The greatest potential for loss of life related to a hurricane is from the storm surge! Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase theContinue reading “What is a Storm Surge?”
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Will Tornadoes Get Worse As Earth’s Climate Heats Up?
On May 20, 2013, a devastating EF5 tornado shredded the city of Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 deaths and destroying an estimated $3B in property. It was the third time a tornado has stuck the city in 14 years. In the NOVA special, Oklahoma’s Deadliest Tornadoes, we meet scientists, literally working on the front lines, in an attemptContinue reading “Will Tornadoes Get Worse As Earth’s Climate Heats Up?”
Like a jet engine, with a train behind it.
On May 27, 2013, near Salinas, KS, Brandon Ivey and Sean Casey capture this amazing video from inside a massive wedge tornado.
One After Another After Another
The United States experiences more than 1,000 tornadoes a year. While most storms are weak and occur in sparsely populated areas, recent storms have inflicted heavy casualties in more populated regions of the country. Moore, OK, Tuscaloosa, AL, and Joplin, MO are the most recent communities to suffer. Tornadoes form when large air masses ofContinue reading “One After Another After Another”
There’s an APP for That
FEMA’s ReadyCampaign and the Flat Stanley Project collaborate on an app to help educate school-aged children on the need to be prepared for emergencies and disasters, as well as what they can do to help their families and loved ones to build more resilient households. By downloading the app, children and their parents can buildContinue reading “There’s an APP for That”
Education is key for reducing children’s risks to disasters
When disaster strikes children often suffer the most, but if we can teach them at an early age about the risks posed by natural hazards, they will have a better chance to survive and thrive in the aftermath of a disaster. Natural hazards, such as floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, do not need to become disasters.Continue reading “Education is key for reducing children’s risks to disasters”
The FEMA Think Tank
Want to give input on how to improve the national emergency management system? Join the FEMA Think Tank. Please save the date and join Richard Serino, FEMA Deputy Administrator, for the next FEMA Think Tank conference call on May 28, 2013, from New York City. This month’s call will be held in partnership with UNICEF andContinue reading “The FEMA Think Tank”
The 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
May 26 – June 1 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week Just one week after a devastating tornado storm rips through Norman and Moore, OK, killing 24 and causing an estimated $2B in property damage, US cities now face another natural hazard, hurricanes. June 1st is the official start of the 6-month hurricane season. For 2013, NOAA’sContinue reading “The 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook”
How do you end a story about a day that will live forever?
Do you tell the death count of 24 or describe the estimated $2 billion damage to some 12,600 homes? Do you reminisce about all the times you spent sitting in a musty cellar full of old people telling their own tornado ghost stories that frightened and intrigued you all at the same time? Or doContinue reading “How do you end a story about a day that will live forever?”
Are You Ready?
Are You Prepared to Protect Yourself, Your Family and Community from Disaster? From extreme drought, heat waves and floods to unprecedented tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, wildfires and winter storms, millions of people throughout the US have been affected by natural disasters. You, your family and community could be next! Do You Know Your Risks? Recognizing an impending hazard and knowing what to do to protect yourself andContinue reading “Are You Ready?”
Storm Surge 