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Did you know that you can help the Gulf of Mexico without traveling beyond your driveway? Our region is part of the Mississippi River watershed, an area of land that drains rain water and river water into the Gulf of Mexico. When it storms here, rainwater carries pollutants like fertilizer from farms and lawns, motor [...]

May 23-29, 2010 is Hurricane Preparedness Week.  Hurricanes encompass many hazards – storm surge, high winds, heavy rains, flooding and even tornadoes. The official Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.  As peak season approaches, it is important to understand and prepare for hurricane hazards. Viewer Tip: This is the [...]

The National Weather Service estimates that about 1200 tornadoes occur in the U.S each year, causing up to 70 fatalities and 1500 injuries nationwide.  When severe thunderstorms occur, changing wind direction and speed can create an area of rotating air, which is where most tornadoes form.  Thunderstorms can also be accompanied by high winds, hail [...]

Many homes and buildings are adjacent to woodlands and parks, which provide beautiful views and peaceful settings.  But wildfire risk can be especially high in this “wildland-urban interface,” where the built environment blends with natural landscapes. Viewer Tip: You can protect your home from wildfire by reducing the amount of flammable material between your home and a natural area. An easy [...]

February 21-27 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Oklahoma.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Oklahoma, including tornadoes, flash floods and thunderstorms. Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you [...]

February 21-27 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Louisiana.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Louisiana, including flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes. Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure [...]

February 22-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Arkansas.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Arkansas, including flash floods, thunderstorms and tornadoes. Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside [...]

February 22-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Arizona.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Arizona, including flash floods, thunderstorms and damaging winds. Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set [...]

February 22-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Alabama.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Alabama, including flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes. Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set [...]

February 21-27 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Texas, including flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes. Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure [...]

September is National Preparedness Month! A 2009 national survey by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found that just over half of respondents have set aside emergency supplies at home, but less than half of survey respondents have a household emergency plan. Viewer Tip: Are you prepared? Make sure you have the supplies and information [...]

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into flood waters; the next highest percentage of deaths is from walking into or near flood waters.  Many people falsely believe that cars, trucks and SUVs are heavy enough to maintain contact with the road [...]

Those who are involved in outdoor sports and recreational activities between the months of May and September can be exposed to the dangers of lightning.  The majority of injuries related to lightning occur over the summer, with 80 percent of injuries occurring between 10 am and 7 pm.  Viewer Tip:  If you spend time outdoors, have [...]

This spring and summer have been especially difficult for farmers and gardeners in the Northeast due to the inordinate amount of water received, mainly in the form of rain. Several storms have brought heavy downpours with hail. At Garden in the Woods of Framingham, MA, one particularly damaging hail storm roared through just after the [...]

Mold spores are naturally present in the air at harmless concentrations, but with added moisture can grow to levels that spur allergies and asthma in susceptible individuals.  After heavy rains or when leaks or flooding dampen homes, dormant mold spores can grow expolsively and release enough new spores to sicken people. Viewer Tip: It is [...]

An average of 11 tropical storms develop each year over the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.  While many of those storms stay over the ocean without impacting the U.S., about five hurricanes will strike the U.S. Coastline from Texas to Maine in a given three-year period, with two being Category 3 (111-130 [...]

The typical U.S. thunderstorm is about 15 miles in diameter and lasts 20-30 minutes. Although thunderstorms impact relatively small areas when compared to winter storms or hurricanes, they are still dangerous.  Thunderstorms can be accompanied by hail, strong winds and flash flooding; every thunderstorm is accompanied by lightning.  The National Weather Service reports that to [...]

Dust storms can make driving conditions difficult, but did you know that they can also affect your health?  When dust particles are inhaled, they can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate bronchitis and other lung diseases. Certain people are especially vulnerable to health impacts from dust particles – young children, the elderly, adults who exercise outside [...]

In 2007, floods occurred in every U.S. state, causing claims of nearly 600 million dollars. Flash floods – usually caused by sudden, heavy rainfall – can occur in just a few hours or less; rushing water from flash floods can move rocks and debris, and damage homes and buildings.  Viewer Tip:  People who live in [...]

In the southwest, brown outs from blowing dust are not uncommon occurrences. New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Centers estimate that the average annual wind speed in the southwest is 17 to 18 miles per hour, although gusts can be much higher. Spring seems to bring about the greatest wind strengths and speeds. Viewer Tip: [...]