The MythBusters look at destructive force of hurricanes

You might not be able to fool Mother Nature, but based on an episode of MythBusters that ran last night on the Discovery Channel, it might be possible to at least work in conjunction with her.

With Hurricane Ida in the news and preparing to make a mess of the weather on parts of the country even as it was downgraded to a tropical depression, MythBusters aired its "Hurricane Windows" show, in which hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman investigate whether you can lessen the damage caused by a storm by leaving windows open on a trailer or a home.

In typical MythBusters fashion, Savage and Hyneman pulled out all the stops to determine the veracity of the myth, even using the University of Florida's wind machine to create hurricane-force winds. No spoiler alert here: Watch the different parts of the episode on the show's site to see what happens. (The screen shot shows the duo observing a trailer getting battered by Category 2 winds.)

The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which wraps up at the end of November, has seen lower-than-normal activity, as noted in our August storm-season update and as reported on Weather.com: "2009 will go into the record books as a very uneventful hurricane season, except for late season Ida." To be prepared for a weather-related event no matter when it happens, use the advice on our Storm & Emergency Guide.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: We haven't tested roofing shingles or siding for their ability to withstand hurricanes or tornadoes, but our reviews of these building materials can help you find products that will look good and last. Watch our video on how we test shingles.

CBS' 60 Minutes looks at vulnerability of U.S. smart grid

Last year, we told you about how vulnerable a smart grid could be to cyber-attacks. Last night on CBS, 60 Minutes ran a report by correspondent Steve Kroft called "Sabotaging the System," which looked at the country's vulnerability to cyber-attacks.

"If I were an attacker and I wanted to do strategic damage to the United States, I would either take the cold of winter or the heat of summer, I probably would sack electric power on the U.S. East Cost, maybe the West Coast, and attempt to cause a cascading effect. All of those things are in the art of the possible from a sophisticated attacker," Mike McConnell, a retired Navy admiral, told 60 Minutes.

Watch the 60 Minutes report. And if you're worried about Internet security, check out our Guide to Online Security. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're concerned about losing power at home during an emergency—be it caused by hackers or by Mother Nature—check our our report on and ratings of backup generators (ratings available to subscribers). e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Fall weather brings fallen trees

The high winds whipping across parts of the Midwest and Northeast in recent days caused major damage to trees in some areas, including a few at my Connecticut home.

Shortly after lunch yesterday, a loud crack and crash signaled that an irresistible force had bested a hitherto immovable object. It turns out a 35-foot white oak had toppled onto my stone fence (shown), which so far this year has been struck by lightning and undermined by moles. Using a neighbor's bow saw and my chain saw, I was able to cut the tree into movable sections and get it off the road.

While fall is a better time to plant rather than prune trees, the high winds also pointed out the need to trim any diseased or overhanging tree branches. The fallen oak missed my power lines, so I didn't have to use a backup generator to provide electricity to my home.

I'm checking my homeowners insurance policy to make sure my coverage is adequate, important given that some companies are limiting coverage and raising premiums.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Learn how to safely use a chain saw (video) and ladder. Our Fall Cleanup Guide has more advice on projects to do around the home, and our Storm & Emergency Guide will help you prepare for weather-related events at any time of year. Ratings of chain saws and backup generators are available to subscribers.

Updated FEMA flood maps inundate many homeowners with unexpected insurance costs

My sister lives in Vermont, not a state historically known for flooding. In fact, since 1978, few states have received less money from the federal government for flood-related damage, according to statistics from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

But while buying a home recently, she was surprised to learn that properties that had been considered outside of a 100-year floodplain—and, as such, didn't require their owners to buy flood insurance, as mandated by the NFIP—now are deemed vulnerable to flooding. The reason for the change? The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued new flood-hazard maps for the Green Mountain state.

Many homeowners in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are facing a similar change in the flood status of their properties, according to a recent report in The New York Times on FEMA's five-year, $1 billion effort to draw new flood-hazard maps and identify properties vulnerable to a 100-year flood. That century benchmark indicates there's a 1 percent chance of a flood occurring every year, not that a flood will occur once every 100 years and is the standard used to determine whether a house or other structure must be covered by flood insurance.

As reported in the Times' article, 4,300 properties in New Jersey that had been outside of a 100-year floodplain have been deemed flood prone, requiring owners to buy hundreds of dollars a year in flood insurance. Some homeowners are benefiting from the new maps, since homes that had been in a 100-year floodplain are no longer according to the new maps.

Some critics suggest that the federal government called for the remapping to refill FEMA's payout coffers after 2005's Hurricane Katrina. But FEMA officials insist the initiative was the result of a 1994 order from Congress to update its decades-old flood maps to reflect increased flood risk caused by development and natural changes to terrain.

To find out whether your home or one you're considering buying is affected by the new flood-hazard maps, visit FEMA's Map Service Center. Also read our report on flood insurance and watch the video (above) to be sure you buy the right type and amount of coverage.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Use our Storm & Emergency Guide for advice on planning for and coping with weather emergencies.

Q&A: When should I replace a carbon-monoxide alarm?

I've heard that carbon-monoxide alarms fail after seven years. Is that true?

Most carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms are backed by a five- to seven-year warranty, but they typically emit a chirping or signal when they're nearing the end of their useful life. This signal differs from the one that indicates a low battery. If there's a problem with the unit, a model with a digital display will show an error message, and one without a digital display might flash LEDs in a particular pattern.

Remember, the test button on a CO alarm checks only whether the alarm is working, not the sensor. To check the sensor, use a test kit that you can purchase at a local home center.

Essential information: Read our buyer's guide to CO and smoke alarms for more information on these important safety devices, and view a quick interactive to determine which alarms are best for your home. We've also got a report on an intriguing study on the effectiveness of a voice recordings versus more traditional loud tone alarms in awakening children.

Hurricane Bill and the Midwest tornadoes: Short- and long-term planning

Hurricane Bill is strengthening before a possible landfall on the Canadian Maritime coast, while Midwesterners are weathering severe thunderstorms in the wake of Wednesday’s tornadoes that struck parts of Minnesota and Nebraska.

These recent posts can help you cope with natural disasters of all kinds:

• Our Storm & Emergency Guide includes articles, downloads, and videos on the products and procedures that help you assess your risk and plan proactively.

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently issued an updated forecast for a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season but noted a past history of severe storms late in the season.

• Many insurers have reduced coverage and increased deductibles for perils like wind storms and hurricanes, making it even more important for you to make wise decisions about additional flood insurance. Watch the video above for more on flood insurance—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Atlantic hurricane activity could be below normal, says NOAA

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration today released a new forecast of below-normal storm activity for the Atlantic hurricane season, and El Niño is responsible for what's expected to be a quieter storm season.

The Atlantic has yet to see its first named storm this year, and the NOAA is forecasting a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 40 percent probability of a below-normal season, and a 10 percent probability of an above-normal season. Forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance of seven to 11 named storms, of which three to six could become hurricanes, including one to two major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5) with winds exceeding 111 mph.

The new forecast doesn't mean you don't have to be prepared for an emergency. NOAA officials note that other climate factors associated with the high-hurricane activity era that began in 1995, such as enhanced rainfall over west Africa and warmer tropical Atlantic Ocean water, are still in place. They also stressed that devastating storms, including Hurricane Camille in 1969, occurred in years of high El Niño activity and that slow-starting hurricane seasons can still produce major storms late in the year, such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

NOAA officials continue to emphasize the increasing danger of inland flooding, which now accounts for the majority of deaths caused by tropical cyclones. (Watch our video on flood insurance, above.) Use the NOAA's Historical Hurricane Tracks tool to see how past storms dating back to 1851 have impacted your area.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Read "Insuring Your Home: How to Find the Best Coverage for Whatever Comes Your Way" for expert advice on homeowner's coverage. And visit our Storm & Emergency Guide to learn how to prepare for and survive natural disasters.

One hail of a time to test solar water heaters

The Consumer Reports headquarters in Yonkers, New York, got pounded last night by a tornadolike thunderstorm that dropped several inches of hail on the area and left thousands of homes in Yonkers and surrounding communities without power. (The photo, taken by an art director here, shows one of our parking lots several hours after the storm had passed. The damage to our facility was minimal.)

A Consumer Reports project leader who lives two blocks from our offices was seriously concerned about the five different solar water heaters on the roof of our building that he's testing for an October 2009 report. "During the storm, it sounded like people were throwing rocks at my windows—lots of rocks," says Dave Trezza. "I couldn't hear the TV even after we closed the windows at home."

The solar water heaters survived unscathed except for the heat exchanger on one unit. Everything on your roof, including the roof itself, is susceptible to storm damage, although the high-impact tempered glass used in the water heaters' collectors should be able to withstand ¾-inch hail at 60 mph, an industry standard.

Dave and his team will continue their testing right through summer and into next winter. We'll have preliminary results of solar water heaters in the October issue and will provide you with testing updates in the months that follow. With any luck, we'll avoid other major storms.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Defend your home against natural disasters and visit our Storm & Emergency Guide. Also read this  post on our Money blog for details on homeowners insurance and storm damage and find out how common solar water heaters are in Israel.

NOAA's forecast for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season

The the 2009 Atlantic storm season will start on June 1 (it runs through November 30), and last week, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration forecast a 50 percent chance of a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season, a 25 percent probability of an above-normal season, and a 25 percent probability of a below-normal season.

There's a 70 percent chance of the season having nine to 14 named storms, of which four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three Category 3, 4 or 5 storms, says the NOAA. (Read the 2009 Atlantic storm season forecast from the experts at Colorado State University.)

NOAA officials are stressing two trends this year:

The first is the trend toward warmer temperatures in the North Atlantic, a result of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. The AOM caused last year to be one of the most active hurricane seasons ever recorded, with 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and five major storms of Category 3 strength or higher. For the first time on record, six consecutive tropical cyclones made landfall on the U.S. mainland.

The second trend us that storms are lingering longer and depositing heavy rains over inland areas, so that flooding now accounts for more fatalities than high winds. Watch our video on flood insurance (right) and use the NOAA's Historical Hurricane Tracks tool to see which major storms have hit your area since 1851. Read more about flooding and flood insurance, and check the latest rates from the National Flood Insurance Program.

"The seasonal numbers are interesting, but they don't tell you when and where storms are going to make landfall or at what intensity," says Dennis Feltgen, a public-affairs officer for the National Hurricane Center, in Miami. "The one number you need to worry about is 'one'—as in that one storm that may hit you this year."

Feltgen urges you to plan early. "If the hurricane flags are already flying, it's going to increase your odds of making a wrong decision," Feltgen says. "Planning for a hurricane isn't overly expensive; it's largely a matter of having enough food and water and batteries on hand. When you go to the supermarket, look for an extra box of macaroni or jar of peanut butter on those more frequent two-for-one sales and set one aside."—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Use our Storm & Emergency Guide to be sure you're prepared for a natural disaster.

Recent California wildfires sparked by power equipment?

California officials say that sparks from a power tool used to clear brush was responsible for the Jesusita wildfires in Santa Barbara County that have destroyed or damaged dozens of homes and outbuildings and forced thousands to evacuate from their homes. (The map shows evacuation areas as of Sunday, May 10.)

Authorities declined to comment about the specific kind of implement that might have been at fault, according to this ABC News report. But "any time you use a power tool, there's always a possibility, especially if the conditions are right," a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection official said.

Our experts agree, noting that carbon buildup near the exhaust port of gasoline engines can result in small pieces breaking loose, catching fire and being ejected as sparks. "But that's a very rare occurrence because most string trimmers, lawn mowers, and other power tools have a spark-arresting screen that prevent sparks from coming out," says our power-equipment guru Peter Sawchuk. "This could have been a case where someone was using an older model power tool. Or they could have pulled the spark arrestor out—even though it's a lot of work to remove one, and it doesn't improve performance in any way."

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had declared May 2-9 Wildfire Awareness Week, and county officials had recently sent out notices requiring residents to clear brush around their homes by June 1 to reduce the risk of wildfires. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fires.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Visit our Storm & Emergency Guide for information on dealing with wildfires. Our lawn-and-yard hub features buying guides and instructional videos on how to choose and safely use a wide array lawn and garden equipment.