A strong cold front barreling south from Central Canada is poised to create a chaotic weekend of weather over broad areas of the U.S. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a high risk of severe thunderstorms over most of Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and southeastern Ohio, with major metropolitan centers such as Nashville, Lexington-Fayette, Murfreesboro, Bowling Green, and Charleston targeted. While the primary threat will be gusty, strong winds, forecasters indicate that an isolated tornado or two may form as the front moves southeast. This system is the leading edge of a much colder air mass, and it’s not done yet Eastern Pennsylvania to Southern New England also finds itself under a slight risk for severe weather.
1. How to Prepare for Severe Weather
hen it’s storms like these on the forecast, preparation is peace of mind doesn’t come close it’s safety. Preparations include securing outside items that may become projectiles, charging equipment should the power go out, and having an interior safe room at the ready. For those in tornado country, a NOAA weather radio should always be at the ready. Families need to go through their emergency plans to ensure all family members know what to do and how to communicate if they get separated.
2. The Silent Spread of Chagas Disease
When the skies get attention, a more subtle danger looms in California and beyond. The “kissing bug,” a parasitic insect that feeds on blood and transmits the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, causes Chagas disease a potentially fatal condition if not treated. The CDC estimates that roughly 280,000 individuals in the United States are likely to be infected with Chagas at any time, but many don’t realize they are infected until years afterward. Initial symptoms fever, body pains, rash, vomiting, and tiredness are often experienced for weeks or months. Forever is how long, Dr. Norman Beatty estimates, that Chagas people have waited for others to realize that this disease is in our midst. If detected early, drugs such as benznidazole or nifurtimox can cure the illness, but efficacy decreases the longer it remains undiagnosed.
3. Where the Bugs Are and How to Keep Them Out
Scientists have discovered kissing bugs in 32 states and infected mammals in at least 17. Warmth, particularly in the South, is a natural habitat, but global warming might be pushing their range outward. Preventive measures include sealing cracks in houses, fitting windows with tight-fitting screens, and cutting back outdoor lights to deter insects. Although there is no spray specifically licensed for use against kissing bugs in the U.S., control measures for insects in general can be used.
4. Hunter: The Golden Boy Looking for a Home
Amongst these weightier headlines, there is something to be savored in the activities of Great Dog Rescue New England (GDRNE). Hunter, a Labrador Retriever and Hound mix, is 10 weeks old and was part of an unwanted litter that was surrendered in Tennessee. He’s currently around 15 pounds but is doing well in a caring foster home and “looking for his forever family,” per the rescue. His bright personality is only matched by his golden color.
5. Kash: Little Dog, Big Attitude
Massachusetts’s Sandy Paws Rescue Inc. has unveiled Kash, a 4.4-pound Maltese mix with “100 pounds of energy.” The rescue sets the record straight: “Don’t let his little size fool you he is full of beans and prefers to go go go all day long.” Kash is not a lap decoration; he’s an energetic companion in search of an active household.
6. Maple Dixie: A Hound Who Deserves a Second Chance
Maple Dixie’s tale is one of resilience. She was surrendered after a year to a family that had determined she was “too loud,” but in foster care, she has demonstrated nothing but sweetness. True hound lovers understand their voices are part of their charm, and Maple is waiting for a family that will love her for exactly what she is.
7. Frannie Fabulous: A Mother’s Strength
Discovered as a stray with her two babies and a hurt leg, Frannie Fabulous, a Bulldog and Boxer mix, took care of her pups while she was suffering. Now in the care of GDRNE, now it’s her turn to receive some TLC. “We are so glad we found them when we did,” the rescue posted.
8. Hudson Hooray: From Abandonment to Hope
Hudson, a 50-pound, 18-month-old Husky and German Shepherd mix, was abandoned with his brother in rural Tennessee. He’s a handsome, loving dog who is ready to put his tough past behind him and begin anew with a dedicated family.
Severe weather, new health risks, and tales of animals in distress may seem like worlds apart, yet they have a common thread: the value of awareness and preparedness. No matter if it’s bracing your home ahead of a storm, learning the symptoms of a disease that’s nearer than you realize, or opening your heart to a rescue animal, little things can truly count.
