This system may go down in history as the Earth Day storm when all is said and done. A very dynamic and powerful storm system developed across the eastern portion of the country Sunday. Many airport flights were delayed this weekend. There also were many Earth Day events postponed due to the bad weather.

It may seen a bit odd to hear that New England could see its largest snowstorm of the season in late April but if forecasters are correct that may indeed be the case. In high elevations like the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania snowfall amounts could reach 14 inches. Other areas in the region could realistically see five inches of heavy, wet snow with even a few isolated areas getting ten inches.

The rain will be welcomed in many areas as portions of the east coast have been dry. Rainfall amounts could total two to three inches along the eastern seaboard when all is said and done. There are already flood advisories in place in many areas as roadways could flood as could streams and creeks. If a rare snowstorm does hit cities like New York and Pittsburgh, there will inevitably be traffic tie-ups and power outages due to branches and power lines buckling under the strain of wet, heavy snow. In other words, this strong weather event could be significant across the eastern portion of the United States. Everyone living in New England should be sure that things in their yards are strapped down or put away so that the powerful winds don’t blow them away.

Winter storm watches and advisories have been issued from as far south as the eastern portion of West Virginia to as far north as western New York. While most people are used to April showers in the form of rain, April snow showers are not expected nor very welcomed. This storm has tapped into a good deal of Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico moisture before picking up steam and moving northward. The good news is that the system is moving fairly quickly. This could be the final gasp of winter in the United States although forecasters are saying that spring-like weather is going to be delayed due to a dip in the jet stream which is pulling cold air down from Canada.

Install Smoke Alarms and Security System

Smoke alarms have become a standard feature in modern homes. Homeowners with smoke alarms installed in their homes can get a discount of up to 10% on annual premiums.

Installing a security system that is supervised by a central monitoring station, or that is connected directly to a police station in your locality, will bring down the annual premium on your insurance by nearly five percent. To get this rebate, you must submit the proof of supervision by furnishing the copy of contract or bill to your insurance company.

Raising Deductible

You can save a lot on your annual premiums by raising your deductible. However, higher deductible means you won’t be able to file claims for minor damages such as a broken window. You will have to pay for them from your own pocket.

Seek Multiple Policy Rebates

Several insurance companies offer a rebate of up to 10% to their clients that maintain other insurance policies such as health or auto insurance in the same place. Save money by getting other types of coverage that you need from your homeowners’ insurance company.

Planning for Additional Construction

If you are planning to construct an addition or another structure on your property, you should think about the materials that you are going to use. Usually, structures made from wood will cost more money to cover as they are highly flammable. On the other hand, structures made from steel or cement will cost less as they can withstand fire and extreme weather conditions relatively better.

Review and Compare Policies Regularly

You must compare the different insurance policies as well as the premiums charged by other insurance providers to your own at least once every year. Additionally, you should review your current insurance policy and look for any changes that might have happened, which could reduce the annual premiums. For instance, you may get insurance at lower premiums, if a new fire substation has been constructed near your home or a fire hydrant was installed within 100 feet of your home.

According to Eric Wilhelm, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, in worst-case scenario, we could view wind gusts of more than 40 mph and along the immediate coastline, some area could experience sustained winds of 40 to 60 mph.
Those winds are powerful enough to topple over the trash caps and make them roll down the streets and poorly constructed structures could incur damages. However, Wilhelm added it is improbable the winds would cause plenty of damage; residents in the region should also take note of the 3 to 5 inches of rainfall that could fall in the coastal areas within a period of six to seven hours.

He said, the latest forecasts do predict that Hurricane Irene could be over Boston by Sunday evening.
Irene is projected to strike the Carolinas by Friday. Wind and rain will intensify across the eastern tip of South Carolina as well as eastern Carolina late on Friday through Saturday morning.

Strong winds of 100 to up to 130 mph are expected to pound the Outer Banks, North Carolina on Saturday afternoon through evening. Winds of such a strong force can down trees and inflict considerable damage to houses and other properties.

Dan Kottlowski, hurricane and tropical weather expert at AccuWeather, said that the Irene’s center passes just east of the Outer Banks, then the winds won’t be that strong.

As per Associated Press, Irene is the first hurricane projected to strike the U.S. in last three years.
The course of Hurricane Irene is quite similar to that of the Hurricane Bob, which made landfall in New England in 1991.
Eric Wilhelm stated that Irene is likely to miss Florida and strike further north in North Carolina Saturday evening. Regions such as Myrtle Beach could get some wind and rain, but will likely miss the hurricane’s eye.
Mary Stampone, a climatologist with the state, said the track of Hurricane Irene has moved toward the east, and the forecast for potential track has been extended to the greater Boston and New England regions.

Potential flooding could be witnessed in the low-lying areas of New Hampshire according to the latest forecasts, she stated. There is a likelihood of plenty of rain in the Tri-City area, Durham and the Seacoast. Intense winds could be seen in Manchester and Keene, she added. People should also keep an eye on rough costal seas during the weekend.

American Red Cross and New Hampshire emergency officials are already preparing shelters.

A wide trough of thunderstorms containing large amounts of rain have slowly been moving their way into the Midwest and portions of the East Coast. In northeastern Ohio, already heavy rains and a forecast for more along the lakeshores could mean flooding for many counties. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for nearly every county in the northwestern portion of Ohio through today. A watch means that there is a chance for homes and businesses located in low lying, flood-prone areas to flood and that residents and business owners should be on guard.

In New York City, many streets and roadways were closed on the weekend due to flooding. There were many reports of motorists left stranded on city streets throughout the metro area as their vehicles were submerged in several feet of water. Residents of New York are being told not to take any chances on flooded streets and to exercise extreme caution when walking in flooded areas in the city.

Record downpours pounded Staten Island, flooding basements and stranding vehicles on the roads there. Many properties have been destroyed and a countless number of garages and basements become water-logged. The shock of finding their homes and businesses filled with water is causing many Staten Islanders to go into panic-mode as most feel helpless over what has occurred.

Things are not much brighter in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Heavy rains are in this week’s forecast after an already wet weekend. Flash flood watches have been put into effect for the southern portion of the state Monday and a flood advisory has been issued for the northwestern part of the small state. The rest of Connecticut is under a flood watch. The state has already received up to eleven inches of rain since the weekend and another two is expected early this week with some areas of the state expected to get even more.

Starting in Oklahoma on Thursday, the massive storm system swept across the southern US into the eastern state of Virginia by late Saturday. Over 200 tornadoes were reported which annihilated hundreds of homes and businesses. Scores of people have reported that the tornadoes destroyed everything they owned. A total of 15 states were affected and the devastation is stunning. The storm was the deadliest since February 2008 when 57 people died in the “Super Tuesday” election day tornadoes in the Southeastern United States.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, three family members were killed in a mobile home park. Many residents of the park hunkered down in their bathrooms as the stormy weather moved through. Some of the park residents escaped injury while dozens of others were hurt by flying debris. The widespread damage throughout Raleigh is delaying complete damage reports as emergency crews are still working around the clock to see that everyone is accounted for.

It is estimated that North Carolina was hit by 15 to 20 tornadoes on Saturday which is about the average number the state usually has in an entire year. All of the tornadoes grew out of six to seven super cell thunderstorms. Storm damage assessors spent Sunday and Monday tracking the damage. They found that the tornado that ripped through Roanoke Rapids, N.C. packed winds of about 120 miles per hour as steel beams used in the construction of homes and businesses there were crushed and tangled.

This massive outbreak of tornadoes highlighted the inaccuracy of the conventional wisdom that tornadoes do not hit major cities. Two metro areas were hit – Jackson, Mississippi and Raleigh, N.C. by EF-3 tornadoes. Employees working at the National Weather Service office in Raleigh were forced to take cover themselves at one point as a twister passed by.

Warmer weather is poised to surge back into the south early this week and that can mean only one thing – thunderstorms and severe weather are sure to follow. The National Weather Service says that storms are possible early Wednesday through Kentucky and a large portion of southern Indiana with the greatest possibility of severe weather being along the Ohio River corridor.

A large portion of the East Coast struggled Monday to dig themselves out from a wicked two day blizzard that buried airports, froze train tracks and subways and knocked down power lines. The storm hit during one of the country’s busiest travel periods.

Strong winds and very heavy snow showers stretching from North Carolina up to Maine forced more than 5,000 flights to be canceled, which crippled air travel all across the United States. It is thought that the mess may not be unraveled until this coming Friday, which is the beginning of another holiday weekend that typically consists of scores of Americans traveling to celebrate New Years Eve with friends and family.

There are hundreds of towns and cities completely paralyzed under deep snow. Many people had to be rescued from their vehicles on snow-covered roadways throughout the east and thousands of commuters in New York City found themselves standing and waiting for subways that never arrived. Amtrack put a halt on all trains running from NYC to Maine due to heavy drifting on tracks, although a few rail lines were able to be opened again on Monday. Greyhound as well as numerous other bus lines also canceled routes.

A state of emergency was declared in Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia so that power could be restored, snow-covered roadways cleared and some sense of normalcy could be found. Before the powerful storm swept out to sea and into the record books, New York City was bombarded with two feet of snow and winds gusting to 60mph brought a large portion of the Big Apple to a complete standstill.

Hundreds of drivers merely gave up as many vehicles, including police cars, were simply left on streets in New York’s Upper West Side, causing more problems for street crews attempting to plow the snow to the sides of the streets. Cross-country skiers were seen in Brooklyn gliding down the center of major thoroughfares as kids rollicked in the deep snow. At JFK International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International airports, terminals were turned into makeshift shelters as tired and frustrated travelers camped out on cots, benches and floors.

Flooding is one of the most common natural disasters that can wash away property worth millions and even destroy lives. The phenomenon is a natural manifestation of heavy storms that can cover lands with more than five feet of water. They can trap animals, damage cars and other vehicles and corrode property. Floods may or may not come without a warning. They tend to move slowly; but you cannot afford to take the flooding water lightly; even two feet water deep can pull a person down with its strong current and damage a car.

Here are some ways to ensure that you stay safe during floods:

1. Listen to the radio or keep tab with the news on TV for information and updates on flood progression. One of the ways in which you may know about impeding floods is through the nature of the weather outside. For instance, it has been raining heavily for hours or if it has been raining almost non-stop for days, there could be an alert about a possible flood.

2. When you come to know about flash flooding, it is better to move to a higher ground because the water can wreak havoc on the low-lying areas

3. If the government officials tell you that the right thing to do is to evacuate, abide by their instructions. Secure your home well. More essential items, important documents and appliances to the upper floor.

4. Turn off the main switches and valves. Disconnect the plugs of electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical items, lest you may get electric shock; if you are wet.

Evacuation

During the process of evacuation, as you walk through moving water; be careful. It is said that six inches of moving water can make you trip and fall. So, if you have no choice but to move in water, go through the areas where the water is not moving. Make use of a stick to find out the firmness of the ground ahead of you,
If you are driving, beware of taking your car through the flooded areas. If the floodwaters rise around the car, leave the vehicle and move to the higher ground. It is foolish to be in the car, because the car and you may be swept away in no time. Also if you have to park your vehicle, make sure it is done on high ground and not near watery areas.

Do not stay near power lines or electric cable. Also if you are out, make sure that you immediately head your home or hotel. Standing near the tree can be dangerous too, because of the thunder and lightning.
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrical current travels through water and can be deadly. Report downed power lines to your power company. Make sure you help the elderly, children and disabled; they may not be able to run as fast as you and do need your guidance.

The projected storm path has traveled in a more eastern path after brushing the coastline of North Carolina late last night. The path of travel north up the coast has been better than expected for residents in Maryland, New Jersey, Long Island and Massachusetts that all could have been in a direct path of the one time category 4 hurricane. This years Atlantic hurricane season has been quite active with several hurricanes threatening the Eastern Coastline. The exit of hurricane Earl does not signal an all clear sign for property owners in potential hurricane states as there are several tropcial storms that are still begining to form in the Atlantic Ocean as they come off of the Coast from Africa.

Hurricanes begin as tropical disturbances over the ocean in areas where moist air is rising and cooling. The cooling effect forms tiny water droplets which eventually combine to make clouds. Under normal conditions, the clouds reach a saturation point, causing thunderstorms which release the water.

In a case like Earl’s, the heat energy and moisture rising into the atmosphere are so intense that multiple Cumulonimbus clouds form faster than storms can release the water. As the warm air continues to rise and cool, winds slowly begin to swirl around the low pressure near the surface of the ocean. When swirling winds become observable, a tropical disturbance is upgraded to a tropical depression.

Tropical Storm Earl is a classic case of the evolution of a hurricane. As the storm began its trek across the Atlantic, it continued to pick up moisture and wind speed. When a tropical depression reaches sustained winds of 39 mph or more, as Earl did a few days ago, the storm is designated a tropical storm.

Earl’s wind speeds have remained steady at 45 mph for the last day or so, keeping him at the Tropical Storm designation. But if he follows a typical progression of gathering strength over the warm Caribbean waters, Earl could become a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of at least 74 mph.

When a storm reaches hurricane status, meteorologists can identify what’s known as the “eye” of the storm. This is the area where the low pressure is concentrated. The smaller eye, the greater he wind speed. Earl’s eye is still relatively large. But if the storm system tightens up there will be a noticeably smaller eye with higher wind speeds.

The life of a hurricane can range anywhere between three and fourteen days. Earl is in his third day as of this writing, but it’s still too early to tell what will happen. If he turns north before reaching Bermuda, Earl will probably fall apart with little consequence. But if the storm tracks more to the west, it still has the potential to impact the southern U.S. coast.

If you have become an unfortunate victim of a flood, there are some things to keep in mind in order to minimize the damage. In the case of a plumbing failure, it is imperative to call in a licensed plumber so that the problem can be remedied. In the case of a weather-related flood, the home insurance provider should be called to see if there is a policy in place which covers the damage. Regular homeowner’s insurance does not cover weather related flood damage but many homeowners do carry flood insurance, so it is always best to call the insurer to see if you are covered or not. Renters should contact the landlord and inquire as to whether or not flood damage is covered.

Once the storm is over or the plumbing problem fixed, it is time to begin the cleanup process. In the case that extensive damage was done, it is best to contact a flood disaster cleanup company because time is working against you. Mold can begin its devastating growth within 24 to 48 hours following a flood, so it is very important the the area be cleaned and dried quickly. A flood damage restoration company will arrive on the scene shortly after being contacted so that the cleanup efforts begin quickly.

It is a good idea to take a few minutes to document the damage. Take photographs and videotape of every area in the home that has been breached by water. Be sure to take photos of any and all belongings that are wet. This will ensure that you will be compensated fully by your insurance (if you have it) and can even pave the way for you to receive disaster relief from the federal government in the case of weather related flooding. If there are electrical issues to deal with, call a local electrician so he can come and check your home’s electrical system and any appliances that have stood in water.