On May 15, multiple tornados impacted homeowners across northern Texas. The twisters resulted in widespread devastation and the loss of several lives. Officials confirmed at least six fatalities and the hospitalizations of more than two dozen people due to the tornadoes, The New York Times reported. A total of 16 tornadoes gripped the region. This event highlights the importance for emergency preparation, including investing in kits that contain everything you and your family may need in the aftermath of a disaster. Community left in ruins Located near Fort Worth, which is roughly 65 miles away from Dallas, the town of Granbury felt the full force of the first twister when it struck down. The Ranchos Brazos Estates and DeCordova Ranch, both neighborhoods within Granbury, were the most heavily affected by the tornado, which ranked as an EF-4, based on the Fujita tornado damage scale. Twisters of this rating have wind speeds of 166 to 200 mph. "There were probably 75 homes in subdivision that are totally destroyed,'' said Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds in a press conference.  "We haven't had a bad one like this for a while.'' Habitat for Humanity, which creates and repairs homes for low-income families, had built as many as 110 houses in the community, but the disaster destroyed many of these dwellings. The Associated Press reported that the tornados left 250 people homeless in Granbury​. According to Deeds, among those who perished in the tornadoes were two women and four men. Two of the victims were octogenarians. A tornado, with winds up to 80 mph and spanning more than a mile wide, cut across the town of Cleburne, the Dallas Morning News reported. In the town of Mineral Wells, hail the size of grapefruit rained down on […]

A recent canal breach in Murray, Utah, on April 27 resulted in the flooding of close to a dozen homes located in the Murray Bluffs II neighborhood of the town. Reaching 12 feet high and between 20 to 25 feet wide, the section of the canal that was breached led to significant water damage and the flooding of eight basements. "Within five minutes the hill back there you can see all the boulders that's our landscaping," Jessica Goodman, a resident of Murray Bluffs, told ABC News 4. "Water just went boom and just flew out like it was a big waterfall." Goodman and her husband noticed water bubbling up through the ground in their backyard before the flood fully impacted their home. They were among one of the worst-hit dwellings in the neighborhood. Stephen Linge, another resident, had recently finished renovating his basement when he heard a loud noise. His basement was later filled with muddy water. "All of a sudden water started coming into our window wells and they started bowing out like all of them and then simultaneously a huge crash of water just flooded in and by that time it was already up to our knees," he told the news source. The canal, which is owned by the North Jordan Canal Co., spans from Utah Lake to Kennecott. According to KSL, the company recently underwent a stabilization project on the canal, although this hasn't been determined to be the official cause of the incident. Many homeowners in the community, cognizant of their close proximity to a canal, had inquired in the past with insurance providers about purchasing coverage in case of floods. However, they were denied this because they do not technically reside on a floodplain. Emergency preparedness Flooding […]

Officials are urging residents of Lakeside Heights, a small, 29-home subdivision situated in the community of Lakeport, Calif., to evacuate their homes following reports that the structures are sinking into the ground. Twenty homes have already been affected by this phenomenon, which has yet to be explained. Homeowners in eight residences have fled the area, while an additional 10 are being asked to leave before their dwellings are swallowed any further by the land. "It's called Lakeside Heights, but we also call it Landslide Heights," Randall Fitzgerald, a homeowner in the neighborhood, told ABC News. Some officials believe that this emergency is the result of underground water, which may have surged through the ground and been the cause of the small cracks in the ground that homeowners in Lakeside Heights reported seeing back in March 2013. These minor fissures have since widened into large, gaping holes, according to the news source. A driveway in the community has sunk at least 10 feet below into the earth, while another home has been literally torn apart. In an effort to quell this growing problem, officials had broken pipes fixed in the area. If underground water is the reason for this sinking, it would cause water to bubble up to the surface and make the ground unstable. Others wonder if it might be due to other natural causes. "That's the big question," Scott De Leon, county public works director, told the Associated Press. "We have a dormant volcano, and I'm certain a lot of things that happen here are a result of that, but we don't know about this." Staying safe in emergencies The current crisis in California highlights how unexpected emergencies can sometimes be. Yet whether you anticipate an […]

If you live in California, chances are that you've been impacted by recent wildfires in the state that have resulted in damage to 28,000 acres of land as well as millions of dollars worth of property damage. For an emergency this big, people from all walks of life can be impacted. By taking steps to prepare for potential emergencies in the future, you can ensure the safety of your loved ones and overcome potential challenges that may come your way. Springs Fire damage Ignited early in the day on May 1, the wildfire – referred to as Springs Fire – has decimated land in Ventura County, which is located west of Los Angeles. Thousands of people were forced to flee from their homes as the fire blazed an 8-mile path across the Pacific Coast Highway, NPR reported. The fire was fanned from brush located along the Santa Monica Mountains. More than 4,000 homes were in the vicinity of the fire, and, on May 3, the fire threatening those living in Malibu. NBC News reported that more than 1,000 fire officials and personnel were on-scene, working to contain the blaze. On May 5, the fire reached 75 percent containment. According to experts, fluctuating temperatures, wind and changing humidity allowed officials to successfully reduce the scale of the fire. While the fire reached 90 percent containment on May 7, this event kicks off an otherwise early start to the wildfire season in California. Other fires, including Summit Fire in Riverside County and Panther Fire in Tehama County, have also affected residents in the state. Preparing for emergencies Emergency planning is an essential way you can protect your loved ones from risks that may emerge, including to their health and well-being. If you reside in […]

A new report names the Colorado River, which stretches across seven states in the U.S. and provides drinking water for more than 36 million people, the most endangered river in the country due to increasing supply demands and environmental stressors, which have seemingly pushed the river to its limits. Released by American Rivers, a national nonprofit organization that strives to protect streams, lakes and other bodies of water in the U.S., the annual report has been issued since 1984 and is an attempt to drive awareness of the very potent threat that exists to the nation's water supplies. Breaking point For those who live in states serviced by the Colorado River – including Colorado, Arizona, Utah, California, Wyoming and Nevada – the revelations made by American Rivers can serve as a much-needed wake-up call about the usage and integrity of the river's resources. "The basin is really kind of at a breaking point," Amy Kober, an American Rivers spokeswoman, told Verde Independent. "This year, we need to get everyone together and put the basin on a path to better water sustainability." The news source noted that this is the seventh time that the Colorado River – which also irrigates close to 5.5 million acres of land – has appeared on the American Rivers' list, and the third occasion that it has topped it. "We knew this was an issue with the Colorado River," Thomas Buschatzke, assistant director for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, told the news source. "We've been working on a solution for a couple decades." In December 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued a report that revealed that the water present in the Colorado River is not enough to keep pace with current and future […]

When it comes to staying safe, residents in California understand the potential risks of earthquakes, wildfire, droughts and massive floods. However, the dangers of these incidents may be closer to their doorsteps than many believe. A recent report by the Environment California Research & Policy Center has revealed that while weather-related emergencies impact millions of Americans around the country, in areas like California the severity of climate-based situations could be more intense. Specifically, experts have revealed that 2 out of 3 people in California live in counties that have been hit by at least one natural disaster. "Twenty-five million Californians have endured extreme weather, causing extremely big problems for Californians' health, environment and economy," said Michelle Kinman, clean energy advocate with Environment California Research & Policy Center. "Given that global warming will likely fuel even more extreme weather, our leaders at the state and federal levels need to cut dangerous carbon pollution now." Since 2007, Los Angeles County has endured seven weather-based emergencies, which prompted federal declarations, including floods and mudslides. Nationwide, natural disasters have resulted in economic damages of more than $1 billion – a hefty price tag that does little to underscore the impact to human life and wellness that such situations have wrought. Preparing for emergencies If you live in an area of California that has been affected by adversity or a weather-related incident, you should take steps to better equip yourself with emergency preparedness skills. Whether you have a family, live alone or reside with roommates, the actions that you take at home can have significant bearing on how a disaster impacts your life. You should try to establish an emergency preparedness kit, featuring useful items such as flashlights, batteries, extra blankets and warm clothing, […]

Oak Creek Canyon, Ariz., can be one of the best places to explore if you're in the state and eager to see unfamiliar sites. However, for one woman, the experience of getting in touch with nature at Oak Creek Canyon became less than idyllic after she became stranded. For men and women who opt to go hiking, it's important to be prepared for whatever may happen. As the case of 50-year-old Elise Heon, a doctor from Canada, shows, emergencies can strike at any time. However, by having the resources you may need in the event of a crisis – like a portable water purifier – you can gain peace of mind and alleviate stress during your trek. Stranded hiker recovered by rescue crews On April 5, Heon was recovered from the ledge of a canyon in Oak Creek Canyon that was roughly 700 feet from the ground, AZ Family reported. Heon, a Toronto native who was reported missing on April 4 after failing to check out of her hotel room at the Junipine Resort, had visited the area on vacation. Before leaving the area, Heon had intended to go on a short hike, but she became lost after venturing off the trail and stranded. She did not have food, water, a cell phone or a jacket, and ultimately spent the night outside. As she soaked up the scenery outside, she recalled that she became entranced by the images and traveled down a set of stairs, from which there was no return. "I had been going down a sort of series of stairs – cliff, ledge, cliff, ledge – until I got to a ledge where there was no way off," Heon, who is the chief ophthalmologist for the […]