DEATH TOLL NEARING 500 FROM TORNADOES THIS YEAR
Written By: Scott Hetsko
The death toll from last night's long track tornadoes is nearing 300. A grim reminder of how incredibly dangerous these storms can be. People who took all the proper steps to be safer were still killed by winds estimated over 200 mph in Northern Alabama last night.
2011 now ranks second for annual tornado deaths behind only 1953 when 519 died. Since the peak of tornado season hasn't even occurred yet, the chances that 2011 beats the number is high.
Scott,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you've heard the stories of the "brain drain" problem in New York State. Meaning, many of our young, college educated folks are leaving for the southeast and southwest for "better" opportunities. Many cities across the Great Lakes are losing population in startling numbers. Buffalo lost a whopping TEN percent of its population in just the last decade, while Rochester lost four percent. Where am I going with this? Well, I read an article recently that pointed out the unsustainablility of water resources and vulnerability to natural disasters across the southern U.S. Phoenix, for example, is gaining population rapidly. Problem is, with or without global warming, phoenix's water supply will become very limited down the road. That region just won't be able to support CLEAN drinking water for all those people down there when so much of their water must be shipped in. Then you have the west coast, with earthquake problems. And, well, look at the southeast with their deadly tornados, and summertime hurricanes and higher risk for devastating drought. And yet, with all fo this noted, people are fleeing to these areas by the bus load.
There is a growing number of people thinking that we will begin to experience a "reverse migration" of people moving back to the north again, as the climate takes its toll on the south, and suddenly the great lakes, with our vast natural resources and fresh water, and a climate that, while sometimes uncomfortable, is usually not NEARLY as destructive or deadly as the climate to the south, makes the north a much more favorable place to settle down again.
So, my question is, do you agree with the idea that the United States may see a reverse migration of the population back to the north? Is the flood (pardon the pun) of people to the south just a Fad that will go out of style soon enough?
Thanks,
Luke
Scott- was there a funnel cloud in Brighton yesterday because some people are saying they saw a funnel cloud or rotation in the clouds?
ReplyDelete