Via new research, it appears that the section of the Cascadia Subduction Fault just off the Washington State Coast may be more dangerous than other areas of the fault.

As we continue to see summer temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, understand that those temperatures will impact the ability of helicopters to lift what would be normal loads, or not fly at all.

I’ve been writing about the home insurance crisis that has been brewing for years. Well, the first wave of inability to acquire affordable house insurance is here!

If you don’t believe in climate change and sea rise, maybe you might believe in shore subsidence.

In large organizations like the Federal Government, the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing, and standards and rules are not mutually supporting. This is coming to an end with one particular flood related aspect of disasters.

There have been two media references of late about how the cost of insurance is driving up the inflation rate. This is true for cars and homes/property.

One of the more common functions we as emergency managers perform is issuing warnings and ordering evacuations of people who are in dangers way. With that function being common, one particular area that I suggest almost everyone has a challenge with is assisting with the evacuation of people with disabilities.

The recent rain and flooding event from a series of “typical” rainstorms has brought to the forefront the challenges that come when ideology and science conflict.

“Summer’s here and the time is right for…” The rest of the verse is “dancing in the streets” but then with the heat and other hazard issues, the song could be rewritten to say, Summer’s here and the time is right for flooded streets!”

It is an unfortunate loss of local history and likely many family traditions of going down to the Dam Store to pick up some groceries or grab something to eat. A destination for parents riding along with their children on bicycles.

Remember, the best time to become prepared is “before the disaster” which means right now.

I’d highlight a couple of things. First, windspeeds are not everything with a hurricane. The storm surge can be deadly as can intense rainfall and flooding, both in rivers and streams, but also surface water flooding. And, as noted, hurricanes can spawn tornadoes, which were very destructive in Hurricane Andrew, 1992 when it made landfall in Florida.

Compound flooding might not be a new term, but it is fairly new to me. It is only in the last couple of months that I have seen it referred to in professional writings and just the other night on national television news.

Great news! Amanda Ripley has updated her 2008 book Unthinkable with entirely new content on risks and hazards that we were not anticipating not that long ago.

Today I begin a new journey with being associated with The Readiness Lab.

The 2024 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be a significant series of storms due to the temperature of ocean waters.

Certainly climate scientists are pointing to the fact that it is the earliest Cat 5 Hurricane on record. Beryl is likely predictive of our 2024 hurricane season.

When I ran for elected office as a Port Commissioner Candidate years ago I would tell prospective voters who said, “I don’t vote” that there are three requirements of citizenship. Citizens should vote, pay their taxes and serve in the military when called.

It could be that the threat to the electrical grid is not fully understood. Or, maybe politics of the election year are getting in the way of national progress.

Recently there have been two significant incidents occur when clear air turbulence hit commercial aircraft flying at cruising altitude. Both caused significant injuries to passengers and one death.