hurricaneawareness

Portable Generator

Generators are used to create electricity, in those inopportune moments when the power goes out. Generators are great things to invest in if you own a business and cannot afford down time, or if you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters. This blog is going to discuss the major types of generators and cost involved in the purchase. Let’s discuss some key points in what to look for when purchasing a generator.

• wattage
• voltage
• type of fuel
• how much fuel you will burn
• noise
• portability

You should think about these things when investing in a generator. There are two major types of generators:

Standby: The standby generator is used mostly by businesses and homes. These generators are installed outside the house and are hooked up on a permanent basis. This generator is plugged into a circuit in your home or office. This particular generator senses power outages and has automatic on and off. It runs on environmentally approved fuels such as propane and natural gas. The only problem with these is cooling. If used too much, they can overheat. They can be air cooled or liquid cooled. However, the air cooled type is much noisier.

Portable: Portable generators are exactly what the name suggests, portable. These can be used by construction workers or on a camp site. They can be placed where you may need a little power to run certain appliances. The only downfall to a portable generator is the gas it needs to run. Gasoline is tough to store. And you can only use the generator for so long. You can probably use it a few hours at a time. You also run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if you over use. This is not for permanent use. It is just for occasions. This generator can be substantially cheaper than a standby.

When you go to purchase your generator the cost can vary. Portable generators can start at just a couple hundred dollars and then go up from there, depending on voltage and wattage needs. Standby generators can go for thousands of dollars. Standby generators have to be installed so you would have to pay out of pocket for that in addition to the generator. You just need to determine use and need to figure out the right generator for you.

Source: Article Base
Photo: Consumer Energy

When disaster strikes anywhere, anytime, FEMA is there to assist those in need. Set up to help American citizens prepare for, protect against and recover from the many forms of natural disasters, FEMA provides several structures of aide all over the country.

FEMA has ten regional offices in the US in places such as the Center for Domestic Preparedness, the National Emergency Training Center, the Nobel Training Center and various other aid facilities.

The emergency support team of FEMA is maintained by the dedication of dozens of organizations that include tribal, state and federal partners as well as local offices, faith-based groups, non-profit organizations, the private sector and the general public.

The year 2011 has brought with it a multitude of natural disasters from wild fires and hurricanes to earthquakes and tornadoes. Mother Nature can strike at any time. It is important that American citizens know how to prepare for these natural disasters so they can better defend against the harsh and often devastating aftermath.

One of the primary elements of FEMA is its help with rental assistance. They have been able to extend assistance to those who cannot make rental payments. This extension can last up to 18 months after a disaster declaration. Since the beginning of the year, FEMA has helped more than 10,000 homeowners and renters make their payments.

To be eligible for rental assistance applicants need to apply for disaster assistance by going online and following the instructions on FEMA’s website. Initially, those who qualify for FEMA assistance are given two months worth of rental assistance. For those who require additional help, they will need to enter into FEMA’s re-certification process.

To make a request for financial assistance, applicants must provide a declaration letter containing your disaster number and registration number. You must also provide a signed copy of your contract or lease agreement as well as proof of rental payment with documents such as rent receipts as well as your current income statement.

Image c/o FEMA

Hurricane Irene!

Every since my brush with Hurricane Katrina, I have been curious as to how exactly hurricane names are found. Do they just pick them at random? Who picks them? Is there a system? This post is going to give you a brief rundown on how hurricane names are chosen, and who chooses them.

Hurricane names are chosen by the WMO (Weather Meteorological Organization). This committee has a list of names that are reused every six years. The list originated with the NHC (National Hurricane Committee) who held the list from 1953-1979, then it was passed over to the Weather Meteorological Organization.

At this point there are six lists, and each list has 21 names on it. So every six years the lists are recycled. This year’s list will be reused in 2017. It was up until 1979 or 80 that females names dominated the list. Male names were introduced after that time. It is said naming the hurricanes made it easier for people to identify them, rather than weather meteorologists giving out coordinates. Because as we all know, multiple hurricanes can pop up at any given time during hurricane season.

So in essence, the naming of hurricanes was done to help people know when and where a hurricane is and when it may strike.

Source: IB Times
Photo: IB Times

This year has brought with it many natural disasters such as the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan to the recent destruction of Hurricane Irene that swept through the Bahamas and up the east coast of North America.

Wildfires in both Canada and the United States have also affected millions of people as well as the earthquakes that hit Chile and New Zealand. The aftermath of these disasters often leave people feeling helpless as their homes and personal lives are left in complete ruin.

If you know of someone who has dedicated themselves to those in need, the Weather Channel wants to know about it! Do you know someone who drops everything to rush to the aid of  friends or total strangers? If you know of someone who is always there to help others with their time or with donations, the Weather Channel wants you to nominate them for recognition.

This year, the Weather Channel is paying special recognition to those who have put their own needs aside in order to assist others. Nominate your friend’s compassion, hard work, kindness and dedication today. The contest closes on September 7, 2011 so you better hurry! To nominate someone you know, simply go to www.facebook.com/TheWeatherChannel.

Five good Samaritan finalists will be chosen from the Facebook nominations. The top three nominees will each be awarded $2,000. They will also have the opportunity to tell their story in December when the Weather Channel features a limited series of the severe weather highlights of 2011. What are you waiting for? Nominate your friend today!

Image by Weather.com

Since 1980, the USA has experienced severe weather disasters totaling over $750 billion in damages to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Not to mention the countless lives that have been lost. The National Weather Service (NWS) has had enough.

“Severe weather represents a very real threat to public safety that requires additional robust action,” said Jack Hayes, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “The increasing impacts of natural disasters, as seen this year, are a stark reminder of the lives and livelihoods at risk.”

The NWS has decided to partner with other government agencies, researchers and private sector businesses to improve forecasting, preparedness and response in an effort to better address the impact of extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, electrical/thunderstorms, earthquakes and floods.

NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the agency that operates the NWS, is calling the campaign to get a better handle on weather emergencies the “Weather-Ready Nation” initiative. According to a press release issued on August 17, 2011, the initiative includes these goals among others:

• Improved precision of weather and water forecasts and effective communication of risk to local authorities;
• Improved weather decision support services with new initiatives such as the development of mobile-ready emergency response specialist teams;
• Innovative science and technological solutions such as the nationwide implementation of Dual Pol radar technology, Integrated Water Resources Science and Services, and the Joint Polar Satellite System;
• Strengthening joint partnerships to enhance community preparedness;
• Working with weather enterprise partners and the emergency management community to enhance safety and economic output and effectively manage environmental resources.

“Building a Weather-ready nation is everyone’s responsibility,” said Eddie Hicks, IAEM USA president. “It starts with National Weather Service and emergency managers, like the U.S. Council of International Association of Emergency Managers, but it ends with actions by individuals and businesses to reduce their risks. The more prepared communities are for destructive weather, the less of a human and economic toll we’ll experience in the future, and that’s a great thing for the country.”

“The partnership between the government, private, and academic sectors, all represented in the professional membership of the American Meteorological Society, is extremely strong and is essential in achieving this vision,” said Jonathan Malay, president of the AMS. “Given the resources to grow our scientific understanding of our complex environment through observations and research and to apply this knowledge in serving society, we can do amazing things together.”

Other ongoing efforts to improve response to natural disasters include Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG-911) which is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plan to improve accuracy and usability of the 9-1-1 Emergency system. The most visible benefit of NG-911 to the public is the ability to send text messages, photos and videos to 9-1-1 dispatch centers. This is expected to greatly improve the ability of first responders to provide life-saving assistance. For instance, a paramedic might be able to start helping a victim before arriving on the scene based on the content of a cell phone photo or video.

The FCC is also requiring all radio, television and cable TV stations to replace their Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment with newer, updated equipment. The EAS system is the one that requires stations to run those announcements with the strange sounders. The messages that say something like, “This station is conducting a test of the Emergency Alert System…” The new system, called CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) would ensure that all Americans, including those with disabilities or non-English-speaking individuals, would have access to emergency information in the event of activation of this nationwide system. Eventually, the system may involve alerts over internet provider and cell phone carrier networks. The new system is to roll out this fall, and a nationwide test is tentatively scheduled for November.

Weather-Ready Nation? We’re not there yet, but a lot of time and money is being spent to get there. Keep your ears on!

Find NOAA on

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/usnoaagov

Other Social Media Channels: http://www.noaa.gov/socialmedia/

Find the FCC on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FCC

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/fcc

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Sources:

NOAA

FCC

Hurricane season is upon us again and Irene is making her way toward the U. S. Eastern seaboard at the time of this writing. Interest in tracking hurricanes online and with smartphone apps is at an all-time high, and if that interests you, here are some great resources for you.

National Hurricane Center

National Hurricane Center Mobile Site

This one is from the National Weather Service (NWS). The site has basic information presented in a clear and concise manner. There are lots of menu options for other weather-related products from the NWS, some of which get pretty technical. But for basic hurricane information, this site is a good one to start with.The mobile site works well from a handheld device and doesn’t take the time to load any graphics unless you click to load the maps. It’s very fast for quick updates on storm status.

StormPulse

Stormpulse is divided in to several sections to keep it simple: Your local area weather, Atlantic Hurricanes, Pacific Hurricanes and U.S. Weather. The site gives you all the basic information you need at a quick glance and has a free version and a paid version. The paid version seems to be mostly for enterprise users and the main benefit is that you get full-screen maps. Site is useful without a subscription.

NowCOAST

If you’re a little more serious about your hurricanes, you might try NowCOAST. This site is more detailed than most of the other sites we checked, and gives you complete control over how you view the data. It seems to require Internet Explorer so don’t expect this one to work in your Firefox. There may be too many options here for the causal user.

StormTrack

This site offers java animated tracks of the storm so far as well as predictions of movement. You can also find all weather advisories related to each storm at the site. Animations are simple but informative.

IbisEye

IbisEye has one of the best-looking sites for storm tracking at first glance. A lot of control over how the data is presented is afforded and a full archive of storms going back to 1992 is available. This is one of the best sites but it does not appear to offer animations. However, you can control the zoom level from the entire planet to street level.

IbisEye is undergoing frequent updates and is very busy at times so if you don’t get it to load right away, wait a couple of minutes and try again. You may find it to be worth the wait.

Weather Underground

Comprehensive coverage of hurricanes and other weather patterns across the United States. A variety of maps and animations to choose from. Easy site to navigate and use.

U.S. Navy Storm Site

You really do have to be a weather geek to understand much of what is available at this site, but it’s included here because it has frequently-updated satellite imagery and a wealth of information for those who know how to interpret it. If you want to learn more about the data presented here, there is a link you can click on to learn more about the terminology and functionality of this site.

The Weather Channel and Accuweather also have hurricane tracking available on their websites as do many local TV stations across the country, Fox News, and CNN.

Smartphone Apps

If you’re a smartphone user and don’t relish the thought of searching around on that small screen for the information you need, there are a few apps that can help you. All platforms have weather apps available, but there are some apps that are dedicated to hurricanes or perform strongly in that area. Here are a few for Blackberry, iPhone and Android.

Blackberry

Storm Watch ($6.99) is a highly-rated storm tracking app for the Blackberry. From the company’s website, it is “a new, graphically driven Severe Weather tracking tool for Travelers, Storm Chasers and the Serious Student of Dangerous Weather.”

iPhone/iPad

Not surprisingly, there are many apps available for tracking storms on the iPhone. Hurricane HD ($2.99) from HurricaneTrack.com provides videos and up-to-date stats. Hurricane Tracker (free, or $1.99 for full version) has maps that are updated on-the-fly and offers push-alerts. Other apps include Hurricane Watch ($1.99, or $2.99 for HD version), Hurricane Tracking Center (free), and Hurricane Track (free).

The Stormpulse website says that an iPad app will be available for their site soon. You can sign up to be notified when it is available.

Android

For your Android, check out Hurricane Tracker ($1.49), Hurricane Hound (free, or $1.99 for full version), Hurricane Net ($0.99) and SeaStorm ($1.99).

Hopefully you can find something here that will give you the information you need in a comfortable presentation. If you know of other sites or apps you’d like to tell us about, please leave a comment.

 
We have been having unbelievably crazy weather all over the world. If you want to know how to help yourself give thought to purchasing a weather alert radio. Weather alert radios are one of the uprising tools to keep abreast of severe weather information in your area or around the country. The pluses to the weather alert radio are it can help you make effective decision about you property and how to protect it. Also it can be a lifesaver, so if you have to evacuate you can do it quickly and efficiently.

But you need to know that weather radios are better used for preventative measures. If you use it properly by listening to regular forecast and do not wait for the emergency alarm it could save your life. Although you should know you need to be proactive and work in conjunction with your weather radio. Be prepared have a plan so if it should come down to it your weather radio is just a notifier. Have a place to go, or food stored, so you are not caught off guard. A lot of people lose their lives not being properly prepared. All this starts with your weather radio.

I can speak on this subject being a Hurricane Katrina victim. I did not have a weather radio and rarely watched the news. I was lucky. If I had known I could have been better prepared. Do not do what I did. Be prepared. Your life could be at stake. On a last note I did a little research and weather alert radios range in price from 20-100 dollars depending on what you think is right for you. I think 20 bucks is worth it if your life is at stake.

Source:
Weather Alert Radios Info

Photo:
Radio Shack

This is the eye of the hurricane as seen from an airplane

It is extremely difficult to obtain excellent photographs of hurricanes, simply because they are so massive and destructive. Most people would rather escape their wrath than to sit and wait and take “nice” photos. Hence, most of the photos available show the aftermath as opposed to the actual hurricane. The best way to illustrate a hurricane is to use satellite photos. Through the choice of these photos I have tried to show the hurricane in the best way possible.

Damage to Power line caused by Hurricane Rita

In most instances the only way to sometimes illustrate the severity of a hurricane is through the windstricken palm trees and the aftermath as the photos below illustrate.

The wind stricken palms

Hurricane Ike left its mark of destruction

Images:
Nasa
Inside The Shrink
Rock True Blood

Hurricane season opens in June every year ,but the storms are only tropical depressions or maybe tropical storms the water is not real warm for the hurricanes to develop. July is always like June not really too active due to the fact that the water is not warm enough, but you get a lot more depressions and storms and some occasional hurricanes.Come August and September the hurricanes get started up due to a lot of storms coming off of Africa. Finally the season slows down in October and November where you still get some occasional hurricanes with a lot of tropical storms., the water is cooling off again so it is not as active.

After the hurricane finally runs through your town, you are probability going to be with out power for sometime until the power crews are able to fix everything. This process sometimes can last a long time, especially if the storm was very bad. This is why many people get portable generators to run some appliances in their house until the power comes back on.� Now, Generators are very tricky things to use, you have to be careful and watch what you are doing not only for yourself, but for others too.

One of the very first mistakes someone makes with a generator is running one in side there house, or their garage. What some people do not get about these things is that a typical generator produced the six times the carbon emissions as a car. This is how people are commonly killed after the storm passes, so try to keep this from happening.

Now most people use there generators to run simple items such as a fridge of t.v. However, if you are someone who has dropped a lot of cash on a backup generator, then you are going to have to do some extra steps before you can use it. After you have your generator installed, ask if your installed separated you from the rest of the grid. Most companies will but some expect you to do this for yourself. Why do you have to do this? Well, when you use your generator, some power is sent back up to the power lines. Well when the power companies are trying to fix the lines, that extra power in the lines can be dangerous to them. So buy doing this, you are making sure you don’t accidentally kill anyone and stay safe.