# 2291
After battering Cuba as a major hurricane, and lashing the Florida Keys with tropical storm force winds, Hurricane Ike is now on track to threaten the Texas coastline by the weekend.
Having taken the scenic route, eschewing South Florida in favor of the islands of the Caribbean (but still remaining within the 5-day forecast cone of uncertainty released last week), Ike has been with us now for 10 days.
While still a Category 1 storm, after spending about 36 hours interacting with the mountains of Cuba, Ike is forecast to intensify over the next 48 hours.
Possibly to a Category 3 or greater storm.
With roughly 48 hours to prepare, residents along the Texas gulf coast now need to be seriously thinking about how they will deal with this storm. Some may be required to evacuate. Others may ride out the storm in their homes.
As any veteran of a hurricane strike will tell you, the storm isn't over when the winds stop. Depending on the level of damage left behind, the effects of a storm can last for years.
(cleanup in Biloxi After Katrina)
www.katrinadamage.com
Being prepared, and having an emergency plan, can go a long way towards reducing the dangers and misery in the aftermath of a natural disaster like a hurricane, earthquake, or flood. It would also be essential during a pandemic, as well.
Whether you currently live in harm's way of this storm, or not, you'd do well to visit the following sites and begin making plans to weather a crisis in your own locality.
You never know when the next one will strike.
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
HHS Flu Site http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
And lastly, I would recommend Get Pandemic Ready.Org for it's comprehensive, and easy to follow advice on how to prepare.
Related Post:
Widget by [ Iptek-4u ]