Wildfire in Table Rock, Burke County, NC

A Wildfire in North Carolina in November?

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/powerful-winds-force-firefighters-linville-george-/nbwRj/

            Just last Tuesday a wildfire broke out at Table Rock in Burke County, North Carolina. The second I saw “wildfire in North Carolina” I knew I wanted to write my blog in it. Just recently in class, we discussed wildfires and I think they interest me because it is not a disaster that I would think of right away. I also didn’t know anything about them. Wildfires are known to occur in mountain regions with very hot temperatures, but usually in the spring and summer months. Strong wind and dry conditions also influence wildfires to occur. The spatial pattern of wildfires is seen most likely in the west, but we also know that wildfires can occur anywhere.

            In this case in the southeast, we just experienced a cold front that brought unstable temperatures and strong winds. I didn’t see any information on the vegetation or chemical makeup of the Table Rock Mountains, but those could have been another factor in the cause of the wildfire. As of right now, the cause of the wildfire is unknown. Investigators are asking people who were at Table Rock on Veterans Day if they noticed anything. They are also giving a reward to whoever reports the cause. We have learned in class that humans are the majority influence of starting a wildfire.

            This is a time-lapse video of the wildfire over the past week and it is TOTALLY worth clicking on and watching. 

http://www.wsoctv.com/videos/news/timelapse-table-rock-wildfire/vCJdQT/

            Unfortunately this fire wasn’t small. Firefighters were ordered to step off the lines due to the severity of the fire and the strong winds that could worsen it. The fire has burned over 2,220 acres and only 40% is contained. Fire on the south side of the mountain is not contained and we have learned about slopes in class. Since the start of the fire it has rained, which slowed things down, but it also creates moist soil that can be dangerous. There has also been a lot of fog in the air, which makes it difficult for fire crews to see clearly. Future dry conditions are predicted for the area, but hopefully this fire won’t spread anymore.  

Comment to Christina Cole:

http://christinageographic.wordpress.com/

I can see that you took the time in researching the earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima. I like how you then cited a quote from a comment someone made on the article and also talked about how she compared it to BP oil spill. She had a very good comment, but I think the best part of this blog is how you asked your readers multiple questions. This really engages your readers so they don’t feel like they are just reading. You pose a question on what we can do to help, what we are doing wrong, and if we think this is wrong. These are awesome questions to ask your readers and it definitely made me think. 

Living Strong with Type One Diabetes

She was the unexpected diagnoses and now uses her disease to make her stronger.

"I don't think it really effects my ability to succeed or my ability to be a friend or my ability to lead or my ability to be a girlfriend or daughter or my quality of life at all."

At age 11, Aubrey Duggar was diagnosed with type one diabetes. The doctors told her she had a slight chance of having the disease because her father and her older sister are both type one diabetic.

She was always petite when she was young and her mother knew there was something not right about her size. Aubrey's parents would bring her to the doctor about her size but would give no answer.
Aubrey said, "I was the size of an average six year old and I was 11 going on 12."She was 4'7" and 59 lbs.

Before she was diagnosed, Aubrey got the flu. After the flu wouldn't go away and she kept losing weight, her parents decided to check her blood sugar and the results were not good. An average blood sugar level is around 100 and her's was 536.

At a young age, Aubrey had to learn the daily return of being a diabetic. She said, "On a day to day basis it's just part of who I am and I don't think about it. I don't know anything different anymore. I don't know what it's like to not take shots."

Now, Aubrey is 21 and lives a very healthy life as a type one diabetic. She is a leader in her sorority and is very involved at her school. Aubrey said it is not always easy being a diabetic but she uses her story to make her stronger.

Geog330 blogpost #3: Earthquake in the Philippines

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/world/asia/philippines-earthquake/

This article was just written last month. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Phillippines on October 15, 2013 leaving many injured and many dead. I wanted to write about this article because we are studying earthquakes in class. This earthquake in particular resulted in loss and hardship.

            Many buildings were destroyed and people were found dead under those collapsed buildings. People also died from falling rubble. This article was written the day the disaster hit and on that day they counted for 2.9 million people affected by this earthquake. The earthquake didn’t only destroy buildings, but it left homes, churches, roads, bridges, and hospitals damaged. In class we talk about direct and indirect effects of natural disasters. Some of the direct effects of the earthquake would be the collapsed buildings, destroyed properties, death, and also the landslide that took place. Some of the indirect effects would be the deaths from not having housing, food and water, or medical help. This creates major economic losses as well.

People were reported in the streets because it was the safest place to be at the time. This article quotes victim Maryann Zamora, "Right now we are in the streets because it is unsafe to be inside," she said by phone, her voice shaking as one of more than 10 aftershocks hit. "Tell everyone to pray for us."

Thankfully this earthquake did not cause a tsunami but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that it was surprising a tsunami didn’t occur from the large size of the earthquake.

The effects of this earthquake were very unfortunate. After the earthquake hit it was declared a magnitude 7.2 leaving at least 183 dead and over 500 injured. I wonder how long it will take for the Philippines to recover. 

http://matthewfisher246.blogspot.com/

Response:

I really like how you talk about what the influences were on the flooding in Texas. I am sure that it was mostly natural but it is interesting to discuss the possibility of human influences. I am a visual person so it would have been nice to see some pictures but I like how you discussed an issue we have talked about in class.