PHOTOJOURNALISM: LIFE Magazine's Coverage Of Waco, Texas Tornado (1953)

 

 

Sixty years ago this week one of the worse tornado's ever to hit an urban area hit Waco, Texas. By the end of the rampage 114 people were killed which makes it one of the twenty worse tornado's every to hit the United States.

LIFE Magazine reported:

Today, six decades later, the 1953 Waco tornado remains tied with the 1902 Goliad twister for the grim distinction of Texas’s deadliest, and is the 11th deadliest in U.S. history.

In the immediate aftermath of the tornado, LIFE’s John Dominis and correspondent Scot Leavitt, who had just recently moved to Texas, made their way to the devastated city. All of the photos in this gallery, many of which never ran in LIFE, are Dominis’s; in a note sent to LIFE’s editors in New York, Leavitt noted that “through virtually all [of Dominis's] shooting, rain fell, the sky was dark and the mood was somber.”

WEATHER: Flash Floods Hit New York City

 

New Yorkers were caught totally by surprised this morning when serious flash floods hit the city. The 2.5 inches of rain came down in just a couple of hours causing serious flooding in New York and Northern New Jersey. Here are photographs from Weather.com.

PHOTOJOURNALISM: Hurricane Sandy Six Months Later

 

 

Hurricane Sandy was the biggest (in size) Atlantic hurricane ever to travel up the East Coast and it  slammed into New York and New Jersey happen just six months ago. While others states were heavily impacted, areas around metropolitan New York City were devastated. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed along the coast. It was the worse weather disaster in the history of New York City. New Jersey had its worst hurricane in its history.

Over 250 people died in the path of the hurricane and it was the second most costly storm to every hit America. Only Katrina did more damage in its attack on the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Ike comes in at a close third. An estimated $70 billion was tallied by the all the impacted areas from storm Sandy.

Now Six months have passed and still the devastation is everywhere but progress is being made by the communities. Hospitals have reopened, transit systems are working, shelter is provided for everyone and New York city tunnels are no longer filled with water. However if you journey down to the sea the impact of Hurricane Sandy is still seen everywhere. There are glimmers of rebuilding taking place and some seaside cities will be fully operational by summer.

Boston.com's Big Picture this week did a photo essay on the area six months later.

 

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS, CREDITS AND DESCRIPTINS BY CLICKING HERE>>>>>

Hell's Kitchen Journal: My Love For Animals

 

 

 

From my earliest memory, I loved animals. Growing up in the country we had cats, dogs, chickens, deer, rabbits, squirrels, pheasants and many birds that have long since disappeared. The kids in the family were taught to take care of our animals and be responsible for their well-being. As you know from my writings over the years, that I am in love with wildlife.

If I hadn't followed my current path, I most likely would have been a veterinarian for endangered species and be living in Africa. Either that or the Willard Scott on the "Today Show" dressed as Carmen Miranda!

Very early on I was assigned the task of getting the eggs from the chickens. Taking the task very seriously I would collect the eggs, put them in my pockets and then weary from the hard work sit down with the eggs still in my pants. What a mess! Besides I loved to watch them and their habits. Fell in love with baby chicks and was so excited watching them crack through the egg shells.

My brother Melvin had two beagles named Betty and Benny who he trained to be hunting dogs. He loved to go hunting with my grandfather and father. When I as ten my dad gave me a shotgun for my birthday so I could join them on their hunting trips. Terrified at the thought of killing wildlife, my mother caught me crying and convinced a not happy father to excuse me from hunting.

God, they should have known I was gay then!

My great love has been cats. My Grandmother Grove loved cats and taught me the love of them. My first one was named Igor and he as followed by Gigi. They were devoutly loyal and followed me everywhere and snuggled into my bed every night. If my brother and I would wrestle, Gigi would tear across the lawn and attack my brother.

My sister had a mutt of a dog named Judy and it was not allowed in the house. My sister demanded equality for Judy with the cats but failed in one of Patsy's first human rights ventures.

We even had a parakeet named "Mr. Peepers" (after the Wally Cox character on television) who would nose dive my sisters boyfriends. Mr. Peepers hated her boyfriends and really go after them. The parakeet never had a cage and loved to fly around the house. It would sit on my mothers shoulders as she worked in the kitchen.

Often at night we would go 'spotlighting' in the Pine Barrens to see the deer at night. We literally would see close to a hundred in a night. The back dirt roads of the Pine Barrens were desolate and foreboding and I loved every minute of it.

The wild birds were magnificent with Red-wing Black Birds, Goldfinch, Ducks, Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Blue Jays, yellow warblers, pigeons, doves, owls,etc. The colors were vivid and there were thousands of them. In South Jersey now, the marshlands have become a huge stop on migrating birds and it is a sea of birds at peak season.

Of course, there will always be my beloved Turkey Hollow years with my friends Attila and Kate the deer, Benny and Betty the bear and Franklin the Bald Eagle. 

Over the years I have graduated to Africa and take well over a dozen safari's in a number of nations in Eastern and Southern Africa. The elephants, rhino, lions and others are on the verge of disappearing in a less than a dozen years. The thought that my great nephews and nieces might not ever be able to see them in the wild is devastating to me.

We all have to act now to save them before it is too late and it is almost too late.

WEATHER: Chicago Hit Hard By Widespread Flooding

 

 

 

Over five inches of rain has fallen in much of Chicago and massive flooding has resulted. At one point many of the cities freeways were closed and a large number of flights were canceled out of Chicago airports. Over 25,000 people are without power. In a large number of suburbs, states of emergency have been declared by the local governments.

Most schools were closed and transportation was total chaos as both highways and systems shut down.

VIDEO: James Hansen's Amazing TED Talk About Climate Change

 

 

 

James Hansen gave a TED talk in Long Beach, California a year ago on Climate change. The climatologist has been a leading voice about the urgency of this crisis hitting the planet. Given the fact that the East Coast has been warned that there is a 48% chance of a major hurricane (CAT 3 or above) hitting this year, this talk has even more relevance to our lives.

Take a break and listen to this intelligent and thoughtful discussion on climate change and Hansen's  journey.

Forecast Predicts 48% Chance Of Major Hurricane On East Coast!

 

 

 

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, Colorado State University is predicting an extremely active year for tropical storms and hurricanes. The just released forecast for 2013 shows:

Named Storms: 18 (Normal 12)

Hurricanes: 9 (Normal 6)

Major Hurricanes: 4 (Normal 2)

The bad news just continues.

After the East Coast has been slammed the last two years with both Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy, the forecasters say there is a whopping 48% chance that a major hurricane will strike the East Coast again this year.

A major hurricane is defined as a Category 3 or greater! Hurricane Sandy was a Catergory 1 when it hit shore.

For the Gulf Coast, there is also a 47% of a major hurricane striking the coast.

CLIMATE CHANGE: New Poll Says Americans Are Really Concerned But Not Threaten

 

 

 

A new Gallup Poll is showing a dramatic increase in the number of Americans who are very concerned about climate change. There has been a 7% increase in just one year.

On the other hand, people still believe that climate change is NOT a threat to them in their lifetime. Only 34% of Americans think it will be a serious threat in their lifetime.

Here are the major results from the poll:

-Gallup reports that an average of 58%of Americans say they are worried a “great deal” or “fair amount” about global warming. While below the apex of 72% reported between 1999 and 2001, it’s up sharply in the last two years from the 51% recorded in 2011.

-78% of Americans professed some level of concern about global warming with 33% having said they worried “a great deal,” 25% “a fair amount,” and 20% “only a little.”

-54% of Americans believe that global warming has already started to alter the climate which is also an upward trend after a recent dip in belief over the last several years. At the same time, Americans are also reporting higher confidence in media coverage of global warming and acknowledging a broadening consensus amongst scientists.

-Up 10% over the past four years, 62% of Americans believe that scientists are in agreement that global warming is in fact occurring; this is the closest public opinion has gotten to the peak of 65% observed between 2006 and 2008.

-The new poll also shows human accountability trending back upward as 57% of Americans say they believe global warming to be the result of human activities. This represents a 7% rebound since 2010 in which 50% of the population felt similar responsibility.

Weather: Tornado Season Will Be Active And Severe In April and May

 

Accuweather.com is predicting that the slow start to this year's tornado season is not a harbinger of the entire season. They expect, starting around the middle of April, that the season will be long, powerful and destructive. The weather site reports:

The ingredients may come together for more violent outbreaks of severe storms and tornadoes during the second half of April and May. As water temperatures increase in the Gulf of Mexico and more humid air reaches the South, the northward shift of the jet stream will also be coming together.

Rotating severe storms, which parent tornadoes, require rapidly increasing wind speed or a change in direction with increasing height to help create a twisting motion in the atmosphere. This is known to meteorologists as wind shear.

The proximity of the jet stream to a potential severe thunderstorm formation area often increases wind shear and exploits other atmospheric conditions, tipping the scale toward development.

The transition time where the jet is slowly shifting northward during late April and May can set the stage for the worst outbreaks of the year.

"The quickness at which severe weather parameters come together is what usually determines how bad a severe weather outbreak is," Kottlowski said.

During the heart of the severe season, when the threat of tornadoes should be highest, an area to watch will be the lower Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys. Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville are among the cities that lie in the zone of greatest risk this year.

Seven States Soon Will Run Out Of Water!

 

 

 

This week 'World Water Day' took place and the situation around the world is getting more and more serious when it comes to our precious water. Often this Blog has covered potential water wars that may take place in the future. Over two hundred rivers cross international boundaries making this issue ripe for intrigue between nations.

In the United States, 24/7 Wall Street proclaims that there are seven states that could have a crisis surrounding water supply. They are simply running out of water!

Here are the seven:

1. Nebraska

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 100%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 96.1% (the highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 76.4% (the highest)

Nebraska is unique among all states in that all areas are experiencing at least a severe drought. Worse, extreme drought conditions persist in more than 96% of the state, with a stunning 76% of the state experiencing exceptional drought. In the next worst-hit state, Kansas, just 21.4% of all area suffers from exceptional drought. Drought has hurt much of the state’s winter wheat crop, 50% of which was in poor or very poor condition at the end of February, up from just 6% last year. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center estimates that the drought in Nebraska will last — with some improvement in conditions — through at least the end of May.

2. Kansas

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 96.4%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 64.6% (3rd highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.4% (2nd highest)

Severe drought conditions persist in more than 96% of Kansas. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of the state is experiencing extreme drought, while more than one-fifth is experiencing exceptional drought. The good news for Kansas is that rain in March has eased the drought, although National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Kleinsasser told the Associated Press earlier this week that the state is still experiencing “precipitation deficits” of as much as 20 inches in many parts of the state. Kansas produces about 20% of the nation’s wheat, more than any other state. Wheat production was up 38% in 2012 compared to 2011, although the drought affecting the state probably will make this level of production unsustainable for 2013.

3. New Mexico

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.9%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 49.9% (6th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 4.3% (8th highest)

As of early March, normal weather conditions persist in only about 0.21% of New Mexico — the highest percentage in nearly a year. However, for most of the state problems remain. Last July, the USDA designated Cibola County as a primary disaster area due to drought. Six counties bordering Cibola, including Bernalillo County where Albuquerque is located, also qualified for natural disaster assistance. In late February, Albuquerque’s water board announced a “drought watch,” which raised fines for wasting water to $40 for first offenders.

4. Colorado

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.0%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 48.1% (7th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.2% (3rd highest)

Colorado is one of five states where all of its area is considered to be in moderate drought, with nearly 90% of the state experiencing severe drought. With the exception of the Northeast corner of the state, the drought is expected to either persist or get worse over the next several months. Yet even most the Northeast corner is experiencing either extreme or exceptional drought. Due to the ongoing problems, several of Colorado’s largest municipal water providers are considering restricting spring and summer lawn-watering, potentially limiting landowners to watering their grass just twice a week. Crop production declined significantly in 2012 compared to 2011, with wheat production falling 9.3%, while corn production falling a whopping 29%.

5. South Dakota

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 86.3%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 67.5% (2nd highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 20.1% (4th highest)

More than two-thirds of South Dakota suffers from extreme drought, the second highest portion of any state. Additionally, South Dakota is one of just four states where more than 20% of its area faces exceptional drought. As with many other states, much of South Dakota’s winter wheat crop was hurt by the lack of precipitation. According to the USDA, at the end of February, 66% of winter wheat crop was considered to be in poor or very poor condition, up from 31% in February 2012

6. Wyoming

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.7%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 54.7% (5th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 10.1% (5th highest)

Wyoming is one of the driest states in the country, a condition not likely to improve in the near future. According to the National Weather Service, the drought is expected to persist or worsen in most of the state over the next few months. The most critical drought problems are taking place in the eastern portion of the state. In the summer of 2012, Governor Matt Mead had to ask the federal government for disaster relief due to the drought. During the year before the request, ranchers working on non-irrigated land had lost about half their pasture grass and hay production because of the drought, a state agriculture official told Reuters. 

7. Oklahoma

- Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.2%
- Pct. of state in extreme drought: 56.7% (4th highest)
- Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 9.7% (6th highest)

Over half the area of Oklahoma currently suffers from extreme drought — the second worst level listed on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Oklahoma shares this distinction with just four other states. Drought conditions have actually improved since the start of the year. The percentage of the state facing exceptional drought — the worst category of drought — has fallen from 37% at the start of the year to less than 10% currently. In January, the USDA declared a large part of the winter wheat belt, spanning from Texas to North Dakota, as a disaster area due to the lack of moisture. According to the Scottsbluff Star-Herald, recent precipitation has not been enough to help the winter wheat crop in the state that had to be planted in dry soil.