Tropical Depression Nicole Threatens Residents from Florida to North Carolina
September 29, 2010
It’s official: The sixteenth tropical depression of 2010 has formed in the Caribbean Sea and it is now officially being name Tropical Storm Nicole. This storm is on course for the southeastern United States and it carries with it heavy rains and winds up to 45 miles per hour or higher.
Late Tuesday evening the tropical depression was just south of Cuba and was moving north across Florida’s east coast. Nicole is expected to be near or over South Florida by Wednesday afternoon. Residents from Miami to West Palm Beach were bracing for the potential of eight to ten inches of rain. A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Jupiter Inlet to the southern-most Keys. The biggest threat for Wednesday is the potential for localized flooding.
This storm will then be skirting along the coast of South and North Carolina byThursday. Heavy rainfall is expected and already a flash flood watch is in effect for Wednesday and Thursday for most parts of central North Carolina. The better part of central North Carolina received two to six inches of rain Sunday and Monday while Wilmington, North Carolina got over ten inches. There were many reports of flooding and dozens of accidents reported. Nicole is only expected to make things worse in these already-saturated areas.
This storm is rather lop-sided in shape which makes it somewhat unpredictable. It has some characteristics of a monsoon that is typical in the Pacific Ocean near Asia. Nicole may turn out to develop into systems like Hurricane Irene that dumped 20 inches of rain in October 1999 or the ‘no-name storm’ of October 2000 which dumped twelve inches of rain in 24 hour. Nicole is not adding up to be a ‘classic tropical storm’ from the looks of things now and if she does end up shifting west, southern Florida could be facing much worse weather than what is currently forecast.
A flood watch has been put into effect for Miami-Date, Broward and Palm Beach counties in Florida. These counties could see anywhere from four to eight inches of rainfall when Nicole moves over the region. Flood preparation planning and implementation is taking place in many towns and cities in this area as officials and residents are keeping their eyes to the skies.
FEMA has already issued warnings to residents living in the southeastern portion of the United States. It says that it is watching this storm’s track and development carefully and is asking residents in the storm’s path to prepare for the possibility of flooding. This means that folks should know where the local shelters will be set up and be aware of the locations in their towns and cities that offer free sandbags.
Will Tropical Storm Matthew Become a Threat to the United States
September 24, 2010
While the 2010 hurricane season got off to a slow start, Tropical Storm Matthew seems to be changing all that. Matthew has become the thirteenth named storm of the 2010 hurricane season. This storm formed in the Caribbean and is likely to become a full fledged hurricane sometime in the next few days. Matthew will first hit Central America and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula but it may very well pose a very real threat to the United States.
As of Friday, Sept. 24th at 8 a.m. EDT, Matthew had sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. It was located at about 330 miles east of the Nicaragua/Honduras border. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said that it expects Matthew to grow stronger and that it will become a bonafide hurricane as early as Saturday evening, Sept 25th.
Once Matthew hits the border between Nicaragua and Honduras tomorrow night it will then move northward on a path that could take it directly to the Gulf of Mexico. If this storm does take that expected path it would directly threaten residents living in the Gulf Coast region, who are no strangers to hurricanes but who are hoping that Matthew fizzles out.
The conditions in the atmosphere coupled with warm sea temperatures are favorable for hurricane development. The more time this storm spends over water the more strong it will become. Storm experts in the U.S. do not yet know how strong Matthew will be if it does make it into the Gulf of Mexico. They also are not sure of what path it would take if it were to make it into the Gulf. Some forecasters believe that this storm could be more of a threat to the state of Florida as they believe it would take a more eastward approach to the U.S.
Regardless of the different predictions being made, this storm is very likely to become a hurricane and a major story in the news for at least the next week. A hurricane warning is in effect for those areas located on the border between Nicaragua and Honduras. This storm could disrupt the coffee harvest that has begun in those areas.
The U.S. Hurricane Center is keeping a very close eye on this storm as it churns its way toward the United States. Residents living in the Gulf region of the U.S. as well as those people residing in the southeastern portion of the United States will also be keeping a close eye on the weather reports as they may very well soon be facing the first hurricane of 2010.
Property fires create large water damage clean up jobs
September 14, 2010
There is nothing much worse than discovering that your home or business has been damaged by a fire. The horrible after-effects are overwhelming as there is smoke and water damage everywhere – not to mention the burned portions of the property. In many cases, the water damage caused by a large fire can cause substantial damages if not extracted and cleaned appropriately.
Fire damage reparation is quite a challenging task to undertake on your own. There is much to remove from the building, there may be water that needs to be pumped out, smoke damage to contend with as well as general clean-up and sanitation tasks to do. Removing soot and smoke requires the use of some specialized chemicals and equipment so unless you have some past experience and the correct arsenal of tools, it is best to call in a professional fire damage restoration team.
You should be sure to contact your insurance agency immediately following the fire. They may provide you with some advice about restoring or replacing some of the damaged items. If you are a renter, get in touch with the owner so you both can assess the damage. Your insurance company may be able to recommend a fire damage restoration company to use. In the case that you do not have insurance coverage, you can use your local Yellow Pages to find and contact a company who provides estimates and services for cleaning and deodorizing properties following fires. Even though these services can be a bit expensive, the cost may be less than what it will cost you to replaced damaged furnishings, floors and walls.
Some things you can do before professional help arrives is to get the air moving. Open windows to provide ventilation. However, if it is hot outside, keep the windows shut and instead run a dehumidifier. Dry any wet items that you think may be salvageable as soon as possible. Place tin foil or plastic food wrap under the legs of furniture. Cover any dry and clean items with plastic sheeting while the cleaning and repairs are being done.
If you cannot have affected clothing and other textiles professionally treated you can attempt to remove soot and the smell of smoke by dissolving one cup of automatic dishwasher detergent in one gallon of warm water. Submerge the clothing and allow them to soak overnight. The next day you should wash them as usual. For white items, use 6 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate mixed with 1 cup of chlorine bleach along with a gallon of water. Soak the items for several hours, rinse and then dry.
Fire damage is a tough opponent to tackle. However, arming yourself with the correct knowledge and making use of professional fire damage restoration firms can make the job much more manageable.
Tropical Storm Hermine Saturates Texas Causing Widespread Flooding
September 8, 2010
Tropical storm Hermine raced up Interstate 35 on Tuesday and brought gale-force winds into mid-Texas as it drenched the eastern portion of the Lone Star State. Houston received a good two inches of rain which caused some local roadways to flood. Hermine is expected to race further north today which means that affected areas will get a much-needed reprieve from the heavy downpours.
The Houston/Galveston area is expected to see some scattered showers today and by the weekend the chance of rain should diminish as highs will reach into the mid-90s with lows in the mid-70s. The rain that fell on Tuesday were far from being mere showers as some parts of eastern Texas saw as much as eight inches of rainfall. San Antonio was hit hard by Hermine as the storm knocked out power to over 100,000 residents in surrounding areas while the rain closed roads and snarled traffic.
Hermine’s path kept it away from the large oil and gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico and thankfully oil refineries in Texas were not affected by the passage of the storm. Hermine is posing a threat to south and central Texas due to rainfall and high tides. Residents are being advised to exercise extreme caution and to keep an eye on the news for any flood warnings that may ensue. In Neuces County, some beach access roads are closed due to high tides which may cause inland flooding. Citizens living in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas are being told to monitor advisories related to low lying areas.
Hermine is expected to become much more of a memorable storm than Alex which swiped Texas in June as as Category 1 storm before it headed southwest and broke up over Mexico. The National Weather Service has reported that much of the five to twelve inches of rain from Hermine fell in the Gulf, so Texas was spared from receiving the the worst from this latest tropical storm.
The very humid air that is hanging over Texas provides the perfect conditions for very dangerous weather conditions such as severe thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes. “Mean Hermine” is showing the state of Texas that flash flooding threats should be taken very seriously as there is one confirmed death of a person in a submerged car near Reese Creek outside Killeen, Texas.
Preparing for a potential flood caused by a hurricane
September 2, 2010
Floods can be devastating, and given the natural power of water from sudden storms or overflowing rivers it might well seem like there’s very little that can be done to prevent damage if the worst occurs. While it’s true to some extent that floods inevitably lead to damage, being aware of the potential effects can lead you to some very constructive precautions. One of the leading causes of flood damage devastation is hurricanes and tropical storms. The combination of winds over 100 miles per hour, surges from the ocean and torrential rain can quickly lead to a major flooding disaster.
Considerations
It’s wise to think carefully about the risk your home is under from the potential effects of flooding. Visiting local city building officials and engineers can provide very valuable information about past floods and whether the location of your home puts it at risk. Insurance is one major consideration. Having the correct insurance against flood damage can be vital if you’re affected. Insurance can mean the difference between replacing lost items and getting your home repaired or the prospect of losing everything.
Hazards
Those affected by flooding should not assume that the worst is over when the water stops rising. Risks from electricity supplies, the onset of mold and the possible escape of dangerous gases are all very real dangers. Structures can be made unsafe and contaminated waters can be extremely dangerous to our health. In the event of serious flooding it’s imperative to know where to go to find safety. In times of flooding there should be recognized evacuation routes to follow and homeowners should know never to enter flooded areas.
Precautions
It’s imperative to learn the extent to which your home is at risk from flooding, but it’s important to remember that the nature of tropical storms and hurricanes mean that most of us are at risk to some extent. Basements are the parts of our homes where water is most likely to gather if there’s a flood. While it would be impractical to avoid keeping anything valuable in our basements, it’s worth considering just what flooding could do. One common sense precaution when flood damage is imminent is to move very precious items to floors that are further from ground level and less likely to suffer damage. Remember though that mold is insidious and that flood damage is not limited to the immediate aftermath. It’s important to know where supply pipes are located, and where they can be closed.
Experts will be required for most of the work if flooding occurs, but insurance and some basic precautions can easily save a lot of heartache.
