Disaster Preparedness

At the time I’m writing this, a tragedy is occurring in the Los Angeles area. Thousands of acres have burned, and countless homes, businesses, and vehicles have been lost to wildfires spurred on by intense winds.The mechanism that led to this epic event is not new, but it is rare that it occurs...

Labor Day weekend is usually considered the last holiday of summer. It’s one last chance to gather with friends and family for a cookout, games, or beach time. On beaches along the Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic Seaboard, this is also a time when people are wary of the weather. Several major...

Ominous clouds and an approaching storm may be accompanied by the wail of a community siren. Other times they can be heard in the morning on what may be a nice day. What do the different blasts of the siren mean?Sirens are part of the Public Alert System to let those outdoors be aware of a local or...

At the writing of this post on September 2, we are in the average peak week of hurricane activity for the Gulf of Mexico. Remnants of hurricane Ida are drenching the East Coast, and a new hurricane is currently out in the Atlantic. The Earth’s weather is a complex system of winds, moisture, and...