Archive for the ‘Canada’ Category

Wildfire Rages in Fort McMurray

Thursday, May 5th, 2016
Courtesy NASA/Goddard

Courtesy NASA/Goddard

The entire Fort McMurray area of Alberta has been evacuated following an out of control wildfire, the worst seen in Canada in many years. As of this posting, the wildfire has burned nearly 20,000 acres in a heavily populated area. Canadian officials have mobilized firefighters, aircraft and heavy equipment to the area; however, low humidity and strong winds continue to fuel the fire. The fire is so intense that even residents of Alberta who are not directly in the likely path of the fire’s expansion are at risk for hazards associated with smoke inhalation. (All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and soot.) Medically vulnerable individuals, such as those with respiratory ailments, fetuses, young children and the elderly are at elevated risk of harm from smoke exposure.

This image, captured by a spectroradiometer equipment aboard a NASA satellite, shows the Fort McMurray area almost completely obliterated by the clouds of smoke rising from the fire.  There are three things we should all do: (1) pray for rain in Alberta – the area has been arid for some time and emergency response officials believe rain is the only hope of slowing the fire’s path; (2) support the relief efforts with a contribution to the Canadian Red Cross; and (3) re-check our own fire safety protocols. Does your business have an up-to-date evacuation plan in the event of a widespread fire? And have you confirmed that adequate fire safety plans are in place to protect your home and family and the homes and families of your employees?

Two Months Remain in the 2008 Hurricane Season

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
Still at risk in October

Still at risk in October

There are two months remaining in the 2008 hurricane season and researchers at Colorado State University expect twice the hurricane activity during the month of October 2008 relative to past years. The reason for the forecast of exceptional activity is low sea-level pressures and warm sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic, a bad combination for severe storms.

By the way, the captioned photograph is one I had taken at a small business conference in Florida. I had just given a talk on hurricane preparedness and decided to unwind a bit by walking along the promenade in the unusually mild weather. But I could have used a photograph of a colder climate, as Canada was recently pummeled by Hurricane Kyle. In the second edition of Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best: Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Small Businesses (Wiley, 2008), I cited the evacuation of Newfoundland when Hurricane Juan moved up the Atlantic Coast. Kyle caused problems for Nova Scotia and thereafter I was asked to contribute a bylined article to the Daily Business Buzz of the Nova Scotia Business Journal.  The Toronto Globe and Mail also advised its readers of our book. So expect some nail-biting from Canada to Florida during the month of October as meteorologists monitor Atlantic storm activity.