… to drones … If you’ve ever panicked about an impending storm only to see it fizzle, you know a big challenge remains when it comes to predicting weather with satellites. Now drone technology is starting to play an important role. “We’re very good at detecting


hurricane tracks, but we need to work on improving intensity forecasts,” Vaccaro admits. Future weather predicting should tackle this with drones. “Hurricanes are too dangerous to fly


into, but we need that data,” Vaccaro says. “So we’ve recently equipped our hurricane-hunter aircraſt with Doppler radar and have unmanned aircraſt flying at lower altitudes, where it’s too dangerous, with severe turbulence, for us to fly larger aircraſt with humans aboard.”


… to phones Having the information is one thing. Disseminating it is another, and Vaccaro admits predictive tools aren’t much good if people can’t make sense of the output. Tat’s where folks such as Lloyd Colston


come in. Emergency management director for the city of Altus, Oklahoma, Colston has spent decades thinking about how to respond to adverse weather forecasts. “Back in the ’70s I relied on the


forecasters to take the data and make it into a forecast,” Colston recalls. “Now everyone and his brother can look at the satellite images, but …” He pauses. “Do you have a radar app on your phone?” Yes. “Do you know how to use it?” Not really. “Tat’s my point.” Colston appreciates the progress in


weather-predicting technology because it makes a specific part of his job easier—he can tell more precisely when and where


DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:


KNOWING ABOUT AN IMPENDING WEATHER EVENT IS INVALUABLE—but it’s only part of the story. Lloyd Colston, emergency management director for the city of Altus, Oklahoma, says, “I want people to get the warning. But before they get it, I want them to have a plan of what to do with it.”


Ready.gov, the website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), lists guidelines for dealing with multiple disaster scenarios—ranging from flood


to pandemic. Take basic measures today, and you’ll be better able to face the weather warnings tomorrow.


HAVE A HOUSEHOLD PLAN. Know the location of supplies, your evacuation route, your safe haven. Consider contingencies for pets, and keep special needs in mind for the elderly and young children. Write it all down, and make sure everyone in your family has a copy. Ready.gov has downloadable forms to help you.


INVESTIGATE SCHOOL AND OFFICE PLANS. Many of us


THE BASICS


spend the bulk of our days outside our homes. Ask your manager about your officewide disaster contingencies. Talk with school officials about their emergency plans.


BUILD A HOME KIT ... You don’t need a full-on bunker, but pull together enough nonperishable food, bottled water and first-aid supplies to last for 72 hours. Electricity outages can last longer than you think, so include batteries, flashlights and phone chargers. Put them in an accessible, easy- to-remember spot.


... AND A CAR KIT. Many disasters involve leaving home. Keep your car’s gas tank filled up, and stock it with items you’ll be glad to have in an emergency, like a first-aid kit, jumper cables, flashlights and nonperishables.


SIGN UP FOR COMMUNITY ALERTS. Many towns and cities have their own alert systems, and they can be more up-to-date and accurate than those from nationwide sources. Reach out to local officials to learn how to sign up and to get a copy of your communitywide plan to deal with certain kinds of disasters.


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