Although the British are notoriously obsessed with the weather, this book brings home the mundane limits of extreme weather in the UK. “Extreme weather” in this case is shorthand, as the subtitle clarifies, for 11 types of natural occurrences which can cause severe problems for humans: hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, extreme heat, wildfires, rip currents, landslides and mudslides, tsunamis, severe thunderstorms, snow and ice storms, and earthquakes. The chapters dealing with them all have the same structure: a colloquially expressed personal account, not all with happy endings, a description of the phenomenon, advice on what preparations to take if you are likely to be affected by such events, and advice on how to cope if the disaster does strike. There is emphasis on making plans which encompass the whole family plus pets, which can be put into practice both during and after an event. Examples are often very current with references to the 2011 Japanese tsunami, a severe winter storm in Maryland in 2011 and to tornadoes and floods in 2010.
There is an attempt to explode myths, for example regarding lightning strikes, and there is, no doubt, a value in setting out advice in this structured manner. The sections which explain the different levels of disaster forecast are particularly useful, e.g. tornado information bulletin versus tornado watch versus tornado warning. But sometimes this advice is extremely basic: in the section on extreme heat, we are told: slow down, dress for summer, drink plenty of water, spend more time in air‐conditioned places, do not get too much sun.
The final four chapters are of more general applicability. Chapter 12, “How to use social media in a natural disaster”, includes the example of a Facebook page for lost and found items scattered by the tornado in Joplin, Missouri, of May 2011. The use of Twitter in the aftermath of the Japanese 2011 tsunami is also highlighted. The value of uploading video and updating family Facebook contacts after a disaster is stressed, but it is surprising that there is no suggestion that it might be necessary to limit communication to allow primary use of networks for emergency services. Perhaps US technological infrastructure is more robust than that in the UK.
The chapter on how to create a family disaster plan for people and pets contains plenty of clearly set out, sensible advice. The final two chapters cover emergency supplies for home, car and office, again for people and for pets.
Although there is valuable advice throughout, some readers may be put off by the basic level of statements such as: “It's advised that you take into consideration where you live and the type of extreme weather your home is susceptible to”; “if you live in a cold climate, you might think about ways to stay warm”. The language is simple and the layout clear and the book would be suitable for older schoolchildren or for those whose first language is not English. The intended audience is clearly North American: measurements are all imperial and almost all references are to US organizations and procedures.
This book may also appeal to those with a general interest in natural disasters and could certainly have a place in school or public libraries in areas likely to be affected by any of the phenomena described, especially those which serve newcomers to an area.
