Tropical Storm Debby could prove just as dangerous as a major hurricane
Tropical Storm Debby came ashore in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane and quickly downgraded, but the storm still poses serious threats as it slogs on toward Georgia and South Carolina.
Just a Category 1 hurricane? Don't be fooled by a number โ it could be more devastating than a Cat 5
Former Federal Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate has some advice for people following storms: Don't judge their severity on how big a number they've been assigned.
Houston keeps buckling under storms like Beryl. The fixes aren't coming fast enough
As Houston slowly struggles to recover after Hurricane Beryl left millions without power, experts say it's time to rethink how cities are preparing for and responding to weather disasters.
Biden picks familiar faces for top roles at FEMA, CIA
President-elect Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic during an event at The Queen theater, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Wilmington, Del. Biden also is tapping former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler to help lead the COVID-19 vaccine drive. Nancy Ward served as the agency's acting administrator in the early months of the Obama administration before his pick, Craig Fugate, could be confirmed. Miller was steeped in manufacturing policy in the Obama administration, including an update of automobile fuel efficiency standards. She also served as the head of the Office of Emergency Management for the city of Aurora, Colorado.
Damage from whopper hurricanes rising for many reasons
The Atlantic is increasingly spawning more major hurricanes, according to an Associated Press analysis of NOAA hurricane data since 1950. The Atlantic now averages three major hurricanes a year, based on a 30-year running average. A study by Kossin found that, once a storm formed, the chances of its attaining major storm status globally increased by 8% a decade since 1979. Such a busy period started in 1995 and might end soon as northern Atlantic waters shift to a cooler regime, he said. In addition, he said: Climate change will be a bigger driver of losses in the future.___Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at www.twitter.com/borenbears.
Waffle House is the unofficial authority for disaster-affected areas
"Our goal is always to be the last to close, first to open," Waffle House public relations director Pat Warner told CNN. The hungry history of the Waffle House IndexFormer FEMA administrator Craig Fugate told CNN the Waffle House Index was born out of coincidence, hunger and necessity. The further south they drove, the more open Waffle House locations they found while other businesses were dark. So they codified it--and the Waffle House Index was invented. Waffle House plans to roll with Dorian's punchesTo determine whether shops should fire up the waffle irons or not is tricky.