I saw a report a week or so ago on ABC News about weather insurance.

Sometimes it's referred to as vacation insurance or travel insurance.

Several online companies are offering what they call "vacation insurance," deals in which they will reimburse any parts of a vacation that are ruined.  "We will cover them if their vacation is rained out," Jeff Boyd, CEO of Priceline.com, told Good Morning America.  -- ABC News

These days, more and more companies and services are providing weather insurance to protect you from things like rain delays at sporting events and concerts, as well. And companies are even offering weather insurance for those times when a complete change of plans are required (due to the weather) at your own outdoor events, including weddings.

Here's more about weather insurance...

You've seen storm chasers and weather spotters featured on the local and national news. Plenty of times, right?

What is the definition of a storm chaser?  A storm chaser is defined as a person who pursues imminent or existing severe thunderstorms, for any reason, and operates independently or as part of a research effort.  Source

Ever wonder how you can become an official weather spotter for the National Weather Service?

Well, I did it. I became an NOAA weather spotter. Here's how I did it...

I think this is a great idea... especially in this day and age, where people are using cell phones like crazy. I mean, it's hard to find anyone who's not carrying a cell phone these days. Even kids carry cell phones everywhere they go!

So, for me, there is a small feeling of relief knowing that the FCC will soon be broadcasting emergency warnings on our cellphones.

The plan stems from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires upgrades to the emergency alert system. The act requires the Federal Communications Commission to develop ways to alert the public about emergencies. Source

A NOAA Weather Radio can save your life. Period.

Every home, every office, every school should have one.

Do you live in an area where there are lots of tornadoes or hurricanes? We used to.

Ever had the roof of your house damaged by high winds during a storm? Thankfully, we haven't (yet). But when we lived in Florida (especially when we were on the tiny little island called Gulf Breeze, near Pensacola) "roofs damaged by high winds" were a very common occurrence.

But I could never find any step-by-step details for making a temporary roof using a blue tarp. I never understood how the tarp stayed in place until I saw some simple instructions for making a temporary roof in an old issue of This Old House magazine (March 2005).

Perhaps others might benefit from this information as well...

No, it's not fun talking about the possibility of drowning in the event that your car is trapped underwater.

But with the recent bridge collapse in Minnesota, I'm reminded of a handy little tool that's been advertised for years.

Now I'm wondering how many have actually purchased one. Better yet, how many people have actually used one in an emergency?

The one-of-a-kind escape tool that everyone's talking about is the Life Hammer.

I saw this on CNN yesterday...

It was a summary of some of the best survival gear and survival kits for those who enjoy the great outdoors.

In light of the heroic, yet tragic, story of James Kim, it only makes sense to keep items like these on your person whenever you go out & about. (Even if you only keep them in the trunk of your car.)

Do you know how long a person can survive without food? Without shelter? Without water?

According to a CNN report, you'll want to remember The Rule of Threes if you ever find yourself stranded and seeking rescue.

You can learn a lot about a person by what they pack during an evacuation!

With all that's going on hurricane-wise lately... first Charley (which hit hardest just south of Tampa, Fla.), then Frances, most recently Ivan (which destroyed the city we used to live in - Pensacola, Fla.), and up-and-coming Jeanne (who knows where that one's headed!) - I've done a lot of reflecting lately about my time spent in Florida and a couple close calls with Hurricanes while I was living there.

In March of 1998, the part of Orlando that I lived in was just a few miles from a wildfire that was burning out of control. (To this day, there's still evidence of the widespread fire damage -- all the way from Cocoa Beach to Orlando!)

For days, it was touch and go whether we'd have to evacuate or not. Since my little apartment in Orlando was a bit to close for comfort, here's what I packed for the impending evacuation: