This is off the topic of camping, but I wanted to share what’s been happening in my personal life the last several days. I live in southeastern Wisconsin where there’s been way too much rain the last week with the result being widespread flooding. There is supposed to be a dry spell coming, but as I write this it’s raining again, although it’s a gentle rain and nothing like the torrential downpours earlier in the week when it seemed like the water was falling out of the sky in bucket loads and we got over 6 inches of rain in 36 hours (I dug out the rain gauge I was going to give my husband for father’s day early so we could put it out and watch it fill up).

We’ve been luckier than a lot of people, including friends and family who are pumping out their basements, ripping up wet carpeting, and throwing out wrecked items from the flooding.

Parts of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the town near where I live, is still waiting for flood waters to recede.

Yesterday, the motto of “neither rain, nor sleet, etc.” didn’t hold up since the post office was flooded and all the postal vehicles were sitting in several feet of water.

And, in an ironic twist, the local aquatic center has sustained damage due to flooding and is still underwater.

I was in Fond du Lac yesterday to take my Mom for one of her three times a week dialysis treatments (her treatment facility is in the portion of the city unaffected by the flooding). While I was waiting for her to be finished I walked around town and took some pictures, which are at the bottom of this blog post.

I had originally planned to run errands but the flooded river that runs through the middle of town made it it impossible to get around because of several main thoroughfares being under water (and anyway, most of the businesses I wanted to go to were closed due to flooding). Plus most of the town was officially shut down. Vehicles clogged the unaffected areas of town, but some of the streets in town that are typically the busiest didn’t have a single vehicle on them because of water, several feet deep in some places. Bicycles, people on foot, and cameras were out in full force though and I was among them.

Several people stopped to talk to me about how this was the worst flooding they’ve ever seen in the area. I had to agree.

Two things really bothered as I walked around town though. One was drivers still trying to drive through the flooded streets and getting stranded despite several warnings from officials to not try and drive through the flooded streets. People who were standing and watching their houses got very angry as these drivers made waves and sloshed even more water through broken windows and into their homes. I know that little bit of extra water wasn’t going to make a difference in the tragedy these people are dealing with, but tensions are high and people are understandably devastated.

There were also kids playing in the water which really bothered me since officials were also reporting that the flood waters had raw sewage in them.

Because officials were stretched beyond their means despite help from neighboring communities that could spare it (most of them are dealing with their own flooding issues), some citizens were taking it upon themselves to stand in the streets where flooding was occurring and advising motorists of the deep water. Most listened, but not all. You know how that is. Some people just can’t seem to help themselves and have to try and do what they know they shouldn’t.

It was surreal walking around a town that had emergency vehicles driving around with inflatable boats on top of them to rescue people and emergency workers wading through the water to go door to door to make sure people in the flooded homes had gotten out safely. Other people were assessing the damage via the canoes there were padding down the flooded streets. It’s one thing to see that type of devastation on the local news, but it takes on a whole new level of horror when witnessed first hand.

I admit I’ve been preoccupied with the weather, not only here in Wisconsin but also in neighboring states, especially Iowa where the flooding is even worse and where tens of thousands of people have been forced out of their homes due to flooding and thousands who are anxiously watching to see if levees will hold and keep flood waters at bay.

It’s the same here in Wisconsin, although on a little smaller scale. Flooding has been widespread and caused millions of dollars of damage, with many people facing the prospect of going back to homes that will need major repair work or will have to be torn down. And, in the last couple of hours a new evacuation order has been announced for another local town because officials fear their levee is about to fail.

If you have camping or travel plans in the Midwest, please take the time to call ahead. Even if the area you are going to hasn’t been affected by the flooding, the roads to get there may be. There are still major roadways and freeways closed because of the flooding.

But, there is at least one thing to be thankful for. So far, in Wisconsin, no has died as a result of the storms and flooding.

Did you know that heat is the number one weather killer in the United States? It takes more lives than any other weather condition yet it is often the weather condition people take the least precautions for.

For example, according to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) heat waves have been responsible for more deaths in Wisconsin than all other natural disasters combined. The hot summer weather in 1995 claimed the lives of 154 residents and forced another 400 to seek medical treatment for their heat related conditions.

Young people and elderly face the highest risk of heat related deaths.

So be aware of the dangers of extreme and prolonged heat and humidity and know what precautions to take.

A great source of information is the American Red Cross who has an article titled “Heat Waves”

It encourages people to know what the following terms mean:

Heat wave - a prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity.

Heat index - A number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it really feels when relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature. Keep in mind that exposure to full sun can increase the heat index by 15 degrees F

Heat cramps - They are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion and are an early signal that a person’s body is having trouble with the hot weather.

Heat exhaustion - It typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, a person may suffer heat stroke.

Heat stroke/Sunstroke - It is life-threatening. A person’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.

Here is what the American Red Cross recommends if a heat wave is predicted or is occurring:
- Avoid strenuous activity. If you can’t avoid it do it during the coolest part of the day which is typically 4 am to 7 am.

- Stay inside as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine and try to go to a public building that does have air conditioning for several hours each day during the heat wave.

- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s heat.

- Drink plenty of water regularly and often. Drink even if you do not feel thirsty. Most experts say that by the time a person feels thirsty they are already dehydrated. Remember that water is best to drink and to avoid beverages with alcohol or caffeine because they make the heat’s effect on the body worse. Beer is one of the worst things to drink.

- Eat small, frequent meals. Stay away from high protein foods because they increase a person’s metabolic heat.

- Don’t use salt tablets unless advised to do so by a physician.

What are the signs of heat emergencies? According to the American Red Cross:

For heat exhaustion it’s: cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.

For heat stroke it’s: hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry.

Treatment of Heat Emergencies Information from the American Red Cross:
For heat cramps: get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes.

For heat exhaustion: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Let the person rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his/her condition.

For heat stroke: Help is needed fast. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

The National Weather Service has procedures in place to alert people of excessive heat and humidity. It makes a weather radio very handy to have because heat alerts will be broadcast on them. Click here for the NOAA’s heat index chart which shows at what temperatures the likelihood of heat disorders with prolonged exposure or strenuous could occur.

It’s especially important to be aware of the dangers of heat when camping because campers are often outside most of the day and may be in remote areas that don’t have emergency medical care quickly accessible.

Print out a copy of the American Red Cross brochure “Are You Ready For A Heat Wave” (it’s a pdf file so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view and print) and keep it handy at home and while camping.

Even though we just talked about camping in bad weather last month in this blog, with the tragic deaths of at least four from a tornado hitting a boy scout camp, I wanted bring it up again.

I love to camp, but I think it’s better to be safe than sorry, so being prepared is essential.

The first thing I’m going to recommend to everyone is that you know where you are. By that I mean know what county you’re in. It’s on just about every map you look at so before you go camping anywhere, make note of the county so that if bad weather is headed your way you know if you’re in danger.

The next thing I’m going to recommend is that you get yourself a portable weather radio like the Oregon Scientific WR602. It’s small and portable so it will take up very little space when you’re packing all your camping gear. Some FRS radios even have built in weather radios so you may want to get a multi tasker if you use portable radios to communicate with your group.

The next thing to be aware of is understanding the dangers possible where you’re camping. If you’re camping in the gulf coast area or Atlantic seaboard in mid to late summer then there’s always a chance of a hurricance and I probably don’t have to tell you you don’t want to do that. Fortunately, there is little chance of getting hit by a hurricane while camping since you’ll almost always have ample warning.

The bigger dangers are the weather events that sneak up on you like tornadoes, lightning and flash flooding.

Since tornados have been in the news a lot lately and they can happen with very little warning, let’s talk about them first.

Obviously, no tent, camper, RV, or park model, is a safe place to be during a tornado so staying put is not a good idea in this case. Again, being prepared is going to be the best bet. Ask a park ranger where to go in the event of bad weather - most campgrounds have shelters that are safe places to be during a tornado (typically bathrooms, but be sure to ask).

If you can’t find a shelter or there simply isn’t one nearby, but you are close to your vehicle - leave. I know that most people say that your vehicle isn’t a safe place to be in a tornado but if you know which way it’s coming from - your vehicle is probably the fastest way to “get the heck out of dodge.” And remember, at least in your vehicle, you’re strapped in and somewhat protected from flying debris.

If a tornado is coming and you have no way to escape and there’s no shelter nearby, head for the low ground. If you can find a ditch, lay down in it and cover your head. Otherwise, just find the lowest area possible since tornadoes don’t typically down very well.

Another very real danger especially right now if you’re camping just about anywhere in the midwest is the danger of flash flooding. Most people don’t view water as being a threat, which makes it even more dangerous. Unlike with tornadoes, if you’re in a low lying area experiencing torrential downpours or there is a flash flood warning in your area, then you’ll want to make your way to high ground. Don’t try to cross any rivers or streams even if you were able to before the rain because the additional water can easily sweep you off your feet and pull you under.

Heavy water can wash out trails, roads, and bridges, so be very careful when there is the possibility of flash flooding.

The last danger I want to cover is lightning, but keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list of dangers you should be cognizant of. Lightning doesn’t typically get a lot of press as a major danger but it does claim its share of hikers each year. For example, when hiking mountains in the summertime, guides will typically recommend that you start early in the morning because later in the day lightning is the number one danger of being on the mountain, and in the mountains weather shifts can happen dramatically and catch you off guard.

If you can heard thunder then there is danger of lightning. If you are near a shelter or a vehicle, then go inside. Remember, with lighting, your vehicle is a safe place to be as long as you’re not touching the outside of your vehicle. However, when that’s not possible then you want to stay low to the ground while maintaining minimal contact with the ground. You don’t want to lie flat on the ground. Instead, squat with your head between your knees. Remember that lightning doesn’t need to strike you directly to injure or kill - it only needs to get close.

I hope you’ve found these safety tips helpful, and I certainly don’t want you to think that camping is dangerous and that your life is in peril every time you venture to the great outdoors. All I’m saying is that a little bit of awareness and preparedness can go a long way in making sure that every camping trip you take has a happy ending.