Fortunately, last night's severe threat turned out to be a mostly non-event (some minor wind damage) with rainfall totals generally a quarter to a half an inch. The rest of this week should prove to be very quiet with another system coming for next weekend. I was reading an article about the tornadoes that struck Lee County in Alabama last month. It stated "80% of the fatalities (19-23) occurred in manufactured (mobile) homes." Worse yet, in almost every case, the destroyed mobile home lacked sufficient anchorage (tie downs) & weren't up to state housing codes. It goes on..."only 6% of the nation's housing units are mobile homes, yet 54% of deaths due to tornadoes occur in mobile homes." We all know the decision to live in a mobile home is often a financial one. It's way more expensive to buy a frame or brick house tied into the foundation. Since we remain in the heart of our Spring severe weather time, I just want folks to know if you live in a mobile home your chances for death is much higher than in traditional housing. With our modern age of technology providing increased warning times of severe weather, you must have a plan to flee to a friend or relative's safer housing before severe weather approaches. You have to set up this plan ahead of time with your neighbor, friend or relative. It's truly sad to see history repeat itself over and over again. The data doesn't lie. If you must live in a mobile home, when severe weather threatens, you must leave it for a safer structure.
The upper disturbance that triggered last night's storm is moving across Louisiana tonight and will pull away to our east on Tuesday. Drier air will filter in behind it and bright sunshine should quickly warm us well into the 80s. That good feel air will hang around for Wednesday & Thursday with the muggies back by Friday. Unfortunately our next rain threat will come on the weekend just in time for French Quarter Fest. Too soon to know how widespread or intense it will be. Stay tuned!
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