Weather Zen
series of inconveniences. A flooded out road, a late frost, a drought
causing brown lawns. While the weather channels focus on crazy
scary images of homes being washed away we dismiss the drama because it is
too far from our own experience. We're the frog in the pot. You know the
story: a frog dropped in hot water will jump out and save itself, a frog
in a pot of cool water gradually heated will stay in until it boils to
death. These little tragedies are inuring us to the drama yet to come.
Today's (6/10/2008) severe weather alerts cover the entire US.
- Heavy Snow Warnings - Pacific Northwest
- Wind Advisories - West Central
- Flood Warnings - Upper Midwest and South Central
- Tornado Warnings and Heat Advisory - East Central and Northeast
day, thank God. The little ones have always happened. Climate change
didn't invent snowstorms or tornadoes. Severe weather is affecting us more
often. I like to think we are smarter than the frog in the pot. Surely we
can recognize that our environment is changing and CHOOSE to be prepared.
Surely we can recognize our individual responsibilities - preparing for
likely weather events in our own neighborhoods. Surely we can insist that
our communities and governments use the science and technology available
to mitigate and prepare for disaster scenarios before they wipe towns off
the map. There isn't one of us who can fix global climate change by
ourselves. We are going to have to live with this for a long time. What we
can do is wake up, get prepared and recognize these daily weather
inconveniences are not isolated news stories. Jump out of the pot and
encourage your friends and family to join you.