We’re not done with 2007 Hurricane Season!

We’re not done with 2007 Hurricane Season!

9.27.2007

I was really tired last night as I worked at my computer. I accidentally googled ‘end of hurricane season” and was surprised at the article I found. It was an article from CBS News from September 23, 2005! I was surprised at how timely it was. In fact for a weary eyed moment I thought it was talking about right now.

You see, disasters such as hurricanes come and go every year, they are going to occur no matter if we like it or not. These hurricane disasters cause damage great and small in their wake. Sometimes like in Hurricane Katrina the hurricane damage is felt for a very long time.

October it turns out is often the busiest month of the hurricane season according to historical records. Many of the hurricanes that form this time of the year develop closer to the Untied States like Katrina and Rita did.

We are fortunate that our media such as TV, radio, cell phone alerts and the internet have all contributed to a significant reduction in the number of fatalities associated with many of the hurricanes that are experienced in the past.

The issue for us in the 21^st century is that so many now want to live on or near the coastal shores of our country. We have so many wonderful areas with great vistas of ocean waves rolling into shore and the sand is a great place to play or sit and relax. Yet those beautiful waves coming to shore on a nice sunny day are also killer waves that ravage the same shores in a hurricane.

With so many of our sand dunes removed to build condos and hotels along the shore, the sandy beaches are also being eaten away by the run-off of storm water from the nearby concrete as well as storm surges in a hurricane. So now we are experiencing a natural disaster as well as a human and property disaster as well. One thing is for sure nature really doesn’t like it.

Those who live in these hurricane prone areas need to have as much hurricane information as possible. It is only with strong foundation n hurricane knowledge that responsible living in the coastal region of the US can help individuals prepare for a hurricane.

No one can stress enough if you are going to play or stay in coastal regions of the US then you need to have a hurricane disaster plan. If you think a hurricane is bad you should see the grocery stores and the home improvement warehouses the days before the hurricane is predicted to hit. It’s no fun to have to wait in line for gasoline or plywood.

Hurricane supplies should be bought months ahead of the first possible storm. Much of what is necessary to have on hand is able to be purchased reasonably during hurricane off-season prices. Much can be bought even at 40-70% off the price during the hurricane season.

Much of what can make hurricane recovery easier and more comfortable are one time expenses. The biggest danger in a hurricane is procrastination! Everyone no matter the age or circumstance should have a personal hurricane kit. Yep the infant in diapers to the most senior of senior citizens should have their own disaster kit. Each disaster kit should be personalized to meet that individual’s person needs and circumstances.

These disaster kits need to be made up even for the cat, dog, hamster and goat. Hurricane pet disaster kits are extremely important as well. Too many wonderful pets and livestock had to be abandoned, left to die terrible deaths because emergency disaster plans were not developed ahead of time to save all members of the family including the family pet. If you don’t know disasters and pets tehn I strongly suggest you read my book Emergency Get & Go Disaster Guide For Pets. You see pets also need to be protected in a disaster as well.

If you don’t have a comprehensive hurricane disaster plan developed you will often you will over pay for hurricane supplies and services as well as be woefully under prepared for a hurricane. It may take you a weekend to complete the disaster plan (in-between football games on TV and other important things around the house) but it will be well worth it.

On the radio the other day I was informed by the radio newscaster that there is less than 3 months before Christmas. If you know someone who is living in a hurricane area instead of the traditional fruitcake for the winter holidays why not give them a hurricane disaster kit instead, It will do a lot more for their long term life and they will certainly appreciate it now and when the winds begin to blow. Better yet why not give them a copy of my book Train For A Hurricane so that they can really get ready for a hurricane.

No mater if you get my book or not. The most important thing is to be prepared for a hurricane.

QUESTION??? What are you doing to prepare for a hurricane? What do you think you should do to prepare for hurricane storms?

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?

Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Peace, blessings & Be Safe!

Terrie

Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

Web Site: www.trainforahurricane.com

Web Site http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. Her newest book is Train For A Hurricane. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.

©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved

All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Hurricane Season Only Half Over

October Called The Busiest Storm Month In South Florida

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/24/earlyshow/saturday/main881933.shtml

Sept. 24, 20005

(CBS) The midpoint of the fourth-busiest hurricane season on record has just passed, but America's coastal areas aren't out of the woods yet.

In South Florida, reports CBS News hurricane analyst Bryan Norcross, October is traditionally the busiest hurricane month. That's generally when storms form close to the United States., much the way Katrina and Rita did.

"The storms that have formed this year have tended to form close to the United States, Norcorss said in an interview with co-anchor Russ Mitchell on The Saturday Early Show. " Think about Katrina and Rita. They didn't form way out in the ocean as we saw last year."

Rita is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and continues through November. That has plenty of people wondering what's going on: Are hurricanes getting stronger and more frequent?

"Well, I refer them back to the late '40s, where we had five major hurricanes in six years," Norcross says. "In the late '20s, we had a mega-hurricane called the Great Miami Hurricane, in 1926. Up the coast, Palm Beach was wiped out and maybe 3,000 people died in the great 1928 hurricane. So it has happened in the past.

"Also, there was a year, Russ, 1893, when over 2,000 people were killed in South Carolina, 2,000 people were killed in Louisiana. A hurricane hit New York City all in the same year. So the hurricane events have happened, but the changes in media have made our perception of it different."

The changes in media, and in forecasting, also has cut the casualty rates over the decades. Early warning has enabled cities and towns to evacuate, moving their citizens out of harm's way.

More than a week ago, Gerry Bell, a seasonal hurricane forecaster for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)., told Mitchell that hurricane activity comes in cycles that can last several decades.

It seems, Mitchell observed, Mother Nature has mood swings.

"The previous active hurricane era was during the 1950s and 60s. Then we were pretty inactive for about a 25-year period, from 1970 to 1994, and now we're back in an active hurricane era," Bell points out.

In the '50s and '60s, the Gulf Coast was hit hard and often, as storms such as Audrey, Donna, Betsy and Camille came ashore. In the '70s and '80s, that same region had only one major hurricane, Frederic, which hit Mobile, Ala. in 1979.

But since 1990, the number of big hurricanes in the Gulf region is up again and, says Bell, there's no end in sight: "We can expect continued high levels of hurricane activities and high levels of hurricane landfalls for the next decade, or perhaps even longer."

Why? Bell says hurricane cycles are primarily driven by rainfall patterns in Africa and the Amazon basin.

"Those rainfall patterns tend to last for 20 to 30 years at a time," he explains, "and as a result, so do the wind and air pressure patterns over the Atlantic that control hurricane activity."

Sea surface temperatures have risen, Mitchell noted, but scientists point out that ocean temperatures go through cycles as well, and that we're in a warm cycle.

Still, many in the field believe global warming may be at least a contributing factor in increased water temperatures.

"The water temperature is quite essential to the strength of a hurricane, and it only takes 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit to be the difference, to being able to support a Category 3 hurricane and a Category 5 hurricane," says Michael Schlacter, a meteorologist with Weather 2000. "So (whether) it's global warming, the cycles, or just a hot summer, those little bits of increase in temperature can mean a big difference in how severe the storms are."

How concerned should people be who live in an area that's susceptible to hurricanes?

"I would be very concerned," Schlacter warns. "As far as Americans love being near the beach, and as far as we have severe weather that's constantly threatening these coastlines, it's kind of a teeter-totter that we're going to be living with for some time."

©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Ongoing Wounds of Hurricane Katrina

9.24.2007

The Ongoing Wounds of Hurricane Katrina

Traumatological loss due to a critical incident does not go way quickly. In fact it is just the opposite. Critical Incident traumatalogical loss also known as critical incident thanostic loss has a snowball affect that builds and gathers speed. It is a dirty snowball of sticks and stones of broken homes, lives, dreams and hopes. It can feel like Dante’s hell for those who MUST live through it.

Additionally there is compounded and complex grief that has not been resolved in the Katrina experience. The more complex the grief and compounding of the losses that are experienced individually and collectively, the harder it is to accomplish the tasks of grieving when the world around you is no longer grieving and desperately wants as well as unmercifully expects you to STOP GRIEVING if you are one of those from the Katrina experience.

Unrealistic expectations by society and many in the helping profession think that since it has been 2 years or so since the ravishing winds tore through the gulf coast, that grief, pain and suffering should be over with is absolutely outlandish. These people who were so profoundly affected by Hurricane Katrina as still living in the early stages of the graveyard walk to the grave. There is little resolution to the traumas Hurricane Katrina Survivors experienced, the pain and suffering as well as the wounds that are only getting more complex and more silent in our society because our general society does not want to: see no grief-- hear no grief --speak no grief – feel no grief.

Society in general does not want to have to contend with the elongated sticky stuff of grief. It is elongated in that critical incident loss does not go away quickly. It is impossible for it to be push away into the dustpan of history.

No disrespect to a rape victim, but a mass critical incident event has so many more components to it from the publicity to the dashed hope of recovery to the abandonment that is experienced on top of all the compounded frustrations of trying to rebuild lives that are so shattered in so many ways.

Such scaring events as Hurricane Katrina may not be able to be resolved in a few years; it may take decades and even generations to work through it. Since we have frankly not done even a marginal job of helping with the emotional thanostic issues of death, loss and non-reconstruction of individual and community lives, I seriously doubt if we will see a the possibility of a full recovery for a very long time.

Think about it. A rape victim may be able to go to a place that will feel safe for her/him that is at least familiar and has things that speak of love and comfort from another time and circumstance. It may be a pair of slippers, a photograph, the fact that they can take all the precautions they wish to begin the process to feel safer in their own skin and environment.

Now think of the person who has NO slippers, nothing that is familiar that might speak of comfort and there is no door left of their home to lock to feel safer. What is left is marred or destroyed by mud and dirty smelly water.

I, in no way want to minimize in any way the terrible experience a person who has been raped has experienced and the pain of such a recovery journey. It is a ghastly theft of personal sense of safety, personhood and personal dignity from someone else. I stand in awe and admire all those who live through and rebuild their lives in spite of and because of such tragic events.

What I am saying is that in a mass fatality of a mega-regional community trauma, the recovery process is nothing like which occurs on a personal or even on a family / cohort basis. Hurricane Katrina was / is as close as the US as ever experienced of the atomic bombs that hit and slot parts of Japan. Even to this very day the wounds of those traumatic events affect not only the immediate survivors but also the generations present and yet unborn physically, emotionally and spiritually

.

Please don’t think that a few years and a couple of band aids will make the wounds of Hurricane Katrina go away. Stop fooling yourselves and wake up to the devastation that has occurred. The fact that many have not wanted to or been able to return to their homes and original lives speaks volumes of the intensity of the tragedy that occurred. The hurricane disaster still goes on.

We in the United States are so phobic of the sticky muck of death, grief, sorry and slow recovery. We are an instantaneous society that wants everything done quickly-- like instant coffee and popcorn out of the microwave. Sorry to pop the delusional bubble of instant gratification and desire for 30 minutes to happy endings on TV sit-coms. That is not what is part of REAL LIFE and certainly not the experience of those who are living in the dark night of the soul of traumatic grief and loss.

We want to see a quick fix to the death and sorrow and desperately want the happy sounds of Dixieland bands after the trip to the cemetery to burry the Gulf Coast community of the Hurricane Katrina days. We want to race our way out the gates of the cemetery, Sorry, but the dirge is still slowly and mournfully walking TOWARDS the grave. We have not had the time and opportunity to place to rest the pain, brokenness and suffering of Katrina.

Perhaps the storm known as Hurricane Katrina has long since blown past but the REAL hurricane disaster is the day in and day out living in the aftermath and initial experiences of the long d-r-a-w-n o-u-t p-r-o-c-e-s-s of recovery. If you had to stop for a second to slow down to read those dashed out words of the description that is the tiniest of experience of what it is like to have to slow down, struggling to even try to figure out the simplest of things in everything you do to even attempt to start take the fist halting steps in the painful hurricane recovery. Even a drawn out complex sentence is unwelcome in our fast paced society today.

Ask those in New York City about their painful recovery after 9-11. It still haunts them and there is only a gaping whole where the two towers use to stand. In the post-Hurricane Katrina region the debris moldy and rotting unfortunately still stands and still smells. The clean-up is still going on. There are still missing bodies and unclaimed bodies at the morgue.

No wonder the crime rate and violence is intensifying exponentially in the communities of the Katrina region. It is no surprise that New Orleans is such a Mecca of killings and violence. People are surprised by it, but they shouldn’t be. What happens on the outside expressions in a community is only the tip of wound that is infested and deepening within the hearts, minds and lives of those who are living through the Katrina experience.

There is a hurricane Katrina cancer that eats away at the entity of those who are struggling to recover. Unless we stop the band aid affect of quick fix emotional stuff and think it is all better and start the process of living through the honest and very real grief process, then the suicides and the homicides, the substance abuse, child/spouse/partner abuse and all the rest if the social ills will not stop. It will only get worse.

It is an insult to all concerned to even dare to consider the experience of a time specific tragedy of a rape or mugging and that of a mass fatality of a hurricane that is still on-going 2 years later. One was foisted by vicious, controlling human action by the choice of the perpetrator on an innocent victim, the other by a vicious non-controllable action by nature itself, compounded by human lack of action, inappropriate reaction and lack of serious preoperational action by society as a whole.

The good news from the study is that we can learn from the mass fatality tragedies of human and property loss and begin to learn what it really means to be present in through and with those that travel the journey from bereavement to mourning to grief to someday perhaps the ongoing process of recovery. If we as a society are not willing to be in active and full presence with our sisters and brothers in that painful process than none of us will recover in a healthy manner. If we do not know the difference between mourning, bereavement and grief then we have much to learn and we start by knowing that each means and how to live in the presence of each. For you see it is not only those who are Katrina affected individuals that must learn these things, it is all of us, for no one is an island – the bell tolls for all of us.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?
Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.
All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Pease, Blessings & Be Safe!

Terrie

Web Site: http://www.trainforahurricane.com/
Web Site http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com/
Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.
©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved
All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

Coverage & Access | Survivors of Hurricane Katrina Experience Psychological Stress, Survey Finds

[Sep 24, 2007]

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=47699

The percentage of New Orleans residents reporting signs of severe mental illness increased from 11% to 14% between March 2006 and this summer, compared with about 6% before Hurricane Katrina hit more than two years ago, according to a recent Harvard Medical School survey, the Washington Post reports. The survey also found that the percentage of people in New Orleans who reported suicidal thoughts increased from 3% to 8% between March 2006 and the summer of 2007.

According to the Post, "it is not Hurricane Katrina itself but the persistent frustrations of the delayed recovery that are exacting a high psychological toll of people who never before had such troubles," psychiatrists say. Calls to mental health hot lines in the area surged after the hurricane and have remained high, according to organizers. In addition, area psychiatrists are overbooked because of a heightened demand.

Ronald Kessler, a professor of health care policy at Harvard and leader of the study, said, "It's really stunning in juxtaposition to what these kinds of surveys have shown after other disasters, or after people have been raped or mugged." Typically, "people have a lot of trouble the first night and the first month afterward. Then you see a lot of improvement," he said. However, with the rebuilding process in New Orleans going slowly, residents are "in this stage of where there are a lot of people just kind of giving up," Kessler said.

Daphne Glindmeyer, a New Orleans psychiatrist and president of the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association, said, "There's more depression, more financial problems, more marital conflict, more thoughts of suicide," adding, "And a lot of it is in people who never had any trouble before" (Whoriskey, Washington Post, 9/23).

Another Hurricane Possibly??

Another Hurricane?

Today is the first day of Autumn. Many think that since this is the days of golden autumn that we have passed out of the window of hurricane danger. Well I can appreciate the thought that now there is little threat to having a hurricane. Perhaps but according to the article below we may or may not have another threat. So folks we are not out of the woods yet. Hurricane season is STILL HERE
No after what occurs in the weather, isn’t it better to be prepared? If we are ready for the hurricanes that come our way then we will be ready for many other forms of disasters that occur on a regular basis.

Something to think about. Check out a good article on weatherblog (see below).

COMMENTS WELCOMED!
Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?
Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.
All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.
Pease, Blessings & Be Safe!

Terrie

Web Site: http://www.trainforahurricane.com/
Web Site http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com/
Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.
©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved
All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.




Storm near Yucatan taking shape
http://weatherblog.abc13.com/2007/09/storm-near-yuca.html?cid=83778579#comments

The National Hurricane Center has started running hurricane models on the storm in the Yucatan now. Early output shows what our exclusive FutureTrack showed yesterday. The system will move across the Peninsula tonight and could develop into a tropical storm on Sunday. There is still a possibility this storm could become a hurricane on Monday because wind shear is light and water temps in the Gulf are in the mid 80s. Depending on the speed of the storm it could be approaching the Texas/Louisiana coast late Monday or early Tuesday. If this thing does develop however, watches and warnings could go up late Sunday.
It looks like the storm will be moving pretty fast which means two things. (1) The fast movement limits the amount of time over warm water which in theory should keep it from strengthening. Then again, Felix and Dean were moving 20 mph and both of them developed into Category 5 storms. So much for that theory. (2) More importantly perhaps, the fast movement limits our response time.
Let's be clear. This storm might not develop at all. We could end up with heavy rain or sunshine depending on what develops or where it tracks. It's like that with every tropical system.

No Hurricane Jerry Thankfully!!!!!

No Hurriicane Jerry Thankfully!!! Other hurricane potential still out there

Many tonight are saying that Jerry will not develop into a hurricane. I agree it most likely will not, there just doesn’t seem to be enough organization to it and the wind sheer is reducing the possibility even more. Good news for us this time. The operative words in the preceding sentence is “this time” Seablooger.com puts it very well.

What is important is that EVERYONE SHOULD be prepared no matter what the situation. Since we have weather on our earth, than we all need to be prepared when the weather is possibly developing into a dangerous condition. Hurricanes are one type of example of a dangerous weather condition. Do YOU have your disaster kit?

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?
Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.
All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Pease, Blessings & Be Safe!

Terrie

Web Site: http://www.trainforahurricane.com/
Web Site http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com/
Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.
©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved
All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Dr. Terrie Modesto, PhD, author of Train For A Hurricane, is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response. She has over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit around the world, with over 20 years experience in assisting those in need.
Blog www.trainforahurricaneblogspot.com
Web site: http://www.trainforahurricane.com/

Jerryatrics
Sunday, 23 Sep 07, hurricanes

In its zeal to pin a name on any storm in the Atlantic Basin, NHC has designated “subtropical storm Jerry.” But look at the discussion.

THE CYCLONE LACKS A WELL-DEFINED INNER CORE WITH MULTIPLE LOW-CLOUD SWIRLS NEAR THE ESTIMATED CENTER. THERE IS A NARROW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SYSTEM TO ACQUIRE TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TO STRENGTHEN FURTHER. HOWEVER, COOLING SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND INCREASING SHEAR WILL PROBABLY LIMIT THE INTENSIFICATION PROCESS. GLOBAL MODELS SHOW A LARGE AND VIGOROUS EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE OVERTAKING JERRY WITHIN 48 HOURS, SO THE SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO BECOME ABSORBED BY THIS LARGER SYSTEM IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

Again, as with Gabrielle and (S)TD#10, the tone is distinctly apologetic. I want to know what is going on inside NHC. Staff behavior and leadership changes suggest an organization in disarray. The public is ill-served if this forecasting division has been subverted by climate ideologues. It was probably an innocent mistake to begin naming “sub-tropical” storms, but it looks as though this loophole is being exploited by Jerryatric count-padders.

There are three actual tropical systems with potential for development in coming days. One is over Yucatan, and it could cause trouble in the Gulf of Mexico, with a Louisiana landfall looking more likely than Texas at this point. Another could strengthen near the Windwards Islands and enter the Caribbean. The third is far to the east in the deep tropics, but it is large and ominous. A busy time may be imminent at NHC. I wish I had more confidence in the people who are responsible for monitoring and predicting these systems.
Posted at 11:53 AM

No hurricane this time!

9.21.2007

Good news and worry

I just got finished glancing at the WBAL email Tropical depression coming onshore, did not strengthen, I’m thank full that the storm is not strengthening and so many communities will be spared THIS TIME but my concern for the coming months as well as next year is that we can get complacent so quickly. IF we get off easy in the US from hurricanes this year, will that mean that we will all just go back to sleep like in Brigadoon and wake up at some point facing another Hurricane Katrina with little or no preparation under our belt. Will we have hurricane survival skills and disaster kits ready to go? Will we forget the sting of Hurricane Katrina and then just want to go back to denial that we as citizens of he world MUST take responsibility for our well being and not depend on some government or aid agency to bail us out when things do get a bit rough?

Will the light hurricane season so far in the Atlantic result in our regions of he world like the southern hemisphere thinking that they will have the same sort of weather and thus have nothing got be concerned about?

I’m not a hysterical panic caller. Far from it. What I am is a realistic person who knows from experience and from academic training that disasters continue to happen and that we can not expect to forever be in a lull of little traumatic activity. I don’t want to see a hurricane ever again, especially like Hurricane Katrina. Been there and done that. Yet I don’t want to be caught with my home and loved one little hurricane prepared for the challenges that can come.

I hope that all storms will always weaken and our resolve to find productive and efficient ways to be prepared for a hurricane for when the storms strengthen.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?
Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.
All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.
Pease, Blessings & Be Safe!
Terrie
Web Site: www.trainforahurricane.com
Web Site: http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com
Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist
She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.
©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved
All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.



Tropical depression coming onshore, did not strengthen,http://mail.google.com/mail/?auth=DQAAAHgAAACjDyS4kPlmrI8T09hU3U2Dfkmd40uhCIXBSRVVb6PJqS8nUMzEg-w5RxMODw7TjLcDNHLTRrvXfRZRbLgvSXwa8_A83ZVgTniQufJBt-FLWlIdo19pe3stknVtgv0HdmfWCWMy_9-TOoJvq-lmEmaB5v3hjNMGM9y8RfVQYgkVvg

At 700 pm cdt, 0000 utc, the tropical storm warning for the gulf coast has been discontinued.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 700 pm cdt, 0000z, the center of tropical depression ten was almost onshore near latitude 30.4 north, longitude 86.7 west, near fort walton beach Florida.

The depression is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. This motion is expected to continue tonight, bringing the center of the depression farther inland.

Radar and surface observations indicate that the depression has not strengthened and maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph, 55 km/hr, in a few squalls, with higher gusts. A gradual weakening should begin tonight after the center moves farther inland.

The latest minimum central pressure reported by an air force reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft was 1005 mb, 29.68 inches.

Rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches, can be expected in association with the depression.

Isolated tornadoes are possible over southwestern georgia, the florida panhandle, and southeastern alabama through tonight.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 to 2 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore flow tonight.

Repeating the 700 pm cdt position, 30.4 n, 86.7 w. Movement toward, northwest near 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds, 35 mph. Minimum central pressure, 1005 mb.

The next advisory will be issued by the national hurricane center at 1000 pm cdt.

Hurricanes as indicators in Global Warming

9.21.2007

Hurricanes As Indicators In Global Warming

I just finished reading an exceptional article from the Journal Science concerning Hurricanes and global warming. Excellent article with some highly skilled and renowned leaders in the fields of climatology and Atmospheric Science and Meteorology. Yes it is a long article and yes it is a bit up there in the academic clouds of language BUT it also speaks volumes on what every one should be understanding about our future hurricane conditions.

Today I wrote a blog article about the sandwich of a hurricane and tropical storm that we in the US will experience in the next several days. These are mild storms. Yet the natural disaster and hurricane storms in particular as forecasts for the future are not as rosy as these current conditions.

We look at Hurricane Katrina and shake our heads and say how terrible that WAS . Are we shaking our heads and asking WHAT WILL BE? The issues of critical incident thanostic (death and loss) related disasters and the role of weather is only going to be increasing in intensity along side that of the storms that we will be confronted with.

As a critical incident thanatologist, I look not only at the swirling maps and think of only of the rain and the wind. My eyes see the swirls of pain and suffering that are associated with the dreaded storms in the everyday lives of individuals that are profoundly affected by these natural evens.

With more people living closer to the coastal areas and the severity of the storms that are and will occur, the conditions are ripe for the unfortunate results of mass fatalities and vast loss of property. We will need to quickly and appropriately review with a very critical eye the infrastructure and community environment that these hurricanes will affect. But it is not enough to only look at the levies and bridges as well as the shore line and weather maps. That is looking at things in a micro fashion with a band aid. A much broader view and response must be taken and the actions must be effective, comprehensive and time sensitive with a large dose of hurricane education on individual responsibility for self protection, hurricane response and hurricane recovery.

What we also need to be looking at is how do people react to the threat of a potential disaster, how well prepared are they and how do they recover. We will need to develop ways to effectively help individuals move from a view that it ”can’t happen to them’ or that the ‘government and aid organizations are able to take care of any difficulties that may occur’. This is so unrealistic a mind set and will not only cost our local and national governments untold billions in cost but the cost to the emotional psyche of the affected nations and the local community will be beyond measure.

Part of that attitude is the result of lack of education of how to prepare respond and recover from a hurricane as well as an education on the responsibilities that individual must have to prepare, respond and recover from the forces of a hurricane as well as other naturally related events in our weather conditions.

Schools are great at teaching some things but there will need to be numerous courses offered on all educational levels and situations as to how to develop the ability to cope with the hurricane trauma and other disasters. If we don’t start at a very early age to foster the physical skills and emotional abilities to deal productively and effectively with hurricanes and other disasters then our global society is in an even more grave position that that of just the escalation of the weather conditions and their intensity.

We talk about leaving no child behind in school. That is a noble ideal but we need to develop and quickly the tools, resources and mindset that no person will be left behind in developing their skills, talents and abilities to prepare, respond effectively and ultimately to recover from disasters. If we do not as a nation and as a world help ourselves and our neighbors to learn how to prepare, survive and recover physically, emotionally and financially from the many disasters that may be headed our way, than the worse disaster will not be the weather but our lack of critical incident survival education.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?

Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Pease, Blessings & Be Safe!

Terrie

Web Site: www.trainforahurricane.com

Web Site http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com

Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.

©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved

All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Hurricanes and Climate Change: What's Resolved and What Remains To Be Resolved?

http://www.hillheat.com/events/2007/09/21/hurricanes-and-climate-change-whats-resolved-and-what-remains-to-be-resolved

Is there a scientific basis for anticipating that human-induced climate warming does and/or will affect hurricanes in some way, over and above natural climate variability? Do observations and model simulations support that expectation, or are there issues with data and observations that make the task of sorting out linkages more difficult? If the latter, what are the observational and data issues that continue to make this a challenging scientific problem? What do we know now that we did not know two years ago? What role do model simulations play in helping to sort out linkages, if any, between global warming and hurricanes, in the absence of data/observation or the presence of unreliable data/observations? How can we best develop a coordinated national effort to provide urgently required information for planning, community response and infrastructure development.

Moderator

* Dr. Anthony Socci, Senior Science Fellow, American Meteorological Society

Speakers

* Dr. Kerry Emanuel, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

* Dr. William K. M. Lau, Chief, Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

* Dr. Greg Holland, Director, Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division, Earth and Sun Systems Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO

* Dr. Gabriel Vecchi, Research Oceanographer, Climate diagnostics Group, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab/NOAA, Princeton, NJ.

* Thomas R. Knutson, Research Meteorologist, Climate Dynamics and Prediction Group, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab/NOAA, Princeton, NJ.

Overview of Hurricanes and Climate Change (a.k.a. global warming)

The understanding of climate change, including its effects on hurricanes, rests on three essential scientific techniques: theory, observation, and computational modeling. Each of these three approaches has unique strengths and limitations. In this talk, I will discuss the application of each of these to understanding the effect of climate change on hurricane activity and demonstrate that while each approach is compromised by uncertainties, taken together they present a persuasive picture of increasing hurricane risk as the climate warms.

Rainfall Extremes, Saharan Dust, Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change

Trends in tropical rainfall are more readily detectable in the form of changes in rainfall characteristics, rather than in rainfall total. From satellite data, we find that in the tropics there is a strong positive trend in extreme heavy and very light rains, coupled to a negative trend in moderate rain. Climatologically over tropical oceans, a large portion (over 60%) of most extreme heavy rainfall (top 5%) can be identified with those coming from tropical cyclones. Over the Atlantic, the contribution of tropical cyclones to heavy rain events has almost doubled in the last quarter century. Over the Pacific basin, the increase is lesser at about 10%. The differences in the basin may be related to the percentage change in the warm pool (SST> 28 ºC) areas in both oceans. Overall, tropical cyclones appear to be feeding more extreme rainfall events in the tropics in recent decades.

Saharan dust can affect tropical cyclones development, and may be a factor contributing to long-term hurricane statistics and possibly in seasonal hurricane forecasts. The Saharan Air Layer (SAL) can suppress tropical cyclogenesis through entrainment of hot, dry air into a developing cyclone, increasing stability and denying the developing system of its moisture supply. Saharan dust may also pre-condition the Atlantic, cooling the ocean surface through attenuation of solar radiation, during the early hurricane season. Additionally, differential radiative heating of the atmosphere by Saharan dust may induce changes in the large-scale circulation over the West Africa and Atlantic region. All these effects may provide a feedback on the coupled ocean-atmosphere system over the Atlantic, modulating the seasonal statistics of hurricanes. Analyses of satellite data and historical records show a more (less) active hurricane season is generally associated with less (more) Saharan dust over the Atlantic.

Global Warming and Hurricane Activity

The past century has seen North Atlantic hurricanes occurring in three periods of relatively stable frequency separated by sharp upward transitions. Each period has experienced 50% more hurricanes than the previous one and each was associated with a distinct change in eastern Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs). After taking account of missing cyclones in earlier periods due to poor observing systems, we have experienced an 80-100% increase in hurricane frequency over since the early 1900s. Natural variability has contributed to some of the observed changes, but the compelling conclusion is that the overall increase has been substantially influenced by greenhouse warming. Superimposed on this increasing hurricane frequency is a completely independent oscillation in the proportions of major and minor hurricanes (compared to all storms). This oscillation has no distinguishable net trend and may arise largely from internal oscillations of the climate system. The period of enhanced major hurricane activity during 1945-1964 arose entirely from this oscillation. Unfortunately, the period since 1995 has experienced a double-whammy of a sharp increase in both numbers of hurricanes and the proportion of major hurricanes.

This heightened hurricane activity is unlikely to decrease in the future and we may see further increases. If so, current planning, building and coastal levee systems may prove to be inadequate, leading to more New Orleans-type disasters. The National Hurricane Research Initiative is designed to provide us with the tools to assess this future threat, to develop improved forecast and community response approaches, and to establish coastal planning approach to minimize the potential for future disasters. It is an initiative of critical national importance, which deserves strong and urgent support.

Long-term changes in Tropical Cyclone Activity: Looking Forward and Looking Back

To understand how human-induced climate change influences global and Atlantic tropical cyclone activity it is essential to have accurate records of past tropical cyclone variations and to model future climate conditions. The ways that tropical cyclones are measured have evolved over time, thereby influencing the homogeneity of the record. Statistical techniques can help, however, to estimate these deficiencies in the century-scale record. To project future conditions, global climate models (GCMs) – though not perfect – are our best tools. Although current computing power prevents GCMs from explicitly representing tropical cyclones, GCMs do indicate robust changes in many of the large-scale environmental conditions that are known to influence tropical cyclone activity, such as the thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere and vertical wind shear. Analyses of climate models and reconstructions of past tropical cyclone records indicate:

* Observational evidence for century-scale changes in tropical cyclone activity is mixed, depending on the metric chosen, on the statistical correction applied to the data and on the time interval being examined.

* Climate model projections of the Atlantic and East Pacific response to global warming exhibit mixed changes in cyclone-relevant parameters, with both an increase in thermodynamic potential intensity of tropical cyclones and an increase in vertical wind shear. More refined methods are needed to understand the detailed response of tropical cyclones to these environmental changes.

* Outside of the Atlantic and East Pacific, projected changes to both the thermodynamic potential and the wind shear indicate conditions more favorable to tropical cyclone activity under global warming.

* Although questions remain about the detailed response of tropical cyclone activity to human-induced climate change, we have relatively much greater confidence in the projected response of other large-scale climate conditions to increasing greenhouse gases (e.g., global warming, surface temperatures over land warm faster than over ocean, Arctic sea ice reduction, increase in ocean heat content, etc.).

Modeling the Response of Atlantic Hurricanes to Climate Variability and Change

A pressing question concerning ongoing global warming is whether human-caused warming of the planet has had any discernible impact on Atlantic hurricane activity. Confidence in any such a link is currently hampered by both data quality issues for the hurricane observational record and by limited work specifically targeting this question from a modeling perspective. Based on existing studies to date:

* Observed data, including consideration of data problems, give conflicting indications on whether there have been significant increases in Atlantic tropical storm and hurricane numbers. U.S. land-falling numbers have not increased. Models have not yet reproduced some reported long-term (~100 yr) increasing trends in basin-wide numbers.

* High resolution models consistently project increasing hurricane intensities and rainfall rates for the late 21st century, but whether there will be more or fewer hurricanes remains uncertain.

* A new modeling approach reproduces many important aspects of Atlantic hurricane activity observed since 1980, and thus shows promise as a tool for both understanding past variations and for making more reliable projections of future hurricane activity.

Biographies Dr. Kerry Emanuel is a professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he has been on the faculty since 1981, after spending three years as a faculty member at UCLA. Professor Emanuel’s research interests focus on tropical meteorology and climate, with a specialty in hurricane physics. His interests also include cumulus convection, and advanced methods of sampling the atmosphere in aid of numerical weather prediction. He is the author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and three books, including Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes, recently released by Oxford University Press and aimed at a general audience, and What We Know about Climate Change, published by the MIT Press.

Dr. William Lau is currently the Chief of the Laboratory for Atmospheres at NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Adjunct Professor at Department of Meteorology U. of Maryland. His research work spans three decades and covers a wide range of topics including climate dynamics, tropical and monsoon meteorology, ocean-atmosphere interaction, and climate variability and change.

Dr. Lau has received numerous awards for his research and his scientific leadership, including among others, the AMS Meisinger Award in 1997; the John Lindsay Award,1998; the NASA Exceptional Science Achievement Award, 1991; the William Nordberg Award (GSFC highest award in Earth Sciences), 2002. He is a Goddard Senior Fellow, a fellow of the American Meteorological Society since 1988, and a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, 2007. Dr. Lau has published over 190 refereed papers, book Chapters in refereed journals. He is the principal author of a book “Intraseasonal Variability in the Tropical Ocean-Atmosphere System”, published in 2006. Dr. Lau received his B. Sc. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Hong Kong, and his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington, Seattle.

Dr. Greg Holland is currently Director of the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, where he is involved scientifically with hurricane landfall, genesis and climate related work. He is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society as well as the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. Dr. Holland has several areas of research interests which have carried through to applications and include improved forecasting of tropical cyclone motion, scale interactions associated with cyclogenesis, establishment of field facilities, establishment of programs on coastal impacts of tropical cyclones and the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Dr. Holland has authored or co-authored more than 120 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and book chapters, as well as dozens of planning documents, scientific prospectuses and workshop papers. He has given several hundred invited talks worldwide, as well as many contributed presentations at national and international conferences on hurricanes and related. He has also convened several national and international workshops, and served on several national and international committees and science-planning initiatives.

Dr. Gabriel Vecchi is a Research Oceanographer at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, New Jersey, where he has been working since 2003. GFDL, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is one of the world’s leading climate modeling centers. Dr. Vecchi received a B.A. in Mathematics from Rutgers University, and an M.S. in Oceanography, an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Washington. His scientific research focuses on the interactions between the atmosphere and oceans on timescales from weeks to centuries. His recent research has focused on understanding long-term changes to tropical circulation and variability, including characterizing changes relevant to the possible impact of climate change on hurricanes.

Dr. Vecchi currently serves on the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Indian Ocean Panel, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. His awards include the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the American Geophysical Union’s Editor’s Citation for Excellence in Refereeing for Geophysical Research Letters, and the Cook College, Rutgers University Marine Sciences Student of the Year. He has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed science journals or book chapters.

Thomas R. Knutson has been a Research Meteorologist at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, New Jersey since 1990. GFDL, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is one of the world’s leading climate modeling centers. Mr. Knutson has authored several modeling studies in major scientific journals on the potential impact of climate change on hurricanes. He now leads a project at GFDL aimed at simulating past and future Atlantic hurricane activity using regional high-resolution models.

He currently serves on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Expert Team on Climate Impacts on Tropical Cyclones, and was a major contributor to the December 2006 WMO “Statement on Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change”. He is a member of a U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) committee developing an assessment report on “Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate,” the AMS Climate Variability and Change Committee, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Climate. Mr. Knutson has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed science journals or book chapters.

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Hurricanes, Tropical Storms And Driving

9.21.2007

Hurricanes, Tropical Storms And Driving

We have all heard the saying I’m sure that water and oil don’t mix. It is so true. This is especially the case when the water and the oil are mixing on the roads we have to drive on.

It’s bad enough to have to drive in heavy down pours of rain but it is dangerous to drive when the oil from the roads are floating to the surface and causing oil slicks. With many heavy duty trucks on many of the roads this will result in even more slick spots especially in heavy isolated storms.

So if you have to be out in the rain take extra precautions adn make sure you have a disaster kit for your car. I f you don’t have to be out in it STAY INSIDE for your sake and others.

You may drive on the road just find but your driving could help to bring up the oil off the surface and result in others being affected. So stay, off the roads, stay in and relax. Hey it’s the weekend.

QUESTION: What are you doing to prepare for the active weather weekend? Where are you and what do you think you should do to prepare for storms?

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?

Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Pease, Blessings & Be Safe!

Terrie

Web Site: www.trainforahurricane.com

Web Site http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com

Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.

©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved

All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Depression becomes tropical,

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ik=e179ab4788&zx=17kxpircrpw6b&rtm=1190394502171

"wbaltv.com"

Issued at: 12:46 PM CDT 9/21/07 (gateway).

Satellite imagery indicates that the subtropical depression has acquired enough tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical depression.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from apalachicola Florida westward to the mouth of the mississippi river, including new orleans and lake pontchartrain. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 100 pm cdt, 1800z, the center of tropical depression ten was located near latitude 29.7 north, longitude 85.9 west or about 50 miles, 85 km, southwest of apalachicola Florida and about 155 miles, 250 km, east-southeast of mobile alabama.

The depression is moving toward the northwest near 11 mph. A turn to the west-northwest is expected during the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, the center of the depression will be moving nearly parallel to the coastline within the warning area today and tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, 55 km/hr, with higher gusts. The depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today or tomorrow.

The minimum central pressure reported by a reconnaissance aircraft was 1006 mb, 29.71 inches.

Rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches, can be expected in association with the depression.

Isolated tornadoes are possible over southwestern georgia, the florida panhandle, and southeastern alabama through tonight.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 to 2 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore flow.

Repeating the 100 pm cdt position, 29.7 n, 85.9 w. Movement toward, northwest near 11 mph. Maximum sustained winds, 35 mph. Minimum central pressure, 1006 mb.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

9.21.2007

More to a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

Than Just Wind & Rain!

When we think of a tropical storm or a hurricane we think of weather reporters bracing themselves again the mighty wind and rain that is pelting them at sharp angels. Well yes that is a part of a hurricane experience but hey there is also another component that can be just a dangerous and often give little warning to the dastardly path it is going to take.

at component is called a Tornado. It’s a wicket thing to experience. If you are in the region of a hurricane you can also be exposed to the possible danger of a tornado.

Keep you emergency alert radios turned ON and have a disaster kit for every family member including yrou pets ready at all times.

In a hurricane you have believe it or not the luxury of some time to prepare. In a tornado there are minutes to seconds to prepare. That is why it is so important to have your emergency disaster kit ready at all times and a well thought out disaster plan already designed and written down.

So many people tell me that they would be willing to do a disaster plan if they only knew how. Well I can certainly appreciate that issue myself. Frankly when I started out in critical incident response thanatology I had little knowledge of what to do or have prepared myself. I’ve learned and so can you.

Go get my newest book Train For a Hurricane ( www.trainforahurricane.com ) and review not only the section on preparation for a hurricane but also the Train For a Hurricane Disaster Workbook and then get ready to use the enclosed disaster plan template that will help you step by step get your comprehensive plan ready for what ever may happen.

Imagine if you were one of the 300 families that are now is without electric or one of the 50families arriving back home to find that their homes are damaged -- what would YOU be doing right now?

If you had a disaster plan you would know exactly what to do and when. Know how to recover from a disaster such as a hurricane or a tornado.

The weekend is just a few short hours away. What are YOU doing this weekend? If you don’t have a disaster plan already designed and some disaster preparations on hand then I suggest you spend a couple of hours getting ready.

A disaster can happen at any time. Just ask the 30 families and the Lake County Red Cross what they will be doing this weekend!

QUESTION: What are you doing to prepare for the active weather weekend? Where are you and what do you think you should do to prepare for storms?

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?

Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Peace and blessings

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com

Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.

©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved

All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Tropical Storm Spins Tornados in Florida

Posted Sep 21, 2007, 8:52 AM ET

http://www.gameshout.com/news/tropical_storm_spins_tornados_in_florida/article9561.htm

Nearly 300 residences are without power after storms spun off from a tropical-weather system in the Gulf of Mexico.

About fifty homes were damaged from storms and a tornado in Lake County, Florida late last night -- a weather system that spawned those storms could wreak more havoc today.

Twenty homes in the Eustis area were destroyed, and another 30 suffered significant damage, mostly in the older part of Eustis in northern Lake County. About 300 residences are without power this morning.

No one suffered major injuries, however, and clean-up efforts are already underway. Two inmate crews from the Lake County Jail worked through the night to clear roadways for school buses.

The storms spun off of a tropical-weather system lingering in the Gulf of Mexico.

A weather plane is scheduled to fly into the storm this morning, to gather data. And the National Hurricane Center is monitoring the storm, expected to drift to the northwest today, to see if it will develop into a tropical storm or depression.

Even if it doesn't become a major tropical storm, forecasters said it could continue to bring winds and rain to the region today.

The American Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter, for residents whose homes were damaged in the storm. The shelter at the Bay Street Baptist Church can hold up to 300 people but had just one occupant this morning.

Dozens of residents were outside at dawn, taking photos and shooting video of the damage.

Roads are mostly clear of large debris. But lawns are littered with items ranging from canoes to pieces of barns and garages.

Sandwiched Between A Hurricane & A Tropical Storm

9.21.2007

Sandwiched Between A Hurricane & A Tropical Storm

Well some folks thought we were out of the hurricane woods but surprise we are far from it. Right now parts of the California coast is bracing for Hurricane Ivo that is predicted to come ashore in the next 5 days. Then there is Tropical Storm Jerry that is causing The Governor of Louisiana to declare a precautionary State of Emergency.

Looks like a VERY active weather weekend in some areas and long nights at many weather centers.

The most important thing people right now should be doing is preparing in a calm and intentional manner. Get the emergency food supply in and disaster kits up to date. Make sure you have a 2 week minimum of medications. Have all the lawn furniture, trash cans, children’s toys and other yard items stored away out of the weather and possible danger. I’ll have more suggestions I the next blog that should be coming up soon.

QUESTION: What are you doing to prepare for the active weather weekend? Where are you and what do you think you should do to prepare for storms?

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?

Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Peace and blessings

Terrie

Web Site: www.trainforahurricane.com

Web Site http://trainforahurricane.blogspot.com

Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

She is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response, with over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. She has 20+ years experience in assisting those in need. Dr. Modesto is available for consultations, lectures media interviews.

©2007 Train For A Hurricane.com All rights reserved

All writings here are copyrighted by Terrie Modesto and Train For A Hurricane.com. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

Tropical Storm Warning Posted For Gulf Coast

http://www.wdsu.com/weather/14166196/detail.html

Governor Declares Precautionary State Of Emergency

POSTED: 9:13 pm CDT September 20, 2007

UPDATED: 12:11 pm CDT September 21, 2007

NEW ORLEANS -- Forecasters issued tropical storm warnings for a 380-mile stretch of the Gulf Coast Friday morning.

By mid-morning, a subtropical depression was 45 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Fla., but the National Hurricane Center put warnings in effect from Apalachiola to the mouth of the Mississippi River -- including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 to 2 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore flow.

According to the NHC's advisory, "maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph ... with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and the depression could become a subtropical or tropical storm" later Friday.