Florida's Division of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross want you to participate in the 2011 Severe Weather Awareness Week.
They want you to make a poster for each day of the awareness week (January 31 to February 4) with each poster representing their designated themes.
We got very excited at the thought of showing off our artistic skills only to find the clause in the directions. By "you," they really mean "you kids" and specifically kids in the fourth and fifth grades.
Since we didn't want our talents to go to waste, we're providing you with some little factoids for each theme. Kids, feel free to steal them for your own posters.
Monday, January 31 - Lightning
According to National Geographic: "The highest death rates from lightning in the United States are in Florida, which is known as the lightning capital of the country. According to the service, from 1959 to 2003 lightning killed 3,696 people in the United States. Of those, 425 were in the Sunshine State."
Tuesday, February 1 - Marine Hazards and Rip Currents
Rip currents cause more than 100 deaths in the U.S. each year. In Florida, rip currents kill more people than thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined.
Wednesday, February 2 - Tornadoes and Thunderstorms
Thirteen hundred tornadoes will strike the U.S. in any given year. Typically, Florida will see 55 of those compared to 139 in Texas, the leader.
Thursday, February 3 - Hurricanes and Flooding
Hurricane Katrina, which hit Florida in 2005, is the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. The category 5 hurricane cost $82.5 billion in damages. Hurricane Andrew, which hit Southeast Florida and Southeast Louisiana in 1992, came in second with $26.5 billion in damages.
Friday, February 4 - Temperature extremes and wildfires
Monticello, up near the Panhandle, boasts the hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida at 109 degrees Farenheit in 1931. Tallahassee boasts the coldest temperature at -2 degrees Farenheit in 1899.
If you actually want to enter the contest, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website.
