Tag Archives: Florida

Science, Science, Tech, & Health, Technology

Michael May Be Over But Devastation Lies Throughout US

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Just days after Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, residents are returning to what is left of their homes. Here are the latest updates on the storm that damaged the East Coast.

Hurricane Michael was originally going to be a strong category 3 hurricane. By the time it hit Florida, Michael was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States, with a pressure of 919 mbar and winds of 155 mph. This hurricane was only 2 mph away from a category 5, which is the most powerful hurricane, according to the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

As of Saturday, 19 people were killed directly because of the hurricane and tropical storm. That number includes 6 that were killed in Virginia. The most notable death was Lt. Brad Clark of  Hanover County Fire Department and EMS. Lt. Clark, 43, and three other firefighters who survived were responding to an accident on I295 when a vehicle, driven by Lester Labarge of California, Maryland, crashed into the firetruck, killing Lt. Clark and injuring two others. Labarge, 49, has been charged with reckless driving and cited with defective brakes according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

As for the currently low death rate, the areas that were hit in Florida have a low population compared to Katrina, which made landfall in New Orleans in 2005.

As for Florida, the recovery process has just begun for the Sunshine State. People have started to pick up the pieces of their lives as they fight to get food and water. The Florida National Guard and numerous volunteer groups have been trying to provide as much water and food as possible, while the rebuild has not started yet. Florida Governor and Senate candidate Rick Scott calls the area hit hardest by Michael “a war zone.”

The hardest hit areas in Florida are Bay County and Mexico Beach. According to the head of FEMA, Brock Long, those areas are not safe to return to as of now and won’t be safe to return to for a while.

If you want to help with the Michael recovery efforts in Florida, the American Red Cross, World Hope International, and many other organizations have set up web pages so you can donate.

 

Science, Science, Tech, & Health

Another one! Hurricane Michael takes aim to US

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Oh boy. We have another hurricane that has taken aim to the United States with the possibility of the storm hitting Radford University.

Hurricane Michael as of Monday 8:00pm is a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph and it is currently moving 12 mph north, heading towards Cuba. Hurricane winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center while tropical storm-force winds can extend outward up to 175 miles. These numbers are according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of right now as well, Michael is expected not to move much as it gathers strength in the Gulf of Mexico

As of right now, Florida and Alabama have declared state of emergencies while numerous other states are montoring the path the hurricane might take. As with the last major hurricane, Florence, no one is able to take an exact prediction on where the hurricane is going to hit.

As for us here in Radford, really the only thing we can do as of right now is to montior the storm and its path, and to hope for the best for those in path of the storm.

In Florida, multiple schools and universities have closed for the rest of the week while businesses will stay open until the evacuation orders are made by the governor.

Hurricane Michael according to NHC has the potential to reach category 3 levels which would be devastating to areas in a flood plain or poorer areas of Florida and Cuba.

Keep up with your local TV stations and/or The Weather Channel for up to date information on Michael’s track towards the United States as it gets closer to impact.

 

 

Opinion

Spring Break: Is Florida Really the Best Place?

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Every year, spring break rolls around, and every year, the most popular thing to do is go to Florida for the week. And what’s not to love about sun, sand, and surf? But is it really all that it is cracked up to be?

One of the problems with going to Florida for spring break is that everyone goes there. It becomes an extremely crowded place where you have to fight for every step you take. It seems a little ridiculous to have to deal with massive overcrowding when you’re trying to relax. Then there is the drive to Florida. Obviously, it differs depending on where you are, but here in Virginia, it is roughly a 10 to 12-hour drive just to get to Florida, and the time increases the further south you go into the state. Now some people like road trips, and some people don’t, but I cannot imagine anyone enjoying being in a crowded car on crowded highways for 10 to 12 hours.

beach week
“One of the problems with going to Florida for spring break is that everyone goes there. It becomes an extremely crowded place where you have to fight for every step you take.” Photo from: https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/bethany-beach-delaware_featured-994×559.jpg

I am not trying to say that Florida and going to the beach cannot be fun. Being able to relax on sunny shores and swimming and playing in the ocean is a great way to spend your time. There are also great places to eat down in Florida and, of course, plenty of fresh seafood. There’s a reason why Florida is such a popular place to go, and this is a well-earned title. However, I do not think it’s all it’s cracked up to be.

Probably sooner rather than later, people tend to run out of things to do. There’s only so much beach sitting and ocean swimming you can do. And I can’t help but wonder if part of the reason everyone goes to Florida is because that’s just the thing to do. Everyone else is going to the beach, so why shouldn’t you? But, then again, not everyone enjoys the same things and if people have fun going to Florida and the beach, then why not? It’s spring break; do whatever you’ll enjoy doing.

Featured, Science, Science, Tech, & Health

Florida needs a psych eval

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The existence of climate change has been a hotly debated issue in the not-too-distant past. At least, that’s how it went for most of the world. Unfortunately, headlines have been telling a different story about Floridian politicians.

You can’t sound more ridiculous than shouting the world is flat. Why? It isn’t because every person has walked completely around the entire world to test the theory. We trust our scientists to do their research and fact check one another. After enough of a percentage say they tested it and found that they were able to disprove the flat earth theory, the popular belief is that the world isn’t flat.

But despite this, Florida’s own DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) has gone and created a censorship on climate change.

Barton Bibler, an employee of Florida’s DEP, was required by his administration to take a leave of absence and complete a mental health evaluation for using the terms “climate change” and “global warming” in a presentation on March 2.

Apparently, Bibler was unaware of the off-the-record ban on both of the terms, which has been enforced since Governor Rick Scott took office in 2011. When asked about the reason for Bibler’s punishment, Scott’s office stated that there’s no such policy and Bibler had been reprimanded due to his performance, insubordination, and behavior which was not becoming of an employee of the DEP. However, a former DEP attorney stated that more than a dozen complaints had been reported by DEP employees on this topic in the last five years.florida

Another attorney, Christopher Byrd, gave this statement: “We were told not to use the terms ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming’ or ‘sustainability.’ That message was communicated to me and my colleagues by our superiors in the Office of General Counsel.”

Regardless of the proof of a real policy or simply an atmosphere of fear and hostility in Florida’s DEP, the state should be concerned about how the reality of climate change is affecting them. Miami Beach alone is victim too unusual flooding and dying coral reefs — which are a major tourist attraction and source of revenue. And, despite being nicknamed the Sunshine State, Florida is behind dreary, cold Massachusetts, as well as California and Nevada, in solar power. In fact, it’s illegal for homeowners to rely entirely on individually produced electricity.

Bibler’s punishment for his presentation — whether due to his use of censored terms or not — is a wake up call for the state. If Florida’s DEP is afraid to talk about climate change, it doesn’t bode well for the future of the state.

Life

Spring Break: Steaming, freezing or in-between?

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It seems as if every student at Radford University was born and raised in the same areas. Every time someone asks “where’s your hometown?,” the answer seems to be one of three places: NoVa, Virginia Beach or Richmond. With spring break around the corner, many Highlanders seem to be leaving behind the familiar as they plan their trips. Continue reading Spring Break: Steaming, freezing or in-between? →

Science, Science, Tech, & Health

Florida’s monster pests

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If sunshine, orange groves and giant mosquitoes are your cup of tea, a trip to Florida might be in order.

That’s right, giant mosquitoes. Known as “gallinippers,” these fearsome beasties can grow up to 20 times the size of a normal mosquito. Deby Cassill, a biologist at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, described the gallinippers as “pterodactyls in the mosquito world.”

If the intimidating size wasn’t enough, these babies come with attitude. The so-called pterodactyls are known to go after humans, animals and even fish. Moral of the story? To a gallinipper, you look the same as a fish fillet. Continue reading Florida’s monster pests →

Opinion

Focus on the case, not their race

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On Feb. 26, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking back from 7-Eleven to his father’s girlfriend’s house in Sanford, Fla. He caught the attention of 28-year-old George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain. Zimmerman called 911, saying Martin looked “suspicious,” like he was “up to no good” and that he was “on drugs or something.” Dispatchers told Zimmerman not to take any action and that they were on the way. Continue reading Focus on the case, not their race →