Giant Frogs Invade the U.S.

No joke, it's true! Discovery Channel reports:
Giant Frogs Raid Toilets, Power Lines

They're giant Cuban tree frogs, they're toxic, they have big appetites, and they're an invasive exotic species. Despite their name, there's no evidence that their presence here is due to a Castro plot. They came here from the Caribbean pet trade, and then made a break for it or were turned loose by irresponsible pet owners.

Here are some great pix and a detailed article, courtesy of the University of Florida Wildlife Extension. They come in many different colors; too bad they're so darned cute!

Stumble It!

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Rip Current Awareness Week: Break The Grip of The Rip!®

June 3-9, 2007 is Rip Current Awareness Week. If you plan to go to the beach this summer, here's something to learn about first that could save your life.

Here's a site that shows you what a rip current is and how to get out of one. It offers a rip current overview, safety tips, forecasts, photos, headliness, survivor stories, multimedia, links, a glossary, and even a downloadable sign and brochures:

NWS Rip Current Awareness Home Page

Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.

Rip currents can be killers. The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the annual number of deaths due to rip currents on our nation's beaches exceeds 100. Rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards.

So visit this site, get the information, and pass it along to your beach-going family members and friends!

Plan to swim in Florida? The State of Florida helps you to avoid rip currents and dangerous marine life with a uniform system of beach warning flags.

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Introducing an excellent hurricane and disaster preparedness blog

Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker describes itself as:

A single source reference on tropical weather predictions. We will primarily focus on the upper Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast but are linked to track all Atlantic Basin and Carribean storm systems. The climate is always changing, this is natural, we need to pay attention and take the appropriate actions to the weather patterns as they develop. We cannot control or change the weather. And the climate is nothing more than the long term manifestation of the weather.

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My Florida History: Florida Hurricane Blogs

Florida residents - it's time to check this out:
My Florida History: Florida Hurricane Blogs

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Which U.S. locations are most vulnerable in a major hurricane?

AP Pinpoints 5 Vulnerable Hurricane Areas:

Just because Katrina was the perfect storm, a catastrophic combo of the wrong hurricane in the wrong place at the wrong time, doesn't mean that history can't repeat itself, leaving another city obliterated by another tempest. It can.

At least one of these vulnerable locations is one that few people would think of as vulnerable to a hurricane. Oh, yes, south Florida is on the map here, big time - but the details of how a hurricane disaster scenario could unfold may indeed surprise you.

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Offbeat news roundup - May 25, 2007

1389 doesn't feel like being serious today.

• Snakes on a plane - 700 of them!
• Pet rooster's gone -- and eatery wants it back
• Parks try to flush out toilet thieves
• Fort Lauderdale resident pleads for help with quickly multiplying iguanas
• 17-year cicada invasion coming to Illinois
  Update: Zoo animals enjoying 17-year cicada feast
• Physical attraction is about more than just body shape, as this article at ScienceDaily.com reveals
• Canada bans illegal alien strippers
• Amorous alligator trapped at Kennedy Space Center workshop

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Learn the fascinating secrets of storm-tracking, extreme weather, and wildfire fighting

Ever wanted a behind-the-scenes view of how professionals approach hurricanes, tornados, dust storms, wildfires, and other dangerous but exciting phenomena? Here you are:

• Wildfires are an ongoing problem. Wildfires at Jacksonville.com offers an entire section of up-to-date information.
• The U.S. National Interagency Fire Center offers wildland fire maps and firefighting information.
• The Weather Channel blog offers the personal experiences of the weather forecasters themselves, as well as the scientific background explained in layman's terms.
• For storms in the U.S., check out the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
• The MODIS Rapid Response System offers new satellite views of extreme weather and fire events worldwide, including some spectacular photos of smoke from the recent Florida wildfires.
• TheStormTrack.com offers updated satellite views and current information on hurricanes and tropical storms worldwide.
• For information about winter storms, snow and ice, avalanches, and cold-climate regions, check out National Snow and Ice Data Center.
• For those of you who live Down Under, there's Australia Severe Weather.
• For storm-chasing buffs, Stormtrack.org offers a library of storm-chasing information, including maps of recent severe weather phenomena.
• Professional storm chaser Warren Faidley's Stormchaser.com offers data, links, and media information about severe weather and storm chasing, along with some truly wild photos.

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AutoVantage poll says South Florida's drivers are the rudest

For the second consecutive year, an AutoVantage poll has rated South Florida's drivers the nation's rudest. Some people dispute the findings, saying that the poll's margin for error is too high. But others say the results comport with what they see every day, ranging from ordinary discourtesy to road rage and everything in between: slamming on brakes, running traffic signals, and reading while driving (which 1389 has seen).

Evidently, there is a problem here, and surely not all of it can be blamed on out-of-town drivers with poor driving habits who are unfamiliar with the area. So what's making people so angry? Are people frustrated or misrouted because of too many road-construction blockages, too few alternative through streets, confusing or missing signage, or faulty highway design? Or is it a cultural issue? Comment here if you have any ideas!

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Top ten reasons why South Floridians should prepare for hurricane season

From the blog Sleepless in South Florida, here's a wake-up call for everyone in the area: Top Ten Reasons Why South Floridians
Should Prepare for Hurricane Season. This thought-provoking blog post also offers links for hurricane-preparedness information.

Update: More than half of Florida gas stations on evacuation routes must install generators. These generators are required by law, so that gas stations will be able to continue pumping gas to vehicles on the evacuation routes, even if a storm knocks out power. Too many gas stations have not yet complied. According to the article: "In past years, some stations have had gas in their tanks, but no way to pump it out because of power outages."

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Florida Drought, Wildfire, and Storm Preparedness News Roundup

Lots of news lately, most of it rather worrisome:

• The National Fire News website indicates that some wildfires are still burning in Florida and Georgia. No surprise there; smoke is still visible (and smellable) in south Florida.
• An earlier story explained how the fires got so bad in the first place: Strong winds could fan massive wildfire along Florida-Georgia line.
• Florida's cities scramble to shield scarce fresh water from ocean water contamination.
• Drought forces tighter water use restrictions in Broward, Palm Beach Counties.
• On top of the drought, we've got leaky pipes.
• Fines begin for Florida water wasters.
• There's also dissention among the ranks of U.S. government weather officialdom, as well as disputes about where the money is going; see NOAA confirms cut in Hurricane Hunter funding.
• Not all of the news is bad. Prominent forecasters, including the Florida Power & Light hurricane specialist, are getting ready to launch a one-stop storm help website.

To help prepare yourself, see:

• Learn fascinating details of storm-tracking, extreme weather, and wildfire fighting
• Top ten reasons why South Floridians should prepare for hurricane season

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Florida Power & Light: Getting Ready for Hurricane Season

Hurricane season is on its way. South Florida may be exposed to 140 mph winds, so it's time to get ready.

• If you live in Florida, FPL Storm Center can help you prepare for storm season. In fact, anyone who lives in a region prone to tropical storms may find useful information on their site.
• FPL StormSecure shows what Florida Power & Light is doing to make their power delivery system more resilient to hurricane-force winds.
• Especially during high winds, trees that are too close to power lines can cause electrical outages and can become a public safety hazard. Residential Trees and Power Lines shows how to plan your landscaping to avoid problems in the future.
• Update: Governor of Florida experiences "Hurricane Max", FPL's storm preparedness exercise, as the 2007 storm season approaches.

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