The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Monday, September 12, 2011

Texas Wildfire...[ 2424 ]

Texas Wildfire Destroys More Than 1,500 Homes


Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle, via Associated Press
A DC-10 dropped retardant on Saturday to help fight a fire near Magnolia, Tex. The state was declared a disaster area on Friday.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BASTROP, Tex. (AP)/Published: September 11, 2011

— The number of homes destroyed by a wildfire in Texas has risen to 1,554, officials said Sunday, and the figure is expected to increase as they enter more areas where the blaze has been extinguished. Seventeen people remain unaccounted for.
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Bastrop County officials, along with Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, sought to provide new information to the hundreds of residents who left their homes a week ago, when winds whipped up by Tropical Storm Lee swept across drought-stricken Texas and helped set off more than 190 wildfires statewide. The worst of the fires have consumed more than 34,000 acres in this area about 30 miles southeast of Austin.
While sharing the news that the tally of destroyed homes would increase, officials also told about 100 residents who gathered at a news conference on Sunday that people would begin being allowed back into the scorched areas on Monday. A detailed plan will allow residents to enter the evacuated areas over the coming week, as firefighters and emergency responders ensure that the land has properly cooled, hotspots are extinguished and the fire is contained.
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Tensions and frustrations flared at a similar gathering on Saturday, when residents demanded to be allowed to return to their neighborhoods to see what remained of their homes and attempt to salvage a few belongings. Many people were given just minutes to evacuate as the raging fire surrounded homes and neighborhoods. Some had time to gather only a few important belongings. Others left with only the clothes on their back.
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Sheriff Terry Pickering of Bastrop County said the 17 people who were unaccounted for might simply be out of town. “They could have been on vacation,” he said.
On Friday, the federal government declared Texas a disaster area, paving the way for people to get financial help. Mr. Doggett said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would cover 75 percent of the costs of fighting the fires, and that families would be eligible for up to $30,000 to pay for expenses not covered by insurance policies, like hotel bills, temporary housing and even construction costs.
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“The $30,000 can only go so far toward the expenses that some of you have,” Mr. Doggett said. “But I think it can be a lot of assistance.”
On Monday, schools will open for the first time since the Bastrop fire started. So many people are living in the town’s three hotels that school buses will stop at each of them.
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The county emergency management coordinator, Michael C. Fisher, said the Bastrop fire was now 50 percent contained.
North of Houston, meanwhile, firefighters say a blaze spanning three counties that has consumed more than 20,000 acres and destroyed nearly 60 homes is also half-contained.
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