Since Australia is now in the midst of its Cyclone Season, some people worry about the potential threats. During this period, there are harsh weather conditions. That means that people need to be extra cautious when it comes to their safety. One of the things that people often overlook is their trees. When you have plants and shrubbery in your garden, you need to make sure that you take some precautions. The sooner you take action, the safer you will be over the next few months.
When the wet season comes, it often brings a few cyclones with it. While much of Australia has the means to deal with these things, some people are still ignorant. It is crucial that everyone knows just what to do when it comes to these weather changes. Australian cyclones can be particularly destructive. The hurricane-force winds have the power to destroy everything in their pathway. That means that people need to prepare themselves for a rocky ride. Most of the buildings are now cyclone-proof, which means that they are extra sturdy. In short, it is unlikely that these structures will buckle under the power of a hurricane.
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Cyclones and Hurricanes
So, what causes these storms? The simplest way to describe the phenomenon is to say that the change in pressure causes them. When the wet (and hot) season starts, the air pressure changes. These hurricanes often come from the sea and cause entire places problems. Over the years, there have been some serious issues relating to these forceful things. When it comes down to it, there is not much that the average Australian can do about these disasters.
While there have been many examples of these hurricanes, some are more shocking than others. Back in 1974, Darwin saw one of the worst cyclones of all time. Cyclone Tracy destroyed the entire city. If you visit the city now, you will find that most of the structures there are quite new. That fact is because the hurricane destroyed everything in its path. When it came into contact with trees, it snapped them like twigs. That meant that the trees crushed houses and even people beneath them. Needless to say, the Australian government has gone to great lengths to avoid this issue repeating. There are now many procedures in place to protect people and their property.
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Possible Dangers
One of the main risks relates to the trees in your area. If you happen to live in a green region, you will likely have many trees around your home. While that may look beautiful, it comes with its fair share of dangers all the same.
It is crucial that you keep an eye on the plants in your area. Often, before a tree trunk snaps, you will see a little crack forming on it. When you notice that there is a problem, you should notify the council before it is too late. Of course, the sooner you deal with the issue, the safer things will be.
You should also check your trees for any possible damage. Since we have already had extreme weather in the Northern Territory, you need to ensure that your trees are still secure. Often, one of the telltale signs of damage will be changes in the root of the tree. If the roots look as though they are no longer strong, you may need to take action.
When to Contact a Tree Doctor
Most people ask when they should call a tree doctor to help them. It is important to remember that you can’t deal with an issue by yourself. Only an expert arborist will have the right safety harnesses to complete the job. When you notice that your trees have become weak, you need to do something right away. These plants are an accident waiting to happen. The sooner you contact a tree doctor, the sooner you can deal with the issue. Don’t attempt to cut down the tree without an expert by your side. Doing so is a recipe for disaster.
Tree Safety Tips
Finally, you should know a few tree-related safety tips. For one thing, when a cyclone hits, you need to make sure that you are inside your home. Don’t try to do anything at this point. Before then, you should prepare your trees for the stormy season. It may be worth securing the trees with a fence or even some wiring. These little tips will help you, but they are not the sole solution. If in doubt, contact a specialist, who will give you the advice you need.
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another. Think about how you will communicate in different situations.
Complete a contact card for each adult family member. Have them keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse or briefcase, etc. Additionally, complete contact cards for each child in your family. Put the cards in their backpacks or book bags.
Check with your children’s day care or school. Facilities designed for children should include identification planning as part of their emergency plans.
Complete a contact card for each family member in case of disasters
Family Communication Tips
Identify a contact such as a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
Teach family members how to use text messaging (also known as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management web site.
[googlead tip=”patrat_mare”]At least 7 states – North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Connecticut – declared emergencies as Hurricane Irene massively advances toward US Eastern Seaboard.
North Carolina is likely to take the first blow, according to officials.
Hurricane Irene advances toward the Eastern Seaboard with 115-mph winds and officials issued a hurricane warning for the entire North Carolina coast to the Virginia border.
New York officials ordered low-lying hospitals and nursing homes to evacuate.
If Hurricane Irene follows its current projected path, it will make landfall along North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Saturday.
Hurricane Irene passed Bahamas (AP photo).
“The Category 3 storm withdrew from the Bahamas late Thursday, traveling north at 14 mph,” the National Hurricane Center said.
[googlead tip=”vertical_mare” aliniat=”dreapta”] Although North Carolina will take the first hit, “the rest of the Eastern Seaboard is well within the path of this storm,” National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read said.
Chris Christie, New Jersey Governor said: “This could be a 100-year event.”
New York City officials said they might have to suspend all mass transit beginning Saturday.
In addition to ordering nursing homes and hospitals in low-lying coastal areas to evacuate ahead of possible flooding, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg advised residents to stay out of parks.
“Because of the high winds that will accompany the storm, we are also urging all New Yorkers, for their own safety, to stay out of parks, where the high winds will increase the danger of downed trees and limbs,” Bloomberg said.
“And incidentally, it’s a good idea to stay out of your own backyard if you have trees there.”
Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial postponed it indefinitely because of the Hurricane Irene.
[googlead tip=”lista_mare” aliniat=”stanga”]More than 50 million people live in the projected path of the storm.
Irene has an outside chance of growing into a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds topping 130 mph. But current forecasts predict it will diminish to Category 2 after pummeling North Carolina, with sustained winds up to 110 mph as it plows into Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue declared an emergency in all counties east of Interstate 95, about a quarter of the state, and officials set up emergency shelters inland. President Obama declared North Carolina an emergency too, expediting federal help.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency established a depot for food, water, generators, baby formula and other emergency supplies at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as well as at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts.
Up to 200,000 tourists and residents are affected by evacuation orders in North Carolina alone, with states to the north rushing to prepare their own evacuation plans. Forecasters said Irene was so big and powerful that severe road flooding and widespread electrical outages were likely, especially in the Northeast, where the ground is saturated from recent rains.
“This is a very dangerous storm,” said Dorothy Toolan of the Dare County Emergency Management office in Manteo, North Carolina, across the Roanoke Sound from Nags Head.
“People really need to take this seriously.”
Hurricane Irene would be the first hurricane to hit the US mainland since Ike devastated the Texas coast in 2008.
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