Message received by Christina
on July 16, 2000 included the following:

“Calamities will occur until a particular level will be reached at which people could no longer call them ‘natural calamities’ or things that would just happen. They would finally know the calamities weren’t natural when they would eventually reach a peak level. Then, people would begin to become aware there was something very wrong.”

At first people will try to explain everything away as ‘natural’ calamities or just ‘weird happenings.’ They will look to science to offer explanations. They will describe the storms, etc. as ‘freak.’ They will not want to accept that the sins of the world are bringing all this upon us. Christina saw a growing fear in people, as the events will escalate beyond anything previously experienced. They will then know that it is not natural.
 

Myrtle Beach tornado damages estimated at $8 million

Click to see

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (July 7, 2001 8:06 p.m. EDT) - Several people were injured when a tornado that had formed over the ocean as a waterspout moved ashore into this busy beach resort's business district, destroying mobile homes and overturning buses.  Damage from the twister that struck on Friday was estimated at about $8 million, said Myrtle Beach public information officer Mark Kruea.

Most of the damage was near the Pavilion, a well-known amusement complex along the shore. 

Gov. Jim Hodges toured the damaged area Saturday and said his emergency management team would evaluate whether the area qualifies for federal disaster status. 

"It's very unusual to have a tornado touch down in Myrtle Beach," Hodges said. "We are thankful that no one was killed."

The storm knocked out power to about 4,000 residences and businesses, but damaged only 150 of the city's 60,000 hotel rooms, he said. 

"The power lines being down causing the traffic signals not to work may be our biggest headache at this point," said Kruea, estimating that 400,000 people were in town for the Fourth of July weekend. 

The tornado popped out car windows, destroyed several mobile homes and overturned about two dozen recreational vehicles at camping areas. Two tour buses overturned, said police Lt. David Knipes. 

The tornado started over the ocean, then moved ashore and traveled along Ocean Boulevard, the main street along the beach. 

"It was just pretty amazing to watch beach chairs and umbrellas spinning around in a tornado," said 34-year-old Robert Myles. 

At Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, nine people were treated for minor injuries, said nursing supervisor Joanne Lee.

Monster flash flood kills 30 in northwest China
BEIJING (Reuters) - A monster flash flood, the biggest in 100 years in the mountainous area of China's northwestern province of Gansu, has killed at least 30 people, a local official said.

The flash flood, which left 16 people missing, was triggered by just 40 minutes of torrential rain on Tuesday and was of a size and ferocity "not seen in the last century", an official with the Min county government told Reuters.

"Min county is susceptible to sudden summer floods every year, but the scale of this flood was frightful," he said.

The semi-official China News Service said the flood had waves up to six metres (20 feet) high and swept away dozens of houses, cut communications and destroyed roads.

The official said it had caused an estimated 40 million yuan (3.5 million pounds) in direct economic losses to the moutainous county, some 300 km (190 miles) south of the provincial capital of Lanzhou.

The disaster had prompted the State Council, China's cabinet, to dispatch a relief team consisting of high-ranking officials to oversee rescue and rebuilding work, the China News Service said.