Death tolls have risen to over 40 people after dust storms, wildfires, and several tornadoes have raged through multiple states.
Wildfires, also known as forest fires, are uncontrolled flames in an area with combustible vegetation. These fires are known to last for many days, and sometimes even months if they are that severe, leaving residents with a pile of rubble and no home to live in. Dust storms are walls of dust and debris blown into an area by strong winds. This wall of dust can be miles long and thousands of feet high, they can irritate the lungs and trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Finally, a tornado is a violent rotating column of air expanding from a thunderstorm to the ground, these brutal winds can cause remarkable damage.
Unfortunately, California is known for it’s constant and damaging wildfires. In fact, “FireAid” was a celebrity-based concert raising money for areas who were violently effected by the flames. The Dust Bowl, in the 1930s suffered a severe drought, destroying crops in the Great Plains, and leaving people with their health compromised. Tornadoes are often infamously known from the Wizard of Oz as well, when Dorothy’s house in Kansas was picked up, tossed around, and landed in Munchkinland on top of the witch.
However, dust storms have begun to raise fire risks, and in New Mexico, drivers had to pull over from a major dust storm, nine were hospitalized after the pile-up. In Western Kansas, 8 died due to a 55-vehicle highway crash. Ohio had a mixture of dust from the Southern US and rain from a Midwest storm, creating “dirty rain”.
Tornadoes have been threatening the Midwest, and a severe thunderstorm is predicted to possibly produce more tornadoes, 100 have already been confirmed. Across Arkansas, wildfires are beginning to flare up, causing road closures and damage. Fire Departments are urging these locations to, “Evacuate Immediately”, says Reynolds County Emergency Management Agency.
This is a rough time for the US weather-wise, and all we can do is watch, contribute help, and consider the areas affected.
