Weather emergencies

Did you feel the earth move Tuesday?  Well,  I didn’t.  I’m in Indiana, the earthquake was on the east coast.  I’ve heard a lot of people saying they felt it around here, but I’m not one of them.  I heard about it online and immediately thought of my niece and her husband in the DC area..and I’m very appreciative of the fact that she realized enough of us would be concerned about her to post on Facebook that they were both okay.  Isn’t it wonderful that we can be in instant contact with our loved ones?

I do remember feeling tremors from an earthquake many years ago…strong enough to rattle dishes in the cabinets and shake pictures on the wall.  I think earthquakes are so infrequent around here that we don’t fully comprehend what’s going on at the time.  Not that I’m complaining about that at all.

And, of course, there is hurricane Irene…I’m hoping all my friends down that way will be safe and that the hurricane just stays out at sea.  Here in Indiana, we don’t have hurricanes…just tornadoes…and those things are scary enough for me.  Right now we have a thunderstorm moving in.  I have a friend who is terribly frightened by thunderstorms.  I’ve always kind of enjoyed them…until they knock out the power…then not so much.

Winter brings its own dangerous weather conditions here in Indiana…ice, snow, bitter temps…I guess every season has its weather troubles.  So, I’m wondering, what do people do to be prepared?  Do you have an emergency kit?  Do you keep extra food and water in a safe place?  Flashlights, battery operated radio, extra batteries?  What about medicine and first aid supplies?  Or pet food and other necessary supplies for your pets?  Emergency energy supplies…generator, wood for a fireplace? 

This is something I’ve thought about but never really done anything about.  I do have extra food, water, and pet supplies.  First aid supplies, candles and matches.  Flashlights and extra batteries, a battery operated radio.  But no alternate energy source other than candles.  A couple of winters ago, the power went out and stayed out for almost 24 hours.  I stayed in my house, dressed warmly, had blankets (and cats) piled on the bed.  It got a little chilly but not unbearable.  However, I don’t know what I would have done had the power stayed out for several days like it often does in the more rural areas. 

I guess I am semi-prepared for a weather emergency, but I know I could do more.  I would really like to put together an emergency bag with the necessities to make it through a few days if I were forced to evacuate in a hurry.  Some people claim that’s negative thinking, but I don’t think it ever hurts to be prepared…you never know what may come your way.

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Not fit for man nor beast

Image by benchilada via Flickr

It is unbearably hot and humid here in Indiana (as in much of the rest of the country).  I had an appointment with my eye doctor this morning.  I thought I could kind of beat the heat by having the appointment scheduled for first thing in the morning…well, I’m here to tell you, I don’t think there was any way to beat the heat today.  As soon as I walked out the front door, I felt like I was trying to breathe under water…it’s like the air in a tropical rain forest…ugh!  And you know it’s going to be entirely too hot when your sunglasses steam up as soon as you slip them on.  Great, so now I’m in the fog under water…I took my time walking, didn’t want to be drenched with sweat when I sat down in that chair at the eye doctor’s office. 

I appreciate air conditioning, believe me, I do.  But have you ever noticed how cold it is in a lot of the businesses?  I think movie theaters and restaurants are the worst.  I always bring a sweater or light jacket to slip on when I’m going to either of those places.  Then, when you walk outside, the heat and humidity slam into you all over again, crushing your lungs and searing all the moisture from your body.  Water, water, please keep water with you when it’s this hot. 

I have one last plea to make concerning how animals are affected by this awful heat.  Please, please don’t leave your pets locked in your car while you run into the store, or wherever.  Just leave your dog at home in the air conditioning when it’s like this.  They can’t take the heat in a vehicle.  It builds up quickly and can kill your beloved pet just as quickly.  If you’re one of those people who keeps your pets outdoors (I don’t understand that myself, but I know that’s what some people do), please make sure they have access to plenty of fresh water and shade.  They depend on us to give them the care they need in extreme weather.  If you have a pet, make sure you take responsibility for them.  Keep them safe.  Keep them hydrated.  And, while you’re at it, check up on your elderly neighbors.  It only takes a few minutes and you could save a life today.

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It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity…really?

Image by steven and darusha via Flickr

I’m thinking it’s both the heat and the humidity.  When I walked out the front door at work this evening, the heat slammed into my body, knocking the breath right out of my lungs.  I knew we were under a heat advisory, but I still wasn’t prepared for it.  Now that I’m a little older (and I guess just how much older is relative to where you fall on that whole age scale…if you’re 70, I’m still a young whippersnapper…but if you’re in your twenties, then I’m old enough to be your mother…now there’s a scary thought), I find the terribly high heat combined with a high level of humidity really affects me.  None of this running outside for me on days like today.  When I saw the thermometer on the bank down town had a reading of 102, all I wanted to do was go home to my nice air-conditioned house.   And for the inventor of air conditioning, all I can say is “thank you so much.”

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Looking for that silver lining

We had a tornado in my town almost two weeks ago.  There was a lot of property damage, but no serious injuries and no deaths.  We were much more fortunate than people in other parts of the country.  A lot of people are still dealing with the clean up, there are people who are still out of their homes, and others trying to figure out where to go from here.  But those are things that can be dealt with, handled, and fixed.  I’m hoping that we’re all finished with tornadoes for this year…

No tornadoes in these pictures, but aren’t the cloud formations striking?

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Foggy Sunday morning

I went out for a walk early this morning and stepped out the front door to this…

It was pretty good walking weather though, the temps were mild and there was a slight breeze.  I didn’t see anyone else out at that time…I was starting to wonder if they’d all been raptured last night and left me alone in the neighborhood!  I have to admit, it was pretty peaceful.  I walked by this tree and had to take a picture…

Almost prehistoric looking…I hate those little balls when they turn brown and fall all over the sidewalk, drive and yard.

At least the pansies are still loving this crazy weather we’ve been having.  Now what will tomorrow bring?

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