U. S. First Responders Association

08/30/2026

Rattlesnake Advisory -- it's a Texas thing y'all ... "Grab the lawn chairs and the snake boots, honey, kickoff is in thirty minutes.” 🐍🏈😆 ~ j

The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day is one of the most Texas things I've ever read: Last Thursday, a high school football game here in Texas was played under a Rattlesnake Advisory. It's true. Prior to Thursday night's game between Kaufer and Corpus Christi John Paul II, the Riviera Independendent School District posted the following announcement on social media:

"⚠️ FOOTBALL GAME SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to the increased presence of rattlesnakes in the area, we ask all parents and spectators to please use extra caution while attending tonight’s football game.

For everyone’s safety, please do not allow children to play in the long jump area of the football field or underneath the stadium seating.

Please stay alert, supervise children closely, and avoid areas that are not designated for spectators.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe! ⚠️"

That's right: not a tornado warning or a heat advisory, but a rattlesnake advisory. Folks in other states might think that's crazy, but, hey, this is Texas and this is high school football that we're talking about. I can hear the conversation now: "Grab the lawn chairs and the snake boots, honey, kickoff is in thirty minutes.”😃

Thanks to Cindy Wood for letting me know about this.

08/29/2026

yup - red lights are NOT suggestions ~ j

08/29/2026

FYI from another USFRA ( Utah Salt Flats Racing Association is proudly hosting the World of Speed on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats next week) ~ j

08/29/2026

THANK YOU Aussies and Kiwis for your help with recent wildfires! and safe travels ❤️‍🔥🙏 ~ j

08/29/2026

Congrats to TSA Agent Bolt, a 3-y/o bomb-sniffing pup at DFW International Airport, who just beat out 84 other 4-legged contenders to be crowned TSA’s 2026 “Cutest Canine.” (The German Shorthaired Pointer won over thousands with his goofy poses and nonstop energy, bouncing through the terminal, leaping into the air and showing off the big personality behind a very serious job.) 🙌🐾🐾💙😁 ~ j

08/28/2026

nice pics Steve Monday @ Rowan County Weather 🙌🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕 ~ j

🌕🌘🌑 Tonight’s Lunar Eclipse — Through My Lens

What an incredible night for skywatching!

I’ve been outside photographing tonight’s lunar eclipse as the Earth’s shadow slowly moves across the Moon. I combined my photos into this progression showing the eclipse from the full Moon through maximum eclipse.

Watching it happen is impressive, but being able to photograph the different stages and then see them side-by-side makes it even better.

All of the Moon images in this progression were photographed tonight from Rowan County, North Carolina.

📸 Photos: Steve Monday / Rowan County Weather
🌎 Rowan County, NC
🌕 August 27–28, 2026

08/27/2026

A new program at Florida International University could lead straight to a job that helps people during the next hurricane or disaster.

In a speech at FIU Wednesday, Gov. DeSantis announced the Coalition for Operational Readiness in Education (CORE). This is a new collaboration between the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and many state-owned public universities, colleges and technical schools.

A new program at Florida International University could lead straight to a job that helps people during the next hurricane or disaster.

08/27/2026

so 🤬 frustrating!! ~ j

08/27/2026

USFRA's Family Preparedness and First Aid ebook can help you & loved ones prepare for, respond to and recover from wildfires, hurricanes, floods and other disasters and emergencies (only $5 US) ~ j

Buy USFRA Family Preparedness ebook 2026 (288-pg PDF) - Be Aware... Be Prepared... and Have A Plan! from Fedhealth, USD 5.00

08/26/2026

Devastating 💔🙏 at least 95 killed and hundreds missing after a wall of mud, rock, and water tore through valleys on the Nepal-Tibet border after a 4.4 magnitude earthquake triggered a landslide, which blocked the Bhote Koshi River and then gave way (more below) ~ j