4ursurvival Blog

NEW YORK – New York state, home to more than 1 million people of Puerto Rican background, is sending a lot more than thoughts and prayers to the hurricane-ravaged island.Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has organized an aid package including 34,000 bottles of water, more than 10,000 meals ready to eat, 1,400 cots, and four Black Hawk search-and-rescue helicopters.Over 100 New York City firefighters, police officers and other workers are in Puerto Rico to help, and Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio is …

Florida, still in recovery mode from the carnage of Hurricane Irma, could be spared the wrath of hurricane Maria,forecasters say.AccuWeather senior meteorologist Rob Miller told USA TODAY that Maria, a major hurricane that has been fluctuating between Category 4 and Category 5 status, appears poised to spin north before it can reach the U.S. East Coast. A National Hurricane Center forecast map reflects similar promise.Maria tore through the Caribbean island of Dominica late Monday and was foreca …

In the aftermath of a hurricane, the media’s initial focus is on property damage and search and rescue operations, but there are long-term effects that can linger for years, long after the media has lost interest in recovering areas.Hurricanes can have unforeseen impacts on cities’ water supplies, increasing the risk of contamination with harmful bacteria from local water sources and the soil. The southern United States, which offers warm weather almost year-round, is particularly vulnerable to …

What to do in a Lightning StormAlways take shelter during a lightning storm.There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm. ...If you can see lightning or hear thunder, you are in danger of being hit. ...Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in a severe storm before venturing outside again.

Hurricane Irma weakened as it pummeled Florida -- but the storm still packed a powerful punch, spawning torrential downpours, tornadoes and flash floods.First Irma slammed into the Florida Keys Sunday morning as a Category 4 hurricane, ripping roofs off of mobile homes and littering roads with debris. A day later, it had weakened to a tropical storm, but still brought dangerous storm surge flooding to Jacksonville.Here's a look at some of the destruction Irma left in her wake. Authorities are st …