Do you know where this pic was taken? I wonder if Florida as I saw a Nature program a while back about the pythons that are taking over the Everglades. That thing is big enough to swallow a human, a child easily.

Have no idea where pic was taken, but suspect Florida. I think I saw the same program. Those poor people have quite a developing problem with these snakes breeding and growing so large that they could easily strangle and swallow a human being.
At least, so far, we Okies don't have to deal with hurricans, alligators and giant pythons!

Jeanie

Darn it, I thought you'd actually found a deer repellant that worked.

Actually, Jeanie, we do have alligators, including at least one breeding population, along the Red River, particularly in far southeastern OK. Alligators have been found in farm ponds in both Love and Carter counties (not too far from your county, huh?) just in the years since we moved here and there are records of them back for decades. I'm talking about occasional sightings, not every day stuff.

And, hurricanes or at least their remnants do occasionally travel this far, often bringing wind damage and heavy rain and sometimes flooding. I remember that the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin brought a lot of rain and some flooding to parts of Oklahoma a few years ago and a bit of wind damage as well. In fact, Erin actually intensifed while over Oklahoma which was very unusual, but ultimately the weather experts did not find that Erin met all the criteria to be classified as a tropical cyclone while it was over Oklahoma. Last year the remains of Tropical Storm Hermine dropped 9" of rain in our yard and spun off a tornado very close to our property. While I generally don't want that sort of weather here, the 9" of rain was a blessing after the long, hot, dry summer of 2010. While the remains of tropical cyclones are not the same thing as having a true hurricane hit, we get enough rain and or wind that they can have quite an impact on whichever parts of the state they pass through, or pass over. At least here, since we aren't coastal, we don't have to worry about storm surge.

I've never heard of a giant python here though, and hope we never do. About the only other weather, climatological or geological phenomenon I can think of that we don't have here (or, that I hope we don't have here) are volcanoes and tsunamis. If we ever have one of either of those, I hope I am not here to experience it.

Dawn,
I, too, wish I had found the perfect deer repellant, but anything this size would certainly repel me! LOL. Just used that title, because of the fellow who has recently jumped on some of our old posts to tout his wireless invention, which, for all I know, might work like a charm.
Oh dear! Just when I thought all we had to deal with in our section of the country was tornados, severe heat (as of this last Summer), weeks and weeks of drought, terrible clay/hard-pan soil, high winds, earth quakes (of late), destructive, rascally critters, cotton-mouth, copper-head, rattle
snakes, you tell me we have alligators and typhoons?! Is Oklahoma the
epi-center of natural disasters??? Oh well. Even though we Okie gardeners COULD be slightly discouraged and disgruntled, we are STILL one of the more economical and friendliest states in the Union!

Jeanie

Jeanie,

It is anoying when people start spamming this forum to sell their products. That's not, of course, the purpose of this forum and I make a point of never doing business with someone who spams here, even if they make a product I think might be worthwhile. Advertising one's business here violates iVillage rules, but people often seem to get away with doing it.

Who knows what lies ahead of us Okies in terms of the weather, the wildlife or geological activity? Surely we have the largest array of bizarre, quickly-changing, extreme weather (and wildlife and quaking, shaking ground)that anyone would expect (or, actually, not expect) to see over the course of a year? You know, the other day they upgraded one of the early November tornadoes in SW OK to an F-4, rating that one as the strongest November tornado ever. So, what we all must be wondering is this: what in the world will happen here in December? I'm not even sure I want to know, but you gotta figure something odd will occur.

I love living here though. The people, in general, are so friendly, good, kind and helpful and, in particular, we have the best neighbors in the world living all around us. I've never had as many wonderful neighbors as we have here. Even though our rural neighborhood is more spread out than a city neighborhood, every single neighbor here is at your side in a jiffy if you need anything. That sort of caring and friendship is simply priceless.

Dawn

Dawn,
Amen on the friendly neighbors! I have one who pops by and brings me fresh eggs; a couple who share their "hidey holes" when tornadoes threaten and sometimes, when I am cooling off on the deck, one who drops by on her horse and chats for a spell (no experience like that in town, love it)!
Have to admit, I've had to adapt to rural life, but don't think I would be happy back in OKC with the rush hour traffic and the noisy, frantic lifestyle.
Rather just visit there for special occasions.
Speaking of weather (you probably already know this), but received an "E"
from a friend about the "safety triangle" when in danger of your house collapsing. It is much safer to lie down next to a heavy piece of furniture, such as your bed or a large chair or sofa, because, when the roof falls in, there will be a triangle of space next to the furniture. NEVER get under a table or stand in a doorway as they will be crushed by the roof and debris. Hopefully, this will never be neccessary for ANY of us, but who knows what the future holds, what with the recent earth tremors, etc. I think this info came from a fireman with years of experience attending disasters. He told of school children being crushed by hiding UNDER their desks, rather than BY them, which would have saved their lives.

Jeanie

Jeanie

I wrote the earthquake safety info on the forum one night then couldn't find the message. Maybe I didn't submit when I thought I did. It is STOP, DROP, and COVER. Hopefully you can be close to a heavy piece of furniture so if the roof falls, the furniture will support the weight and stop the debris leaving you an air space under it. You still need to cover your head if it is at all possible. After the shaking stops, and if you find you are under debris, look for any outside light that might be shining in and try to crawl toward that opening. I saw some pictures of some fallen buildings and the debris had been stopped by furniture leaving several feet of air space near the floor.

In several counties where the structures are concrete, sometimes with little rod added for strength, the walls and roofs just crumble and fall. If I were in that situation I think I would rather be outside away from any buildings.

SoonerGM,
I'm with you. I had much rather be outside, in just about ANY situation!
Surely, Oklahoma won't have to worry about serious earthquakes! This has been a strange year. I just hope we don't have to deal with triple- digit
temps, again, next Summer. My ol' bod' just doesn't handle it as well as it used to.........

Jeanie

L. O. L., CG! I guess, based on the authority of the renowned Seismologist, Chicken Little, we can all relax!

I lean a little more toward the Boy Scout motto. They shoulda' listened to Noah!............