5 Things Everyone Misunderstands About Weather - Series Part 4

After centuries of weather forecasting study and research, the human race knows a thing or two about storms.  We know that hurricanes and typhoons will spin out of the oceans every summer and ravage certain coastlines.  We know that tornadoes will strike thousands of times per year, causing significant localized damage, and we generally know where they will appear and why.  We can even predict which years will bring particularly strong weather patterns and what those patterns will mean for farmers, ranchers and others.

But, the truth is, we don't know everything. At least the general population doesn't. In fact, although there is plenty of meteorological research out there for reference, a wide swath of the population clings to a number of weather myths that, although they sound correct, just aren't true. Earlier this month, AccuWeather.com set out to put some of these weather myths to bed by explaining some of the most widespread and misinformed. Click through this week to learn fact from fiction.

 

Myth #4: Today's cars can drive safely through flood waters

It never fails during flood season to see news coverage of at least one driver who was been swept away after trying to drive through minor flood waters.  Truth is, as little as two feet of water can float a car.

 

 

5 Things Everyone Misunderstands About Weather - Series Part 3

After centuries of weather forecasting study and research, the human race knows a thing or two about storms.  We know that hurricanes and typhoons will spin out of the oceans every summer and ravage certain coastlines.  We know that tornadoes will strike thousands of times per year, causing significant localized damage, and we generally know where they will appear and why.  We can even predict which years will bring particularly strong weather patterns and what those patterns will mean for farmers, ranchers and others.
 

But, the truth is, we don't know everything. At least the general population doesn't. In fact, although there is plenty of meteorological research out there for reference, a wide swath of the population clings to a number of weather myths that, although they sound correct, just aren't true. Earlier this month, AccuWeather.com set out to put some of these weather myths to bed by explaining some of the most widespread and misinformed. Click through this week to learn fact from fiction.

Myth #3: Red sky at night, sailor's delight...

Kinda true, kinda not.

 

The idea behind the classic axiom -- "red sky at night sailor's delight, red sky in morning sailors take warning" -- is that red skies are most common when the atmosphere is dry, meaning that it appears at night when the dry are is to the west. Dry air to the east means a red sky in the morning.  Since weather patterns in North America generally move from west to east, this stands up most of the time, but it isn't a guarantee because systems can move in any direction

 

5 Things Everyone Misunderstands About Weather - Series Part 2

After centuries of weather forecasting study and research, the human race knows a thing or two about storms.  We know that hurricanes and typhoons will spin out of the oceans every summer and ravage certain coastlines.  We know that tornadoes will strike thousands of times per year, causing significant localized damage, and we generally know where they will appear and why.  We can even predict which years will bring particularly strong weather patterns and what those patterns will mean for farmers, ranchers and others.
 

But, the truth is, we don't know everything. At least the general population doesn't. In fact, although there is plenty of meteorological research out there for reference, a wide swath of the population clings to a number of weather myths that, although they sound correct, just aren't true. Earlier this month, AccuWeather.com set out to put some of these weather myths to bed by explaining some of the most widespread and misinformed. Click through this week to learn fact from fiction.

 

Myth #2: Tornadoes don't hit cities or mountains

That this is just wishful thinking. Why would a city have been built somewhere if it was a common tornado area? Residents of Kansas City, Denver and Oklahoma City might have some opinions on that.

The truth is, although rough terrain and tall buildings do disrupt the circular forces that create tornadoes, they aren't impossible.

 

 

5 Things Everyone Misunderstands About Weather - Series Part 1

After centuries of weather forecasting study and research, the human race knows a thing or two about storms.  We know that hurricanes and typhoons will spin out of the oceans every summer and ravage certain coastlines.  We know that tornadoes will strike thousands of times per year, causing significant localized damage, and we generally know where they will appear and why.  We can even predict which years will bring particularly strong weather patterns and what those patterns will mean for farmers, ranchers and others.

But, the truth is, we don't know everything. At least the general population doesn't. In fact, although there is plenty of meteorological research out there for reference, a wide swath of the population clings to a number of weather myths that, although they sound correct, just aren't true. Earlier this month, AccuWeather.com set out to put some of these weather myths to bed by explaining some of the most widespread and misinformed. Click through this week to learn fact from fiction.

Myth #1: Humid air is heavier than dry air

According to AccuWeather.com meteorologist Steve Wistar, dry air is actually heavier than humid air, despite the fact that it seems like you can "feel" humid air more than dry. "There are more molecules of water in humid air which are lighter than molecules of air".

Tips for Hurricane Season - In the Home

Homeowners, in the event of a storm, should close and lock all windows and doors, reinforcing windows with shutters and adding heavy-duty hinges and deadbolts to entry doors. The garage door, in particular needs to be braced, even if it means backing your car up against the interior of the garage door.

In case of flooding or power loss, homeowners should also install a battery backup system for the sump pump to prevent drain backups and a backup generator can be helpful in the event of extended power loss.

When it comes to valuable items in the home, such as rugs or art, homeowners should move them away from any windows, and to upper floors of the house, if possible. Prepare copies of important personal and financial documents, and secure these copies in a safe, alternate location to ensure that these documents survive the storm.

If a storm does threaten to hit, homeowners should keep their emergency contact information on hand and be sure that they have a full tank of gas in their car should they need to evacuate.

Keeping a “go bag,” with a change of clothes, prescription medications, food and water, flashlights, a portable radio and batteries is extremely helpful in the event of an emergency. 

Your family’s safety should always come first. Agree on an evacuation plan, emergency communication procedures and a rendezvous point in case you get separated.

Tips for Hurricane Season - In the Yard

 

Hurricane season has officially begun, and homeowners in Coastal areas such as Long Island can be at a high-risk for storm damage.  In order to protect themselves, homeowners should consider taking action before a hurricane threatens to hit the area, keeping their home and family safe in the event of an emergency.

 

To protect homes and vehicles from potential storm damage, homeowners should begin preparing their homes by making sure that their rain gutters and exterior drains are free of debris to avoid potential water backups.  Roof sheathing should also be checked to make sure that it could withstand heavy winds.

Exterior furniture or art that could act as a dangerous projectile should also be moved inside or secured with cables or netting.

In the yard, homeowners should be sure that trees and other outdoor landscaping are trimmed so that there are no branches hanging over the home or vehicle that could fall and cause severe damage or even personal injury.

Trees or branches that fall can create a great deal of damage to your property, but an inspection by an arborist can help identify unhealthy tree branches and remove them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protecting the Home Inside and Out: Tips for Hurricane Season - Series

Hurricane season has officially begun, and homeowners in Coastal areas such as Long Island can be at a high-risk for storm damage.  In order to protect themselves, homeowners should consider taking action before a hurricane threatens to hit the area, keeping their home and family safe in the event of an emergency. 

During hurricane season, people living in at-risk areas need to protect themselves should a severe storm put them at risk. Taking the proper precautions, collecting emergency supplies and creating a family evacuation plan are just a few ways homeowners can remove a stress from an inherently stressful situation. Once a hurricane is reported, homeowners will be competing for a limited supply of critical materials and resources such as gasoline, generators, tarps and boards and bottled water.

Visit our Blog Page over the next few days to learn a few tips for hurricane season to help keep you and your family safe.

Farmers and Gardeners: Prepare Now to Weather the Whims of Mother Nature

Commercial farms and home gardens alike present similar challenges when natural disasters are a threat. The flat, open land that crops grow in and animals graze on has few natural defenses against flooding, and any tall buildings on farmland, such as barns and silos, can be vulnerable to lightning strikes.  While the average home garden doesn’t have the same scope of a large farm, owners of both can use similar methods to protect their crops, livestock and property from the impact of a natural disaster.

Take a full inventory of everything: livestock, equipment, pesticides, fertilizers, other chemicals and fuel. Animals should be tagged so they can be returned if they get lost or hurt during an incident. Have sandbags and plastic sheeting on hand to cover and protect crops and garden plots in case of flooding. Use wire and rope to secure objects, and lumber and plywood to protect windows. Put a fire extinguisher in every building and vehicle on your property.

Choose a safe, flood-proof location to store extra fuel for tractors and vehicles, food and water for livestock, and a gas-powered generator in case of power failure. Make sure that electrical power to flood-prone machines and structures can be easily turned off. Have hand tools accessible to assist in preparation and recovery.

If you are in a particularly flood-prone area, figure out escape routes for livestock to get to higher ground. Also, keep them out of barns that may flood, as their natural instinct is to seek shelter in a barn during an emergency.

In the aftermath of a disaster, report leaks of any hazardous materials (pesticides, fuel, fertilizer and other chemicals) to authorities.

Check your utilities for signs of damage, and contact your utility company before turning anything back on. Spray surviving livestock with insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes, and have all animals checked for infectious diseases such as pneumonia or foot rot.

Test the soil, especially in smaller gardens and flower beds. It is recommended that flooded areas not be planted again for at least 30 to 60 days. Before replanting, make sure the soil is dry and has been reworked. Salt water can get washed up by waves and storm surge and get into the soil and on plants and trees, causing leaves to brown and damaging roots and buds. The damage salt spray can do to plants can last for several years.

Dispose of any leafy green vegetables and any other crops with edible parts that were touched by flood water. Affected root vegetables can be sanitized for consumption by rinsing them and soaking them in a bleach/water solution.

New York Metro Area at Risk for Hurricane Storm Surge Damage

Although scientific predictions suggest lower-than-normal storm activity for 2014, the risk of significant damage to homes is a constant threat. “Though the 2013 hurricane season will be remembered for the fact that no storms made landfall along the U.S. coast, this reprieve from hurricane-related damage should not lead to complacency in preparing for future storms and the potential life-threatening conditions they can bring,” said Dr. Thomas Jeffery, senior hazard scientist for CoreLogic Spatial Solutions. “This year’s season is projected to be slightly below normal in hurricane activity, but the early arrival of Hurricane Arthur on July 3 is an important reminder that even a low-category hurricane or strong tropical storm can create powerful riptides, modest flooding and cause significant destruction of property.

Florida topped the list for states with the highest number of homes at risk of storm surge damage, with nearly 2.5 million homes at various risk levels and $490 billion in total potential loss.

Additional findings include:

The five states with the highest total number of properties at risk are:

Florida (2,488,277)

Louisiana (738,165)

New York (466,919)

New Jersey (445,928)

Texas (434,421)

The five states with the highest value of reconstruction costs for homes at risk include:

Florida ($490,403,653,377)
New York ($182,474,294,695)
Louisiana ($161,062,467,382)
New Jersey ($134,194,963,314)
Virginia ($92,001,482,217)

Home reconstruction value in the Gulf is much less than the reconstruction value of homes in the Atlantic region. The total reconstruction cost value of homes along the Atlantic coast is nearly $951 billion, approximately double the value of at-risk properties in the Gulf region at just over $545 billion. 

Property Insurance and Disaster Recovery - Part 5

The plan for getting your loss adjusted and paid should also consider (both before a loss and most certainly after) issues that are specific to your property needs:

-Telecommunications leasing and services should be analyz ed. Both existing and any new contracts should be tailored to your operations and the realities of the space within which you will conduct business.

 

-The recovery may require financing–be it an acquisition loan, line of credit to continue operations, or construction loan to fund the rehabilitation or new construction. The different means available for acquiring such financing should be considered.

 

- Depending upon what a business plans or ends up opting to do after a loss, tax consequences may arise. A tax analysis should factor into the ultimate decisions made about either repairing/replacing the damaged property, or even abandoning the property and opting for a new property for conducting business. Attention should be paid to your property insurance as it may specifically address tax treatment and provide certain options and benefits depending upon the circumstances.

 

While no one can work out every detail of a disaster plan before disaster strikes, preparing checklists in advance, and taking steps such as scouting out viable temporary space, can greatly smooth the path to recovery and maximiz ation of insurance claims.

                                                                                                                    

Property Insurance and Disaster Recovery - Part 4

The plan for getting your loss adjusted and paid should also consider (both before a loss and most certainly after) issues that are specific to your property needs:

 

- Is your space worth rehabilitating? If it is, then your company will need to contract for design and construction services to rehabilitate the current space or rebuild on site. If the space that will be rehabilitated is leased, your company needs to coordinate its efforts with the landlord.

- If it is not worth rehabilitating, then your company must consider how it will dispose of the space (for example, selling the property or cancelling the lease), and how it will acquire new permanent space. In addition, your company will need to contract for design and construction services for its new space. This process should involve a z oning analysis to ensure that your company build what it needs and conduct its operations on the chosen site.

-How will you operate on a current basis? Whether or not your company relocates, it will likely need to lease temporary space to resume current operations. It may also need to rent space to store saved or salvageable equipment and inventory.

 -Depending on the cause of the loss (for instance, if it was a loss during construction/renovation), litigating against the party causing the loss (and its insurance company) should be considered, either directly or through your insurance company.