After a blazing August, we have finally reached September! Autumn colored leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and cooler weather are on our horizon. We just have to make it to the official start of fall on September 21. While you are waiting for the best season of the year, read this week’s KICs. This week we have a landslide in Kenai Fjord National Park, the West Nile Virus in Fulton County, and Russians using American media to sway this year’s election.
National – Landslide in Kenai Fjords National Park creates 55-foot tsunami
A 55-foot tsunami hit Kenai Fjords National Park last month. It is believed that the landslide occurred because of a significant rain event that happened that week.
The tsunami did not result in any reported fatalities or injuries, but did move a Park Service campground box about 20 feet and inflicted minor damage to a privately-owned boardwalk. The landslide that occurred August 7, according to the National Park Service, passed into the upper area of Pedersen Lagoon roughly 20 miles southwest of Seward creating a wave that was 55 feet high. It then passed over a ridge and into the lower area of the lagoon, reaching the shore at a height of three feet.
The region has had multiple landslides over the past couple years, and they are becoming more and more frequent due to thinning glaciers and heavy rains. The Park Service is recommending that visitors take precautions in case of more tsunamis or landslides.
State – Rise of West Nile Virus in Georgia threatens Fulton County
Fulton County has gone on high alert after a rising number of cases of residents have been infected with the West Nile Virus. There have already been six confirmed cases and several more under investigation.
The West Nile Virus is a mosquito borne illness which can lead to a myriad of life limiting diseases including encephalitis and meningitis. Mosquito borne illnesses pose severe health risks. Residents have been urged to seek preventative measures in order to stop the spread of these diseases.
Fulton County residents have been advised to remove standing water from their property to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Window screens have also been recommended to prevent mosquitoes from getting into people’s homes.
Politics – Russia leverages American media to sway election
For the past two elections, more and more evidence has been dug up suggesting Russia attempting to sway the election. Now, new information regarding their tactics is being discovered as they attempt to influence the election in Donald Trump’s favor.
Russia has adapted to fit American social debates to push misinformation into the country where it would spread and be reposted by Americans who did not cross-check the information. By using these pre-existing social issues instead of creating new ones, the country is able to have greater influence and much less attention drawn to them. Now, Russia has begun to pay far-right social media influencers to push their information out there, and many of these influencers do not realize that people they are working for are Russians.
Both China and Iran have launched their own attempts at swaying the election, but none have been as impactful as Russia. Their methods of swaying the election in ways that are unable to be easily traced back to them has led to unstoppable Russian influence in our country.