Frightened, baffled about climate change

I am baffled and frightened. I hear on national and local news about the weather as it is reported on Chicago stations and national stations daily: EF3s, EF4s, dozens of tornadoes, flooding, continuing pictures of homes, schools, churches, and businesses ravished, millions in the paths of the severe weather, many deaths, hundreds injured and many hundreds homeless.

And yet, despite what appears to be very unusual weather striking across our nation, I have seldom heard those stations identifying the changed weather patterns with climate change.

Why? Is it politically naive to mention climate change? Is it not mentioned because climate change is still considered unpopular or perhaps not factual? I wonder if, in part, it is not mentioned because it is very alarming and frightening news?

Please note the information and these comments from The National Climate Assessment's website: "One of the most visible consequences of a warming world is an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. The National Climate Assessment finds that the number of heat waves, heavy downpours, and major hurricanes has increased in the United States, and the strength of these events has increased, too. A measure of the economic impact of extreme weather is the increasing number of billion-dollar disasters.

"A map shows all types of weather disasters, some of which are known to be influenced by climate change (floods, tropical storms) and some for which a climate influence is uncertain (tornadoes)."

I am alarmed. I wonder what the next few years will bring. Of course, when will our towns and counties be hit? How do we prepare for and help all of the hundreds nationwide who are being forced from their homes?

Ralph McFadden

Elgin