USA: Residents warned as Louisiana braces for Hurricane Ida

Weather forecasters warned residents along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast to rush preparations Saturday in anticipation of an intensifying Hurricane Ida, which is expected to bring winds as high as 130 mph (209 kph),

life-threatening storm surge and flooding rain when it slams ashore in Louisiana on Sunday.

Highways on the northern Gulf Coast saw steady traffic as people moved to get out of the storm's way. Trucks pulling saltwater fishing boats and campers were part of a steady stream of vehicles leaving the coast on Interstate 65 in south Alabama. Traffic snarls were reported on Interstate 10 heading west out of New Orleans.

Read more at: Residents warned as Louisiana braces for Hurricane Ida | CP24.com

The Bahamas: Two Ways To Help The Bahamas Hurricane Recovery: Donate, Then Plan To Travel There - by Lea Lane

Before (left) and after (right)

There are two major ways to help the Bahamas recover from the unprecedented devastation from monster hurricane Dorian. First, donate money, goods or time right now to the organizations you’ll find at the end of this post.

Then, as hard as it may be to conceptualize right now, plan to travel to one of the many Bahamian islands that remain unscathed by the hurricane.

The Bahamian economy revolves around tourism, and the island-nation needs funds generated by travelers to continue recovery.

Yes, hotels in the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island are closed now, but that comprises less than 15% of the country’s hotel inventory. The southeastern and central Bahamas were far less affected by the hurricane, and hotels and resorts in the capital of Nassau and in neighboring Paradise Island remain open, as do those in the majority of Bahamas 700-plus islands and cays.

These include Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Andros, The Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua.

If you had made previous travel plans to go to any of these islands, check ahead and keep them, if possible. And if you don’t yet have plans, consider making them.

Donating to established groups is the immediate way to help, and giving money is the most effective support. Here are some links:
– American Red Cross is online.
– The Salvation Army is accepting money.
– Project Hope, an international health-care organization, is accepting donations.
– Americares sends aid and medicine.
– Habitat for Humanity will be helping rebuild houses.
– Team Rubicon is a veteran support organization, staging resources and support.
– World Central Kitchen teams are providing food on Grand Bahama and the Abacos. Chef José Andrés’ organization is once again helping the hungry.

 Read more: Two Ways To Help The Bahamas Hurricane Recovery: Donate, Then Plan To Travel There

USA - Florida Hurricane Dorian: A category 4 Expected to 'Hammer' Florida Monday - by Brian K Sullivan and Jonathan Levin

Hurricane Dorian took a slight turn as it continues its slow progress toward Florida, with forecaster models indicating it has the potential to stall near the coast or even fail to make landfall in the state at all.

The hurricane’s center was about 595 miles (960 kilometers) east of West Palm Beach, Florida, as of 5 p.m. New York time, with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. With those wind speeds, the storm is a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale and is expected to reach Category 4 before it reaches the Florida coast.

The latest advisory puts the potential landfall north of Port St. Lucie, Florida on Tuesday morning, with a warning that some models now indicate the storm may turn before reaching the state.

Note EU-Digest: Believers from every faith hopefully realize that faith and prayers can create "super natural miracles", which in the case of hurricane Dorian can blow this hurricane's path towards Florida away from the State and into the sea . Christians, in case they have forgotten, should know it has also happened many centuries before (Exodus 14:21) “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”  ..... and .....this miracle is reinforced in Mathew 17:20 which reads "if you have faith, even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” So dear Floridians, and friends of Florida, before and after you have gone to Costco, Publix, Home Depot, or your favorite Gas station to get your supplies, start your prayers for Dorian to self destruct. Miracles are still possible, even in today's crazy world. You just have to try a little harder to turn this Labor day weekend into a miracle of faith.

Read more: Hurricane Dorian Category 4 Expected to 'Hammer' Florida Monday - Bloomberg

USA: Weather - Hurricane: disaster on the doorstep of the Carolinas

'Disaster is at the doorstep': Hurricane Florence nears Carolina coast.

Read more at:   

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US Insurance Industry: Hurricane Irma will hammer insurance industry with billions in losses - by Christina Farr

Hurricane Irma will create combined insured losses of $20 billion to $65 billion, according to a projection from risk modeling software company AIR Worldwide.

The company includes in its estimate the United States and selected islands in the Caribbean. For the U.S. alone, insured losses are expected to reach between $15 billion to $50 billion, AIR said.

Although the final costs of Hurricane Harvey are still being tallied, the more powerful Irma has brought Florida to a standstill and is likely to pack a financial wallop along with its human toll.

Read more: Hurricane Irma will hammer insurance industry with billions in losses

Harvey and Irma remind us, all displaced persons around the globe share common problems and deserve common solutions - by R.M.

Irma : Floridians fleeing the State from natural disaster

As more than 5.4 million Floridians evacuate from the upcoming onslaught of Irma, while Texans are still recovering from the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, it might be a good moment to take a second, step out of our comfort zone, and realize the Floridians and Texans are not the only humans facing these problems around the world.

The only difference being that for one the calamity came as part of a natural disaster, from which they eventually can return home safely, and for the other, as a result of “man-made “ disasters, commonly known as wars and religious persecutions, and not able to return home.

We as humans, morally,  can not show compassion for one human being and withhold it from the other. Certainly not for those displaced persons, who were forced to flee from their home countries against their will and become refugees in foreign lands, and considered second rate citizens there.

A "master race" does not exist. Humans are all equal in the eyes of our Creator. There is no difference if you are a man or a woman, black, white, brown, yellow, African, American, Arab, Asian , European, Eskimo, or Indian.

People fleeing from "man-made"disasters reaching EU coasts

People fleeing from their homes and cities, either for religious persecution, or because they have been bombed to oblivion by either their own governments or others, and who fled seeking safety and economic prosperity in countries other than their own, should not be barred by any country. At least not by those who proclaim they hold human rights and other values dear to their heart.

Bottom line: Yes, we need to help and pray for all the stricken people in Florida and Texas, but must also include in our prayers all those other displaced persons around the world.

Displaced persons from Myanmar,,Syria, Afghanistan,Sudan,  and many other “disaster” areas, to mention just a few, deserve the same helping hand and prayers we usually reserve for our own.

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freeplanet@prontonmail.com

 

EU-Digest

USA - HURRICANE HITS TEXAS" Videos show Hurricane Harvey pummeling Texas coast - by Adam Kelsey

As Hurricane Harvey continues its path over Texas on Saturday after making landfall just before midnight Friday, video and images are emerging on social media showing the rain and winds that hammered Texas’ Gulf Coast. 

The massive hurricane is now a Category 1 storm as of early Saturday after making its initial landfall as a Category 4 storm. It unleashed a vicious wrath of torrential rain and 130 miles per hour maximum sustained winds with even stronger gusts, according to the National Weather Service.

Read more: Videos show Hurricane Harvey pummeling Texas coast - ABC News

Weather: Fierce Storm Lashes Europe; at Least 3 Dead

Britain braced for severe flooding and the worst tidal surge in 60 years after a powerful storm with hurricane-force gusts hit the country Thursday and began moving across Europe.

The storm prompted evacuations, snarled transport and left tens of thousands of homes without electricity. At least three people died in accidents linked to the weather.

About 10,000 homes along the eastern English coast were evacuated after Britain's Environment Agency warned the country could face its worst tidal surge in 60 years. The Thames Barrier — a series of huge metal plates that can be raised across the entire river — was being closed late Thursday to protect London from the surge.

Tidal floods — caused as the storm drives huge amounts of seawater toward the land — were expected in Britain, Germany and Scandinavia, together with freezing high winds from Greenland.

The Environment Agency put out more than 50 flood warnings for different parts of the U.K., with the risk of flooding stretching into Friday morning.

Read more: Fierce Storm Lashes Europe; at Least 3 Dead - ABC News

Germany - weather: Hurricane-strength storm threatens north Germany

Named Xaver by meteorologists, blue skies will turn black as the low pressure system arrives on Thursday from Greenland. It may well be the worst storm the north has seen since the 1960's.

Thursday morning will, meteorologist Thomas Ruppert from state weather service DWD said, see wind up to force 12 on the coast – the same level as a hurricane - and further inland around force 10 or 11.
Hamburg will be in the middle of the action, where high winds, biting cold and blizzards will reach intensity later in the afternoon.

This will be accompanied by freezing snow showers and coastal inlet water levels around 2.5 metres higher than normal. This bad weather will travel eastwards and inland, but lose power as it goes.Coastal areas are at risk of flooding.

“Storm tides would be a concern for sandy coasts,” said head of coast protection Dietmar Wienholdt. “The dykes are winter-ready” he said, adding that “they will stand a storm tide like 1962 or 1976.”

The south of the country will also experience gale-force blasts, especially in the mountains, although this will not be as bad as in the north, which will have to wait until Friday for the wild weather to calm down.

Read more: Hurricane-strength storm threatens north Germany - The Local

EU Weather: Worst weather since the Great Storm of 1987? UK braces for hurricane-strength winds - by Rob Williams

 A powerful weather system developing over the Atlantic could see Britain battered with some of the worst weather conditions since the Great Storm of 1987, forecasters are predicting.

The storm is expected to develop south west of Britain throughout today and reach the south coast of England on Sunday night and into Monday, bringing exceptionally strong winds.

The storm could develop winds hitting 12 on the Beaufort Scale. This is the strength of a hurricane.
With gusts of  up to 90mph and up to 30mm of rain forecast the RAC has warned motorists against all but essential travel in torrential rain and floods.

The public has also been warned to expect the possibility of power cuts, trees blocking roads and transport disruption.

Met Office spokesman Dan Williams said on Friday that forecasters had extended their amber warning for strong winds further north. London, East Anglia, Bristol and as far north as the Midlands are all now expected to be hit by heavy winds and rain.

Forecasters say it is now looking more likely than before that the storm - with wind speeds of 80mph or more - will cross the southern half of Britain, rather than passing south of the country - and a larger area than previously thought could be affected.

Read more: Worst weather since the Great Storm of 1987? UK braces for hurricane-strength winds - Home News - UK - The Independent

USA - Hurricane Sandy: the latest from the National US Hurricane Center

 SANDY MOVING QUICKLY TOWARD SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE... ...LANDFALL EXPECTED EARLY THIS EVENING ACCOMPANIED BY LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS

Read more: National Hurricane Center

Is Isaac telling the Republicans something? - Republican National Convention in Tampa delayed by Hurricane

Hurricane Isaac will sink at least one day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., this week, organizers announced Saturday evening.

The convention will convene Monday but suspend all activities until a time to be determined on Tuesday, a senior strategist for Mitt Romney, the chair of the national Republican Party, and the convention’s president, said in a conference call with reporters.

“We believe that even though we were planning on doing it four days, we think we can absolutely do it in three,” said Russ Schriefer, the senior Romney strategist, on the call.

Read more: Hurricane Isaac delays start of Republican National Convention in Tampa - CSMonitor.com

US: Killer hurrican Irene aiming for US East Coast

With Hurricane Irene aiming for the U.S. East Coast, the head of FEMA told those who live in its path to prepare in advance and get information now that is needed should evacuation orders be issued for their local areas.

"A lot of areas may be at risk, a lot of people that may have to make decisions" on clearing out, said Fugate. "You don't want to wait until the last minute. Be ready to go, and heed the advice of your local officials," Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said on CBS' "The Early Show." "You don't want to wait until it's too late.

FEMA: Take steps now before you evacuate Irene - CBS News