How Flooding Impacts Everything Including Weddings

I live in Brisbane, Australia, and my city is in crisis at the moment with floodwaters rising rapidly and 90,000 homes and businesses about to feel the full affect. Floodwaters create havoc not only for individuals but for many businesses as well.

Summer is peak time here for weddings and there will be many who have booked venues along the river. One of our iconic restaurants, Drift, formerly known as Oxley's, was on a pontoon and one of the most popular restaurants in Brisbane. We saw footage a short time ago showing that it has been washed away and is floating down the river acting as a missile. This restaurant has been part of the Brisbane scene for many years and hosted thousands of wedding receptions.

You have to feel for those couples who have already booked the venue for their reception and to see it washed away must be disheartening. The problem for many of them will be finding a venue in time for their weddings.

There are also problems getting supplies into the city and the majority of venues source their flowers from a huge local market which is now under water.

There are so many businesses affected by natural disasters such as floods and it takes a long time for people to get back on their feet and businesses to pick up the pieces and start all over again.

Let's just hope that weddings planned at this time will still be able to go ahead and that the majority of venues along the river will survive.

The Night Before Hurricane Gilbert Struck Silver Sands Jamaica

It's easy to forget the rest of the World when one is relaxing on the beach at Silver Sands Jamaica. Back in the 1980s, my wife and I lived and worked in Kingston. Our weekends were made special as we would go to our second home, Endless Summer Villa at Silver Sands, on Friday evenings and return to Kingston on Sunday nights. We would leave the real World behind, tune out and not even listen to the news while we were there, dedicating our time to windsurfing and relaxing on the beach.

So while we thought that 11 September 1988 was just another normal Sunday in paradise, Hurricane Gilbert, unknowing to us, was bearing down on the island. Jamaica's previous direct hit by a hurricane was Charlie in the 1950s, so this Gilbert was very big news. So big in fact, that no one could imagine that my wife and I did not know about it, so no one bothered to tell us.

When we inquired of some of our friends why they were leaving the beach unexpectedly early that Sunday afternoon, they told us that they were heading back home to Kingston to make preparations before Gilbert hit later that night. We had been lulled into a false sense of security at Silver Sands as we did not particularly hurry to pack up and head back to Kingston with my mother and our great dane, Lottie, not leaving until sundown. This proved to be a big mistake.

About half-an-hour into the journey, we encountered the hardest rain I have ever experienced. Visibility was reduced to a few yards and water was pooling in the roads. I decided that shortly the roads ahead would be flooded and impassable, so I decided to abort the journey and return to Silver Sands.

As we entered Silver Sands from the East and passed near the cemetery, the car hydroplaned and I lost control completely. There was no danger of collision with any other vehicles as the roads were deserted, but the car picked up speed and skidded sideways for many yards before it hit the North bank and rolled over into the field and back onto its wheels again.

When I collected my thoughts, I checked, and my wife, mother and I were fine, but the back window of the Volvo had shattered and Lottie was nowhere to be seen. As we made our way in the dark through the field to the road, we shouted for Lottie but she did not appear. There was nowhere to shelter in the pouring rain but luckily a vehicle came by after a few minutes and the driver picked us up and took us down to Endless Summer Villa.

After we had dried off and changed out of our wet clothes and recovered somewhat from the shock, it was time to batten down and prepare for Hurricane Gilbert. But we could only think of Lottie and wonder what had happened to her. My wife decided that she would start the hurricane preparations and that I had to go back to find Lottie.

So I left her and my mother and set off alone walking in the pouring rain up the hill back to Duncans to search for Lottie as the massive hurricane was fast approaching the island. Everywhere was quiet, no one out and about, and not a car on the road. I made my way in the dark to the scene of the accident and looked at the wreck in horror, wondering how we emerged from that without injury. Thank goodness we always wore our seat-belts even back then before it became compulsory.

I searched the area, shouting "Lottie" with as much energy as I could muster. The task seemed impossible as Lottie was as black as the night itself, and the sound of the rain and thunder drowned out my voice.

But after about half an hour of searching, luck became my friend and a dark figure appeared in the distance, making its way towards me at great speed. Lottie nearly knocked me over when she jumped up and rested her front paws on my shoulders, her head inches from my face. I had never seen her so glad to see me and the feeling was mutual.

I walked back down to Endless Summer Villa, Lottie at my side, and we made a dramatic entrance, much to the delight of my wife and mother. But celebrations had to be short-lived as the thought of approaching Gilbert meant that we had a lot to do to prepare before the hurricane hit Silver Sands Jamaica.

Keswick Weather - Did You Realise How Much It Rains in The Lakes?

It was only when I moved away from the Lakes that I realised that other places didn't seem to rain quite as much, but I've never actually looked at the numbers to see if the weather in the Lakes really is that much worse.

So, I'm going to take this opportunity to compare Keswick weather with that of the UK capital London just a couple of hundred miles away.

Keswick is a beautiful market town which is situated in the Northern Lake District, it sits between two lakes; the relatively quiet lake Bassenthwaite and the much busier and closer Derwent Water. It's also at the foot of England's 4th highest fell Skiddaw.

The name Lake District in itself gives away the fact that the Weather in Keswick is likely to be wetter than elsewhere but Questions I'd like to cover here are:

1. What weather difference can we actually see compared to elsewhere in the UK? 2. How do these differences vary by season? 3. If it really does rain more in Keswick and the Lake district than in other places in the UK, what are the reasons for this?

Firstly lets investigate if there really is a difference in the weather in Keswick and other parts of the country, I'll compare vs the most populated city in the UK, London.

Average temperature Centigrade

Month London

January - 5 February - 5 March - 8 April - 9 May - 13 June - 16 July - 18 August - 18 September - 16 October - 12 November - 8 December - 6

Month Keswick

January - 5 February - 4 March - 6 April - 10 May - 12 June - 15 July - 17 August - 16 September - 14 October - 10 November - 7 December - 4

In Absolute terms, the temperature in Keswick is generally colder than London, however this is usually only by between 1- 2 degrees, in % terms December is 33% colder but the maximum difference is 2C.

To investigate a little further I've looked at the average temperature range between high and low for the two locations -

Temperature range Centigrade

Month London

January - 5 February - 5 March - 7 April - 8 May - 9 June - 9 July - 10 August - 10 September - 9 October - 6 November - 6 December - 4

Month Keswick

January - 3 February - 4 March - 4 April - 5 May - 5 June - 4 July - 5 August - 5 September - 4 October - 5 November - 3 December - 4

From this we can see that while the average temperatures don't show significant variance the range of temperatures in London are roughly double those of Keswick between March to November, whats more the actual figures show that the variance is significantly skewed to the higher temperatures, so in conclusion London can be significantly warmer than Keswick.

Now lets take a look at rainfall -

Rainfall mm

Month London

January - 60 February - 40 March - 60 April - 50 May - 50 June - 60 July - 50 August - 50 September - 40 October - 70 November - 40 December - 60

Month Keswick

January - 164 February - 141 March - 118 April - 85 May - 71 June - 76 July - 62 August - 91 September - 89 October - 155 November - 137 December - 164

As you can see the figures are quite startling and show that between the month's of September to March there is much more rainfall in Keswick than London, for example in each of the months December and January there is over 100mm more rain in Keswick and in February there is 3.5 times the amount of rain that falls in London.

Seasonal Variation

Variation in average temperature by season is fairly static, there is a greater increase in the monthly temperature range over summer in London, however the major difference can be seen when comparing rainfall levels. While in absolute terms Keswick has more rain than London for each month of the year this is markedly so during Autumn, winter and early spring.

Why does it Rain More in Keswick?

So, now that we've established that it really does rain more in Keswick than London, what are the reasons for this? It's actually quite simple, the Lake District and Keswick are relatively close to the Sea, the prevailing westerly winds blow across the Atlantic and pick up moisture. As the clouds hit the Lake district or more specifically the Lake District mountains, the air is forced to rise, this in turn cools the air and the moisture picked up condenses and turns into water. This is termed Relief or orographic rainfall.

In conclusion it's generally a little colder in Keswick than London but the main difference is the rainfall, while visiting in the summer months you won't see such a significant difference in absolute terms in the Autumn and winter months you need to go prepared for rain... however this is the Lakes, it's a place of adventure so don't hide from the rain.. embrace it in the great outdoors!

The Climate Of Lahore in December

The climate of Lahore in the month of December is one of the best climates found on the surface of the globe. The days are sunny and bright with moderate temperature and nights are comfortably cool. The following is a brief account of its temperature and Precipitation in the month of December.

Temperature:

The day time temperatures are around 77 F ( 25 C ) at the beginning of the month. By the middle of the month they come down to 72 ( 22 C) and by the end of the month they are around 68 F ( 20 C). The night temperatures show a similar trend. At the onset of December they are around 54 F ( 12 C). By the time, half of the month is gone, the thermometer records temperatures in the range of 48 F ( 9 C) and by the end of the months the temperatures as low as 41 F ( 5 C) must be expected. It must be remembered, however that the chill is confined to a very short period between late night and very early morning. Since the sky is generally very clear and free of clouds, the temperature becomes quite comfortable by about 9 AM and remains so till about 12 at night.

Precipitation:

The precipitation is in the form of rainfall which comes whenever the western disturbance visits this area. Western disturbance is a rain bearing system with its origin in the Mediterranean Sea. It reaches Pakistan after giving rain all the way to Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. So by the time it reaches Lahore, which is the one of the easternmost cities, the system has lost much of its moisture. This is the reason that the monthly average at Lahore is only 0.5 of an inch ( 13 mm) in the month of December. This makes Lahore an ideal place for the tourists to visit its many of the historical monuments Like the Great Moghal Mosque, Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort etc.

Humidity:

The air is usually dry and the mean relative humidity varies from 60 percent is the early morning to less than 30 percent by late evening. The air is crisp and bracing and the winds light. This low relative humidity adds to the beauty of the climate of Lahore since the foreigner feels quite comfortable in such climatic conditions.

In short, the climate of Lahore in December is sunny, bright and beautiful with moderate temperatures and little precipitation.

The Burning of Texas

It was Labor Day weekend and many Texans celebrated what traditionally marks the end of the summer. However, on this year's holiday, many could not celebrate as they normally would. For over a month the temperature rose above 100 degrees causing many to stay indoors under the comfort of air conditioning. For all those that normally would have taken to the lake, conditions were not in their favor. According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, from October 2010 to July 2011 it has been the driest period in Texas since rainfall records began to be kept back in 1895. As the months continued, rain still has not come as it has been needed. The water levels in many lakes created hazardous conditions for boaters and authorities had to close down the boat ramps. Many popular restaurants on the lake shut their doors all together due to the drought. Under these conditions of such persistent heat and dryness it comes as no surprise that wildfires would find a welcome breeding ground. According to the Texas Forest Service there are now 250 out of 254 Texas counties to have issued burn bans. By their observations, the vast majority of fires were set by people, mostly in cases of arson, though some accidentally as well. In an effort to weigh in on the matter whilst staying busy focusing on his presidential bid outside the state, Governor Rick Perry has recognized the arson problem and has called for the Texas State Legislature to increase the maximum prison term for arson from 30 years to life.

So far this year there have been well over 10,000 fires in Texas. By mid April it was up to 8,000 and by late June nearly 13,000. According to Texas Forest Service reporting up to September 2 there has now been over 18,612 fires in the state with 3,486,124 acres burned. Thousands upon thousands of homes have been lost and so far there are two confirmed casualties. Right now as the fires continue to burn throughout the state, with the Bastrop fires near Austin being among the largest, a state-wide search and rescue operation is in effect with officers moving from house to house to estimate the damage and look for additional casualties. After hearing of the two deaths, Governor Perry deployed the elite search and rescue unit Texas Task Force 1 to join the search. Nearly every year parts of Texas experience drought-like conditions and counties throughout the state issue burn bans as a precaution against wildfires. To date the highest number of burn bans throughout the state was in 2006 when it was set at 221. This year nearly every single county has issued one. Many climatologists have examined the situation in Texas to see the makings of a perfect storm as it applies to the requisites for wildfires. Added to the historic drought conditions and low humidity come the high winds of Tropical Storm Lee. All it needs is a match to be thrown to start an uncontainable fire, and it seems that many arsonists have been more than willing to do just that.

So far there has been a full court press coming from all relevant local, state and federal agencies, according to the Texas Forest Service. After over $5 billion in damages, over 3,000 homes and structures lost over the last year and 5000 homes evacuated, many agencies are stepping in to stop the blaze. President Barack Obama has tasked the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Forest Service to provide direct support to Texas. Moreover, at Governor Perry's request, Texas has received eight federally funded Fire Management Assistance Grants to help pay the costs of the firefighting. So far for 2011, this makes 53 such grants to the state of Texas and allows FEMA to pay 75 percent of state and local government firefighting costs. This money is allocated through the President's Disaster Relief Fund.

While the damage continues to spread, there does appear to be some relief as some of the larger fires in Bastrop have been marginally contained. The year of 2011 has set numerous records in the area of fires and firefighting. Out of 254 counties, the Texas Forest Service has fought wildfires in 199. The most gallons of water and retardant dropped in firefighting efforts on record occurred on 1 September 2011 with 1,188,883 gallons. While there are no doubt larger issues regarding state preparation for drought and wildfires, or even long-term considerations of climate change, it does appear that progress is being made in the here and now with stopping the fires.

The Climate Of Pangkor

Pangkor is a small and beautiful island off the west coast of peninsular Malaysia. It is famous for its sunny and mild climate.

Since Pangkor is a tropical island, the temperatures remain high throughout the year, The highs are around 86 F and lows are typically around 75 F. So there is a little difference between the day and night temperatures. The seasonal variations are also slight. The hottest month can be around 81 F and the lowest 78 F. The climate is so mild that the all time low here has been 55 F.

Although the total annual rainfall is close to 80 inches, the real rainy season just last from November to February but even the rain in this period is not so heavy as is elsewhere is Malaysia. A heavy downpour can come in early morning but the rest of the day can be as sunny as ever. Also during rains, the weather becomes more pleasant and compatible to the foreigners. By far months from May to September are the best with average monthly rainfall less than 6 inches in each month and days with rain or drizzle about 10 on the average.

Being an island, the average relative humidity remains high throughout the year but the bracing cool air more than offset it. It is around 80 percent throughout the year. But despite this humidity the days with fog are few and far between.

From above description, it follows that Pangkor is a tropical island with good rainfall, lot of sunshine and uniformly high temperatures throughout the year.

Homeowners Learn Valuable Lessons After Record Rainfall Hits Chicago Area

Residents living in the Midwest have certainly been through their fair share of severe weather situations so far this summer. There have been severe thunderstorms with heavy winds and rain to endure, widespread flooding as well as numerous tornadoes that have devastated entire neighborhoods.

Over the past couple of weeks Chicago experienced record flooding. In fact, the 122-year rainfall record for July was shattered last week as two passing storms dumped enough rain on the Windy City and the surrounding area to make July 2011 the wettest one in the city's history. Homeowners in other Midwestern cities such as Detroit and Cleveland also suffered property damage and flooding due to severe weather systems which wreaked havoc on the region.

The harsh, 2011 summertime weather Midwesterners have been forced to endure is a stark reminder of how important it is to safeguard your home and property. Those living in flood-prone areas should consider improving their homeowner's insurance coverage. Sadly, there are a great many homeowners who find out the hard way that their standard homeowner's insurance policy does not cover flood damage and loss. And, there are still more who rush out to buy flood insurance prior to large storms moving in only to find out later that one must wait 30 days before flood insurance kicks in.

It is also a reminder of how important it is to have a pump sump installed in your basement. Millions of dollars in loss occurred in Chicago and its suburbs this summer due to flooded basements inside homes and businesses. A sump pump is a absolute necessity if you live in a home that has a basement in a flood-prone area. There is nothing worse than discovering that your basement has a few feet of flood water in it and not having a way to pump it out. And, a flooded basement can do an incredible amount of structural damage to floors and walls and it also becomes a health hazard for your family. Mold and mildew thrive in damp environments and a home mold problem is a real nightmare to endure, that you can be sure of.

Hopefully the rest of the summer will be a calm one, weather-wise, although residents down south will be closely following the start of the hurricane season. For many, the days of extreme heat in the Midwest are enough to bear, without having to deal with downed trees, flooded basements and roof damage from hail and high winds. Homeowners would be wise to thoroughly inspect their homes, consider adding sump pumps and extra insurance coverage to cover flooding and sewer backups to ensure that future storms wont cause damages seen over the past month.

Floods In Queensland Australia 2010

The floods in Queensland in 2010 were some of the worst natural flooding epidemics the Australians had ever seen. Many of the residents had experienced the 1974 Brisbane floods, but the areas that were hit hardest, primarily Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley, were not only unprepared for such flooding, but had little to no warning of the oncoming destruction. The devastation that ripped through the town, called a "wall of water" by those who experienced it, left homes, families, cars and lives torn to shreds.   Some families lost cars, some lost pets. Others lost lives. Brisbane families were prepared for the worst but hoped for the best as they piled sandbags, yet watched restaurants and homes floating down the river. The relief centres were over crowded and those seeking aid were exercising all available options, from staying with neighbours to climbing on roofs to clinging to trees. Many were rescued alive, yet many were lost. Stores lost thousands of dollars of inventory and many that survived were left without power or water, or unable to reach their homes at all for several days. Even more people stranded in their homes had to fend off ill-hearted opportunists. Others were able to reach and check on loved ones, and there were many emotional embraces.   Within days, however, of the flood waters receding, hundreds of volunteer workers, deemed the "mud army" drove, bussed and took trains to help shovel and clean up mud around homes and streets. Without them, efforts may have taken many more weeks.

The Queensland Government, along with may independent businesses, have banded together to aid the victims of the floods. But much more is still needed in these devastated areas. There are homes that still need rebuilding, there are lives that are still lying in the rubble waiting to be pieced back together. For many, this tragedy will continue to play a major role in their lives for years to come. Funerals, rebuilding, and replacing lost items all add on to the heartache. The band Special Project has been formed to aid in relief efforts such as these, giving local support to local Australians. "The Rain Came Down", the first single of the band was broadcast on 98.9 The Best Country in Australia, and is available for download at www.floodsinqueensland.com One hundred percent of the proceeds from the download of the song go directly to flood victims.

What to Do in Case of a Hurricane

If the area in which you live is ever struck by a hurricane follow this simple advice to ensure you and your family are able to ride out the storm in as safe and stress free a way as possible.

Before the storm- If your property is situated within the evacuation zone then you should follow your local authority's instructions and evacuate to your nearest hurricane shelter. If you can possess the means to do so you may wish to stay with family or in a motel in another state. Nevertheless, even if you are leaving your home you should still pay attention to the next piece of advice. You may be moving to somewhere safe but many of your important possessions will be staying put so you should get your affairs in order.

You should get important papers and documents (such as driving licenses, birth certificates, ID cards etc.) together and secure them in plastic. In the event that your home is damaged by the storm then these documents can be costly to replace and will be an inconvenience you can do without. It may also be a good idea to secure any sentimentally valuable photographs to avoid the risk of them being damaged or lost.

Set aside a small bag of clothes for each family member in an easily accessible place in the event you need to leave your home in a hurry. Remember to also include sleeping gear if you are planning on staying in an emergency shelter.

Along with clothing you may also wish to pack: -some extra cash - it is possible that the hurricane will have knocked out power lines and ATMs will not be -working -generator -batteries -flash light -medication -battery operated radio -bottled water -non-perishable foods -canned foods -can opener -candles -if you have baby make sure to pack nappies, baby food etc. -you may also wish to pack a deck of cards or a board game to keep your family amused in the aftermath should the power have been knocked out.

One thing you are likely to need after the storm is water, for cleaning, washing and drinking. You can prepare for this beforehand by thoroughly cleaning out your bathtub, lining with plastic, and then filling with water to ensure you have a clean supply for yourself and your family.

In addition to this you need to make sure your home is protected. You need to board up all your windows as these can easily break during the storm and flying shards of glass can be very dangerous. You also need to secure anything in your garden that may blow away in hurricane force winds.

During the storm- The most important piece of advice for what to do during a hurricane is to STAY INDOORS at all times. If the eye of the storm passes over your property then there will be a short period of calm, do not be fooled by this. Make sure the hurricane has truly passed before venturing outdoors. There is no need for you to rush. In addition to this you should find a safe area of your home to ride out the storm. You want to be somewhere away from any glass windows or skylights. One side of your home should be taking the full brunt of the winds, once you determine which side this is you should move to the opposite side. You should also take care not to use any electrical appliances during this time, including your computer and phone.

If you follow this simple advice then you and your family should see through any hurricane safely.

Groundhog Day: Facts and Figures

It's that time of year again -- the time when a furry little rodent prognosticates on our weather, sentencing us to either six more weeks of miserable winter or giving us an early spring reprieve. That's right, it's Groundhog Day! If you need a refresher on the holiday it goes something like this: if the groundhog sees his shadow six more weeks of winter are on the way, but if he emerges from his hole sans shadow then we're in for an early spring.

Groundhog Day, which dates back to the mid-19th century, is thought to have its origins in ancient European weather lore, in which a badger or sacred bear was used to predict the weather instead of a groundhog. The holiday also shares similarities with the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas, which was also celebrated on February 2nd. Although there are Groundhog's Day celebrations throughout the United States and Canada, by far the largest is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which has officially celebrated the holiday since 1886. Featured in the 1993 Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day and home to Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous groundhog weatherman, the town draws crowds as large as 40,000 for its Groundhog Day festivities. Gobbler's Knob, the tiny hill where Punxsutawney Phil checks for his shadow, has even become a popular tourist spot all year round.

But just how accurate are these groundhog weather predictions? Groundhog Day proponents say that their furry friends are accurate 90% of the time, while the National Climatic Data Center puts the accuracy rate around 39%. Punxsutawney Phil's fan club takes issue with both accuracy rates, insisting that his predictions have been correct 100% of the time. With all of the intense winter weather that has been battering much of the country, let's hope that Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow this year -- and that his prediction is correct.

Punxsutawney: Quick Facts

Population (2009): 5,864

Median Household income (2009): $30,116

Median House/condo value (2009): $68,060

Median Gross rent (2008): $1,269

Population Density: 1717 people per square mile

Nearest city with population 50,000+: Philadelphia, PA (211.9 miles)

How would I tell the story about Hurricane Irene if I were a reporter and standing in exquisite sufficiency? In our consumer culture, news is crafted to sell and entertain as much as it is to inform. While listening to the hurricane reports I heard:

Reeling Devastated Washed away Damaged "It's not worsening but it's not getting better."

Language is power. There is what happened, that a hurricane swept over the Northeast and caused measurable damage and effected many people. And there is how we talk about it that creates our relationship to what happened. The effect the words above have on my body, my mood, and my relationship to life itself are feelings of overwhelm, loss and weakness.

In contrast, I heard a version of the story from a friend in Vermont, one of the areas that was deeply affected by the storm. She talked about losing beloved covered bridges and flooded buildings, and also about the gatherings of people coming to help, free food being distributed, communities coming together for support, and vacationers volunteering to help. She reflected on an overall mood that left her feeling ok. I would say she was standing in the sufficiency - the what is-ness - of a situation labeled a tragedy.

There is way to speak about a story - to ourselves and others - that allows us to hold the tragedy inside of the sufficiency that is actually present in how people respond to life's challenges.

Life is full of storms and we have a choice about how we want to be in them. The manner in which we face those challenges will offer the opportunity for us to develop resilience and faith or for us to harden and turn our hearts to stone. This is true personally and collectively.

How the story is told matters. The language used to describe events around the globe for anyone not directly affected will either cultivate our faith and resilience or perpetuate our belief that the challenging events of life are catastrophic and we have no power in the face of them.

As listeners, we can bring this awareness and ask: What would be possible - personally, interpersonally and collectively - if we stood in sufficiency when listening to the news?

Having heard both sides of the story, I can see and hold the exquisite sufficiency present in the face of what appears like tremendous scarcity.

Longing For Spring

Many years ago I moved from Saskatchewan to Alberta because of the weather. Well, after the last couple of winters I am beginning to wonder what has happening. It seems that there is more cold and snow than I really want. And is it just me, or is this going on longer and longer than ever?

Well, I decided that even though the weather isn't cooperating with my hopes there are things that I can do while longing for spring so today I will share these with you. Perhaps you might latch onto some of the ideas and make the wait a little more worthwhile:

Clean a cupboard - I have been putting off reorganizing the pantry and as of tonight am proud of the fact that everything is in order! Read some good books - My favourites are the biographies as they tell about the ways that individuals triumph over difficulties in their lives. One of my favourites this winter was the story of Susan Boyle - the individual who overcame her fear and disability to enter the Britain's Got Talent contest. Watch a great movie (or two) - The Social Network and Under the Tuscan Sun were two I enjoyed recently. Bake - There's something about the smell of something cooking that seems to warm the soul! Finish unfinished projects - This is a good time to clean up the things that you are "almost done". Remember when the spring comes they will be ignored (again) as you will want to head outdoors. Call a friend - A good conversation with someone you care about will likely bring a smile to both of you! Exercise - Euww. Did I say that? Well, if you want to look great in that bathing suit I guess that would be a good idea. Plan your spring planting - What will you have in the garden this year? Have you created your list of seeds and bulbs for ordering? Rest - It's okay to just have a quiet evening at home.

Yes, we go from 30 degrees below to melting to frozen ruts. And the cycle continues. But you can invest your time into wonderful activities so that you will be ready for spring when it finally does arrive. Make a list of all the things that you have either been putting off or thinking that you should do, Then begin.

Now what will you do today?

How Do I Prepare My House For A Hurricane?

Florida is no stranger to unexpected weather, and Floridians are no strangers to hurricanes. While it storms year-round in the Sunshine State, the devastating power of a hurricane can far exceed the typical problems which accompany normal rainfall or wind. Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th and some years activity is minimal, but others can be catastrophic. In 2005, which includes costs caused by Hurricane Katrina, the total estimate of property damage came to over $13 billion.

Floridian homeowners, and vacation-homeowners, can take a few simple steps to protect their home and property, and no one should underestimate the importance of a few proactive measures. Taking a few effortless steps to prepare when there is no disaster might make all the difference in the event of one.

Six Easy Ways to Be Prepared

1) Keep boards or plywood which is sized to fit the windows of your house in an attic or shed space. Having these materials available well before any disaster strikes will prevent having to search for them at the last minute.

2) Keep rope, straps, and tie-downs for loose property. Be prepared to secure your boat, patio furniture, outdoor children's toys, pool accessories, etc.

3) Make an evacuation plan with the whole family. Discuss a meeting location, responsibilities for each person, an evacuation destination, as well as anything else which may be particular to your family situation.

4) Know if your home is in a flood plain. This information will be helpful for insurance purposes and to plan for evacuation, and can be found on the Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Floodplain Map Viewer".

5) Homeowners' insurance policies will protect your home in the event of damage from wind, rain, or debris. However, it is not the same as flood insurance and will not cover the cost of damages done to your home as a result of flooding. FEMA provides information and a list of resources on their National Flood Insurance Program or you can ask your insurance agent for further details.

6) Keep a stocked "Emergency Kit" on hand at home. You may consider stocking it with first-aid supplies, a battery-powered radio and spare batteries, a flashlight, bottled water, nonperishable food items, and a multi-purpose tool, as well as personal items such as medication and copies of documents. You may also want to include a waterproof disposable camera for documenting damage claims. This kit may prove invaluable in the event that you are not able to evacuate an impending situation. Get more details and ideas from the American Red Cross.

Surviving Severe Storms - 6 Top Tips

If you're in the path of the hurricane, or other strong weather here are a few quick tips that may help you or even be the key to your survival.

Tip 1: Pack a go bag with two or three days clothing, for each person in your home, make sure you take all necessary toiletries and place them in a central place in a plastic garage bag. Don't forget if you have small children to pack diapers formulas or anything they need in a separate baby bag for easy access.

Tip 2: If your home is serviced by well water or even if you have city water it's a good idea to fill a spare bathtub with water using extreme caution if you have any small children that could get to it place a pool alarm in the tub as a precaution take great care to prevent drowning. This could be a great source of water to flush toilets and clean cookware. It is not recommended for cooking or consumption.

Tip 3: Have more than one car? Try to separate your cars by 50- 100 yards meaning do not park both of them in the garage because if you garage gets damaged you will be out two cars instead of one. The best idea is to shelter one vehicle and park a vehicle somewhere else preferably away from trees, power lines, or tall objects that could fall and damage the vehicle, don't forget to fill it with as much gas as you can afford.

Tip 4: Take the time now to contact your local authorities or the Red Cross so that you have there numbers, it would be a great idea to program them in your cell phone. Find out where the closest shelters are. If your home is extensively damaged and you may need to make a run for it!

Tip 5: Make sure all your cell phones have a full charge and you have spare batteries for your flashlights. If you are going to use candles make sure they are slow burning and not scented candles, if you burn to many scented candles at one time the smells can become overwhelming. Place everything in a centralized place. Plastic containers are a great idea, to keep things dry and organized. If your going to use emergency candles do not leave them unattended, burning while sleeping, or within reach of small children. A great alternative is a rechargeable LED lantern available almost anywhere they are about $15.00 and can even be recharged in your car.

Tip 6: During the storm stay away from windows and doors, as close to the center of your home as possible and on the lowest floor of your home. If your home sustains damage during the storm do not try to evacuate immediately unless you feel your home has received structural damage to the extent that you would be more at risk in your home than out in the storm. Minor damage to your home such as broken windows or a limb or tree in the side of the roof you are most likely safer to ride it out and not risk going out into the storm again, you must use your best judgment about the condition of your home.

The Climate Of Lahore In January

The climate of Lahore in January is cool, pleasant and sunny with a moderate rainfall. The following is a brief description of its temperature and precipitation.

Temperature:

The day time temperatures are around 66 F ( 19 C) at the beginning of the month. By the mid-month they generally drop a degree or two and the thermometer stands at about 64 ( 17 C) at mid-day. By the time January draws to a close, the temperatures rise a little and are approaching 70 F ( 21 C). The mean day temperature for the whole month, therefore, is 66 F (19 C) which is very comfortable for its latitude of 31 N. All stations at or around this latitude are much colder. Teheran, for instance records a day time temp of only 46 F ( 8 C) in the same month.

The night time temperatures are also much milder than the stations located on the same latitude. At the beginning of the month, the temperatures are around 41 F ( 5 C). By mid-month, they are near 34 F ( 2 C).By the time the month is nearing its end, the temperatures increase to 46 F ( 8 C). The average night time temperature for the whole month is therefore 41 F ( 5 C). Again this much milder than other stations situated at or around the same latitude. The night time temperature at Teheran is 30 F ( -1 C) or 11 degrees F colder than that of Lahore.

The main reason of these very mild winter temperatures at Lahore is that the Great Himalayas situated farther north and east obstruct the fiercely cold winds of Central Asia. Whereas in case of Teheran, for instance there is no huge mountain barrier present to check the cold Central Asian wind. This becomes more clear when we see that the all time low temperature at Lahore is 28 F ( -2 C) whereas at Teheran it is 5 F ( -15 C )!

Precipitation:

The precipitation is in the form of rainfall for no snow occurs in Lahore. The average rainfall for the month of January is a little more than an inch ( 25 mm) with two rainy days in the whole month. This rainfall is received through the passage of western disturbance over Lahore which is a gigantic rain bearing system having its origin in the Mediterranean Sea and after crossing Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan reaches Pakistan. By the time it reaches Lahore, it has lost much of its moisture. Some times when the system is strong enough, two or three successive days are rainy but that is not common. Generally the sky is clear of clouds and the relative humidity is low.

In short, the climate of Lahore in January is cool and pleasant with a plenty of sunshine.