What We Did When The Lights Went Out!

The lights flickered once, twice, three times and then they went out entirely. No power, and later into the night, no water. Spring in the Deep South is tornado time and storms were springing up everywhere.

EF5 tornados are a rare thing, but they struck all over the state of Alabama last week, a record number; over 160 in our state alone. Two of them hit within 10 miles of my house but we were blessed to have missed them. The devastation is unbelievable! For me, the only thing we had to contend with was the lack of power.

In the midst of all this we discovered something about us and our neighbors. People are resilient. Throughout the state there were a million people without electrical power to their homes and businesses. While there were thousands hurt and hundreds killed through the path of these storms, many of us were not. Here's how we dealt with the boredom and burden of no electricity.

Out of electric power for five days, we had to survive in a world without the electronic gadgetry that we have come to rely on. Without a household generator to give us some sense of normalcy, we literally were left in the dark 24 hours a day for five days.

In the morning coffee is a necessity, not a luxury. I fired up the charcoal grill with a small mound of briquettes and started a fire. After placing a pan of water over the hot coals, we soon had enough hot water to fill three cups. We placed a coffee filter over each cup and poured in two spoons of coffee. Pouring in the hot water we soon had a delicious cup of coffee.

Like everyone in the Tennessee Valley without electricity, we had no idea of when it would be restored. We did know that food in the refrigerator and freezers was thawing with every passing hour, but there was little that we could do about that problem. Almost everyone in town needed ice. A few stores opened for emergencies that had cash only transactions.

With basically all businesses closed due to no power, it was an excellent time to pick up the debris that had fallen from the sky. Plenty of limbs up and down the street gave us a chance to clean up. Trees had to be sawed and dragged out of the street. Trash from some of the destroyed homes had blown to our street and had to be picked up and set out for the trash man.

Every evening we had a block party. Each family ate food that was in the pantry for lunch, then food from their freezers that was thawing for dinner. Some days we had chicken dishes, with families bring sides and the first couple of days we had hamburgers that had just thawed, cooked on the grill; chili and soups. Whatever was unfrozen was slapped on the grill.

By the fourth day we were eating dried foods like beans, peas, corn and vegetables that had been frozen but were now thawed. Grills were still in action; cooking pots of beans simmered over hot coals and propane gas.

Thankfully the days were warm enough and the nights cool enough so that we didn't need heating or cooling of any kind. The water supply for us was only off for one day. In the midst of our jubilation at having survived, there was always the reminder that we were one of the blessed ones.

When the sun went down, we did something that we rarely do; we talked, played games got out the guitar and sang songs. Even the grandkids joined in the fun. If we had had power, we would have done none of that.

Let's pray for the survivors. While they are all resilient, all of them need help!

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The Undetectable Dangers Of Humidity

One of the least liked weather conditions is the hot, humid day. The sun is terribly hot, and walking only a few blocks exhausts you like you'd just run a marathon. Not only that, but despite having just stepped out of the shower a few minutes ago, your clothes are sticking to your skin, and you can feel the sweat stinging your eyes. Far from being merely an uncomfortable weather condition, humidity comes with hidden and deadly dangers. In this article you'll learn a few of them.

One of the biggest dangers that comes with humid weather is that it decreases your body's ability to maintain a proper temperature. When you get hot, you sweat. The sweat is then evaporated on your skin by the air, which cools you off. However, when the air is humid, it's much more difficult for the sweat on your skin to evaporate. So maintaining a normal body temperature is much more difficult in humid weather.

Something else that is dangerous about humid weather is that it makes it much more difficult to sleep through the night undisturbed. Sleep is very important, as it gives your body a chance to rebuild damaged cells. It is also necessary for maintaining a healthy immune system. Without proper sleep, your immune system is weakened, and you will not be able to fight off illnesses as easily. Being weaker from lack of sleep also makes it easier to suffer from heat stroke during the day.

Another hidden danger of humidity is it can lead to drastic dehydration. Because your body has to produce so much more sweat to regulate your body temperature, you lose a lot of fluid. Unless you drink a significant amount of water during the day, you are likely getting dehydrated during periods of excessive humidity. Many people become dehydrated without even knowing it, and this can lead to a higher risk of heat stroke.

Another element to consider regarding humid weather is that it provides an excellent breeding ground for germs, pests, and other pathogens in your home. When you combine the increased amount of germs with your decreased immune system from lack of sleep, and you've got a deadly recipe for disaster on your hands. This is one aspect of humid weather that most people don't consider.

What can you do to protect yourself from the seemingly inescapable heat and humidity without becoming a statistic in the latest round of deaths? A couple of simple tips can go a long ways in protecting you. Stay indoors as much as possible. Drink plenty of water or other fluids, but don't wait until you are thirsty to drink. Drink during the day regardless of whether you're thirsty or not. This can keep you sufficiently hydrated, which can go a long way to protect you from the deadly humidity.

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How Do Hurricanes Start?

Hurricanes are tropical storms with wind speeds over 74 mph. "Hurricane" is a word meaning "evil spirit and big wind" in the Caribbean Indian language. Three ingredients make a hurricane: warm water, moist air, and converging winds. When winds meet over warm water (at least 80 degrees F) and push in a circular pattern, a hurricane may form. Most Atlantic hurricanes begin on the west coast of Africa and are pushed across the ocean to the east coast of the USA.

The majority of hurricanes begin near the equatorial belt. The leftward-circulating winds from the south meet right-circulating winds from the north due to the Coriolis effect (spin of the earth).

These winds pull warm air from the surface of the water and push it up, creating a funnel. The center of the funnel is the hurricane's Eye, which is surprisingly, calm. The wall of the eye (or Eye Wall), however, is where the wind is most turbulent as it compresses into a relatively tight space with the spin of the cloud formations. The warmer air rising from the ocean brings moisture with it, which forms the clouds.

The center of the Eye is calm while the turbulence begins at the walls of the eye, where winds are most intense. From the Eye Wall outward it is turbulent, but becomes decreasingly so as the area of the storm gets larger. The circulating cloud formations around the Eye are dark because they are the rain bands where rain falls, though most of this evaporates back into the storm before reaching the surface.

The heat of the water is the fuel source for the feeds on itself - spinning left if moving south and right if moving north. As they move, hurricanes recirculate much of their energy, growing with a exponential growth. Because a crucial element for hurricane growth is warm water, they often lose their energy when they make landfall or enter cooler climates.

Many storms become hurricanes on the map, move into a small area of cooler water, and then lose their force and die off.

Most hurricanes last only a few days. The storm will begin as a tropical depression, or a low pressure zone in the tropics with relatively low wind speeds. As winds pick up and feed on one another, the storm might begin moving north or south of the equator, increasing in size and intensity. This is a tropical storm, or baby hurricane.

Eventually, if conditions are right, the tropical storm will continue moving north or southwards|south or north] and will reach wind speeds of over 74 miles per hour. Only then is it a hurricane. Generally, the less spread out a hurricane is, the more potential damage it will do on landfall. Imagine a ball thrown at your nose, for example. The bigger the ball is, the more spread out the impact area will be and the less damage your nose will incur. Smaller balls like baseballs or golf balls, however, will hit your nose directly and put all of their force in a smaller area, causing more damage.

About a hundred tropical storms develop every year. About half of those become hurricanes, but only about 5-10% of those make landfall in an inhabited area. Most hurricanes never make the shore, instead running themselves out out in the ocean. For more information about how to protect your house from hurricanes, see miami hurricane shutters.

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A Brief Introduction to Climate Change and Global Warming

One aspect of being a green business is being aware how much carbon and other greenhouse gases the business emits into the atmosphere. We have all heard the terms global warming, climate change and greenhouse gas but as they are often used interchangeably, it can be difficult to understand exactly what these terms mean. However understanding these terms is important before taking action to reduce emissions from the business. Here is a brief guide to the most common terms:

Global Warming: The phrase global warming refers to an overall warming of the planet based on the average temperature over the entire surface. Global warming has both natural and manmade causes with the main manmade cause being increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases spread around the earth forming a cover trapping solar energy that would normally be radiated into space resulting in increased temperatures.

Climate Change: Although the expressions climate change and global warming are used interchangeably, they do mean different things. The term climate change refers to long term regional changes in climate including temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall and severe weather events. Like global warming, climate change has both natural and manmade causes with the manmade causes of climate change being credited to increased levels of greenhouse gases. Natural causes of climate change include the continental drift, volcanoes and ocean currents.

Greenhouse Gases: These gases are what prevent solar radiation from being discharged to space and are the main cause of both climate change and global warming. Some greenhouse gases such as chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic while others such as carbon and water vapour occur naturally in the environment. While some greenhouse gases occur naturally, human beings have altered the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere through their activities such as burning coal, oil, natural gas and wood.

Air Pollution: Air pollution is a related problem and many of the pollutants responsible for poor air quality and smog are also greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Discussions about air pollution usually focus on visibility and air quality but reducing emissions that cause air pollution will also reduce greenhouse gas levels.

Ozone Depletion: Ozone depletion is a different but related problem to climate change and global warming. The ozone layer is a gaseous layer in the upper atmosphere that absorbs ultra violet radiation. A reduction in the ozone layer causes more ultra violet radiation to reach earth which can affect crop growth and cause health problems such as skin cancer. Closer to the earth ozone is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

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2010 Hurricane Season Summary

The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was a busy one. As of early November there were 19 named storms of which 12 officially became hurricanes. Four of those hurricanes became major hurricanes. A major hurricane is denoted by achieving a category three or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Historically, long term averages over the past century suggest that about ten named storms will form in the Atlantic basin, of which six will become hurricanes. An upswing in Atlantic hurricanes has been noted since the mid 1990's. Threre is no conclusive evidence that this is linked to Climate Change. An increase in tropical cyclone activity was anticipated in the 1980's when it was relatively calm.

The United States fared well this past hurricane season. There were no direct hits from hurricanes. Hurricane Earl passed about 75 miles east of Cape Hatteras. During its closest approach, the Outer Banks of North Carolina received tropical storm force winds with a couple of gusts to near minimal hurricane strength. Hurricane Alex made landfall in northeastern Mexico, but was a small tropical cyclone. Because of this, wind damage was confined to Mexico south of Browsnville, Texas. Some gusts to tropical storm force were seen in extreme south Texas with some the the squall bands that passed through. The greatest impact to the United States came from Tropical Storm Hernine. It brought soaking rains to south and central Texas. Rainfall totals were five to ten inches with isolated spots of ten inches plus. The only other tropical cyclone to affect the United States was Tropical Storm Bonnie which moved into south Florida early in the season. It was a weak system which brought some rain squalls.

Other parts of the Atlantic basin did not fare as well. Several tropical cyclones threatened parts of Central America and Mexico. Mexico was hit by several tropical cyclones. Hurricane Alex made landfall in northeastern Mexico as a category two hurricane. Hurricane Karl was the strongest hurricane that made landfall in Mexico near Veracruz. it was a category three hurricane at officially 120 mph.

Bermuda was threatened by tropical cyclones several times, but each time the storm veered away. Nothing more than some gusty winds and rain squalls were seen on Bermuda. The strongest hurricane of the season was Hurricane Igor in the open Atllantic Ocean. It topped out at 155 mph, which is just below category five strength. Earl was the next strongest with winds to 135 mph.

This season did live up to the number of expected named storms and hurricanes. The true number of hurricanes is up to debate since a number of named storms may not have really reached hurricane strength. Minimal hurricanes such as Lisa, Otto, and Shary are all up to debate on their actual strength. As with many hurricane seasons, the 2010 season saw several tropical cyclones travel around the Bermuda high harmlessly out to sea. As this year bears out, a landfall in the U.S. is not guaranteed even with a very active season. It is always wise to stay vigilent regardless of the preseason predictions.

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What Is the Weather Going to Be?

If you have ever watched the British TV programs, you would find that they spend on much time talking about what the weather is going to. Following we will talk about the weather of the British people.

A survey published recently that British people spend most of their times on talking about whether it's going to rain or shine. They usually complaint about the cold and exclamation about the heat, they are the first points of conversation with strangers or business acquaintances, the subject comes up more often than work, TV, sport or gossip. Britons talk about the weather for about 50 hours every year. I believe that they can predict the weather as well as a professional weatherman.

The most usual explanation for the situation with weather is that it is so changeable here, even though this does not explain why other challenged countries are not similarly interested. Whatever the reason, they pay attention to the climate very much.

One of the most important factors to take into account when going to vacation to someplace is the weather. The wet weather is one of the most attractive features of this vacation spot. The temperature and maritime conditions on this weather are perfect to practice water sports and to enjoy comfortable time there. This weather in UK offers tropical weather during the whole year. Like in most tropical areas the weather seasons are divided between summer and winter. The term winter here is a bit loose since there are no extreme cold conditions like in some other places around the world. I think you can do other things as well.

There are so many interesting things all over the world.

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Whether It's Global Climate Change Or Global Warming, We Still Must Pay Attention

One of the major strategic errors that those concerned about the impact of factors, such as the environment, have had on world weather conditions, is to refer to the situation or threat as Global Warming. In fact, while during the summer and early fall of 2010, the East Coast did experience near-record high temperatures, and Los Angeles, in September set its all-time high temperature, the apparent variation in the normal weather conditions have not merely been warming- type effects. During the winter of 2010, the Washington DC metropolitan area had record amounts of snow fall, while Chicago experienced one of its mildest winter seasons ever.

Warm temperatures have continued on the East Coast throughout the month of September, but so have some other unusual weather conditions. The New York City area experienced a tornado in September 2010, and several states in the North Central states, such as Minnesota, etc., suffered from extensive flooding conditions. It seems to the casual observer that there have been far more weather extremes than one remembers previously. When we have had rains, they have been more extensive. Our snows have had higher accumulations, and where they have accumulated has been unusual. The New York metropolitan area had nearly 40 days with high temperatures over ninety degrees, and there have been very few summers as hot. The Northeast's extremely wet Spring of 2010 was followed by an extremely high and unusually dry summer. The end of September had several extreme and unusual weather conditions, with far higher than usual rains, accompanied by high winds.

Some individuals have stated that these are normal conditions, and the costs of reducing emissions, and cleaning the area, are detrimental to the environment, while not impacting Global Warming. These individuals have used "cold spells" as proof that the "environmentalists" have panicked and distorted the problem. Each side gives conflicting "scientific proof" that they are correct, and neither side has truly proven its point.

However, if improving the environment makes our air healthier, and makes it easier to breathe and enjoy the outside, isn't that enough reason to pay attention? Can "greening" the environment do any harm, and isn't it possible that a reduction of carbon emissions might actually help? Doesn't it make sense to address the issue, just in case?

Very few individuals who objectively have viewed the changes in weather the past few years would deny that there have been changes. There may be multiple reasons for these changes, but doesn't it seem logical that carbon emissions and other environmental factors, may very well be one important factor? Global climate change has definitely arrived, and if the scientists have generally agreed that various toxins released into the environment escaped into the ozone layer, and that there has been evidence of that impact, most individuals without a preconceived notion, bias, or agenda, would agree that we need to do more to preserve our environment. This needs to be done and done sooner rather than later!

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Anticipating an Impending Storm

It is always possible to forecast an impending storm by looking at the way the weather suddenly turns cold and know that the cold weather is setting in again. It is impossible to do anything to change the weather patterns but you can always prepare for it.

To get ready for such weather, it is always good to prepare for power outages as well. Do it by having some standby heating sources like the fireplace, wood or kerosene heater.

Try to make the necessary supplies for the source of heating you have settled on. Then there is the issue of emergency lighting, like flashlights and batteries. Another emergency contingent will be the supply of canned food, bottled water, first aid kits and so forth.

When the cold weather begins to set in, start putting on warm clothes, which should always be worn in layers so that the body can adjust slowly to the changing temperatures. Begin to wear socks and gloves to avoid frostbite. Warm blankets should be at hand in the event that you require more heat.

It is advisable to use a house thermometer to gauge the temperature changes inside the home. You should actually turn off the water if the temperature threatens to go below the freezing point.

The pipes should be drained by opening the faucets in order to avoid damaging them. In case the temperature threatens to go too low, it might necessitate your moving to a shelter if it is still safe to leave your home.

Make sure the shovel is ready for shoveling snow and rock salt to deal with what will follow after the storm has passed. Safety is important and where necessary, you should get help from neighbors.

Remember even shoveling too much snow can cause some injury to the body. Wait until it is completely safe to go outside then do the shoveling immediately after the storm is over and continue with this trend.

It should be noted that enough preparation before the storm can make a difference between life and death before and after a huge winter storm. So as the season starts, bear all these things in mind to readily deal with any situation that might arise.

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Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Checklist and Kit

Even after adjusting for inflation, 2011 has been the costliest (disaster related) year in U.S. History. So with all of the natural disasters that we have experienced in 2011, I wanted to share with you the following checklist of items you should store for disaster preparedness.

First, below are some basics to consider:

• Store enough food (canned foods preferably) and water to last each member of your family for at least 3 days but preferably a week. Water is especially important, in case city water becomes contaminated (as happens occasionally during severe weather).

• Charge your cell phone to max capacity in case you lose phone service.

• Fill up your car's gas tank, in case you need to evacuate or for general emergency needs.

• In case of a Hurricane or flooding, seal the bottom portion of doors to prevent water from entering (use water proof sealants rubber or foam. Even towels and rags work as well).

• Remove valuables from direct exposure to windows, in case a window is compromised.

• Purchase enough batteries to power your flashlight, and portable radio in case of loss of power.

• Purchase Candles, again in case of power loss.

• In case of a severe storm or Hurricane, disconnect major appliance to prevent damage in case of power surges.

• The checklist below should be assembled into a kit and stored in an easily accessible area, and packed and ready to go, in case you need to relocate or evacuate...

Below is a checklist for your convenience...

Emergency Supply & Preparedness Kit Checklist:

General Emergency Supply & Preparedness Checklist/Kit:

1) Three to Seven day minimum supply of non-perishable food

2) Seven day (3 day minimum) supply of water (one gallon per person per day)

3) 1 each - Non-Electric can opener.

4) Battery powered radio (with extra batteries)

5) Flashlight (one flashlight per person - with extra batteries).

6) Essential sanitation and hygiene items.

7) Matches in a waterproof container.

8) A whistle, or other type of alarm sounding device.

9) Blankets, sleeping bag, cold weather wear (where applicable)

10) Clothing (some articles should be waterproof)

11) Copies of important identification documents (i.e. SSN card, Birth Certificate, passport, bank account/credit card numbers, driver's license, etc.)

12) Spare eyeglass/contact lens and supplies.

13) Prescription medication

14) Cooking utensils.

15) Paper plates, cups.

16) Portable cooking stove (with ample supplies of canned fuel for heat or cooking).

17) Items for children and infants.

18) Pet Care items.

19) Sufficient Cash for emergency use.

20) Cell phone (fully charged) and Charger.

Hope the above is helpful. Wishing the best for you and your loved ones! Be Safe!

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Impacts Of Fishing Weather

Those who are veteran anglers know how to take advantage of the weather when fishing. However, an amateur fishing aficionado can also do a little study of fishing weather and use it to his advantage when angling. The behavior of the fishes varies according to the changing weather. During the winter season in December, 2010, the local ponds and lakes of Orono (Maine) became empty due to the freezing temperature.

A person with the knowledge of fishing weather variations can tell that how it changes the feeding behavior of the carps. Fishes can detect pressure changes with the help of their lateral lines. The pressure changes caused in the water are due to varied weather. As the main objective of any angler is to increase the number of bites he receives while angling, a brief knowledge about the behavioral changes in feeding amongst the carps with varied weather can help him a lot. Knowledge of this behavioral change lets a person increase his catch rates. Fishes rate of activity varies with the weather changes. Some of the factors of weather that affect the activities of the carp are-

* Wind and storm: These two factors play a great role in making the sport of angling a successful one. Wind takes the surface food to a faraway place, with the decoy fish behind it. So, a person angling from a beach on a windy day should choose a place where he needs to cast into the wind. That way he will entangle moves with the wind. However, if someone is on a boat, he should cast wind on a protected beach. As fishes are sharp adjust to changes in barometric conditions, storms can influence angling success. Directly before a cold front feeding increase but slows down during and after front hits.

* Rain and cloud: The best time to go for angling is during a light shower. Rain helps to conceal a person from the fish since it breaks up the outlook a carp has through the water surface. This theory holds true for boat, wade or coast angling. Rain also cleans the insects into the water and thus creates a feeding spree for the carp. Gloomy days are also ideal for angling as the clouds stop light penetration. Carp have a tendency to sail for food more on cloudy days than the brighter ones.

Apart from these two, some important factors like tides, water temperature, frontal systems, water flow, UV Index and cloud cover play an important role in increasing the catches.

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This Year's Crop of Extreme Weather Suggests Climate Change and Global Warming Are Not a Myth

After this summer how can anyone doubt the accumulating evidence that something major and alarming has been happening to global weather patterns?

Unprecedented monsoon weather has put vast areas of Pakistan under water and displaced some 20 million people while mudslides have destroyed whole villages and towns in China. Russia, meanwhile, is one of 16 countries that have declared this summer its hottest ever and is facing the loss of a third of its wheat crop.

A huge piece of ice has broken off from Greenland, while Niger is suffering from famine and once again the loss of its crops.

Is 2010 just one isolated and extreme summer?

Actually it's not if you look back over the last decade and remember from the Tsunami across S Asia in December 2004, the hurricane that destroyed much of New Orleans, major earthquakes in China and Haiti, flooding in the Irrawady Delta, Indonesia, and massive fires in dry weather in Greece and other parts of Europe because of dry, hot summers.

To the British-born environmental campaigner Lewis Pugh, who was recently interviewed by Riz Khan, on the TV Channel Al Jazeera, there's no question that the whole planet is at risk.

This is a man who has swum all the oceans, across the North Pole, where once there was ice, and in the Himalayas to highlight what is going on - and says he has witnessed for himself the changes that are happening in even the remotest parts of the planet, not just once but every time he goes back to these places.

He is in no doubt that the situation is urgent and of such overriding importance that all governments should be putting it at the top of their agendas.

Yet there is pessimism already about the possibility of agreement on action on global warming from November's next climate summit due in Cancun, Mexico.

US chief negotiator Jonathan Pershing is quoted in a BBC online article on August 7 as saying that many developed countries are back-pedalling from the progress that was made at Copenhagen last December.

He, too, warned that the extreme weather and events of this summer were "consistent with the kind of changes we could expect from climate change" and that we need to act quickly.

All this is putting ever greater pressure on our abilities to make progress in producing enough food - at affordable prices - to do something about the scandalous situation in which more than a billion people on the planet suffer from malnutrition if not outright starvation.

Of course, for some, it's all just another opportunity to make money. Speculators on the commodities markets must be rubbing their expensively manicured hands with glee at the fortune to be made in pushing up the price of such basics as wheat. Well, there's no money to be made in sub-prime mortgages any more and investors expect a return on their investment.

There have, however, been a few bright spots in the week's news.

They include an agreement between the US and Brazil that Brazil's £13.5 million of debt will be converted into a fund to protect Brazil's coastal rainforests. Ecuador, too, has announced a scheme to lock up as much as a fifth of its oil reserves if rich nations compensate it with £3.6 billion, half of the oil's value, payable over a ten year period.

If agreed the scheme would protect its Yasuni National Park, one of the most bio-diverse areas of rainforest in the world. The UN Development Programme has agreed to administer the project's trust fund and several EU countries are supporting the idea.

In London Ahmed Djoghlaf, secretary general of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, also spoke out against countries cutting their protection of biodiversity because of the current global economic crisis, warning that destroying nature increases economic insecurity, not to mention countries' ability to produce enough food.

There are plenty of innovative ideas for improving the world's food production, from Genetically Modified crops, through cloning to the Biopesticides Developers' work on producing more environmentally friendly, bio-pesticides, fungicides and yield enhancers to contribute to increasing farm production sustainably without damaging the environment.

The sad thing is that too often governments are still relying on old and arguably discredited methods of pulling their countries out of recession.

While they are, perhaps understandably, focused on the current state of their own economies, if they don't soon change focus to the global situation the question is what, eventually, will they have left to govern?

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Preparing for Severe Weather in the Midwest

People in the Midwest usually think of severe weather as being a Spring thing. Severe weather can actually occur at any time during the year. It is good to keep informed about weather in the winter because you need to be aware of heavy snow and blizzard warnings, but my biggest concerns are the Spring storms with tornadoes, hail and high winds.

Not only do I worry about tornadoes and hail, but there can be freezing drizzle that makes highways treacherous and can cause ice to build up on power lines. If there are strong winds blowing those ice covered lines, you have the potential of lines falling and shutting off the power in towns and rural homes.

How do you prepare for something like this? Take an inventory of your home. If the electricity goes off, your furnace won't work, you'll have no lights and no electric cooking stove. Be sure you have food on hand that doesn't require cooking, plenty of blankets and lanterns or candles for light. It might be wise to store some water in jugs for drinking or filling the toilet tank. Make sure to secure any outdoor equipment that might blow away or tip over in high winds. A small generator might be a good investment.

Know where you will go if there is a tornado warning. Make plans for your basement, storm shelter or maybe an inner room or hallway. It is a good idea to have a weather alert, cell phone or battery operated radio so you can keep track of what is going on outside. A flash light and extra batteries are a must. If you have children be sure to have snacks, bottled water, a can to use for bathroom emergencies and something to entertain them with. Color books and crayons, board games, a deck of cards or a favorite toy can help take their minds off of the storm. Make sure everyone has their shoes and a jacket. Remember your wallet or purse, glasses, and any prescriptions. Some foods that are easy to take are bottles of water, peanut butter and bread, carrots, cookies, milk, cereal and fruit. If you are in a basement, it would be a good idea to have something sturdy that you can get under or take pillows.

The important thing is to be prepared! Listen to the weather on television or the radio and be aware of warnings. I keep a tote bag that always has a flashlight and extra batteries. I can quickly toss in my car keys, purse, weather alert, prescriptions,etc. Some things can be stored all season in your basement or storm shelter.

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How Do Tsunamis Form?

Tsunamis in scientific terms are also called as seismic sea waves. The reason of their occurrence is the sudden change in the surface of sea which is usually earthquakes and large landslides. Tsunamis are not "tidal waves" but people disregard them as that. In reality they are not caused due to tidal actions. Every earthquake cannot create Tsunami. In order to create it, it must be under or near the ocean, must be very huge and able to create vertical movements. Almost every oceanic regions present in the world are prone to Tsunamis but Pacific Ocean is much more vulnerable to such earthquakes and thereby, Tsunamis. They are not very powerful deep inside the ocean since they carry small amplitudes and speed of around 800 kms per hour but it dissipates its energy after reaching the outer ocean. In fact the ocean becomes a 'pond' to Tsunamis. Moreover, there are numerous waves to accumulate into it.

Tsunamis are very energetic, powerful and enormous amount of energy can spread onto a large volume of water deep within sea. When they reach coastline or shallow water their energy concentrates into smaller volume. Its speed tends to decrease but the amplitude heightens up to a dangerous level which can be 50 feet or even more than that covering the entire island.

Tsunamis are formed after occurrence of earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions under the sea floor. When such movements are happened under the deep sea, huge amount of energy releases as a consequence of quick upward and bottom movements. For example after occurrence of volcanic eruptions the oceanic floor very quickly moves upward several hundred feet. When such thing happens, huge amount of ocean water gets pushed upwards resulting into formation of a wave. Similarly a huge earthquake can lift several thousands of square kilometers of sea surface which further results into formation of huge waves. In fact The Pacific Ocean is the oceanic region which is very much prone to such Tsunamis. The reason behind this is also the numerous amounts of geological activities undertaken by it.

In the open ocean Tsunamis may appear to be very small and that's why they get unnoticed until they reach shallow waters or the coastline. Waves occurring after such movements carry large wavelengths. As a result these wavelengths can take gigantic and dangerous forms thereby resulting into Tsunamis. There is no wonder that such Tsunamis can cause massive destruction around the coastal life and huge amount of loss of life.

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Saffir-Simpson Scale for Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones Needs Revision

Perhaps you are aware that the Saffir-Simpson Scale is how we measure Major storms like Typhoons, Cyclones, and Hurricanes. The scale has specific wind speeds which indication such things as Tropical Storms from Tropical Depressions, and then from there to Hurricanes by category of intensity.

Category One starts at 74 mph and goes to 95 mph for instance. Category two is 96-110 mph, category three is 111-130 mph and realize these are "sustained wind speeds" - Category 4 winds are at 131-155 mph and the top of the scale is category five at 156+ mph sustained winds.

Now then, you can see the problem when your wind speeds are getting above 190 mph, as there is no category to warn people that it's an "oh my god, motherload of destruction category, leaving nothing in its wake!" You see, we've been having too many "off-the-chart" storms with unheard of low pressure areas and wind speed that the Saffir Simpson Scale for Cyclones, Typhoons, and Hurricanes is inadequate now.

The recent Cyclone in Australia, "Yasi" was 186-190 miles per hour, which means theoretically it was touching what might be considered a CAT 7 storm, and definitely a CAT 6 - that is if there were such categories, but there are not because the winds stop at CAT 5.

In 2005 we had three Hurricanes here in the our own sphere of influence; Rita, Wilma, and Katrina which at one point each far exceeded CAT 5 and well into what should have been CAT 6. Since then there have been three Typhoons which also should have been CAT 6 in the Pacific. Why is this?

Well, I am quite sure that Al Gore would say it was due to Global Warming, but I suspect most of this is because we have better measurement devices now and track these Super Storms during their entire growth and dissipation cycles.

Another possibility for super storms of this Earth's magnitude is shifting and evolving faster or differently than before causing it to weaken in places and assist in creating larger storms. There is at least some decent empirical data which would imply this is occurring, and we know from the geological record that it does occur from time to time.

A scarier scenario might be we are close to a pole flipping even meaning that we could be entering the beginnings of an ice age. These are plus or minus 11,500 to 12,000 year cycles. Nevertheless, now that we know we MUST stop delaying the realities of the force of these mega-super-storms and revise the category, because clearly the Saffir Simpson chart is lacking with our current knowledge of the weather. Please consider all this.

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Disaster Early Warning System - Can We Build It?

Tornado detection and warnings IN THE PAST -  warnings for natural disasters such as tornadoes, lightning storms, floods, tsunamis, or earthquakes, first came when a person saw looming danger in the nearby sky, watched water rise around them, or felt the ground move from under their feet.   

For most of mankind's history, this is the way natural disasters were detected.  This method of detection gave very little opportunity for people to seek shelter and avoid death or injury.   Unfortunately, for most people in today's world, this is still the only means of detecting and reacting to the occurrence of disasters. Even in modern "industrial" information economies we still have only rudimentary warning mechanisms for weather related disasters and no systems in place for warnings of seismic or other disasters to general populations.  

Disasters occur in all countries around the world with great regularity.  They are an accepted fact of life for all the peoples of the world. Natural disasters occur at unpredictable times and in unpredictable ways and have led to an acceptance of the results. As individuals, our main strategies are to hope we are lucky enough to avoid their occurrence, or failing this to mitigate the effects of the disasters by building stronger and safer structures for protection.  

Neither our hopes for luck nor our efforts to build stronger shelters have proved altogether successful. Most experts claim that the world's population is at an ever-increasing risk of death, injury, and property damages from natural disasters.  As population and housing densities increase, the world will continue to experience ever increasing danger and damages from natural disasters.  Deaths, injuries, and loss of property will continue to increase around the world from the effects of natural disasters unless changes are made in the manner we respond.

TECHNOLOGY IS NOW AVAILABLE - Over the last several decades' scientists have made great strides in understanding the causative effects of these natural disasters that so impact lives. Much of the mystery surrounding these events is now gone. Although we cannot yet predict these disasters with any degree of confidence, we now have the technical ability to detect and track them with a great deal of accuracy. Most modern societies have begun development of networks of sensors to detect the occurrence of these disasters.  

For example; the USA has in place a large scale system of lightning detectors that can sense and record a wide variety of real time information about lightning strikes occurring over most of the country. There is in place or currently under construction a national system of Doppler radar installations which were primarily designed for airline traffic safety but also are well able to detect, track, and record the exact movement, direction, and magnitude of tornadoes.  

The USA also has in place a large system of ocean buoys and a satellite network that is able to detect even minor changes in ocean heights to track the movement of tsunami's through the oceans of the earth. A national system of rainfall gauges is also able to measure real time rainfall amounts over large portions of the continental USA. A significant number of seismographic devices are currently in place in seismically active portions of the country to detect in real time all earthquakes as they occur.   

These technologies are tested, currently available, and in place in various locations, to detect these natural disasters as they occur in real time.  Analog sensors and detectors have made the same tremendous advances in sophistication and sensitivity that we have seen in the digital arena during the last twenty years.  Our ability to "see" the world and natural events around us has been greatly extended and enhanced with these new technologies. We now no longer need be restricted to viewing the nearby sky with our eyes to see the danger from weather events. We no longer have to wait for the ground under our feet to move to know that an earthquake has happened nearby.

A PARADIGM SHIFT IS NEEDED  -  We have witnessed an amazing transformation in our technical ability to detect, analyze, and communicate information about natural disasters during the last two decades.  In the digital world of computers, we have seen a tremendous increase in the amount and type of data that is available.   This same huge increase in "data" is also now available from the various analog sensor/detector technologies.   Data from a wide variety of sources is now easily obtainable with current technologies. We can now detect in real time a wide variety of natural disasters as they occur.  

A correspondingly large increase in the capabilities of today's modern communication technologies also allows virtually instantaneous transfer of this information from anywhere to anywhere in the world.  All of the "data" that we can now collect on natural disasters must first be converted to "information" in real time as it happens.  The analysis of this data must be completely automated and done in real time to eliminate human errors and wasted time.   Finally, the information concerning these natural disasters must be communicated in real time without error or false alarms to provide advanced warnings to the maximum number of potentially impacted users that is possible.  When this is accomplished, we will have an effective warning system for natural disasters.

WHAT WE "KNOW" ABOUT NATURAL DISASTERS 1)  We know disasters cannot be predicted in advance of the actual occurrence. 2) We know the technology exists to detect these natural disasters as they first occur. 3) We know the technology exists to measure and record the magnitude, intensity, speed, and direction of these disasters in almost real time. 4) We know a multitude of actions that can be taken to lessen and mitigate the damaging effects of natural disasters if we can provide effective advanced warnings. 5) We know that we can save many more lives and greatly reduce injuries and property damages with a more effective system of advanced warnings for natural disasters.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

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