Spring officially starts in less than a month, but you wouldn’t know from by looking at the weather across the U.S. and reading predicted forecasts.
Northwest
Snow is falling over parts of the Northwest and northern Rockies that generally do not see snow this late in the winter season. For example, the forecast predicts up to four inches of snowfall in the Seattle, WA and Portland, OR area. Residents in the Northwest are going to have to put off their spring-cleaning for another day and, in the mean time, make sure their plumbing is insulated well to prevent burst pipes and water damage.
South
As the South battles wildfires with their neighboring Eastern states, The Weather Channel predicts a severe storm outbreak in the Dixie Valley—parts of the Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley and Tennessee Valley. Meteorologist Dr. Greg Forbes expects the storms to begin as early as Thursday. Residents in this area can expect to see floods, large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
Those living in this area should prepare emergency disaster kits that contain the phone numbers of their insurance agents and a restorationspecialist. Residents should also be ready to evacuate their homes if directed by emergency personnel.
East
Not getting any breaks from Mother Nature, the Eastern states continue to battle wildfires. Residents are on alert in many communities, and are prepared to evacuate their homes. The low humidity and winds continue to fuel the fires, and this is not expected to change in the immediate future. Like those in the South, residents who are a wildfire should prepare an emergency disaster kit. Learn how to prepare for fire damage.
Sometimes it seems as if some U.S. cities cannot get a break from the forces of Mother Nature. This is the case with Laguna Beach, California. Over the last several years, the town known for its beaches and glamorous residents has experienced landslides, floods and fires.
Geography and climate have a great impact on the natural disasters a city experiences. Summer wildfires deplete the area surrounding Laguna Beach of vegetation, which soaks and holds back rainwater. Consequently, landslides and floods follow heavy rains. For example, the area had record-breaking rainfall in late December 2010, which caused $12 million in damage to homes and businesses, according to “The Orange County Register.” Residents have also blamed over-development in floodplains, insufficient flood channels and a lack of disaster response efforts for aiding in the destruction caused by weather-related events.
Just like households and businesses, communities must also create emergency preparedness and disaster response plans. These plans should examine measures that can help lessen the damage natural disasters can cause, establish evacuation routes and name places residents can go to for disaster relief services and emergency shelters. While having a disaster plan in place is important, it is equally important for communities to hold emergency preparedness workshops that educate its residents, as well as a plan for recovery. Government buildings are not immune to disasters, and having a plan for continuity can help relief efforts flow more smoothly.
In the United States, floods are one of the most common and deadliest natural disasters. While some natural disasters occur more in certain regions of the country, such as earthquakes in the areas surrounding a fault line, floods can occur anywhere rain falls and can impact large areas of land. Because the weather cannot be controlled, there are only a few ways humans can prevent flooding. However, knowledge and preparation for a flood can help all homeowners stay safe and limit the amount of damage to personal property.
Before a Flood
One of the first steps to being ready for a flood is to know your risk for a flood. Then, create an emergency disaster plan that lists other natural disaster risks in your area. Develop a plan that includes a safe place for a family to stay if there is a flood, maps that show possible evacuation routes and road closures during a flood and directions that describe what to do if your family gets separated. Your emergency disaster plan should also include a kit with a list of important phone numbers, a first aid kit, medications, food, water and a document that lists the location of your valuables. If possible, store any valuables in the home on the upper floor of a home, off the floor.
During a Flood
During a flood, stay up-to-date on the latest information by listening to a battery-operated radio, which many MP3 players now include. Radio announcers typically broadcast the latest news about natural disasters, the locations of emergency shelters, road closures and safety instructions. Additionally, if you must drive during a flood, do not drive through moving water.
After a Flood
After the rains have stopped, it is best to continue to pay attention to the local to news to learn when it is safe to go home after a flood. Families should exercise caution as standing water in a home can contain mold, viruses and bacteria. If your home experienced any water damage, it is best to have a professional examine it to make sure the home is safe to enter. Moreover, if your home did suffer water damage from a flood, call a flood restoration specialist to help you examine the contents within it to see what you can salvage and what you need to throw away. For example, a restoration specialist can remediate wet documents, but may recommend throwing away old carpet to prevent mold growth.
Although a flood may be hard to predict and prevent, a family can easily prepare for one. Creating an emergency disaster plan and kit is a great activity for families to do together as it gets everyone involved and on the same page regarding important safety issues.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Drew, who is learning about flood safety in his science class. He found a great site, HomeownersInsurance.org, which has additional information about staying safe during a flood. Good find, Drew!
From catastrophic earthquakes, wildfires, biblical-like flooding, the hottest recorded summer temperatures to the snowiest winters, extreme weather and natural disasters are often one of the top stories on the evening news. However, one of the most common trends seen is unpreparedness on the affected public’s behalf.
Learning from the Past
In 2010, the planet experienced record-setting hot temperatures and more than 950 natural disasters. So far, the year 2011 is proving to be one that is following suit with much of the northern hemisphere experiencing freezing temperatures and some countries in the southern hemisphere under water. Experts say that 2010 gave us a peek of what is to come in 2011, yet the majority of households and communities in the U.S. have not prepared emergency disaster kits despite the lessons about the unpredictability of the forces of nature.
Preparing for the Next Weather Event
More reliable and less expensive than an insurance policy, emergency preparedness is an investment that will never go to waste. Emergency preparedness acts like a life jacket in times of a disaster. Emergency disaster plans for businesses should include a business continuity strategy and a way to restore wet documents and damaged books. Homes can prepare for the unexpected by creating an emergency disaster plan and preparing an emergency disaster kit that includes a sufficient amount of food and water, a plan for recovery and essential survival items.
With the amount of natural disasters the planet has experienced over the last several years, there is no need for businesses and households to get caught off-guard when Mother Nature acts-out. Devoting time to prepare for disasters before they happen can help families and businesses get back on their feet after a life-changing natural event.
Although blessed with a white holiday weekend, residents in the Northeast may have more of a winter wonderland than they can handle. People throughout the affected states were urged to stay indoors as a normally 30-minute drive took a minimum of two hours. The winter weather caused airports to close for over 9 hours and trains to breakdown or suspend their services. The blizzard-like conditions spanned from the Carolinas up to Maine.
Wind gusts during the cold weekend caused power outages in eastern states and professional football games to reschedule. MSNBC reports:
“States of emergency were declared in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Maine and Massachusetts, where Gov. Deval Patrick urged people who did not have to be on the roads to stay home, to ensure their safety and that of work crews. Nonessential state workers were told to stay home Monday.
“…The monster storm is the result of a low pressure system off the North Carolina coast and strengthened as it moved northeast, the National Weather Service said.
“…an NFL football game scheduled on Sunday night in Philadelphia was postponed, forcing the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings to reschedule the contest for Tuesday.”
Stay Safe
The Red Cross offers the following tips to those experiencing the severe winter conditions:
Only use flashlights to illuminate a room. Avoid the use of candles.
Prevent your pipes from freezing by opening cabinet doors in the home to let warm air surround the pipes. Allow a trickle of water to run through exposed pipes to prevent water from freezing and expanding in a pipe, which will cause it to burst.
Do not use a stove or oven to heat a home.
Operate a generator outside your home, and do not connect it to your home’s wiring. Connect electrical equipment directly to the outlets on the generator.
