division, Zhong Song's 61st Division, Li Wen's 78th Division, Long Muhan's 88th Division, and Shen Ke's 106th Division—had held defensive positions along the Lanfeng–Yangji line. Equipped with a tank battalion and armored vehicle company commanded by Qiu Qingquan, they blocked the enemy's westward advance and awaited Japanese exhaustion. However, under the Japanese offensive, Gui Yongqing's poor command led to the loss of Maji and Mengjiaoji, forcing the 27th Army to retreat across its entire front. Its main force fled toward Qixian and Kaifeng. The Japanese seized the opportunity to capture Quxingji, Luowangzhai, and Luowang Railway Station west of Lanfeng. Before retreating, Gui Yongqing ordered Long Muhan to dispatch a brigade to replace the 106th Division in defending Lanfeng, while he directed the 106th Division to fall back to Shiyuan. Frightened by the enemy, Long Muhan unilaterally withdrew his troops on the night of the 23rd, leaving Lanfeng undefended. On the 24th, Japanese troops advancing westward from Donggangtou entered Lanfeng unopposed and, relying on well-fortified fortifications, held their ground until reinforcements arrived. In the initial four days, the Nationalist offensive failed to overwhelm the Japanese, who escaped encirclement and annihilation. The four infantry and artillery regiments and one cavalry regiment on the Japanese side managed to hold the line along Lanfeng, Luowangzhai, Sanyizhai, Lanfengkou, Quxingji, Yang'erzhai, and Chenliukou on the south bank of the Yellow River, offering stubborn resistance. The Longhai Railway was completely cut off. Chiang Kai-shek, furious upon hearing the news while stationed in Zhengzhou, ordered the execution of Long Muhan, commander of the 88th Division, to restore military morale. He also decided to consolidate Hu Zongnan's, Li Hanhun's, Yu Jishi's, Song Xilian's, and Gui Yongqing's troops into the 1st Corps, with Xue Yue as commander-in-chief. On the morning of May 25, they launched a determined counterattack on Doihara's 14th Division. Song Xilian personally led the front lines on May 24 to rally the defeated 88th Division.  Starting on May 25, after three days of intense combat, Li Hanhun's 64th Army advanced to seize Luowang Station and Luowangzhai, while Song Xilian's 71st Army retook Lanfeng City, temporarily reopening the Longhai Line to traffic. At Sanyi Village, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army captured a series of outlying positions, including Yang'eyao, Chailou, Cailou, Hezhai, Xuelou, and Baowangsi. Despite these gains, more than 6,000 Japanese troops offered stubborn resistance. During the fighting, Ji Hongru, commander of the 302nd Regiment, was seriously wounded but continued to fight, shouting, “Don't worry about my death! Brothers, fight on!” He ultimately died a heroic death from his wounds. By May 27, Chiang Kai-shek, concerned that the forces had not yet delivered a decisive victory at Lanfeng, personally reprimanded the participating generals and ordered them to completely encircle and annihilate the enemy west of Lanfeng by the following day. He warned that if the opportunity was missed and Japanese reinforcements arrived, the position could be endangered. The next day, Chiang Kai-shek issued another telegram, urging Cheng Qian's First War Zone and all participating units to press the offensive. The telegram allegedly had this in it “It will forever be a laughingstock in the history of warfare.” Meanwhile on the other side, to prevent the annihilation of Doihara's 14th Division, the elite Japanese 16th Division and the 3rd Mixed Brigade, totaling over 40,000 men, launched a westward assault from Dangshan, capturing Yucheng on May 26. They then began probing the outskirts of Guide. Huang Jie's Eighth Army, responsible for the defense, withdrew to the outskirts of Guide that evening. On May 28, Huang Jie again led his troops on his own initiative, retreating to Liuhe and Kaifeng, leaving only the 187th Division to defend Zhuji Station and Guide City. At dawn on May 29, Peng Linsheng, commander of the 187th Division, also withdrew his troops, leaving Guide a deserted city. The Japanese occupied Guide without a fight. The loss of Guide dramatically shifted the tide of the war. Threatened on the flanks by the Japanese 16th Division, the Nationalist forces were forced onto the defensive. On May 28, the Japanese 14th Division concentrated its forces to counterattack Gui Yongqing's troops, but they were defeated again, allowing the Japanese to stabilize their position. At the same time, the fall of Shangqiu compelled Xue Yue's corps to withdraw five divisions to block the enemy in Shangqiu, and the Nationalist Army shifted to a defensive posture with the 14th Division holding Sanyizhai and Quxingji. To the north of the battlefield, the Japanese 4th Mixed Brigade, numbering over 10,000 men, was preparing to force a crossing of the Yellow River in order to join with the nearby 14th Division. More seriously, the 10th Division, together with its 13th Mixed Brigade and totaling more than 40,000 men, had captured Woyang and Bozhou on the Henan-Anhui border and was rapidly encircling eastern Henan. By the time of the Battle of Lanfeng, Japanese forces had deployed more than 100,000 troops, effectively surrounding the Nationalist army. On May 31, the First War Zone decided to withdraw completely, and the Battle of Lanfeng ended in defeat for the Nationalists, forcing Chiang Kai-shek to authorize diverting the Yellow River embankment to relieve pressure. The consequence was a deteriorating strategic situation, as encirclement tightened and reinforcement options dwindled, driving a retreat from the Lanfeng front. The National Army suffered more than 67,000 casualties, killed and wounded more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers, Lanfeng was lost, and Zhengzhou was in danger.  As in Nanjing, this Chinese army might have lived to fight another day, but the effect on Xuzhou itself was horrific. The city had endured Japanese bombardment since August 1937, and the population's mood swung between cautious hope and utter despair. In March, Du Zhongyuan visited Xuzhou. Before he left Wuhan, friends told him that “the city was desolate and the people were terrified, all the inhabitants of Xuzhou were quietly getting on with their business … sometimes it was even calmer than Wuhan.” The Australian journalist Rhodes Farmer recalled a similar image in a book published at war's end, noting the “ordinary townsfolk who became wardens, fire-fighters and first-aid workers during the raid and then went back to their civil jobs.” Yet the mid-May departure of Nationalist troops left the city and its outskirts at the mercy of an angry Imperial Army. Bombing continued through the final days of battle, and a single raid on May 14, 1938 killed 700 people. Around Xuzhou, buildings and bridges were destroyed—some by retreating Chinese forces, some by advancing Japanese troops. Taierzhuang, the scene of the earlier iconic defense, was utterly destroyed. Canadian Jesuits who remained in Xuzhou after its fall recorded that more than a third of the houses were razed, and most of the local population had fled in terror. In rural areas around the city, massacres were repeatedly reported, many witnessed by missionaries. Beyond the atrocities of the Japanese, locals faced banditry in the absence of law enforcement, and vital agricultural work such as planting seed ground to a halt. The loss of Xuzhou was both strategic and symbolic. It dealt a severe blow to Chiang's attempt to hold central China and to control regional troop movements. Morale, which Taierzhuang had briefly boosted, was battered again though not extinguished. The fall signaled that the war would be long, and that swift victory against Japan was no longer likely. Mao Zedong's Yan'an base, far to the northwest, grasped the meaning of defeat there. In May 1938 he delivered one of his most celebrated lectures, “On Protracted War,” chiding those who had over-optimistically claimed the Xuzhou campaign could be a quasi-decisive victory and arguing that, after Taierzhuang, some had become “giddy.” Mao insisted that China would ultimately prevail, yet he warned that it could not be won quickly, and that the War of Resistance would be protracted. In the meantime, the development of guerrilla warfare remained an essential piece of the long-term strategy that the Communist armies would pursue in north China. Yet the loss of Xuzhou did not necessarily portend a long war; it could, instead, presage a war that would be terrifyingly short. By spring 1938 the Chinese defenders were desperate. There was a real danger that the entire war effort could collapse, and the Nationalist governments' notable success as protectors of a shrinking “Free China” lay in avoiding total disaster. Government propaganda had successfully portrayed a plan beyond retreat to foreign observers, yet had Tokyo captured Wuhan in the spring, the Chinese Army would have had to withdraw at speed, reinforcing perceptions of disintegration. Western governments were unlikely to intervene unless convinced it was in their interests. Within the Nationalist leadership, competing instincts persisted. The government pursued welfare measures for the people in the midst of a massive refugee relief effort, the state and local organizations, aided by the International Red Cross, housed large numbers of refugees in 1937–1938. Yet there was a harsher strain within policy circles, with some officials willing to sacrifice individual lives for strategic or political ends as the Japanese threat intensified. Throughout central China, the Yellow River, China's “Sorrow”, loomed as the dominant geographic force shaping history. The loess-laden river, notorious for floods and shifting channels, was banked by massive dikes near Zhengzhou, exactly along the line the Japanese would traverse toward Wuhan. Using the river as a military instrument was discussed as a drastic option: Chiang and Cheng Qian's First War Zone contemplated diverting or breaching the dikes to halt or slow the Japanese advance, a measure that could buy time but would unleash enormous civilian suffering. The idea dated back to 1887 floods that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and even in 1935 Alexander von Falkenhausen had warned that the Yellow River could become the final line of defense. In 1938 Chiang, recognizing the futility of defeating the Japanese by conventional means at Zhengzhou, considered unleashing the river's force if necessary to impede the invaders. The political and strategic calculus was stark: protect central China and Wuhan, even if it required drastic and morally fraught measures. A more humane leader might have hesitated to break the dikes and spare the dams, allowing the Japanese to take Wuhan. But Chiang Kai-shek believed that if the dikes were not breached and Wuhan fell within days, the Nationalist government might be unable to relocate to Chongqing in time and would likely surrender, leaving Japan in control of almost all of China. Some have compared the choice to France's surrender in June 1940, underscoring that Chiang's decision came during the country's most terrifying assault, with Chinese forces much weaker and less trained than their European counterparts. The dilemma over whether to break the Yellow River dikes grew out of desperation. Chiang ultimately ordered General Wei Rulin to blow the dike that held the Yellow River in central Henan. There was no doubt about the consequences: floods would inundate vast areas of central China, creating a waterlogged barrier that would halt the Japanese advance. Yet for the plan to succeed, it had to be carried out quickly, and the government could offer no public warning in case the Japanese detected it and accelerated their movement. Xiong Xianyu, chief of staff in the 8th Division at the time, recorded the urgency of those hours in his diary. The Japanese were already on the north bank of the Yellow River, briefly delayed when the Chinese army blew up the railway bridge across the river. The destruction of the dikes was the next step: if the area became a sea of mud, there would be no way the Japanese could even attempt to reconstruct the bridge. Blasting the dikes proved easier in theory than in practice. Holding back such a massive body of water required substantial engineering, dams thick and well fortified. The army made its first attempts to blow the dike at the small town of Zhaokou between June 4 and 6, 1938, but the structure proved too durable; another nearby attempt failed as well. Hour by hour, the Japanese moved closer. Division commander Jiang Zaizhen asked Xiong Xianyu for his opinion on where they might breach the dams. Xiong wrote “I discussed the topography, and said that two places, Madukou and Huayuankou, were both possible.” But Madukou was too close to Zhaokou, where the breach had already failed, presenting a danger that the Japanese might reach it very soon. The village of Huayuankou, however, lay farther away and on a bend in the river: “To give ourselves enough time, Huayuankou would be best.” At first, the soldiers treated the task as a military engineering assignment, an “exciting” one in Xiong's words. Xiong and Wei Rulin conducted their first site inspection after dark, late on June 6. The surroundings offered a deceptive calm: Xiong recounted “The wind blew softly, and the river water trickled pleasantly.” Yet gauging the water level proved difficult, hampered by murky moonlight and burned-out flashlights. They spent the night in their car to determine precisely where to break the dike as soon as day broke. But daylight seemed to bring home the consequences of what they planned to do, and the soldiers grew increasingly anxious. Wang Songmei, commander of the 2nd Regiment, addressed the workers about to breach the dike: “My brothers, this plan will be of benefit to our country and our nation, and will lessen the harm that is being done to the people.In the future, you'll find good wives and have plenty of children.” Wang's words were meant to reassure the men of the political necessity of their actions and that fate would not, in the traditional Chinese sense, deny them a family because of the enormity of their deeds. General Wei confirmed that Huayuankou was the right spot, and on June 8 the work began, with about 2,000 men taking part. The Nationalist government was eager to ensure rapid progress. Xiong recorded that the “highest authorities”,, kept making telephone calls from Wuhan to check on progress. In addition, the party sent performers to sing and play music to bolster the workers' spirits. Senior General Shang Zhen announced to the laborers that if they breached the dam by midnight on June 8, each would receive 2,000 yuan; if they achieved it by six the next morning, they would still be paid 1,000 yuan. They needed encouragement, for the diggers had no artificial assistance. After the initial failures at Zhaokou, Wei's troops relied entirely on manual labor, with no explosives used. Yet the workers earned their payments, and the dike was breached in just a few hours. On the morning of June 9, Xiong recorded a rapid shift in mood: the atmosphere became tense and solemn. Initially, the river flow was modest, but by about 1:00 p.m. the water surged “fiercely,” flowing “like 10,000 horses.” Looking toward the distance, Xiong felt as though a sea had appeared before him. “My heart ached,” he wrote. The force of the water widened the breach, and a deadly stream hundreds of feet wide comprising about three-quarters of the river's volume—rushed southeast across the central Chinese plains. “We did this to stop the enemy,” Xiong reflected, “so we didn't regret the huge sacrifice, as it was for a greater victory.” Yet he and the other soldiers also saw a grim reality: the troops who had taken on the task of destroying the railway bridge and the dikes could not bear the flood's consequences alone. It would be up to the government and the people of the nation to provide relief for the countless households uprooted by the flood. In fact, the previous evening Commander Jiang had telephoned to request assistance for those flooded out of their homes.   Wei, Xiong, and their troops managed to escape by wooden boats. Hundreds of thousands of farmers trapped in the floods were far less fortunate. Time magazine's correspondent Theodore White reported on the devastation a few days later “Last week “The Ungovernable” [i.e. the Yellow River] lashed out with a flood which promised to change not only its own course but also the course of the whole Sino-Japanese War. Severe breaks in the dikes near Kaifeng sent a five-foot wall of water fanning out over a 500-squaremile area, spreading death. Toll from Yellow River floods is not so much from quick drowning as from gradual disease and starvation. The river's filth settles ankle-deep on the fields, mothering germs, smothering crops. Last week, about 500,000 peasants were driven from 2,000 communities to await rescue or death on whatever dry ground they could find”. Chiang's government had committed one of the grossest acts of violence against its own people, and he knew that the publicity could be a damaging blow to its reputation. He decided to divert blame by announcing that the dike had been broken, but blaming the breach on Japanese aerial bombing. The Japanese, in turn, fiercely denied having bombed the dikes. White's reporting reflected the immediate response of most foreigners; having heard about the atrocities at Nanjing and Xuzhou, he was disinclined to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, at the very time that the Yellow River was flooding central China, the Japanese were heavily bombing Guangzhou, causing thousands of casualties. To White, the Japanese counterargument—that the Chinese themselves were responsible, seemed unthinkable: “These accusations, foreign observers thought, were absurd. For the Chinese to check the Japanese advance at possible sacrifice of half a million lives would be a monstrous pyrrhic victory. Besides, dike-cutting is the blackest of Chinese crimes, and the Chinese Army would hardly risk universal censure for slight tactical gains.” But, of course, that is exactly what they had done. During the war the Nationalists never admitted that they, not the Japanese, had breached the dikes. But the truth quickly became widely known. Just a month later, on July 19, US Ambassador Johnson noted, in private communication, that the “Chinese blocked the advance on Chengchow [Zhengzhou] by breaching the Yellow River dikes.” Eventually some 54,000 square kilometers of central China were inundated by the floods. If the Japanese had committed such an act, it would have been remembered as the prime atrocity of the war, dwarfing even the Nanjing Massacre or the Chongqing air raids in terms of the number of people who suffered. Accurate statistics were impossible to obtain in the midst of wartime chaos and disaster, but in 1948 figures issued by the Nationalists themselves suggested enormous casualties: for the three affected provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, the number of dead was put at 844,489, with some 4.8 million becoming refugees. More recent studies place the numbers lower, but still estimate the dead at around 500,000, and 3–5 million refugees. In contrast, the devastating May 1939 air raids on Chongqing killed some thousands. Xiong reflected in his diary that the breaching of the Yellow River dikes was a sacrifice for a greater victory. Even to some Japanese it seemed that the tactic had been successful in the short term: the first secretary at the US Embassy in Wuhan reported that the flood had “completely checked the Japanese advance on Chengchow” and had prevented them taking Wuhan by rail. Instead, he predicted, the attack was likely to come by water and along the north shore of the Yangtze. Supporters of the dike breaches could argue that these acts saved central China and Chiang's headquarters in Wuhan for another five months. The Japanese were indeed prevented from advancing along the Long–Hai railway toward Wuhan. In the short term the floods did what the Nationalists wanted. But the flooding was a tactic, a breathing space, and did not solve the fundamental problem: China's armies needed strong leadership and rapid reform. Some historians suggest that Chiang's decision was pointless anyway, since it merely delayed the inevitable. Theodore White was right: no strategic advantage could make the deaths of 500,000 of China's own people a worthwhile price to pay. However, Chiang Kai-shek's decision can be partly explained, though not excused, by the context. We can now look back at the actions of the Nationalists and argue that they should not have held on to Wuhan, or that their actions in breaching the dam were unjustifiable in the extreme. But for Chiang, in the hot summer of 1938, it seemed his only hope was to deny Japan as much of China for as long as possible and create the best possible circumstances for a long war from China's interior, while keeping the world's attention on what Japan was doing. The short delay won by the flooding was itself part of the strategy. In the struggle raging within the soul of the Nationalist Party, the callous, calculating streak had won, for the time being. The breaking of the dikes marked a turning point as the Nationalists committed an act whose terrible consequences they would eventually have to expiate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In late 1937, China's frontline trembled as Japanese forces closed in on Wuhan. Chiang Kai-shek faced a brutal choice: endure costly defenses or unleash a desperate gamble. Chiangs' radical plan emerged: breach the Yellow River dikes at Huayuankou to flood central China, buying time. The flood roared, washing villages and futures away, yet slowing the enemy. The battlefield paused, while a nation weighed courage against civilian suffering, victory against devastating costs.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 4821: Trump Flooding The Zone And Breaking The Media