US: Flooding in Kentucky leaves at least 8 dead, hundreds homeless

 More than 20,000 homes have lost power in the US state of Kentucky and authorities are bringing clean water to affected areas. Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in six counties. At least eight people have died and "several people" are missing after flooding flooded the Appalachian area, east of Kentucky, on Thursday. 

 Torrential rains drained streams and flooded homes in one of the poorest regions of the United States. In some areas, floodwaters washed away roads and bridges, and knocked buildings off their foundations. 

 "In short, this event is devastating," Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said as he announced the first deaths. for at least a very long time. “The governor declared a state of emergency in six counties on Thursday morning. 

 Evacuation in progress 

  Kentucky authorities deployed the National Guard and state police to rescue residents by helicopter and boat. 

 "We're  in rescue mode right now," Perry County Emergency Management Director Jerry Stacy told The Associated Press. however, the governor warned that some of those facilities themselves were severely impacted by the storm and may not have electricity or other amenities. 

 State authorities  also carry drinking water in trucks. 

 The National Weather Service says there is an 80% chance that heavy rains will continue on Friday. 

 The area remains on a flood alert until  after midnight early Friday. 

 In Greenbrier County in West Virginia, Governor Jim Justice declared a state of emergency for six counties. 

 Beshear said 23,000 homes were without power and "several people" were missing. He hopes more lives will be lost because of this disaster.

Read more: https://www.dw.com/en/us-flooding-in-kentucky-leaves-at-least-8-dead-hundreds-homeless/a-62634107

Mideast nations wake up to need for action to stem damage from climate change

 Temperatures in the Middle East have risen much faster than the world average over the last three decades. Rainfall is declining, and experts predict that droughts will be more frequent and severe. 

 The Middle East is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the effects of climate change, and  the effects have already been seen. 

 In Iraq this year, heavy sandstorms repeatedly choked cities, paralyzed trade and sent thousands to hospitals. Elevated soil salinity in the Nile Delta of Egypt is eroding important agricultural land. In Afghanistan, drought contributes to young people migrating from villages in search of work. Over the last few weeks, temperatures have exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of the region. 

 This year's UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP27, took place in Egypt in November, shining a spotlight on the region. Governments in the Middle East are aware of the dangers of climate change, especially the damage that climate change has already done to the economy. 

 "We are literally feeling the influence in front of us. ... these effects will not affect us within 9 or 10 years. " 

 "We are beginning to understand that more and more states need to act," she said. 

 Egypt, Morocco, and other countries in the region are stepping up their clean energy initiatives. However, one of their top priorities at COP27 is to promote more international funding to address the dangers  already faced by climate change. 

 One of the reasons the Middle East is vulnerable is that as temperature rises accelerate, there is  no room to mitigate the blow to millions of people. The area is already hot and has  limited water resources under normal circumstances. The 4,444 governments in the Middle East  also have  limited adaptability, the International Monetary Fund found in a report earlier this year. The economy and infrastructure are weak and regulations are often not enforced. Job creation takes precedence over climate protection because poverty is widespread. 

 At the same time, developing countries are putting pressure on the Middle East and other countries  to reduce emissions, even though they themselves are putting off their promises. 

 The threat is bad. 

 As the region gets hotter and drier, the United Nations warns that  crop production in the Middle East could decline by 30 percent by 2025. The World Bank estimates that the region will lose 6-14 percent of GDP by 2050 due to water shortages. According to the World Bank, precipitation in Egypt has fallen by 22% over the last three decades. The 

 drought is expected to be more frequent and severe. According to NASA, the eastern Mediterranean has recently experienced the worst drought in 900 years. This has hit countries such as Syria and Lebanon, where agriculture depends on rain. Water demand in Jordan and the Gulf countries puts unsustainable pressure

Read more: https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/07/25/Mideast-nations-wake-up-to-need-for-action-to-stem-damage-from-climate-change

These fragrant and colorful drought-tolerant succulents require little water

 The factors that limit the growth of plumeria are cold, and small immature plants are much more sensitive than mature, established specimens. When cold nights are expected, small plants should be wrapped in canvas or decorated with Christmas lights to increase the warmth of the surroundings, but the duration of the cold is more important than the actual temperature. If the temperature drops to 32 degrees Celsius but  stays there for only a short time, plumeria can be burned by light frost. If you live in a cold climate, put the plumeria in a container and in the garage during the winter. Stop watering  until the temperature rises and you can get out again. 

 Many cacti have fragrant flowers that always bloom at night. Each one is referred to, here or there, as a “night-blooming cactus.” One cactus of this description is Hylocereus, known as pitaya, a dragon fruit-bearing cactus. The other fragrant night bloomers include orchid cactus (Epiphyllum hybrids), appropriate for outdoor planters and containers kept out of direct sun, as well as indoors when exposed to bright light, whose floppy stems are thoroughly nondescript, and hedgehog or Easter lily cactus (Echinops hybrids) that have thorny, classic cactus stems and an upright growth habit. On young plants, hedgehog cactus flowers are so large and prolific that they completely cover the stems. Both orchid and hedgehog cactus may be found with huge flowers that bloom in every color except blue. Last but not least, there is apple cactus (Cereus peruviana), the best-known night bloomer with its tall bluish-green stems and round pink or red fruit which are quite edible. All types of night-blooming cacti  are known to be pollinated by bats and moths. 

 When it comes to long-flowering succulents, three immediately come to mind. Crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia milii) has red, pink, yellow, or white bracts every  day of the year. The bracts are actually leaf-like structures, clearly visible in the associated poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), and surround the center of the yellow flower  known as  cyathium.  Euphorbia milii is only a few feet high, but Euphorbia splendens can reach as high as 6 feet. The most beautiful of the crowns of thorns is the Thai hybrid, which also grows. Those bracts are much more noticeable than  the wider range of species mentioned above. 

 The other two long-flowering succulents are the flowering Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and the pollen plant (Kalanchoe pumila). Kalanchoe florists can be found at the flower counters in supermarkets all year round. Flower colors are yellow, orange, blush, pink, red and purple. Flowers often have an uninteresting shape, but certain varieties of flowers are twice as large as small roses. In half a day or  less, the florist Kalanchoe blooms outdoors for six months at a time. For pollen plants, I saw that huge mass in the Getty Center Garden many years ago. Every time I visited her, her pink flowers were  brilliantly adorned with soft gray leaves in the background. Ammonia Gardening at 

 Paros

Read more: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2022/07/23/these-fragrant-and-colorful-drought-tolerant-succulents-require-little-water/

Ten Tips to Reduce Risks and Protect your Property in a Heatwave

 As temperatures hit record highs, what can homeowners do to reduce risks and protect their properties? Steve Barnes, VP at NRLA's insurance partners, Total Landlord Insurance, shares his top ten  tips for homeowners as we grapple with the reality that extreme temperatures are caused by climate change. are making heat waves more intense, more frequent and possible. 

 At Total Landlord Insurance, not only have we noticed that claims are very seasonal, but some claims are on the rise. Property insurance exists to protect homeowners against the  unpredictable, but the truth is that we can often predict when and where homeowners are most at risk. 

 Here are our top ten  tips based on the increase in the types of claims we see during and after a heatwave. 

 1. Protect your pipes 

 People tend to assume that broken pipes are a winter problem. And it is true that  pipes that are not insulated are very susceptible to freezing, causing the water inside to expand and  the pipe to burst. But conversely, water expands when frozen, metal expands when heated. With temperatures soaring, we're seeing more pipes burst  in the summer than ever before, as heat from the sun warps the pipes and expands beyond their capacity, causing them to break. Be sure to service the pipes so that they can withstand both hot and cold temperatures. To learn more, check out  our NRLA guide to preventing pipe breaks in your rental property. 

 2. Check your gutters and drains 

 We all know  storms and  downpours bring a heat wave, and with the arid ground unable to absorb the sudden influx of water, it is essential that gutters and sewers are must be ventilated. The devastating impact of surface flooding caused by unpredictable weather and torrential rain has become a familiar sight across the UK. Drainage systems can become overwhelmed very quickly  during a  downpour, causing groundwater to rise. And when the ground becomes saturated,  excess surface water can cause severe damage to properties, sometimes rendering them completely uninhabitable. Flood requirements, which increase sharply after a hurricane, increase every year with an increase in named storms. With unpredictable and extreme weather becoming more and more frequent and the typical cost to completely repair a flooded home ranging from £20,000 to £45,000, find out what homeowners should do to repair a flooded home. prepare their assets and be ready to make sure they are insured in this case. flooding in our NRLA. guide to protect your property from flooding. 

 3. Move the mirror away from the sun and draw the curtains 

 Mirrors can amplify heat received from  sunlight and  cause fires if shined on other objects. That's not even something many of us would  consider, but unseasonably hot weather brings in even more unusual claims. We recently received a complaint from a homeowner about burning curtains  after the sun's rays reflected off the windows. The heat even scorched the plastic window frames. In a similar case, a tenant left a magnifying mirror in the bedroom next to a mirror, and again the sun reflected on the mirror through the window, burning a

Read more: https://www.nrla.org.uk/news/ten-tips-to-reduce-risks-and-protect-your-property-in-a-heatwave