Hurricane Ike Aftermath

Hurricane Ike is responsible for killing about 40 people and causing mass devastation in the Galveston area and blew out windows in Houston office buildings.

A curfew is still in effect in the Galveston coastal areas and residents are only allowed into the area to look and then must leave the area.

Ike also damaged some oil platforms in the Gulf, and according to Chevron toppled several of their platforms, though damage estimates to the platforms was said to be less than first thought.

Adding to other difficulties the rescue and cleanup crews face, a tiger has been spotted roaming the streets. It somehow escaped its enclosure at an exotic pets center in Crystal Beach.

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FDA Issues Press RElease: Do Not Use Infant Formula Manufactured In China

The FDA Issued a Press Release today warning consumers not to use baby formula made in China.

The complete release and a link can be viewed below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2008

Media Inquiries: Judy Leon, 301-827-3314 or 301-696-8921 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA Issues Health Information Advisory on Infant Formula

In response to reports of contaminated milk-based infant formula manufactured in China, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today is issuing a Health Information Advisory. This is to assure the American public that there is no known threat of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to sell infant formula in the United States. Although no Chinese manufacturers of infant formula have fulfilled the requirements to sell infant formula in the United States, FDA officials are investigating whether or not infant formula manufactured in China is being sold in specialty markets which serve the Asian community.

The FDA is advising caregivers not to feed infant formula manufactured in China to infants. This should be replaced with an appropriate infant formula manufactured in the United States as mentioned below. Individuals should contact their health care professional if they have questions regarding their infant’s health or if they note changes in their infant’s health status.

The FDA began investigating the reports of contamination immediately and received information from the companies who manufacture infant formula for the American market that they are not importing infant formula or source materials from China. The following manufacturers have met the necessary FDA requirements for marketing milk-based infant formulas in the United States: Abbott Nutritionals, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Nestle USA, PBM Nutritionals, and Solus Products LLC. Also, one manufacturer, SHS/Nutricia, Liverpool, England, markets an amino acid based exempt infant formula that does not contain any milk-derived ingredients.

We are asking state officials to work with the Agency to assist with the removal of any Chinese infant formula found on store shelves, and to warn members of the Asian community to avoid using Chinese manufactured infant formula.

It has been reported that a number of infants in China who have consumed Chinese manufactured infant formula are suffering from kidney stones, a condition which is rare in infants. The Chinese manufactured infant formula may be contaminated with melamine. Melamine artificially increases the protein profile of milk and can causes kidney diseases such as those seen in these Chinese infants.

FDA requires that all infant formula manufacturers register with the Agency and adhere to specific labeling and nutritional requirements. All properly registered infant formula manufacturers marketing infant formula in the United States undergo an annual inspection of their production facilities.

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Ike Strengthens, May become Major Hurricane

Ike strengthens and may become a Category 3 Hurricane just prior to landfall.

Landfall is predicted at around 1-3:00 PM local time, and expected to hit Galveston, TX.

Storm surge expected to be 15-20 feet high,and may reach 25 feet in some spots depending on where the storm hits. Mandatory evacuations are under way.

Geographically the storm is also larger in size than Katrina.

Currently a freighter has become stranded in high winds and 50ft seas. The Coast Guard is in constant contact with the crew as of this writing.

Here are some Webcams located in Galveston.

Official Galveston website.

Video of weather report talking of catastrophic event.

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Hurricane Ike Heads Into Gulf After Hitting Cuba

Hurricane Ike, turns deadly as it continued to rip through the Caribbean killing upwards of 100 people as it heads into the warm waters of the Gulf.

Current tracking models have the hurricane making landfall near Corpus Christi Texas, with the outer bands arriving at around 10:00 - 11:00 AM Friday morning.

Video of damage from Ike so far.

What would make you evacuate?

Prepare before the storm.

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Hezbollah Operating Subs Smuggling Weapons And Drugs Into United States

Photo by Lalla Ali

Hezbollah has been operating an increasingly large number of mini-subs in the Caribbean and have been spotted heading near Souther and Western areas of the United States.

The Navy has stepped up patrols of the areas suspecting they are smuggling weapons into the United States, and the U.S. Cost Gard has encountered 27 such vessels.

The Navy is reporting that the number of these subs being operated by Hezbollah is up from about three in 2006 to a reported 30 in 2007.

This is a very real threat, especially since Hezbollah receives funding and orders directly from Iran. It could be a cause for extreme concern if Israel or the United States does take some type of military action against the regime or its nuclear facilities as some are suggesting is a possibility.

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