Hi to "Scared, and baffled about climate change" as in your letter to the editors of a recent Opinion Page. I wish I could reassure you about the climate, but you are right in that few meteorologists talk about climate change. And it is terrifying.

The fossil fuel companies have spent $1 billion to $3 billion dollars to promote climate change doubt and denial in the last decade. So, many still doubt it.

And I agree with your idea that the news about the current climate crises is too alarming for most people, and the weather people? But they can help by reporting that scientists say at least 25-30% of extreme weather is related to climate change. And scientists are conservative. Many of the predictions about global warming are happening already: extreme weather, hurricanes, super storms, flooding, heat waves, droughts, fires, and as you said, an increasing number of billion-dollar disasters.

To me, there is very little we can do to prepare our homes or ourselves for these storms alone, but together we can do a lot.

Go solar or buy green electricity, get a hybrid car (used is cheaper) if possible, cook with electric or induction cooking which we do, instead of gas. Go energy efficient and talk to friends, and tell them how much money you can save when you do these things too. Vote for green candidates.

If we don't cut back 50 percent of fossil fuel use by 2030, we will probably be gone around midcentury, or wish we were.

Terrified? I hope so. Ready to make changes? I sure hope so. Or, as a friend in our group EGG350.org says - the earth may be better off without us. But let's spend our time working for life - it is therapeutic and good for us.

Sandy Kaptain

Elgin