Here we go again, U.S. Hurricane Irma is barreling down on Florida and expected to make landfall over the weekend. I could write about travel insurance or I could write about emergency preparedness but I assume you already know that:

• A) you should get travel insurance BEFORE your trip.
• B) you should always have a plan, a back-up plan, and a back-up for the back-up plan.
• C) if you are in a storm-affected area you are following the local alerts for evacuations or shelter-in-place.
• D) your luggage should always contain a few emergency essentials. A basic kit can mean the difference between life and death, even in civilized places. Bare bones kits need:
  • An emergency Mylar thermal blanket
  • A LifeStraw or other means of decontaminating drinking water
    • a vessel for collecting water
  • Glow sticks
  • Mini Maglight torch
  • A few Snickers or Payday bars or your favorite protein bars
  • A whistle
  • A compass
  • A hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Waterproof matches
  • A bottle of aspirin and of non-aspirin pain reliever/fever reducer

BUT…..instead of telling you things you should already know, I wanted to share a few websites that are useful for tracking weather-related incidents in the U.S.

1. NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Oddly part of the Department of Commerce, NOAA’s mission is ‘to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.’ They also have a ton of resources and links to learn about marine life, ocean protection, and satellite coverage. It is a very cool site and worth bookmarking.
2. National Hurricane Center – Run by NOAA, this is the definitive site for storm tracking. There are also great links to read up on hurricane preparedness and other resources.
3. National Weather Service – Also from NOAA, this is a great site to use for weather alerts, satellite imagery, forecast maps, and water levels.

All these sites are useful and vital to staying aware of potential weather hazards. For those traveling to America, check these sites for your destination to ensure a smooth trip. For those traveling around America, use these sites to make sure you don’t find yourself literally up a creek without a paddle.

I don’t get political on my blog all that often but I have to note that anyone who denies climate change after the past 10 years worth of unusual weather is a deluded fool. Let’s do what we can, even at micro levels of individual contribution, to help make this planet something that will sustain future generations.

Thanks for stopping by JavaAndJunket and enjoy the weekend! If you are in the path of Irma, in northern Montana or the “Four Corners” area of the southwest, please stay safe.