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Continent on Fire: Map Shows 6 Months of Wildfires Burning North America
All the wildfires that have hit the bulk of North America over the last 6 months make for a strikingly full picture when put together. This new map from NOAA shows each fire detected by satellites so far this season.
It’s important to note what this map is showing before you draw any conclusions, however. Each spot on the map represents a fire signature caught by a thermal sensor on NOAA’s GOES satellites. Every time a fire is detected, a new spot is added — this means when two different satellites see the same fire, two tiny dots are added. When the same satellite sees the same fire again, another dot. So far this year, fires have Read more…
Wildfire forces evacuation of 100 Colo. homes
GOLDEN, Colo. — About 100 homes in the foothills west of Denver remained under evacuation orders and hundreds more were on standby as strong winds helped spread a wildfire scorching nearly 2 square miles of drought-stricken brush, trees and grasses.
The fire has already blackened about 1,200 acres west of Golden, in Jefferson County, and officials said it was 15 percent contained Tuesday.
A light dusting of snow fell on the tops of the hills overnight, but the weather has been mostly working against firefighters in the steep, rugged terrain about 15 miles from downtown Denver.
More strong winds are in the forecast, with gusts as high as 75 mph expected later in the Read more…
Are you prepared for a emergency?
The Council for Excellence in Government and American Red Cross conducted a poll that found that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did not motivate a plurality of Americans to prepare for an emergency. Only 12 percent say they’ve done a great deal to prepare for a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other major emergency.
The poll shows that most Americans yawned and went back to sleep (Table 1).
Conclusion
We are our own first responders, and it is up to each of us to create a family communication plan, put together emergency supplies, and practice evacuation plans. We are an optimistic, generous nation, which opened its hearts and wallets to those whose lives were turned upside down. We are willing to help others. Now we’ve got to help ourselves.
Patricia McGinnis is president and CEO of the Council for Excellence in Government (www.excelgov.org).
Table 1. Is It Time to Wake Up? It won't happen to me. More than half say that one reason they have not done more to prepare is because they do not think another disaster is likely to happen to them. We seem to believe that the tragedies of Katrina and Rita were terrible events with horrific consequences--but the devastation was someplace else--not in my community, home, or business. I don't mind inconvenience Since the 9/11 attacks, we have given our as long as I don't have to leaders wide latitude to protect our do anything. Nation. For the most part, we have been more than willing to sacrifice some privacy for safety and preparedness. After July's London subway bombings, a Fox News poll found that 85 percent would not mind a bag search before entering public transportation, which would not require any extra effort on our part. I don't know what to do. Two months after Katrina, the Americans who said they hadn't prepared because they didn't know what to do actually increased by 9 percent. We saw and heard the desperate pleas of family members separated by Katrina, yet most of us still have no plan on how to communicate with family members during or after a disaster. Just 36 percent report that they have prepared a communications plan to contact loved ones in an emergency if they get separated. Only one-quarter have established a specific meeting place in the event that they or their family are evacuated or cannot return home. Only one in three have stored extra food or bottled water for emergencies.Some Americans have gotten More than half of Southerners say that the wake up call. the hurricanes gave them motivation to prepare for a disaster. But others are still hitting the snooze button: just 35 percent of people in the West, 31 percent of people in the East, and only 21 percent of Mid-westerners have been motivated to prepare. We demand that our leaders give us better and more effective emergency plans for our communities, yet only 18 percent of Americans are familiar with their city or town's emergency plan. Even fewer are aware of their state's plan. We know significantly more about plans for our workplaces (45 percent) and local schools (28 percent), but we're nowhere near ready.The Home Survival Kit
Store everything here in sealed plastic bags or containers, and keep in a place that is fairly accessible. This probably won’t cost as much as it might seem, and you probably have most of it already. Still, if price is an issue, buy this stuff a little at a time (maybe when it’s on sale?) and eventually you will have a truly epic survival kit.
1. Water: 1 gallon per person per day. For a family of 4 that makes 12 gallons. The best way is to buy gallon jugs of drinking water, because they are pre-sanitized and sealed to prevent any nastiness from getting in. If you decide to fill your own jugs, read this for instructions on how. Also, keep a bottle of non-scented bleach – 12 drops in a gallon of water makes it drinkable, and tea bags can make it taste better.
Word to the wise: As a last resort, there is a handy backup reserve of water – in your hot water heater. Open the drain valve at the bottom to get some water of last resort. Don’t forget to sterilize it with bleach!
2. Food: Go ahead and plan out 3 days worth of meals, using non-perishable food that does not need to be heated. Canned tuna, veggies, and fruits are great, as well as canned beans and potatoes, and dried fruit and nuts. They may not taste great cold, but they will work. Peanut butter is a high-calorie food with a long shelf life. Freeze dried camping meals and MRE’s are nice too, but they can get a little pricey. Stay away from foods that will make you thirsty, like high-sodium crackers or soups, and go for whole grains as much as possible. Don’t forget to add in some comfort food. You may be stuck inside for days, and a little candy or other snacks can go a long way.
Word to the wise: Don’t forget to pack a manual can opener!
3. First Aid Kit: You can buy one for about $25, (here is a good one from the Red Cross) or you can make your own. Check out this list of suggested first aid items. Don’t forget to include any prescription medication!
4. Clothes: A full change of clothes, including warm outer layers and sturdy comfortable shoes, for each person under your roof.
5. Flashlight: A crank powered led light with a built in emergency radio is my personal favorite, but a cheapo dollar-store version will work. Don’t forget the extra batteries!
6. Plastic Sheeting: Fiber-reinforced, laminated polyethylene film, 0.006 inches thick. You can buy 1,200 square feet of Dura Skrim DS2 for about $100. Or get a tarp — for covering broken windows or roofs.
7. Zip Ties and Duct Tape: These DIY favorites are great for attaching the aforementioned plastic sheeting, or even making compression bandages or splints.
8. Protective Wear: Waterproof and cut resistant Kevlar gloves and N95 face masks. Get one face mask for each person, at least.
9. Tools: A crowbar to pry debris that might stand between you and a loved one. An adjustable wrench. Screwdrivers. A staple gun. Rope. Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type.
10. Matches: Strike-anywhere, waterproof, and windproof. Keep them in a plastic bag. In another bag, hoard some dryer lint for kindling.
11. Sanitation: Toilet paper, soap, liquid detergent, feminine supplies, personal hygiene items (travel-sized, please), plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses), plastic bucket with tight lid, disinfectant, household chlorine bleach.
12. Radio