Destructive forces of nature and a few other mentionables...

Opening my yahoo mail this morning, I was struck with this horribly unbelievable headline. "MYANMAR CYCLONE DEATH TOLL SOARS PAST 22,000"

YANGON, Myanmar - The cyclone death toll soared above 22,000 on Tuesday and more than 41,000 others were missing as the international community prepared to rush in aid after the country's deadliest storm on record, state radio reported. Up to 1 million people may be homeless after Cyclone Nargis.
~source Associated Press

It's incomprehensible. They have a potential death toll of 63,000 people from the equivalent of a category 3 storm. Granted, one of our most devastating hurricanes, Hurricane Katrina came ashore as a category 3 hurricane. With hurricanes, it is a matter of where landfall occurs. Generally, Hurricane Katrina turned out better than it could have, had the bulk of the storm surge impacted New Orleans, rather than further east, as it did, there was a potential for an outrageous number of deaths. I won't dwell on what-ifs though. It was horribly tragic as it happened, just as now, Cyclone Nargis has caused horrific devastation in Myanmar. Awful.

Back in the US, we have YET ANOTHER slight risk for severe weather incorporating much of the central US. Yes, folks, another day of potential tornadoes. Yesterday (even though the storm reports graphic is not working properly), there was a tornado reported in NM, and there were about 100 hail reports with some of those being 4 1/4" hail, which is HUGE! For local updates and chase reports, checl out the following blogs and websites.

Steve Miller, TX
David Drummond
Steve Miller, OK
Chris Collura
Tony Laubach

I am jealous of their ability to be out there, but I know their wallets are hurting from the gas expense. Since I have no weather to chase, I will share with you some of the things I have chased over the last couple of days.My morning greeting walking into work yesterday morning.Yesterday's sunset, totally unaltered, just reduced for your viewing pleasure. Proof that God exists and wants us to experience beauty. An excurion bf and I took off the side of the road in a place called Paynes Prairie State Park in Florida. It was quite scneic and full of critters. I love life's little detours.Sun dog Sunday... I love sun dogs.

Have a lovely day, and all you chasers out there, STAY SAFE!
~Dewdrop