DJ, We had snow this morning, 10C this evening...
The warnings given by weather forecasters early last week about the Polar Vortex coming into the USA, took place last night, with temperatures utterly plummeting to below zero in the north central part of the country. It will keep coming, today.
I warned readers of this website and listeners to my radio show that this was coming and URGED they make preparations. Now, it's here. It's happening.
With the kind of wind chill temperatures seen on the graphic image above, this is the kind of cold that kills people. Stay home.
If you absolutely _have to_ go out, dress in multiple layers of clothing, including doubling-up on socks. Wear thermal underwear (long johns) or even sweat pants beneath jeans. Wear T-shirts, heavier sweater or other shirt. Make sure you wear a hat and gloves with your heavy winter coat.
Exposed skin can literally freeze within minutes in this kind of cold. Frost bite is a terrible injury and it can happen very fast in weather like this. Don't take chances, cover up in multiple layers of clothing if you go out.
Check on neighbors and friends during the day and overnight.
In areas where the polar vortex HAS NOT YET ARRIVED, you have only hours to prep. Check you car anti-freeze, and tire pressure. Make certain any pipes beneath your house are either insulated or wrapped in tape heater. If you already have tape heaters, plug them in to make sure they work.
Every minute counts because by tonight, a whole lot more geographic area is going to be covered by this cold.
DJ, No this does NOT prove we are going into an ice-age...It underlines disruption of the jet-stream because of (extreme !!!) global WARMING !
Ready.gov is urging everyone to become #WinterReady.
Why should you be #WinterReady?
- Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen.
- Travel during the winter has unique risks, especially if you travel by car.
Although the prime focus of this blog is emerging infectious diseases, disaster preparedness has always run a close second.
While I can't say with any confidence that we'll see a pandemic in 2025, it is all but certain that millions of people in the U.S. - and hundreds of millions of people globally - will face some sort of natural disaster in the next 12 months.
In 2024, I personally dealt with two hurricanes and multiple prolonged power outages, and for the 3rd time in 7 years, I was forced to evacuate to a friend's house (see
With Milton, Evacuation Is The Better Part Of Valor).
As we careen headlong into an uncertain 2025, I would urge all of my readers to serious consider their current level of preparedness, and find ways to improve it.
You don't have to live on the gulf coast, or on a fault line, for disaster to strike.
With the hope that they may provide some inspiration, you'll find links to a few of my 2024 preparedness blogs below. A Personal Pre-Pandemic Plan
#NatlPrep: Prolonged Grid Down Preparedness
#NatlPrep: Preparing For Extreme Space Weather
ODNI 2024 Annual Threat Assessment: Health Security
USGS Seismic Hazard Map Update: 75% of Americans At Risk Of Experiencing A Damaging Earthquake
While being prepared does not guarantee you come out of a disaster unscathed, it can go a long way towards increasing your odds.
DJ, Extreme weather can kill more people then pandemics -mostly-do. Since weather/climate problems=food/water problems...
